How To Make Money Doing Surveys and Sweepstakes Online

A few years ago, an online-friend began telling me how she won enough sweepstakes to cover the gifts her children wanted for the Holidays. Her children had asked for x-boxes, WII's, DVDs, etc. Even with the best coupon site, she was doing much better sweep-staking!

Her first "rule" was to go to the sites which were legit, only! For this you can research and even find a "free" legit site. Some sites offer membership fee's, depending on how long you want your membership. I decided to try it, and joined for just a few dollars. This gave me access to over five-thousand legit sweeps!

During my "trial" membership, I had access to the forums. This is where I learned the rules of sweep-staking,. Networking in the forums is invaluable as a "newbie!" There are many types of contests, and I will list a few.

1.) 24 hour sweeps

2.) Instant sweeps- I have won many of these on the sweepstakes site I belong to. The best time to enter an instant sweeps seems to be when they first appear and some people have had luck winning between the hours of 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. depending on your time zone.

3.) Blog sweeps- These reqiure some research. I would feel more comfortable going with a contest from a blogger who has a proven track record. But, that is not to say a new blogger would be just as good. These take trial and error.

4.) Restricted sweeps, IE: which States are included.

5.) Sweeps which cover the item (s), you are looking for.

6.) One time sweep- may only enter one time. This may mean for an individual or for an entire family. The rules do spell it out. These are great sweeps to win when you follow all of the rules to a "T."

The most important part of doing sweepstakes is to read every word of the sponsor's rules. If you follow these rules to a fault, your entry will make it to the finals. Watch for age range, date of contest, and the instructions from the sponsor if it is a mail-in sweep.

The best odds are include a sweeps or contest with a small contest area, a lot of prizes, and a short contest time. I have had good luck with "restricted" sweeps. I once wrote a short essay on a type of rug cleaner, and won a case of the product!

With this beginning information, it is wise to study which contests are winning and understand why. Then you can make your own personal goals for winning. In my first few years, I did spend about four to six hours entering sweeps. As you enter, you learn what the sponsors require. I kept a daily notebook and wrote down each sweep in the very beginning. Then I was able to move on and develop spreadsheets listing my winnings. There may be a different way for you to keep track of your sweeping. However you organize is up to you! If you don't enter, you won't win...so enter as many as you possibly can!

  When you begin sweep-staking, surveys are a nice incentive to add to your routine. Once you become a member of a well respected Online Sweep-staking site, the forums will give you more than enough information regarding legit survey sites. I have found it very helpful to check the forums a few times each day. Companies will open an offer, "to the first XXX." I've lost out and been approved, about evenly. The Company may offer a gift card, a full size of their product, or even offer you a coveted spot in a Communispace Forum. These Forums can last from days to months, with rewards for participating on a monthly basis.

 Again, it is extremely important to read through the Official Rules and comply.

 Once you feel confident enough to join a few survey companies, you should see points accruing, or a "Win" come through in a short amount of time. This is if you commit yourself to finishing the surveys the Company sends to you.

 Since I began doing both surveys and sweepstakes online, I have won: a DELL Laser Printer, one Thousand dollars, (from one survey!), IPOD Nanos, IPOD Shuffles, DVDs, P.C. Games, Audio-Books, many Gift Cards, Books, Perfume, a pair of Ski's, a year log subscription to Netflix, Magazines, One years supply of rug cleaner, many coupons for free items, a lot of high priced makeup, a huge jar of body scrub, eight bottles of moisturizer, board games, and checks! There are too many to list here, but this should give you a good idea.

A few tips:

Always write a "Thank You" note to the Company you won from.

Don't give up too soon, it does take time to build success!

Network on the Forums, assist people new to the World of Surveys and Sweeping.

Only enter sweepstakes you really want to win.

When you do begin winning, and "The Brown Truck" or "Fed-Ex Truck" are very frequent visitors to your driveway, please be courteous and remember the Driver's during the Holidays!

The same goes for your loyal Mail person. These people are all a part of your success.

I wish you many great wins!

Resources:

www.Online-Sweepstakes.com

www.sweepsheet.com

www.thewinningedge.com