Whats the best contest for attracting new visitors?

[ajs83]

I have a gaming site and am getting a brand new system for free and am considering giving it away if it could help bring in the visitors, but don't know what would be the most effective.

I plan on doing some type of contest when I relaunch, but dont know if I should do 1 big item and 1 small item contest, or 3-4 small items in exchange

Also, Im not sure whats the best way to do it without being burned and giving it away with no benefits to the site.

I plan to launch a forum and considered that but worried what if everyone is lazy and doesn't want to post, resulting in a pathetic 5-10 people going at it over 10-20 posts.

I also considered some of referral, but then who's going to want to recommend it to someone else when their odds of winning decrease with another's entry. Also, what if no body refers anyone and again theres only 5-10 people going at it. Very tough decision.

So, what's the better ideal 3-4 small items (~$50 value)or 1 big ($150) and 1 small ($50)?

Also, what would be the most beneficial way to do so to attract (and hopefully keep) new visitors to the site.

Thanks

[ChronicFatigue]

How many visitors a day are you currently receiving?

I would probably split the prizes up into smaller ones as you suggest. Create a forum and offer a draw for users who register on the forums and contribute?

[ajs83]

After 10 months, I am doing about a 1000 a day

[JasonHamilton]

anything viral is going to take a while to get around unless it's something really amazing or captures the minds of a niche market. If you were giving away 100 million dollars, that would spread quickly. Giving away a $50 gift cert? Not so much...

[PatrickDeese]

let me just suggest you do a little legal research - in some US States the contest must be registered with (some department) of the state government.

Also, and I may be mistaken - but games of chance (including contests) - that do not involve skill - have restrictions in Canada.

[ajs83]

let me just suggest you do a little legal research - in some US States the contest must be registered with (some department) of the state government.

Where would I even start to look for that?

Also, and I may be mistaken - but games of chance (including contests) - that do not involve skill - have restrictions in Canada.

I know about that, for those you can have a simple math problem to pass that.

[lgn1]

Don't forget Quebec. You actually must post a bond and
pay the province of quebec to run a contest. Thats why you see. 'Contest not valid in Quebec' on a lot of
Canadian Contests.

The Quebec lottery commision actually spend more money on persuing violators, than they bring in from revenue,
so I would avoid contests to Quebec residents.

[PatrickDeese]

well I went out on a limb here, and used google to search for legal restrictions national contests [google.com]

The first match (how stuff works) has a great informational article on the drawbacks and restrictions.

I think that you will find that a national contest will actually cost you quite a bit in legal fees to set up - unless you want to run the risk of legal troubles - which I would not recommend.

[lgn1]

I always wonder if you put a clause in such as:

"You agree the jurisdiction of this contest is the province (state) of ****. By entering this contest you are waving your legal remedies, under your state(province) law, and agree to be bound by the laws of state/province of the organizer of this contest",

would you be protected?

Life would be much easier, if jursdiciton always defaulted to your own province/state.

If jursdiction was followed to letter, their are probably certain countries where you could be put to death for selling certain items.

So for example, if you sold 'Agnosthism for Dummies' to a person in Saudia Arabia, you could theoritcally be deported and put to death for trying to convert somebody of a particular faith.