Tips for SA/SP transition to Mobile

[amyshulk]

See this thread for updates:

http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/sweepstakes-advantage-announcements/75518-new-site-changes.html

For duplicate sweeps listings

Try rebooting after clearing temp files/cookies {cache} If you still have duplicate sweeps listings please Use CONTACT US to let Ken know

Sweepstakes Advantage Help

Tip - when a site doesn't recognize you/your login {usually happens on the 1st of the month, weekends, and Holidays} try clearing temp files/cookies {cache} before assuming it's lost forever and you must re-register. If a cleared reboot doesn't solve? Be patient - 99% of the time, the situation will be resolved w/in the next workday.

This applies for SA too - if your sweeps are gone, try clearing temp files/cookies {cache} before assuming they are lost forever



SA too big?

Reducing zoom to 80% (in firefox), for me at least, makes the new format a lot easier to get a feel for. Easier to see it as a whole so maybe that will help some transition.

No need to click SAVE and/or allow popups

There is no more saving required. Just click SweepsCheck or Add to My Sweepstakes and it automatically saves.

Only SP {PLUS} can adjust Sweeps per page - the SA Sweeps per page default is 20

Sorry but Going forward that will only be an option on Sweepstakes Plus.

SP {PLUS} only Sweeps per page

on your My Custom Sweeps page, in the top left corner, small print, it says:

Profile >> Change Password >> Preference

Click on Preference and it takes you to the page where you can change the number of sweeps.

REMINDER - this upgrade was/is necessary;

...We have been working on this change since December of 2014
and many exhausting hours have gone into it. We made this change because we have not really made a format change since the 90's and we can't continue
to band-aid issues without making a clean break from the old format. Thank you for your patience.

I want EVERYONE to UNDERSTAND that every page on SA was re-done regardless of whether it worked or not because
every page had issues in the code that could have been a server security issue. Which means if we didn't do this
we could have had a real big problem where the site was down for days ...

So please DO

...Please refrain from saying "i hate the site" or "I don't like it" with no real specific problem.

Or risk:

... Anyone else who posts unhelpful comments like "change it back" will be banned from the forum. We've have
been making the changes that members requested and don't have time for that.

 

[amyshulk]

Tip - when a site doesn't recognize you/your login {usually happens on the 1st of the month, weekends, and Holidays} try clearing temp files/cookies {cache} before assuming it's lost forever and you must re-register. If a cleared reboot doesn't solve? Be patient - 99% of the time, the situation will be resolved w/in the next workday.

This applies for SA too - if your sweeps are gone, try clearing temp files/cookies {cache} before assuming they are lost forever

 

[amyshulk]

For duplicate sweeps listings

Try rebooting after clearing temp files/cookies {cache}.

** Please try deleting your expired My Sweepstakes. Some members have thousands and this is causing
this issue: http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/browsenew.php?expired=True

 

[amyshulk]

REMINDER - this upgrade was/is necessary;

...We have been working on this change since December of 2014
and many exhausting hours have gone into it. We made this change because we have not really made a format change since the 90's and we can't continue
to band-aid issues without making a clean break from the old format. Thank you for your patience.

I want EVERYONE to UNDERSTAND that every page on SA was re-done regardless of whether it worked or not because
every page had issues in the code that could have been a server security issue. Which means if we didn't do this
we could have had a real big problem where the site was down for days ...

So please DO

...Please refrain from saying "i hate the site" or "I don't like it" with no real specific problem.

Or risk:

... Anyone else who posts unhelpful comments like "change it back" will be banned from the forum. We've have
been making the changes that members requested and don't have time for that.

 

[amyshulk]

Ken notified us that "The ability to sort sweepstakes by expiration date is no longer a free option to SA members" :

http://www.sweepsadvantage.com/forum/sweepstakes-advantage-announcements/75518-new-site-changes.html

One final change was rolled out yesterday. The ability to sort sweepstakes by expiration date is no longer a free option to SA members.
This now requires an upgrade to Plus to access this feature. Sorry for the change but this makes it fairer to Plus members who pay
for access to expiring sweepstakes.

 

[kittylou]

I have tried posting a reply twice to this issue wondering if this is fair since I am not trying get access to all expiring sweeps just to put my sweeps in order. I have not been able to see my posts either time and am now wondering if only SA Plus members can post now also. As I stated in my first two replies I am always grateful to SA for the sweeps listings they give but I am wondering if there are going to be so many changes that you will only be able to use the site if you pay a fee?

 

[amyshulk]

kittylou - This is your 1st post since 2014 {Skoals Better Days sweeps} maybe the others didn't actually post?

I have tried posting a reply twice to this issue wondering if this is fair since I am not trying get access to all expiring sweeps just to put my sweeps in order. I have not been able to see my posts either time and am now wondering if only SA Plus members can post now also. As I stated in my first two replies I am always grateful to SA for the sweeps listings they give but I am wondering if there are going to be so many changes that you will only be able to use the site if you pay a fee?

As to pay vs free, as Ken noted, the site was able to be free because of ad revenue, then the recession hit.

Ken has worked hard to create/provide the best sweeping tools & asks for less than a dime a day in return;

Hello SA Members,

This past year has been difficult for everyone and we've lost many sponsors
that will likely not return. Too keep up with the expense of running SA we had
to be very creative.

Our latest creation is a Premium version of Sweepstakes Advantage called
"Sweepstakes Plus" . Sweepstakes Plus is an Ad Free version of SA ( No Google
Banner Ads in the pages ) . Sweepstakes Plus will also be an advanced directory
with added sweepstakes tools and resources not found on SA.

The first change is a newly constructed My Sweepstakes. The My Sweepstakes on
Sweepstakes Plus will allow you to create your own custom My Sweepstakes Category
and then add any sweepstakes you choose to that custom list.

For instance. If you have some sweepstakes that you want to enter on Friday only you
can create a new my sweepstakes category called "Friday" and add those sweepstakes
to that new my Sweepstakes List.

Another example would be sweepstakes that have big prizes. Create a new my sweepstakes
category called Big Prizes and use that. The creativity to categorize your sweepstakes the way
you want is up to you.

Existing SA members can upgrade their account by navigating to the main page and clicking the
"Account" link in the Members Login section near the top of the page. Select Sweepstakes Plus
Annual membership from the drop down menu & click the Order button. You'll be asked to accept
the terms and then taken to paypal for payment processing. After you make your payment you
should be taken to Sweepstakes Plus - Largest Premium Online Sweepstakes and Contest Directory.

We've been working on Sweepstakes Plus for the past 2 months trying to get everything worked
out. If you encounter any problems please don't hesitate to contact us using the form on the
website.

Thank you for sharing in this exciting venture!

-Ken & Diane

 

[mmite]

Kittylou - Your first post regarding expiring sweeps was posted, at least for a while. I replied to it, and there were two to three other replies to it as well. Your post, my reply and other replies to your post disappeared within a short time.
I am sorry to disagree with Amy but that is what happened. I understand S/Adv has the absolute right to delete anything they want to so I guess they wanted to. The economics of running a free site, a lot of hard work, and frustration seems to be taking its toll.

 

[amyshulk]

Ah, if Kittylou/anyone in the thread was derogatory {in admins opinion} towards SA then yes, admin would have deleted it, but since Kittylou wasn't banned, I didn't think that occurred

Kittylou - Your first post regarding expiring sweeps was posted, at least for a while. I replied to it, and there were two to three other replies to it as well. Your post, my reply and other replies to your post disappeared within a short time.
I am sorry to disagree with Amy but that is what happened. I understand S/Adv has the absolute right to delete anything they want to so I guess they wanted to. The economics of running a free site, a lot of hard work, and frustration seems to be taking its toll.

 

[kittylou]

Thanks for letting me know that. I don't post very often and wasn't sure if I did it right.

 

[kittylou]

I am certainly not trying to be derogatory in any manner about SA. I have been using this site for many years and love the set up and the sweeps listings! I wish I knew that things were to a point where it basically needs to be a paid site, I certainly would understand because of all the work you do to keep it going. Maybe there needs to be a post that is put into the new sweeps area or somewhere so that everyone who checks in knows where it is at. I don't think you have to demand that people pay but if it was more clearly stated so everyone sees it I think many wonderful sweepers would be on board. I go on here every day and love it!

 

[amyshulk]

No, you are a great member kittylou which is why I didn't think that!

I hear you, but I think it's an evolution thing - the recession forced the point of PLUS, ad revenue is still down, so SA needs more to go PLUS - so if Ken has plans, they are unknown to me.

I am certainly not trying to be derogatory in any manner about SA. I have been using this site for many years and love the set up and the sweeps listings! I wish I knew that things were to a point where it basically needs to be a paid site, I certainly would understand because of all the work you do to keep it going. Maybe there needs to be a post that is put into the new sweeps area or somewhere so that everyone who checks in knows where it is at. I don't think you have to demand that people pay but if it was more clearly stated so everyone sees it I think many wonderful sweepers would be on board. I go on here every day and love it!

 

[sweepsadv]

I don't think we have any more changes regarding access in the queue. In the end SA is a business and technology change is very expensive and it has to come from some where. Alot of people were using the sort by expire date workaround instead of upgrading for access to expiring sweeps. Many of these same people use the site everyday. ( many of these same people on SA have magazine subscriptions that cost the same as an annual membership but they won't upgrade because they get everything for free )

In the past we could keep things going cheaper because I was able to do all the technology changes myself. It's just way too complex now and high traffic websites need lots of maintenance because they
attract hackers and require investment in infrastructure because of the growth.

We still offer more free sweepstakes than any other site and I don't see that main goal changing because it gives more opportunities for our members to win free prizes.

I am certainly not trying to be derogatory in any manner about SA. I have been using this site for many years and love the set up and the sweeps listings! I wish I knew that things were to a point where it basically needs to be a paid site, I certainly would understand because of all the work you do to keep it going. Maybe there needs to be a post that is put into the new sweeps area or somewhere so that everyone who checks in knows where it is at. I don't think you have to demand that people pay but if it was more clearly stated so everyone sees it I think many wonderful sweepers would be on board. I go on here every day and love it!

 

[amyshulk]

Bumping..............

I don't think we have any more changes regarding access in the queue. In the end SA is a business and technology change is very expensive and it has to come from some where. Alot of people were using the sort by expire date workaround instead of upgrading for access to expiring sweeps. Many of these same people use the site everyday. ( many of these same people on SA have magazine subscriptions that cost the same as an annual membership but they won't upgrade because they get everything for free )

In the past we could keep things going cheaper because I was able to do all the technology changes myself. It's just way too complex now and high traffic websites need lots of maintenance because they
attract hackers and require investment in infrastructure because of the growth.

We still offer more free sweepstakes than any other site and I don't see that main goal changing because it gives more opportunities for our members to win free prizes.