Sweepstakes and contests both give people an opportunity to win prizes and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. But the truth is there are some very distinct differences between the two and knowing the differences may help you pick the one that gives you a better chance of winning. Here’s a quick look at how sweepstakes and contests differ.
What are sweepstakes?
Sweepstakes are usually run by businesses in order to generate awareness about their offerings. They are extremely simple to enter. Typically, to enter online sweepstakes, you will need to provide some personal information about yourself like your name, email address, and contact number. Some sweepstakes may have entry restrictions - for instance you may find that a particular sweepstake is only open to people living in a certain city or state or that it is only open to those over the age of 21. Some businesses may require you to sign up for their email newsletters to qualify. Once you submit your sweepstakes entry, the sponsor or administrator usually picks a random winner and awards them the prize.
How are contests different?
Contest winners, unlike sweepstakes winners, are not chosen at random. Contests usually test your creativity or skills, so you may be asked to submit a poem, photo, essay, or video. Some contests ask you to provide your opinion on a certain topic. The judges, in this case, review the entries and award the prize based on the quality of the entry.
Which one should you enter?
Now that you know how contests and sweepstakes differ, you’re likely wondering which one you should enter. The truth is, it depends entirely on what your goals are. If you have a certain skill or are creatively inclined and don’t mind investing more time in the entry, it makes sense to look out for contests that give you a better chance of winning. However, if you want to submit a number of entries every day, without having to do much other than submitting your personal information, sweepstakes are the way to go!
