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How to Make Money from Online Contests - Complete Guide

Contest green word text hanging on white background

Participating in online contests
can be a fun and exciting way to earn some extra money. With the rise of social media and online platforms, there are now numerous opportunities to participate in contests and win cash, prizes, or even a chance to become a viral sensation. 

In this article, we will explore the best known options for making money from participating in online contests. Read how to make money from your mobiles.

What Are Online Contests?

Online contests are competitions that take place entirely online, where participants can enter and compete for prizes or cash. These contests can range from simple quizzes and games to more complex challenges and competitions. Online contests can be hosted by various platforms, including social media, websites, and mobile apps.

How to Participate in Online Contests

To participate in online contests, you will need to follow these steps:
  1. Find Online Contests: Search for online contests on social media platforms, websites, and mobile apps. You can also use search engines like Google to find contests that match your interests.
  2. Read the Rules: Carefully read the rules and regulations of each contest to ensure you understand what is required to participate and win.
  3. Enter the Contest: Follow the instructions provided to enter the contest. This may involve answering questions, submitting a video or photo, or completing a task.
  4. Promote Your Entry: Share your entry on social media and encourage friends and family to vote for you.

Best Known Options for Making Money from Online Contests

Here are some of the best known options for making money from participating in online contests:
  1. Quizzes and Games: Participate in online quizzes and games that offer cash or prizes for winning. Examples include Kahoot, QuizUp, and Trivia Crack.
  2. Video Contests: Enter video contests that offer cash or prizes for creating the best video. Examples include YouTube's Creator Academy and Vimeo's Video Contest.
  3. Photo Contests: Participate in photo contests that offer cash or prizes for taking the best photo. Examples include Instagram's Photo Contest and Flickr's Photo Contest.
  4. Writing Contests: Enter writing contests that offer cash or prizes for writing the best story or essay. Examples include the National Writing Contest and the Writing Contest.
  5. Social Media Contests: Participate in social media contests that offer cash or prizes for creating the best post or engaging with a brand. Examples include Twitter's #FollowFriday and Facebook's #ThrowbackThursday.
  6. Online Sweepstakes: Enter online sweepstakes that offer cash or prizes for entering and winning. Examples include the Online Sweepstakes and the Sweepstakes.
  7. Gaming Tournaments: Participate in gaming tournaments that offer cash or prizes for winning. Examples include the Fortnite World Cup and the League of Legends Championship Series.

Tips for Winning Online Contests

Here are some tips for winning online contests:
  1. Read the Rules: Carefully read the rules and regulations of each contest to ensure you understand what is required to participate and win.
  2. Be Creative: Be creative and think outside the box when entering contests. This can help you stand out from the competition and increase your chances of winning.
  3. Promote Your Entry: Share your entry on social media and encourage friends and family to vote for you.
  4. Stay Organized: Keep track of the contests you enter and the deadlines for each contest.
  5. Practice: Practice and improve your skills before entering contests. This can help you perform better and increase your chances of winning.

What are the Most Popular Online Contests that Pay Cash

Social media
Social media
Interactive technologies for content sharing through virtual communities
Definition
Interactive Web 2.0 Internet-based applications that facilitate the creation, sharing, and aggregation of content, ideas, and other forms of expression.
Key Features
User-generated content, service-specific profiles, development of online social networks.
User Engagement
Users access through web-based apps on desktops or mobile devices, creating highly interactive platforms for sharing, co-creation, and discussion.

Here are some of the most popular online contests that offer cash prizes:

1. Sweepstakes and Giveaways:

  • Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes
  • Omaze Sweepstakes
  • Rafflecopter Giveaways
  • Gleam Giveaways

2. Video Contests:

  • YouTube Creator Awards
  • TikTok Creator Fund
  • Vimeo Video Contest
  • Viddsee Juree Awards

3. Photo Contests:

  • National Geographic Photo Contest
  • Smithsonian Photo Contest
  • 500px Contests
  • Agora Awards

4. Writing Contests:

  • Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
  • Writer's Digest Writing Competitions
  • Narrative Magazine Contest
  • Glimmer Train Short Story Award

5. Gaming Tournaments:

  • Fortnite World Cup
  • League of Legends Championship Series
  • Dota 2 The International
  • Call of Duty League Championship

6. Social Media Contests:

  • Twitter #Hashtag Contests
  • Instagram Photo/Video Contests
  • Facebook Sweepstakes
  • TikTok Challenges

7. Miscellaneous Contests:

  • HackerRank Coding Contests
  • Kaggle Data Science Competitions
  • Topcoder Programming Challenges
  • Freelancer.com Contests
The key to winning these online contests is to carefully read the rules, follow the entry requirements, and promote your entry across your social media channels. Additionally, staying up-to-date with the latest contest opportunities and honing your skills in the relevant areas can increase your chances of success.

Top 10 Sites Offering Online Contests

1. Online-Sweepstakes.com

  • Comprehensive listings of various contests and sweepstakes with user reviews and a supportive community.

2. Contestgirl.com

  • Easy-to-navigate site featuring a wide variety of contests and giveaways, with daily updates and categorized listings.

3. Contest Bee

  • Curated collection of high-quality online contests with substantial prizes, focusing on trustworthy and credible competitions.

4. Sweepstakes Advantage

  • Large selection of sweepstakes and contests with advanced search options and member forums for tips and advice.

5. WritersDigest.com

  • Reputable site hosting various writing competitions, offering cash prizes and publication opportunities for writers.

6. Viewbug.com

  • Popular platform for photography contests, providing exposure for photographers and significant cash prizes.

7. 99designs.com

  • Well-known site for design contests, allowing graphic designers to showcase their talent and win cash awards.

8. FanStory.com

  • Offers a range of writing contests for both amateur and professional writers, with feedback and cash prizes.

9. Photocrowd.com

  • Hosts regular photo competitions with valuable feedback and significant cash prizes, ideal for photographers.

10. ArtStation.com

  • Holds art contests regularly, showcasing artwork to a larger audience and offering cash prizes for artists.

How to Find Contests in Social Media

Here are some tips for finding online contests on popular social media platforms:

1. Facebook:

  • Search for "contest" or "giveaway" in the Facebook search bar to find pages and groups hosting contests.
  • Check the pages of brands, influencers, and businesses you follow for contest announcements.
  • Join Facebook groups related to your interests, as they often host contests.
2. YouTube:
  • Search for terms like "YouTube contest", "YouTube giveaway", or the name of a specific creator you follow.
  • Check the description boxes of YouTube videos for contest details.
  • Subscribe to channels that frequently run contests.
3. Twitter:
  • Search for hashtags like #contest, #giveaway, or brand-specific hashtags.
  • Follow accounts that are known for running Twitter contests, like brands, influencers, or contest-focused accounts.
  • Set up Twitter alerts for keywords like "contest" to be notified of new opportunities.
4. Instagram:
  • Search for hashtags like #instagramcontest, #instagramgiveaway, or brand-specific hashtags.
  • Follow accounts that regularly host Instagram contests, like brands, influencers, or contest-focused pages.
  • Check the bios and captions of posts for contest announcements.
5. TikTok:
  • Search for hashtags like #tiktokcontent, #tiktokviral, or brand-specific hashtags.
  • Follow TikTok creators and brands known for running contests.
  • Check the captions and descriptions of TikTok videos for contest details.

6. LinkedIn:

  • Use LinkedIn's search bar to look for keywords like "contest", "giveaway", "competition", or "prize" along with your desired category (e.g., "marketing contest" or "photography competition").
  • Follow pages related to your interests, such as marketing, photography, or entrepreneurship. These pages often host contests and giveaways.
  • Join groups focused on your interests and engage with the community. Many groups host contests and giveaways for their members.
  • Keep an eye on your LinkedIn news feed for contest announcements from your connections and pages you follow.
  • Use LinkedIn's job search feature to look for remote job openings that include contests or giveaways.

7. Pinterest:

  • Use Pinterest's search bar to look for keywords like "contest", "giveaway", "competition", or "prize" along with your desired category (e.g., "marketing contest" or "photography competition")
  • Follow boards related to your interests, such as marketing, photography, or entrepreneurship. These boards often host contests and giveaways.
  • Keep an eye on your Pinterest news feed for contest announcements from your followed boards and users.
  • Use Pinterest's search feature to look for remote job openings that include contests or giveaways.

Other Tips:
  • Sign up for contest-focused newsletters and websites that aggregate online contests.
  • Use search engines to find lists of current online contests across various platforms.
  • Follow social media accounts dedicated to sharing contest opportunities.
  • Set up Google Alerts for keywords like "online contest" to get notified of new contests.
The key is to be proactive, follow relevant accounts, and regularly search for contest-related terms across different social media platforms. This will help you discover a wide range of online contest opportunities.

Conclusion

Participating in online contests can be a fun and exciting way to earn some extra money. By following these steps and tips, you can increase your chances of winning and making money from online contests. Remember to always read the rules and regulations of each contest and be creative and organized in your approach. Good luck
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