Has the rise of online competitions marked the end of paper-based entry methods?

As a growing number of people opt to satisfy their need for information and entertainment online, has the opportunity to enter online competitions resulted in the decline of paper-based chances to win? For dedicated competition enthusiasts (compers), having the chance to enter free online competitions is a fantastic opportunity, but what about paper-based comps?

Has the digital age meant the end of traditional competitions which involve snail mail or cutting out coupons? Here we take a quick look at whether paper-based comps are still out there and if so whether they’re worth entering?

Promotional packaging offers lots of winning opportunities

Frequently your invitation to enter competitions online won’t come through your Inbox or via social media. Companies that want you to buy their products often advertise their competitions on the packaging.

A quick tour around the supermarket will be certain to yield several different winning opportunities, all displayed on boxes, bottles or cartons. These usually include a link to enter competitions online as well as a postal option if you prefer.

Particularly when a purchase is required in order to take part, looking for competitions whilst you do your weekly shop is a great way of finding new chances to win.

Locally based competitions

Whether it’s a competition run by the local council to improve recycling figures or a prize draw sponsored by your nearby trade confederation to boost high street sales, there are often chances to win which have a geographically distinct element.

Find these competitions by having a look at your local newspaper, in shop windows or at your council offices.

If you prefer the virtual route, search for the online edition of your local paper or council and enter free online competitions through that medium.

Local businesses and organisations tend to enable people to enter their competitions through a range of different methods, so you can enter competitions online or through traditional means.

Magazine competitions

The wonderful thing about magazine competitions is that, in common with many media, you can enter competitions online or through the post.

Multiple entry methods are now common for all types of competition, allowing entrants to choose the method which best suits their needs.

If you’ve always enjoyed buying a magazine and posting off your competition entry coupons, you can still do that.

Equally, if you prefer to enter competitions online you can take part in exactly the same contest as the paper-based entrant but using email or a virtual entry form instead.

Although there probably far more virtual competitions available to keen compers than there are paper-based options, it’s great to know that magazines, packaging and other traditional locations for fantastic competitions still offer rich pickings for competition enthusiasts. The rise of multiple entry routes for the same competition (online, by phone, by text, by post) has resulted not in fewer competitions, but rather in competitions being open to more people in more ways.

Whether you are an old hand at comping and love the anticipation as you pop your entries into the post box, or are a virtual whizz at clicking the “enter” icon for an online competition, there are still plenty of amazing prizes on offer, so make sure you always find some time to start taking part and increasing your chances of a life-changing prize.