One thing I always do when entering contests is use my email address. Even if the form doesn't require me to put my email address in, I still put it in. Email is the best way I can be reached. Generally sponsors of contests will only try to contact you a few times – if that many. If they can't get me on the phone, I know for a fact they will get me at my email address. It might take a little extra time to put it in a form that doesn't require it, but in the long run, it will pay off.
I also check my email address that I use for contests daily. I take my time and look at the emails I get individually. Sometimes sponsors of contests aren't clear in their subject line so I scour the titles to make sure I don't miss a win. I don't let my emails pile up for more than a day so that I won't have so much to look at at one time. Because I use this email address to sign up for contests, I get a lot of spam. I'll also get notifications that I won something grand. I don't even look at the ones that I know I haven't entered – why waste my time?
Another tip for entering contests is to put your phone number in the form even if it is not required. Like the email tip above, you don't want the sponsors of contests to not be able to get in touch with you. Have an answering machine installed so that you can get a message if you are not home. Be sure to check your machine daily so that you can meet the deadline for responding to your win. The more info you give on contest forms, the greater chance you have of being contacted. I generally skip any questions that I can – like have you used your product before? and junk like that. That type of information, if not required, is not detrimental to winning contests.
