Is It Worth It?

/ Mae Clair

Hello, SEers, and happy Hump Day. As you read this, I’m vacationing in sunny Florida, and probably won’t be online much. The other SE authors have agreed to pitch in and reply to comments on this post while I’m away, so I hope you’ll share some thoughts below.

I’ve been living in the world of deadlines followed by edits so I haven’t done much in the way of promotion lately. The other day I clicked on a blog post that was part of a new release blog tour. The book being hosted sounded intriguing. There was a Rafflecopter involved, and I waffled back and forth on whether I wanted to devote the time. It made me realize how unlikely I am to follow through with Rafflecopter offerings these days.

Remember the day when everyone was a ‘copter fan and we thought nothing of clicking and entering our email address? Remember when all you had to do was leave a comment on the blog post? My, how times have changed! Did we go bat-crazy and  ratchet too many items on the Rafflecopter entry list?

My day job is in real estate. When I started in this business many moons ago, a standard corporate referral was 25%. After a while it grew to 30%. Then it eked to 31% (seriously—a 1% increase. Someone must have wanted to buy an island). After that it bloomed to 35%, then 37% . Lately we’ve been seeing 40%. If no one balks, the envelope keeps getting pushed. Did we do the same thing with Rafflecopter entries, gradually tacking on one after another?

ENTER TO WIN message on cell phone with hand poised to tap, table with laptop, coffee and glasses

The last few  I checked involved:

  • Commenting
  • Tweeting
  • Sharing the tweet link
  • Following the author on Twitter
  • Visiting the author’s Facebook page
  • Following on Pinterest
  • Adding the book to GR
  • Visiting the touring company on Facebook
  • Following the touring company on Twitter
  • Signing up for the author’s newsletter (usually lots of points in that one) and probably a few other things I’ve forgotten.

Yes, I realize you don’t have to do all of those to be entered in the giveaway, but the more you do, the better your chances.

It’s gotten to the point I rarely if ever click a Rafflecopter link. I have to really want the book, and if I want it that badly, odds are I’m going to hop over to Amazon and buy it outright. As an author, how valid are those entries anyway, if someone is just looking for a free ebook or a GC to the ‘Zon?

Have I become a dinosaur? Whenever that little ‘copter pops up it seems I have to jump through way too many hoops. What do you think? Do Rafflecopter giveaways still work? Do you enter them, and if so, what entices you—a good book, a gift card? As an author do you use Rafflecopter and have you had luck with it? I’d like to know if it’s still worth hitching a ride with the whirlybird.

38 thoughts on “Is It Worth It?”

  1. A huge “thank you” to my fellow SE authors for fielding comments for me while I was away on vacation. Also, many thanks to everyone who took the time to share their opinion on this post and comment. You guys are great!

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  2. I’m with you Mae, too time consuming to click this, do that. I’ve never run one for same reasons, I don’t want to bombard others either. If I want a book I buy it. If someone’s running a free promo and I know I’d like to read that book I’ll download it. I’ve also stopped downloading books I come across just because they are free if I know I’ll never get to it with so many awaiting me on my big fat TBR on my Kindle that I truly want to read. 🙂

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  3. Pingback: Writing Links 10/30/17 – Where Genres Collide

  5. I never thought about it, but I haven’t entered a Rafflecopter recently for just the reasons you mention–too much time/work needed for not so much payback. I wonder if GoodReads giveaways are any better. And you’re right, if I really want the book, I’ll pop over to Amazon and buy it. 😀

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    • I’ll still do the Goodreads giveaways if I’m interested in the title. Once you enter your address for one entry, after that all you have to do is click “use this address.” I’ve won a few hard copies through GR, but I only enter the giveaways if I’m truly interested in the book or if a friend is running one. The more entries in a giveaway on GR, the better exposure for the book and the author.
      Rafflecopter, though, is…meh. 🙂

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  6. I used to enter RaffleCopter Giveaways and ran a few myself. Found them to be too time-consuming and now just tend to buy if I’m interested. I DO however ENTER Goodreads Giveaways! In any event, I share giveway links for books that may be of interest to my own followers or to support author friends.

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  7. I don’t think you are a dinosaur, Mae. I think you have found that a time value of participation does not yield the proper returns. I seldom click for free anything. I don’t have the time or temperament to participate. Have a great vacation.

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  8. I’ve been on both ends of the giveaway process—giver and receiver—and I hated both.

    • As the giver: Sure, I collected names for my newsletter, but then many unsubscribed on my next mailing, and my email service flagged me as a spammer. Not cool. Had to jump through a bunch of hoops to not get in trouble due to the CAN-SPAM act. Now I’m very cautious about how I get names for my mailing list.
    • As the receiver: My chances of winning might go up with every link I click, but that also lands me on a bunch of lists I don’t want to be on. And I probably won’t win whatever the prize is, anyway. It’s far easier to just purchase what I want and not deal with the hassle.

    I don’t know the answer for building lists, but I’m done with Rafflecopter and similar contests, as both a giver and receiver. It had its time, but I’ve moved on.

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    • I agree with you, Staci. I’ve signed up for a few Rafflecopter giveaways, but always end up on a mailing list that I don’t want to be a part of. Never done one, but did do an Instafreebie a while back. Got a lot of new subscribers, but they aren’t “true fans.”

      I don’t know the answers to generating more sales (per the discussion in our group) but like you I’m done with the contests.

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      • I picked up a bunch of newsletter emails from a joint giveaway I did once, and sure enough many unsubscribed the first chance they got. They were in it for the giveaway but weren’t interested otherwise. Sad. I wish there was a magic solution. Maybe one of these days, LOL!

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    • “it had its time” is a great way of putting it, Staci.
      I’m cautious too about providing my name for mailing lists. My inbox is overflowing as it is. These days I only sign up for those newsletters I’m truly interested in. Otherwise, I’m the one hitting the unsubscribe button!

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  11. From what I understand there are legal issues involved with holding a giveaway. Certain requirements are supposed to be met–the fine print, so go speak. I used to do giveaways on my blog and choose a winner randomly from the comments but stopped when I heard about this. Rafflecopter can be a pain, but I wonder if it’s a safer choice because it meets the legal requirements of a giveaway. I keep meaning to check on it because I’ll probably use it to give away a few ARCs of my upcoming book. Your post has reminded me I need to look into it. Thanks!

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  12. I have a mantra about not giving people a reason to say no. While not quite the same, the more hoops I have to jump through, the less likely I am to participate. I only participated in one, and it was a large group invitation thing. I think a majority of people feel similar to how I feel. I prefer a free day where those who see my promo can all score a free copy without dancing on my strings. I never enter them as a consumer.

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  13. I’m not a fan of Rafflecopter. I don’t want to jump through the hoops as you pointed out. Besides, most of the authors that request you to subscribe may get followers because it increases their chances, but I know that I have friends that unfollow after the giveaway or skip that altogether. I’m picky where and whit whom I share my email.

    I think you hit the nail on the head here, thr Raffle copter has lost its appeal.

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  14. For me, from the point of view of both a reader and a writer, I find that these types of giveaways have less and less appeal. Your point on all those hoops is a good one. And I’ve found that people who do want your book will get a copy if they want it that much, whereas the Rafflecopters have drawn far too many ‘bargain hunters’ who you never hear from again, or not until your next giveaway. Certainly a thought-provoking topic. Thanks, Mae! And have a good time away 🙂

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    • We had an excellent time, Harmony. It’s hard getting back into the swing of things, LOL.

      It seems that most everyone is agreement that Rafflecopter giveaways are becoming a thing of the past. Hmmm…maybe the dinosaur isn’t me, after all, but the concept itself 🙂

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