6 Years Worth of Wins Examined

deaconmac

deaconmac

New member
I just did an audit of my contest and sweeps entries and wins over the past 6 years and I thought others might find it of interest.

During that time, I have entered 48,958 contests and won a prize at least 528 times. That’s a win ratio of 1 wins out of 1%. Here’s how they break down:

411 wins out of 19860 daily entries for a win ratio of 2.1% - total value $50,673
65 wins out of 26016 one time entries for a win ratio of 0.2% - total value $13,319
3 wins out of 294 hourly entries for a win ratio of 1.0% - total value $230
12 wins out of 465 24 hour entries for a win ratio of 2.6% - total value $15,478
25 wins out of 850 weekly entries for a win ratio of 2.9% - total value $6,672
0 wins out of 9 biweekly entries for a win ratio of 0% - total value $0
7 wins out of 818 monthly entries for a win ratio of 0.9% - total value $793
0 wins out of 67 quarterly entries for a win ratio of 0% - total value $0
5 wins out of 579 no limit entries for a win ratio of 0.9% - total value $2,745

These figures are not 100% accurate because there are instances where a contest is listed only once but I actually entered and won more than once — for example, an ongoing weekly contest that I’ve won 8 or 9 times will be listed here as only a single contest and a single win. But I don’t think those exceptions would be statistically significant.

The wins include 21 that had a value of $1,000 or more (including a car, a laptop, many trips, and cash).
 
Very interesting information. Makes you want to continue to enter contests as over the long run you will win significantly. Thanks for posting.
 
Wow great job with the breakdown deaconmac. You win regularly and win the good stuff too. Thanks for sharing!
 
Ack, numbers are NOT my friend! :crazytongue:

BUT... WOWSA, cool stats! :headbang:
 
boomercub said:
Thanks for sharing your great results. How do you keep track of all the info?
Click to expand...

When I first started entering sweeps, I designed a database in Filemaker Pro to keep track of them. It helps me automate the process of finding sweeps, recording them in the database, and then entering in accordance with the various rules. It prevents me from accidentally entering a sweeps more often than allowed, tells me when a sweeps is ending, etc. A side benefit is that it keeps track of what I win, its value, etc.

I frankly couldn't do this without it. When I'm on a web page with a contest, I click one button and it saves the URL and the page title to a record. I then add the prize(s), the closing date and any special notes. A click on a checkbox or 2 adds the frequency (once, daily, weekly, etc.) and whether it's an instant win. After submitting my entry, one more click marks the record with the date showing when I last entered. Because it's a data base, each day I can easily call up all the sweeps that require an entry that day (or that week, etc.). A click on a particular record automatically loads the URL into my browser so I can place my entry.
 
WHAT???? You need to go to OCD hospital! LOL! *Just kidding* But you are making my brain hurt with those statistics! I could never break it down like that...and I have only been doing this 10 months! LOL Great total win $$ at $50,000+! :cheers:
 
Wow! Thanks for sharing! I've been sweeping for years myself. I've often wondered what my stats would be, but I don't keep track. I do tend to look over a year and I know that my wins always pay off over time. I know that I win one-time entries and Instant Win entries much more often than any other category I enter. However, I do not enter every day, so I never hit daily entries every day. I've only won 2 big wins in all my time, but the little ones (under $500) add up, and allow me to own items I wouldn't normally be able to afford. Your numbers just got me motivated even more. Thanks! :cheers:
 
Ok, so math is not my greatest subject..considering the fact that I am debating dropping my college algebra class but I plugged in all your totals into a calculator and found that you have won $89,910 in 6 years which equals out to being $14,985 in prizes a year! I am a teachers aide and the sad fact is I don't earn all that much more than that working full time! That is simply put amazing. That has to make this like the best hobby ever! I hope I can have even half the luck you have had. If you don't mind me asking....How many sweeps do you enter into a day? Anyways, thanks for the post it really gives me hope and inspiration!
 
Don't be giving me database ideas, I'm obsessed with the organization side of things enough already. That said, awesome idea and impressive stats!
 
angel_believer said:
If you don't mind me asking....How many sweeps do you enter into a day?
Click to expand...

At the moment, I have 556 sweeps marked as either dailies or no limit (which I treat as dailies) in my database. That doesn't mean I enter all of them every day -- there isn't enough time in the day to do that. The ones that are expiring the earliest are being entered every day; the ones that don't expire until 2014 might be entered once or twice a week as time allows. There are also 42 weeklies and 95 monthlies.

Some of my favorite wins are local theater and concert tickets. There are a lot of venues here in DC and lots of sweeps that give away tickets. I typically win 2 tickets to a movie at least once a month (I've won 3 sets of them so far this month), as well as 1 set of concert, opera or play tickets every month (and those are typically worth $75-125 per ticket). I can't remember the last time I've actually paid for a ticket! ;-)

GLTA!
 
I follow the enter it and forget it idea. It is great that you keep track of all the sweeps you enter and win. But I don't have the time to do that, because , I am entering more sweeps.
 
johnsnook said:
I follow the enter it and forget it idea. It is great that you keep track of all the sweeps you enter and win. But I don't have the time to do that, because , I am entering more sweeps.
Click to expand...

Actually, using the database saves me time and makes it easier and quicker to enter even more sweeps. It also prevents me from entering a contest more often than the rules allow and thereby disqualifying myself (something I used to do accidentally before I started relying on the database).
 
OK, I just don't get it, I guess, I don't see how this data base could help you enter more sweeps, or even help you win more.
 
johnsnook said:
OK, I just don't get it, I guess, I don't see how this data base could help you enter more sweeps, or even help you win more.
Click to expand...

You'd probably have to see it in operation to really get it, but as an example -- with sweeps that require a fairly simple entry form (name, address, date of birth and phone number in a regular entry form format), I can load each form, fill it out (with an autotyper similar to Robotype), submit it, and go on to the next form with just 2 or 3 keystrokes, completing up to 200 entries per hour. More complex entry forms take a little longer, but not much. It's not a completely automatic system (otherwise it might fall under the prohibition on robotic entries), so it does require user action to accomplish each one, but it handles a lot of repetitive action, eliminates mistakes in entry, and helps ensure compliance with the rules of each sweeps. The tracking of wins and statistics is just a side benefit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top