I have something I’ve been mulling over & rather than assume I know what you want I’m gonna just ask you. (something my husband would be downright giddy over if I did…just TELL him what I want)
So just tell me…
Do you want GIVEAWAYS?
Do you like them? Do they annoy you? Do you frequent sites who have them?
I’m asking because now that our little blog is growing I’m getting contacted by different people who want to promote items on my site. Usually the benefit is I get a little something in the mail and you guys get something for free. But there’s a real slippery slope here that I’ve seen some good blogs go down. I never EVER want to sacrifice content for a freebie or some cash. No way, no how. I’ve worked too hard & enjoy this blog WAY to much for me to see it’s integrity get compromised for some free cookware.
So far I’ve held to the rule that if the giveaway isn’t something grand enough that it would get me excited to go to someone else’s site to register for than it’s not worth giving them one of my posts. I do have one exception to this rule however, I’m all about supporting the Etsy mom. Being one myself I know how hard it is to get exposure & I think we should all ‘support handmade.’ I actually have a couple of Etsy giveaways lined up for some really cute little items. Is that cool with you?
So please leave a comment, let me know what you want. Yes to giveaways? Yes to only WOW giveaways? No giveaways at all…you’re here for the content? Yes to supporting mom’s doing giveaways? You get the point…
Thanks for your help on this one, I’ll feel much better about making these decisions after hearing what you have to say! (:
Ok, so I've been "lurking" your page for…oh, months now…(love it! by the way)…and I think giveaways that support moms, and/or "the big ones" are good, but personally, I prefer specific PRODUCTS over gift certificates (unless we're talking vinyl decals or other supremely cusomizable what-not).
Just my thoughts.
♥Heather
I enjoy giveways, just not too many that they overwhelm
I don't mind give aways in the least. I tried my hand at them around Christmas, and had a tough time keeping up with them myself, though.
I also like the giveaway (not that I ever win) – BUT it annoys me when you have to enter like 100 times. (leave a comment here for one entry, be my follower for one entry, buy something from the etsy site for 5 entries, blog about this giveaway for one entry etc etc etc etc…)
Just do a leave me a comment and be done with it – ya know what I mean?
I have always loved Bakerella's giveaways – first of all they are all WOW giveaways and she does it like this – leave me a comment and tell me _____________ (whats your favorite cake, who do you think will win best actor in the award show etc…). Makes for fun reading and an easy way to enter.
So, there is my opinion – HA! maybe you shouldn't have asked! hahaha!!!
Giveaways are fine, but they are definitely not something I look forward to in the Blog-o-sphere. Often, I find that they sound more like an ad. I really enjoy your site, and have just recently discovered it. I would not be turned off by a giveaway, but it's not something I enjoy as much as regular posts by sewing/craft bloggers. I usually skip the read if I know it's a giveaway or sponsor plug. 🙂 Just my two cents! Still luv ya!
Do it =) Everyone loves free things
I too, like giveaways. If it's something I'm not super interested in, I just don't enter it. 🙂
But, I agree with what (I think) one of the PPs have said, and get frustrated by all the "for extra entries…" stuff. It doesn't seem fair to people who don't blog or tweet, and if I'm being completely honest, I was telling my Hubby that it seems like blogs often only do that to further build readership. Which is fine, if that's your intent. 🙂 But from what you've said in this blog post, I get the impression that it's not. 😉
I did a week long Etsy only giveaway for my blogs "birthday" last month and I had a lot of fun doing it. I also have another giveaway going on now, but I refuse to be a complete advertisement only blog like some other ones I've had to stop following. I think it cheapens the so called brand. I only plan on doing a giveaway if its something I myself would want or ANYTHING from Etsy because I LOVE that place.
I like some giveaways but not one everyday – I like more of the wow stuff. But I think all you should have to do is enter by comment (I don't like re-tweeting, etc.) So I would say yes to Wow giveaways or ones that are really neat. 😉
I like giveaways, but I mostly read blogs for inspiration and project ideas. As long as the projects don't stop, I think they are great. Another vote for simple though… I don't bother entering when there are 20 ways to get en entry.
I agree w/ PPl, just one comment and be done. I have seen some blogs where a giveaway was every other post… that's annoying but every once in a while for etsy mom's is nice. I have found some really great shops that way.
It's quite funny that you post this…I was looking on your blog to see if you do any advertising the other day! On one hand yes I like an occasional good giveaway…but I agree with you…some great blogs get carried away and perhaps greedy and turn into one big giveaway! I think you offer so many great freebie tutorials that you deserve a little kick back. I think most of your readers would feel that way and if it's not daily no big deal! AND if you do start offering….let me know 🙂
Ok, the free beer pic was super cute! As for giveaways, I think you should…ONLY if you would like the giveaway yourself, and like some of the other comments, you don't have to jump thru hoops to get it. I luv ur blog, u encouraged me to take the plunge and buy my sewing machine, haven't used it yet but you get the point 🙂 Luv ur spirit. Take cares.
Giveaways are fun, but not too often! Stick with your current content (awesome =) and if you find something totally rockin', go for it!
I think giveaways are fun! I think big ones are fun, but the little Etsy shop ones are great too, it's fun to win anything! I don't think it would distract from your blog at all, as long as the giveaways are something your readers would like. I'd be happy to do a giveaway from my Etsy shop if you decide to do them!
I'm so inspired by the things you make. You should definitely do give aways. I mean why not? Not everyday. I work full time and don't have a lot of time to start being crafty. Plus I don't have a kiddo to make things for. But you could still give away a sewing machine maybe- start off big, haha :). But give aways or not I will still come back and look at the stuff you have made for Sam. It is very creative.
I think give-aways can be fun – for a sometimes thing. I really do enjoy your blog (I never thought – oh wow – I really wish she'd have give-aways though).
I think it's a great idea to promote handmade & etsy moms.
I like giveaways! But like others said, I'm not a fan of the ones where you can do multiple things to earn multiple entries. I like the way The Pioneer Woman does it on her site, where she asks you to answer a question to win, then has a program randomly select the winner.
I love giveaways, when they're things that are relevant… for instance, as a mom, I love giveaways for toys, clothes, hairbows, etc. However, things like tabasco sauce really don't thrill me. I think as long as you're choosy, it'd be a great idea.
I love giveaways, but only ever so often, or combined with other posts. Sometimes I get excited that a favorite blog of mine has a new post…only to realize its a giveaway post (often for something I'm not wild about). I say go for it in moderation, with products/services that you believe in 🙂
Giveaways are great! I agree with many of the above comments, like…one comment/one entry deal, so long as it doesn't distract from your great projects!, support the etsy shops. I'd still read giveaways or not.
DON'T DO IT! You are right, I think they compromise the integrity of good blogs. I hate when giveaways and winner announcements clog up my reader, and I often un-follow blogs that have too many.
There are plenty of places people can go for giveaways, please don't become just one more.
I think people like your blog because it is the perfect mix of good craft content and just the right amount from your personal life, and of course a really cute kid. That's why I like it. If you start doing giveaways, you are going to get all these readers and you won't know if they are here for the content or the free stuff. It's like blog-whoring if you ask me.
Of course, I'm not going to say I've never entered a giveaway before. But I always appreciate when people are giving away things they made themselves, kind of as appreciation. I guess it can be done well in moderation.
But of course you do what you want, looks like I am in the minority here. And since people are already trying to get a piece of the publicity action, I'd imagine you would get bombarded if you did decide to you start.
I love your blog the way it is because you are smart and adorable 🙂
i say do it. and if you want to give away something *i* made and promote MY etsy shop, well then that's an even better idea 🙂 LOL
I agree with some of the others. I like the giveaways that are just one comment. It makes it fun and you feel like you have an even chance!
for me, i'm here for the content. if you choose to go the give-away route, i'd prefer fewer give-aways. if/when you come across something that's so awesome it knocks your socks off, well then i at least want to hear about it! in those cases a give-away wouldn't be a bad thing.
For me, I come to read yuor content. Giveaways seem to be something that a lot of blogs are trying to do to get more followers. ( A LOT of them want you to follow them, or follow their sponsors, friends, etc.) It is rally annoying. You should go with it if you are comfortable with keeping up with it, but making people follow other's blogs is just not good. I hope that helps. 🙂
Yes to WOW Giveaways!! Esp, the cute little things that you make! Can I request that you make some cute for little boys too?! I have an almost 19 month old son and find it SOOOOOO difficult to find cute clothes for him!!
-Nelly
Yes to all, but you should give it a trial and if you don't feel like your blog is as enjoyable for YOU anymore, just say no to the next offer.
yes to Wow giveaways
I love giveaways, but I agree with everyone else. Just leave a comment and thats it, one entry per person.
go for it, as long as the thing you're giving away is something you really would like (or think your readers will like)
Yes to "Wow" giveaways…. quality over quantity 🙂
I like giveaways but I never win. 🙂 I'd say yes to amazing products you legitimately love (remember that brady bunch episode where they had to try out the laundry soap before they would advertise for it?) and etsy shops (b/c I happen to have one- how about that) on special occasions/limited occasions. Or all of a months' or seasons' giveaways at one time so you get multiple winners and your blog doesn't get cluttered by giveaways. Sorry for the ramblingness of my comment.
I say yes to giveaways, although I never win. It is fun to see the new items out there and also to see who the lucky ducks are!
I tend to only enter for items I truly want and love, I hate stealing the opportunity for someone else to win on something I really dont care about. I vote for good giveaways sometimes. Love giveaways, but i dont care for blogs that only blog about giveaways.
I love giveaways, just not all the time – keep it once a week or less i think. and yes, I definitely only enter giveaways that you have to leave a comment for – not 5 entries for picking your favorite thing, being a fan on facebook, etc. i usually only enter the ones i am interested in, but don't mind seeing ones out there that i may not want for myself. i say go for it – i know you will keep it classy.
Giveaways are a great way to promote an Etsy shop, but they are super annoying when you have to do a million posts to enter. Those blogs get banished off of my reader, never to be seen again! JK 🙂 but that is annoying and I've enjoyed reading your blog for several months now and I'm inspired to start teaching myself how to sew. I like that you are a real mom that posts about real situations in your life and how you are able to manage your time between mommyhood and crafting.
So thanks for not compromising the interesting factor of your blog by posting about "annoying" giveaways.
I say no, they are annoying.
I am with the majority here. I like the giveaways
1. if it's something really cool
2. if it promotes a small business especially a mommy business. It's hard to get a start out there and I think it's wonderful when people like you who have a great following help to promote a product you believe in,
and 3. You don't have to run all over the internet to get an entry. Those really irritate me.
But either way with or with out giveaways I will still be a faithful follower 🙂
Honestly, whenever I see a giveaway post I usually just skim right over it. I know I'll never win. It does bug me when sites dedicate two posts a week to giveaways, one for the giveaway one for the winner. If you could just announce the winner on the next week's post or just don't make a whole separate post about it so it doesn't take over your blog, then I think you should do it. And just select stuff that you like!
Ixnay to the giveaway. It seems to be a blackmail for lots of comments and posts. I'm all about content on a blog without obtrusive advertising.
I just started reading your blog a few weeks ago- and I love it for the content. One of my favorite bloggers started doing giveaways- now the blog is slowed down by banners and buttons and and the content has changed. I say bag it.
I Like Give-A-Ways, though I have yet to win one anywhere yet….LOL What I do not like is when there are so many stipulations for chances to win….For example, leave a comment here for one chance, blog about this give-a-way for another chance, become a fan of mine in Facebook for another chance, etc. I like the idea of everyone having ONE chance even if I don't win….LOL Just my humble opinion….=)
I Like Give-A-Ways, though I have yet to win one anywhere yet….LOL What I do not like is when there are so many stipulations for chances to win….For example, leave a comment here for one chance, blog about this give-a-way for another chance, become a fan of mine in Facebook for another chance, etc. I like the idea of everyone having ONE chance even if I don't win….LOL Just my humble opinion….=)
I don't mind giveaways and actually appreciate the chance to win if I like the item. And I think the fact that you're putting this Q out there for your readers to weigh in on speaks volumes as to whether you'd ever let your blog morph into something unrecognizable. Do what feels right for you–you've built your following on just that so I say go with your instincts! :).
As long as we still get you're fabulous craft ideas, I think it's a great idea! And I love Etsy, but it's sometimes hard to dig through and find the stuff I like. Good for you and good for us!
Just wanted to say I love your blog. I subscribe to a lot of blogs and you are one of my FAvorites because you keep it real. If you decide to add a few giveaways or not, I'll just keep reading it:) Hope you are having a great day- keep up the good work!
I don't mind if you have a few giveaways. I don't really enter them, but others seem to like it. Also I really appreciate you being so real! Honestly I am kinda getting tired of some other blogs that seem too self absorbed and want to project an image that they are pefect mommys and perfect crafters. And that just can't be the case! I love humble, honest, real people. Thanks!
giveaways are lame
You completely hit the way I feel about giveaways on the nose — sometimes I feel they make a blog just plummet. I think as a sometimes thing or for a product or creation you absolutely adore or made yourself, go for it. But don't let the giveaways, run the show.
Giveaways are good as long as they are WOW and not all the time!
Congrats on your blog doing so well, I love it!
I LOVEEE UR BLOG and congrats on it doin so well. i love giveaways and i support handmade especially mommy made things. i think we should support mommys doing great things 🙂
I agree with most of the people above=) I'm fine with helping the etsy mom occasionally, I'm fine with the occasional WOW giveaway, but I only think it's fair for you to be able to enter one way…with a comment and only one time. I love your blog…it's actually my favorite, because you are extremely talented and the tutorials you post are your own. I'm not a huge fan of the blogs that are classified ads for anyone that wants to be on them. I enjoy your daily happenings too….the letter to Sam's bowels was hilarious! Keep doing what you're doing,
Melissa=)
My opinion is if a seller of a product is sponsoring a giveaway, that is fine. Otherwise, I wonder about the person's motive in promoting the item on the blog.
If someone else is doing the giveaway then I wonder, is it because she really believes in the product and so much she is willing to conduct a giveway; moreso than a testimonial and a link? Or, is it because she was "paid" and I am now reading a commercial rather than an insight? I wonder why the seller isn't doing the giveaway herself and gathering new followers on the seller's site/blog/shop that the seller can now market to.
Too many "Mommy blogs" (sorry if that offends anyone) have "sold out". If you are helping a friend or a product you truly believe in, then go for it. Times are tough and some folks really need the extra support.
Giveaways are great! and I love humble, honest, real people,really I have enjoyed reading your blog for several months now and I'm inspired to start teaching myself how to sew. Thank you and keep it up.
gym bags
I love gifts! However, like other people say, I am not a fan of those things you can do more to earn more than one entry. The Pioneer Woman I like it on her website, she asked to answer questions you win, you have a program that randomly selected winners.