Planning A New Book, Ebook, and Ebook Reader Contest For April — Please Weigh In
January 17th, 2010 | 
Author: The Pick Your Own Prize/aka Kindle Giveaway has been very popular…and Black Velvet Seductions’ birthday is coming up in April, so I have been thinking of doing another Pick Your Own Prize type drawing for the end of April.
I am thinking of structuring the giveaway a bit different…We’ve had over 1000 comments during the time we’ve had contests on the blog and have been keeping a spreadsheet of them (which is where I draw the winners from). We also have about 1300 subscribers to our newsletter. The way that I am thinking of structuring the next contest is to color some cells within the ongoing spreadsheet and to associate lots of little prizes with different squares on the spread sheet…so that there are lots of opportunities to win smaller prizes leading up to the big prize, which will probably be another pick your own $260 prize — which people can use for ebooks, ebook readers, etc.
I know you guys like the big prize…but I would like to infuse the spreadsheet with some other prizes…so…weigh in…what besides the typical BVS books and ebooks and the big prize would you like to win? Do you like jewelry prizes? Book thongs? Amazon gift certificates? Something else? I’m expecting to have lots of small prizes…a few medium range prizes…and then the big prize. So…prizes that cost from a few dollars to $50 dollars…in addition to the big pick your own one at the end.
Your turn. Weigh in. What would YOU like to win?
Posted in April Contest
I like the idea of the gift certificates from places like Amazon,Barnes&Noble,and other places that sell books. Jewelry is fine too. Is a book thong a book marker? I think that I’m leaning more towards the gift certificates for the smaller prizes because we all love books and there are so many that the costs add up and the certificates would come in handy.
I thing you have some great ideas so far. G/C are always a good choice along with product including e-books.
Just an off the wall thought — how about a specific drawing for budding writers. You have a workshop in the summer on HOW to write with emotion — how how about a specific entry pool of those who wish a mini-session with a wonderful author — on the subject of their choice. Be it writing with emotion, how they clear a mental block, getting complex thought process put into fewer words that explode the mind with visuals? Mmmm I’d like that. MY issue – I write long, get disjointed and wish to pull it all together in a much shorter, more focused and highly erotic mode – but I cannot seem to achieve it.
This is a thought anyway.
Enjoy and thank you for encouraging ideas.
Doni
I love the ideal of gift certificates from anywhere that sells books. I have to admit I’m a book thong addict I love them I’ve bought so many of them. I think that would be a very good small prize. Jewelry is okay but I don’t wear anything but ear rings. To me it all sounds like great prizes.
I am a huge fan of gift cards so that’s definitely my recommendation. Places like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Target, Wal-Mart, Starbucks, or Borders are some of my faves.
I really like the idea of gift certificates for online bookstores. Jewelry would be neat to. There are some etsy shops and such that make jewelry to go along with certtain books. I’m not real big on book thongs personally, I have way to many already. But the gift certificates are my favorite idea.
Gift certificates from anywhere are always a good choice.
Gift certificates are definitely a popular prize, but I think jewelry would be nice, too. Chocolate is also a good prize.
Love the idea of gift certificates, especially for e-books. The idea about a gift of a mini workshop is a good suggestion, too. I have no idea what a book thong is, but sounds interesting.
What about 30 minutes of your time in your chat room? What about critiquing a chapter of the winner’s manuscript? What about your favorite How-To-Write book signed by you? What about a signed copy of your own book colored-coded according to the 4 realities of the characters? What about 30 minutes of your authors’ time in the chat room (if you could talk them into giving up their time?) I would love to talk with Richard Savage about his story in The Crimson Z. Just some ideas. Of course, you can’t go wrong with chocolate! MM
It is always fun winning something, so the smaller prizes will be great too I think.
I love to win!
Gift certificates/cards are nice. I always like GC from online book stores but maybe GC from some national chain establishmens, like Starbucks for example.
I also like book thongs, book bags, promotional pens, post-it notes, note pads, etc.
I like the idea of offering little prizes.
Thanks for the next contest!
I already have an ereader so gift cards would be so great…Im trying to load mine up with books books books.
Since I no longer have any room on my shelves for the paper books the ereader works out wonderful!
I love my ereader….I take it everywhere. Its so nice and portable and fits in my purse without taking up much space
Mariella, what great suggestions. This has got to be the coolest site for book lovers!
Wow, this is wonderful. Thanks for the opportunity!
I forgot to mention, I think gift certificates would be grand.
I like the idea of 30 minutes of your time in a chat session. You’ve already given me some great suggestions on paper, but would love to hear more of your thoughts one on one. The idea of more prizes by making them smaller is great too.
I absolutely LOVE THE IDEA of lots of smaller prizes as well as the big one. That adds so much joy for so many folks. It is always such fun to get a surprize in the mail. Checking the mailbox and finding it empty is a letdown. Also, inexpensive prizes can truly be thrilling and some times so useful. Costume jewelry is much more practical than expensive jewelry one seldom wears. Even a bar of candy is sure to be eaten. LOL
I might add that I love nice-smelling items. Bars of lavender soap, hand lotion, room atomizers, body talc. Lying in the tub with wonderful scents floating around is so relaxing and pure heaven for me.
Smaller prizes leading up to the big one is great. Mariela has beautiful ideas too, especially if readers out there want to become published. I’m a firm believer in gift certificates for books, the things I enjoy most in the world.
I love gift certificates for books from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. Also like the jewelry idea and book thongs!
I also like getting bookmarks, book bags and other promotional items.
Thanks for the great giveaways!
I just like to win! Gift certificates for ebooks and book thongs are always nice-anything that helps me buy books!!!!
All of your suggestions are great!
I love the idea of winning a Kindle. I lust for a Kindle!!
I think it is a great way to give people a chance to win the new ebook readers, especially when the price is a bit prohibitive.
Please enter me in your contest!!! Thank you!
Gift certificates are always good prizes, but jewelry would definitely work as well. As a lover of book thongs I would be very happy to see that as one of your smaller prizes.
I have more than one website but this one has spokes that lead to others. I just am happy when I win anything – I would love a book reader aka Kindle – my son on the West Coast let me read on his during a car trip to his daughter’s[my granddaughter]graduation. I am a book fanatic and a computer plugged in person.
The Kindle was great to my surprise – there are a lot of e books that I would love to read [I am on BookRix for example]and buy from various authors but after having several computers crash I am leery of buying a book I may never read.
I cannot afford a book reader at this point so it’s is on my wish list. As to other prizes – I am easy – I love to be surprised with books by new authors [there are so many unmined gems]and any author I know or do not know. New and unknown or unread are an adventure. The known are comfortable. Book marks are great! I hate dog-eared pages as I sell books on line and now have started to write children’s books.
Thanks for the opportunity to win!…Paula Shene, author of Mandy The Alpha Dog
I also love the idea of gift certificates from anywhere that sells books. Book bags, bookmarks (some signed maybe), author sticky notes, candles maybe? Also how about a Nook from Barnes & Noble, instead of a Kindle, the whole Kindle has to be sent back when the battery dies and the Nook is rechargeable or so I’ve read and heard, But either one is fine for contests like this and others, I’d be happy with any ereader, lol. Ok chocolate is always a great idea for a giveaway
Some of the small prizes could be swag. Bookmarks, magnets, keychains and other things related to the books. Or getting the authors to sign the print books that are given away in special contests like this. Talk with the authors. See if they have any stuff to give as the prizes.
I like to get actual books by an author, or a gift certificate to buy their book. Some coffee or hot chocolate goes good with reading a book.
Signed books are always great for prizes. Gift certificates, jewelry and chocolate are my favorites, along with author swag of all types.
Love the idea of amazon gift certificates, but could I also suggest Kindle accessories, like covers and lights?
Gift Certificates are a brilliant idea.
Seems like gift certificates please everyone. Not everyone here would have any use for advice for writers, but maybe there could be a choice between that and something readers could use. I have never even seen a device for reading books, but those here who have them seem to like them. I do love to read, but usually prefer actual books, since I pass them on to others.
I have a small collected of author signed books, so autographed books are a great idea. I also like the idea of gift cards to places like Best Buy or FYE, where I can buy accessories to reading like mood music or book lights or even flash drives to store extra eBooks on for backup once I finally get my Kindle.
Another great idea for smaller gifts would be candles or gift cards to someplace like Bath and Body works – where we can buy wonderfully smelly stuff for warmy bubbly soaks where we read books.
Of course, if you’re really getting creative, a framed, hand-written, signed poem written by an author would be a FABULOUS addition to my reading room…. hint, hint!!!!!
Gift cards , bath and body lotions, signed books, shirts, sweatshirts,w/the BVS logo maybe, tot bags, cd’s, maybe movie cards. Let me think on it I can come up with other things.
Heidi S
You can’t go wrong with Amazon gift certificates. Book marks, book lights and shirts are great too!
Small prizes are always fun to win as well as the big one. Promotional items like post its and totebags or book thongs are nice.
Gabrielle
Has anyone suggested chocolates?