The results of the current trend of dwindling giveaways is complete! As promised I did research on the dwindling giveaways. Here is my outlook. . .
The Current Trend of GIveaways, Sweepstakes:
I don’t think I have to tell you. You probably have already noticed. Way less giveaways! Way, way less sweepstakes! More online gambling–where you have to pay to be involved. Less radio contests! The current trend is due to continue: All due to the economy. I don’t believe the report that came out today. . .The economy is better (NOT!). In fact I just did my finances today, and it is not good at all. Every week I hear about an economic report gone bad. Polls and consumer reports with more than a tweaked report. Reports with not just twisted facts, but out and out lies! I wish I had better news for you. Remember economics: less contests, same amount of entrants: lower chances of winning! I am going to go through some of the logistics of what is going on specifically for the promotional event called a giveaway or sweepstakes.
Photo by Don Agnello on Unsplash
What Distinguishes a Sweepstakes, Contest, Game, Raffle, and Giveaway?
Promotional Giveaways:
Promotional giveaways are a promotion that yield a winner with a random entry being named the winner. In the United States, it is imperative that there be no purchase necessary, although there are rules, and the rules must be followed in order to be named the winner. That is all! No competitions, and no skill, other than following the rules so that if you are named the winner, you are qualified and the giveaway paying off to your favor. Sometimes the rules require being signed up for a mailing list, or social media following. Take into account that everyone has the right to remove their name from any and all mailing lists or following. But as per rules, by doing so puts your being named in the promotion at risk for disqualification if the rules state that you need to be signed up. Rules in giveaways must be followed explicitly, lest immediate disqualification. For our purposes, most of the time, promotions here at Versatileer (except the photo contest) are promotional giveaways. Giveaways also are distinguished from a sweepstakes that there is always a winner named. Sweepstakes can “roll over” if the criterion is not met. Note that in a sweepstakes, the winner will be named in one of the batches of individual contest windows–at some point.
Non-Promotional Giveaways:
Such a giveaway would most definitely require speed to get to the giveaway, or getting your name into it, as everyone who arrives at, or gets the name into the giveaway before it is closed is able to pick up what is being “given away”. There are no winners and losers. . .Every and anyone who is in the window of the giveaway gets whatever is given away. There are rules though. . .lines to deal with and being eligible (as in economic factors). One the window of giveaway (usually when the product is gone), the giveaway ends (online or physical). Another type of giveaway is a coupon deal, like the giveaways at the pump at a gas station, whereby they drop the price in a certain mirror of time. If you arrive too late, or the product runs out, or the time period of the giveaway ends: your yielding any part of the giveaway is lapsed. A great example of this is Black Friday line-ups outside a store before opening that morning.
Sweepstakes:
Sweepstakes are A.K.A. for a giveaway. Not much difference. There is the biggest distinction that I can think is that giveaways in the term I think of most predominantly is that usually a sweepstakes only allows an entry, where a giveaway allows more than one entry, and even daily entries. Also, a sweepstakes that doesn’t always a winner named in every round. Sweepstakes can “roll over” if the criterion is not met, and a winner will be named in one of the batches of individual contest windows–at some point. Some people and companies can beg to differ, but for our term here at Versatileer, and for the credibility, my definition so that it is clear is that any promotal giveaway that requires one entry is a sweepstakes.
Photo by Waldemar on Unsplash
Raffle:
A raffle is a promotional activity in which individuals either purchase tickets or are given tickets (as in attending an event; or a “door prize”) for the opportunity to win a prize, typically in the form of cash. Sometimes a raffle does not require cash to enter, but usually is restricted to those participants who participate in a survey or other criteria that is requirement to being entered into the raffle. The primary distinction between raffles and lotteries is that a raffle guarantees a winner, as every ticket sold is included in the drawing, except in the case of free raffles. Regulators may classify raffles as a type of gambling since participants are required to make a payment in order to have an opportunity to win. Consequently, raffles are typically restricted to non-profit organizations where permitted. Therefore, it is essential for raffles to adhere to the specific state and local laws governing them, which differ from the regulations applicable to sweepstakes or standard giveaways. Additionally, some states impose restrictions on online raffles.
Lottery:
A lottery is a means of raising money by selling numbered and/or coded tickets and giving prizes to the holders of numbers drawn at random. Lotteries usually, but not always, do not name a winner in each batch (or day). A lot of times, the criterion will not be met due to the exponentially high amount of combinations of numbers that it takes to meet the criterion of having the winning “number” actually have someone buying the winning “ticket.” Most of the time lotteries are restricted to those who either have licensing to hold a lottery, or sometimes per state are completely restricted–or the state can also be the only entity that are allowed to throw a lottery.
Contest:
A contest is yet another type of promotion, but a contest requires not only participation, but is an occasion where individuals strive for excellence in a specific sport, activity, or characteristic, such as a photo contest, the Olympics or a “beauty pageant.” Such events are governed by established rules, and failure to adhere to these regulations may result in disqualification. The key distinction lies in the fact that a contest designates a clear winner based on a scoring system, evaluation, or another method of selection. In contests, the outcome is typically determined by skill rather than chance, ensuring that the winner is chosen based on merit. While prizes are awarded, it is the demonstrated skill that ultimately determines the victor.
More Info on a Giveaway, Sweepstakes or Contest:
More rules on entering a giveaway or contest are in my classic post HERE:
Tips & Pointers – Winning in Style – Giveaways & Sweepstakes
What is Going on With the Current Trend?
Giveaway Hops:
Promotion in the form of giveaways are at an all time low! Here is an example page from an ongoing giveaway hop that was open in April of 2016, and compare it to a giveaway hop from the same hop going on right now:
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- EXAMPLE- inLinkz Giveaway Listing- September 2024
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- EXAMPLE- inLinkz Giveaway Listing- April 2016
Click Images to Enlarge
Note the trend going from a number of 100 open giveaways in April of 2016 to a total of 24 current open giveaways. This is a loss of about or near 76% over an 8 year period. Our first giveaway hop was in October of 2019, and there were over 100 websites running a giveaway. Most of the decline has happened over the last three years. Most websites from the 2016 giveaway that have been dropped are not even online anymore. This proves the fact that there is either a deficiency in the profit margins running a website so that a decision is made to turn off the website; or it proves that there were more intricate problems running a website.. For those that are on don’t feature giveaways, and are still online features the fact that promoting to giveaway audiences are not cohesive to justifying running a giveaway.
The Gleam “Giveaway Roll” List:
Promotion in the form of Gleam.io giveaways are also at an all time low! Here is an example page from my first month of running “Giveaway Roll” on the last day of the month back in February of 2021, and compare it to the last day of last month (August 2024):
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- EXAMPLE- Daily Giveaway Roll – August 31st 2024
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- EXAMPLE- Daily Giveaway Roll – February 28th 2021
Click Images to Enlarge
Note the trend going from a number of 65 open worldwide giveaways in February of 2021 to a total of 21 open worldwide giveaways as of last month’s last day of the month in August of 2024. I used the example of a last day of the month because typically, the last day of any month is always the most populated day and a great example of how a trend can be measured fairly. This is a worldwide loss of about or near 68% Gleam giveaways over an 3-1/2 year period. Our first giveaway hop was in October of 2019, and there were over 100 websites running a giveaway. This example proves there is definitely a fallout of giveaways, so it is justifiably said that giveaways are not just a medium-term deficiency, but could become a long term deficiency, granted that the trend continues for much longer, as we are now approaching a half a decade of research..
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
Radio Station Contests:
Promotion in the form of the radio station contest, one of the oldest forms of promotion in the world are at an all time low. Stations continue to hold online only contest, but at a lower rate that I could not accurately measure. The trend on the major networks’ last year trend as compared with the 2020 to 2021 statistics are HERE:
| Trend of On-Air Radio Station Cash Contests | ||
| National Media | 2023-2024 | 2020-2021 |
| iHeartMedia | 6 weeks long “Keyword” internet $1000 per day cash contest (Oct. – Dec. ’23) 8am -8pm 4 weeks long “Keyword” texting $1000 cash + trip contest: 3 x per day (Jan. – Feb. ’24) 6 weeks long “Keyword” internet $1000 per day cash contest (Mar. – Apr. ’24) 8am -8pm 6 weeks long “Keyword” internet $1000 per day cash contest (Jun.-Jul. ’24) 8am -8pm 4 weeks long “Keyword” texting $1000 cash + trip contest: 3 x per day (Aug. – PRESENT ’24) |
Consistent 4 & 5 week long texting contest during ratings; $1000 an hour: 5 am to 8 pm, rest 3 weeks, throughout the year, except off between Christmas & New Year’s in Memorial Day to Labor Day weeks (Sep. ’20- May ’21) 3 x Trips + $1000 texting contest, 6 x throughout the day on the weeks off of a cash contest up to 2-3 weeks only (Sep. ’20- May ’21) 1 x Trips + $1000 texting contest, 6 x throughout the day 4 weeks long maximum, not over the July 4th holiday (Summer ’21) |
| Audacy * | NONE | * Previously was actually Entercom Media: Consistent 4 & 5 week long texting contests; $1000 an hour: 8 am to 5 pm, rest 4 weeks, throughout the year, except off in Memorial Day to Labor Day weeks (mirrored iHeart media’s contest timeframe)(Sep. ’20- May ’21) 1 x 6 week long texting contest $1000 an hour: 8 am to 5 pm, rest 4 weeks, throughout the year, except off in Memorial Day to Labor Day weeks (Sep. ’20- May ’21) |
| AlphaMedia |
4 weeks long fall season “Keyword” internet $2000 cash per day (Oct. – Nov. ’23) 3 weeks long “Keyword” winter season internet $1000 cash per day (Jan. – Feb. ’24) |
4 week long contests; $1000 an hour: varied per station 6am to 12 am 18 entries possible per day total (Oct. ’20- Nov ’20) 3 x 4 week long contests; $1000 an hour: varied per station 6am to 12 am 18 entries possible per day total (Jan. ’21- Feb ’21) 4 week long contests; $1000 an hour: varied per station 6am to 12 am 18 entries possible per day total (Apr. ’21- May ’21) |
| HubbardMedia |
NONE | Consistent 4-6 week long contests; $1000+: some well over $1000, rules and stretegie per stations (Sep. ’20- Aug. ’21) |
| All Stations |
Varying small cash & non-cash call-in, text and other contests, very few with cash (less than 5% of the time | Varying small cash & non-cash call-in, text and other contests, very many, some with cash, even over $500 (more than 50% of the time |
More Info on Radio Station Contest:
More rules on entering a radio station contest are in my classic post HERE:
More Info on Television Contests:
More rules on entering a radio station contest are in my classic post HERE:
Celebrating World Television Day – 2023 + History of Television
Consumer Index on Sweepstakes & Giveaways:
Consumer Preferred Prize in 2016 by Age Group:
Promotion in the consumer marketplace is divided into the sectors of 4 different age groups. Please note the audience of 18-24 years old being the largest group of winners:
Consumer Preferred Prize (2016)
If Giveaways Aren’t Enough, and Gambling Becomes a Problem:
The National Council on Problem Gambling Helpline offers a confidential, 24-hour helpline for problem gamblers or their family members at 1-800-522-4700. Also there is help on a social level at:
The Future for the Giveaway:
Promotion in the consumer marketplace is sl;pw;y but surely shifting away from giveaways. The economy going on now has all to do withit, and a great economy is a must, because when too many people are not at work and or unemployed, giveaways have more entries because more people enter when they are not at work. THerefore the odds of winning has a direct impact on economic factors in that respect. From the merchant point of view, economic factors also determine that there are fewer giveaways in the state of the economy the way it is now. Team both those factors up, and chances of winning fewer giveaways are down: meaning the giveaway can be way more frustrating, netting way fewer wins per person.
Hope is that the giveaway can pick back up steam, now and into the future. . .
Photo by TheDigitalArtist courtesy of Pixabay
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This is very intersting i was one of the blog that disappeared years it no longer was worth my effort as the amount of people willing to sponser giveaways declined. Was glad to have seen & read this thank you for doing this reasch and sharing with us.
Covid did this. There was a shift of sorts during covid. After, things changed. This is one of them. It hasn’t gone unnoticed. Its sad, really.