Helpful Tips

Many people seem to be under the impression that winning a radio contest is nearly impossible and is all a matter of luck. These people are wrong on both counts. Here are some helpful tips that will dramatically increase your odds of winning (for phone contests):

1) Use a phone with fast redial. Using a computer generally works best (Google Voice through Gmail works great). Land lines tend to be the second quickest with cell phones lagging far behind (unless your phone allows wifi calls). The good news is that most of the callers will be using cell phones, so with a bit of planning, you will have a leg up on the competition.

2) Use as many phones as you can. This one is fairly obvious, but the trick is to be creative with what can be used as a phone. Enlist computers (Google Voice, Skype, etc.), iPod Touch (Talkatone app works ok), etc. And keep in mind that newer laptops generally have a built-in microphone.

3) Recruit friends. This is extremely helpful where a contest requires specific passwords or progressive guessing over multiple days (higher/lower dollar amounts). But even for simple contests, it is fun to have friends to share in the excitement with. You will probably want to agree to split winnings so that everyone has a better chance of at least winning something.

4) Set alarms. If you are trying to win a contest that happens at set times, set a reminder alarm on your phone, computer, etc. for a few minutes before the contest to remind you to listen or call in.

5) Call on the weekend. Many contests don't run on the weekend, but those that do tend to be easier to win. People are a lot less likely to listen and call in when they aren't in their daily routine, either listening at work or during their commute.

6) Try different phone numbers. Many contests will have a 470-XXXX, 570-XXXX, and 670-XXXX number to call in with. If you are using multiple phones, be sure to call different lines with each phone so you aren't competing with yourself. And experiment with different numbers to find out which one is easier to get through on because people use it less (670-XXXX is my personal favorite).

7) Auto-redial app. If you have a smart phone, get an auto-redial app. If you find one that works, it can make redialing much quicker and can allow you to manage more phones while calling in. We personally use Auto Redial for Android.

8) Be persistent! Occasionally you will win the first time you try, but usually it takes a few tries (or more) to make it happen.

Did we miss any? Chime in with what works for you in the comments!