Finding plenty of competitions is only half the battle – the other half is actually entering them in a way that maximises your chances of winning while still playing fair. Simply put, the more valid entries you submit, the more “tickets in the hat” you have for random draws, and the more opportunities to impress judges in skill contests. However, there’s a fine line: you must stay within the competition rules and ethical boundaries. In this chapter, we’ll explore how to increase your number of entries efficiently and effectively, without getting disqualified or burned out. From using technology to speed up form-filling to taking advantage of multiple entry allowances, these tips will help you turn those competition leads into lots of chances to win.
Always start with the rules (and exploit them to your advantage)
As emphasised earlier, reading the terms and conditions of each competition is essential. But beyond just avoiding mistakes, a savvy comper reads the rules to identify how to maximise allowable entries. Different competitions have different structures:
- One entry per person: Most typical free draws fall here – you enter once and that’s it. In these cases, you can’t increase quantity (beyond perhaps getting family members to enter separately if allowed). Focus on quality for any tiebreak questions, and move on to the next comp.
- Daily or multiple entries allowed: Many contests explicitly let you enter more than once. For example, a common setup is “one entry per person per day”, or “enter once a week until closing date”. If you spot such a rule, make a note and enter as often as allowed. It sounds obvious, but people forget! If a contest runs for 10 days and you can enter daily, a dedicated comper will rack up 10 entries (whereas a casual entrant might only submit once). That’s 10x the chances for you. A real-world instance: some radio competitions allow you to text a keyword once per day – the winners often tend to be those who sent entries every day. Just be sure to actually stick to the limit. If it says once daily, do not enter twice on the same day (your extra entry might be rejected or could disqualify you entirely). Spacing them out is key.
- Multiple channels or methods: Occasionally, a promotion lets you enter through different methods – e.g., once via the website, once via post, once via email. Or a social media comp might let you enter by commenting on Facebook and by reposting on X (some brands run multi-platform giveaways). If the rules permit one entry per platform, take advantage of all platforms available to you. That could double or triple your entries. An example might be a contest that says “Enter on Facebook or X” – if it doesn’t say “or” exclusively, check if you’re allowed both. If yes, do both.
- Refer-a-friend entries: Many online giveaways now use widgets (like Rafflecopter, Gleam, or KingSumo) which give extra entries for completing tasks – e.g., visiting a website, following on social media, or referring friends via a unique link. To maximise entries here, complete all the tasks you are comfortable with. Usually, these tasks are optional, but each one is an extra entry. For referrals, some compers team up so that they each use each other’s referral link to enter – that way both get bonus entries. If you have willing friends (ideally fellow compers or supportive family) who don’t mind entering via your link, you can gain those extra entries. Just ensure the friends are actually interested or at least consenting – spamming strangers won’t get you far and might violate the contest rules or the platform’s policies.
- Bonus or surprise entry opportunities: Keep an eye out for any mid-competition promotions. For instance, sometimes a brand will announce “Double entry day – entries count twice today!” or add a quiz for bonus entries. Being plugged into their communications (social or email) means you won’t miss these. They are not super common, but it happens.
By thoroughly understanding the rules, you can map out a plan: “This competition allows 5 entries per person over its duration. I’ll set reminders to enter it 5 times on these dates.” Or “This giveaway gives 3 entries for referring someone – I’ll ask my partner to enter via my link so I get those.” Always do this within the allowed limits – never attempt to create fake personas or multiple accounts to circumvent limits. Promoters are not easily fooled; many will check that winners aren’t using identical addresses or device fingerprints. So don’t cross the line into cheating – you don’t need to. There are plenty of legit ways to boost entries.
One more point: don’t confuse quantity with spam. Entering a competition multiple times as allowed is fine; but do not send the same entry hundreds of times when it’s not allowed, and don’t post irrelevant or excessive comments on social competitions beyond what’s asked. For instance, if a Facebook comp says “comment with your favorite song”, your one comment is your entry. Posting 50 comments won’t give you 50 entries (unless the rules explicitly say you can comment once per day or similar). In fact, the page admin might disqualify spammers. Many experienced compers have seen people try to game the system and it usually backfires – either the organisers filter out duplicates, or other entrants call it out. Save your energy for legitimate multiple entries.
Use automation and tools to enter faster
Entering competitions can be time-consuming when you’re doing dozens a day. Successful compers often use productivity tools to speed up repetitive tasks – primarily form-filling. This doesn’t break any rules; it’s just being efficient. Here are some of the best tools and techniques:
- Form autofill software or browser extensions: If you use a web browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, you likely have an autofill feature built-in (which can auto-complete things like your name, address, email, etc., in web forms). Make sure your details are saved correctly in your browser’s autofill settings. For more advanced usage, consider a dedicated form-filler. One popular option among compers is RoboForm, a free browser extension that stores your common form information and fills it with one click. Users swear it “easily outguns typing alone” when entering lots of competitions. With RoboForm, you create an identity profile with all your details (name, address, phone, email, perhaps even preset answers to common questions like “50 words about why you love our brand” if you encounter that often). Then on a competition page, you activate it to fill everything instantly. It can save huge amounts of time over manually typing each form field. Do note a small caution: some sites might detect automated form fillers. MoneySavingExpert notes that “RoboForm blindly fills out form details in the same way as spambots”, and some firms may mistake you for a spambot and block your entry. They don’t have stats on how often this happens, but it’s worth being aware. If you’re worried, one approach is to use autofill to fill the form, but then manually tweak one field (like add a middle initial and then remove it) to simulate human input, or use the browser’s native autofill which might be less suspect. Generally, most compers use tools without issues – but if you ever find your entries aren’t going through, try entering one manually to see if the tool was the culprit.
- Email templates and filters: If entering via email (some competitions ask you to send an email entry), have a template ready for the email body that you can quickly adjust. For example, many email comps require your name, address, and answer. Save a draft email that already has your standard details written out, so you just plug in the answer or any specific subject line and hit send. Also, consider setting up filters in your email: route any newsletter or comp-related messages to a separate folder. This can help later in checking winners announcements or confirmations without cluttering your main inbox.
- Password managers: If you need to register accounts on competition sites (like magazine websites or product sites often require account creation to enter their comps), use a password manager to quickly log in each time. Some compers keep a spreadsheet or list of sites where they have accounts and when they last entered comps there, but a password manager can store all login details and auto-fill them when you go to the site, speeding up the process.
- Text expanders: These are tools where you type a short abbreviation and it expands to a full text snippet. For example, you could set up “;addr” to automatically expand to your full address. Or “;ans” to expand to a common phrase you use in tiebreakers (“I would love to win this because…” etc.). This can be handy if you find yourself typing similar things repeatedly for creative entries. It ensures consistency and saves keystrokes.
- Mobile shortcuts: If you do comping on your phone, make sure to use your phone’s keyboard shortcuts or autofill features for emails and addresses. Typing on a tiny keyboard repeatedly is no fun – but most smartphones allow you to save contact info and auto-insert it. There are also apps that can automate form filling on mobile, though browser autofill works in many mobile browsers too once configured.
By using these tools, a seasoned comper can blast through a long list of competitions in a fraction of the time it would take a newbie. For instance, imagine you have 30 web forms to fill – manually that might take an hour or more. With autofill, you could be done in 10-15 minutes. This frees up your time to enter more competitions overall (increasing quantity) or to spend more time on the few entries that need extra effort (increasing quality where needed).
Always remember to keep your information accurate and updated in these tools. If you move house or change phone number, update your autofill profiles so you don’t inadvertently submit outdated details that could void a prize (companies usually disqualify if, say, the address you gave isn’t where you actually reside, because they can’t verify identity or eligibility).
Organise your entry process to cover more ground
Maximising entries isn’t just about individual competitions – it’s also about your overall workflow. If you have a list of 50 competitions to enter, how do you make sure you actually enter them all (and ideally before deadlines)? Organisation is key, which we’ll talk more about in the next chapter, but in terms of maximising entry count, here are some process hacks:
- Prioritise by deadline (“closing soon” first): A classic mistake is to spend all day entering competitions that close next month, while forgetting one that closes tonight. Then you miss out on that one entirely – zero entries. To avoid that, sort competitions by closing date and ensure you get your entries in for the ones about to expire. Many compers start a session by tackling “last chance” comps. After that, they move on to newly added ones or ongoing ones. This way, you maximise the valid entries (it’s no use planning 5 entries for a comp if you run out of time to do even one).
- Batch similar tasks: Group your competitions by type for efficiency. For example, you could batch all the “Facebook like & comment” competitions together and do them in one go, since you’re already logged into Facebook and in that mode. Then batch all the form-filling ones where you need your autofill. Then all the email entry ones, etc. Switching contexts too often (from web form to Instagram to email, back to web form) can slow you down. By batching, you stay in one groove and plow through.
- Use multiple devices smartly: If you have access to a computer, tablet, and smartphone, you can actually multitask certain entries. For instance, perhaps you have to wait 30 seconds for a confirmation email or a code – you could be entering another comp on your phone during that downtime. Or use a tablet for social media comps while your laptop handles form filling. Some compers have even been known to set up a dual-screen situation with different comps on each. Be cautious not to confuse yourself or mix up details, but if you can manage parallel processing, it can increase throughput.
- Take advantage of downtime: We heard how Lola enters 200 comps a day by using her commute. Identify any “dead time” in your schedule – commuting, waiting in queues, TV ad breaks – and use mobile comping to squeeze in entries. Ten minutes waiting for the bus could be 5 quick X competition entries or filling 2 web forms on your phone. This habit can add dozens of extra entries per week without eating into your core work/leisure time.
- Enter immediately when you find a comp: Many compers adopt the rule that if they come across a competition and it’s quick to enter, they do it right then and there. Deferring entry means you might forget or not get back to it. If you’re scrolling and see a social media giveaway post, just take the 30 seconds to like/comment/share as required on the spot. For more involved entries, you might bookmark it for later, but try not to accumulate too many “to-do” entries. Every competition not yet entered is an entry opportunity unrealised. By quickly acting, you ensure maximum participation in everything you intended to enter.
- Keep records to avoid repetition: One subtle way to maximise effective entries is not duplicating work. If you forget you already entered something and enter again when it’s not allowed, that’s wasted effort (and could disqualify your first entry). For instance, a forum listing might appear to have a new comp but it’s actually the same one you did via a different site. Keeping a simple log or using the forum’s tick mark feature (like MSE’s “Comp-liment” tick which marks a comp as entered) helps ensure you don’t redo entries unnecessarily. That time can instead go to a fresh entry somewhere else. This is especially relevant for daily entry comps – track that you’ve done each day so you don’t either skip a day or accidentally enter twice in one day.
Get help from friends and family (ethically)
While using multiple identities is against rules if they’re all “you,” getting real people you know to enter can be a way to maximise chances for your household. Many compers involve their partners, kids (if old enough to meet age requirements), siblings, or parents in comping to some extent. If a prize is something that would benefit the family, having multiple family members submit entries (each under their own name/email, of course) can effectively multiply the chance that someone in the family wins. This is only ethical if each person is genuinely entering themselves and would claim the prize themselves. Do not just make up people – but encouraging your spouse to also fill a form (perhaps you fill it for them with their permission) is fine in most cases. Always check the rule: if it’s one per household, then this strategy is off-limits for that comp. But if it’s one per person and your household has 4 adults, that could be 4 entries instead of 1.
This tactic is commonly used for things like radio call-in contests (“get everyone in the house to dial in and see who gets through”), or big giveaways (“honey, you enter too, so we double our chance”). Some couples have even each won the same prize separately because they both comp (a double win!).
Be mindful though: if one of you wins, the others should probably stop entering that particular contest (if it’s ongoing) to avoid any suggestion of collusion or breaking rules about one win per household in a promotion. But for one-off draws, multiple legitimate entries are fine.
Another way friends help is by acting as entry buddies. Perhaps you trade favours: you fill out a bunch of entries for a friend who doesn’t have time, in their name (with their knowledge), and they maybe do something in return, or you just share prizes. Or you agree that if either of you wins a big vacation, you’ll take the other as the guest. Such arrangements keep everyone motivated and increase collective entries.
However, be cautious sharing answers – while sharing competition info is good, sharing say 25-word slogan ideas among friends who then submit similar slogans could backfire if a judge sees near-duplicate entries. In general, collaborate on entering different comps to cover more ground rather than duplicating efforts on the same comp.
Target competitions with many prizes or multiple drawings
To maximise the chance of an entry winning, not only do you want more entries, but entering competitions that inherently offer better odds is wise. One tip: keep an eye out for competitions that have lots of prizes to give away, or that pick winners in stages. Your single entry in a contest where 100 prizes are available is more likely to get something than a contest with 1 prize of equal value.
Loquax suggests “keep an eye out for competitions that offer loads of prizes (e.g. 50 x T-shirts) and/or go for other smaller prizes… Smaller prizes usually attract lower numbers of entries meaning a better chance of getting that winning feeling“. This is a strategic choice: sometimes it’s better to try for one of fifty £10 gift cards than for one £500 gift card, if your goal is simply to win more often. Many compers strike a balance, of course, going for the dream prizes too. But if you’re maximising pure number of wins, those multi-winner comps are golden.
Also, multi-stage draws: For example, a promotion might say “We’re giving away 2 prizes every week for 5 weeks”. If you enter early, you could potentially win in any of the weeks (as long as entries roll over – check rules). Or some might require weekly entries but you can win each week if lucky. These kinds of comps often have fewer entrants by the later weeks (some people drop off), so stick with it.
Enter efficiently, but don’t sacrifice winning chances quality
In the pursuit of quantity, ensure you’re not undermining the quality of your entries where it matters. For straightforward random draws, quality doesn’t apply – just get the form in correctly. But if a competition has a tie-break question, a slogan, a photo, or anything judged, putting in a bit of effort can vastly improve your winning odds for that entry, far more than submitting a dozen sloppy entries elsewhere.
For instance, if a contest says “In 50 words, tell us why you should win,” it’s better to write one great 50-word answer than to copy-paste a generic one to many similar contests without tailoring – judges can spot a formulaic answer. Maximising entries includes maximising your effective entries. A single well-crafted entry is effectively “worth” many poor ones. One guide to comping suggests investing time in creative entries because it “gives you the opportunity to use your skills to give your chances of success a big boost.” So, allocate your time wisely: speed through the simple entries to free up time to polish the ones that need creativity.
Similarly, for quiz-type competitions (where you must get the answer right to be in the draw), double-check your answers. Many listing sites provide answers, but occasionally they might be wrong. Doing a quick verify means you don’t waste that entry by being tossed out for a wrong answer.
Consider the cost-benefit for paid entries
While most of this guide focuses on free entries, some competitions (especially text or phone entries) might cost money (like premium rate numbers, or postage for postal entries). To maximise entries in those, you have to weigh the cost. The MoneySavingExpert rule of thumb is that paying to enter competitions is generally not money-saving – they even say “Spending to enter competitions is NOT MoneySaving“, and urge caution with premium rate contests that can rack up charges. So, from a maximising point of view: if it’s free or just a stamp (or less than the cost of a stamp), sure, do multiple entries as allowed. If it’s expensive (like £2 per text entry), think carefully how many entries are worth it, if any. Some compers set a monthly budget for paid comps and stick to it, only entering the ones they really fancy. After all, ten entries at £2 each is £20 spent – could that money have been used better elsewhere? Often, yes. And any contest that demands a fee or deposit after you “win” is certainly a scam (more on that in the scam chapter).
However, if a contest has a free entry route, maximise that (unless it’s just as cheap or cheaper to enter online)! Many paid draws (like raffle websites) by law have a free entry method (like postal). It might take a bit more effort (writing a postcard) but it’s worth it to gain entries without cost. Some compers send multiple postal entries if allowed, each on a separate postcard. Just ensure each is in line with the rules (correct format, etc.).
Maintain a fast-but-careful rhythm
In maximising entries, speed is important, but accuracy is paramount. It’s better to submit 80 correct, rule-following entries in a day than 100 rushed entries where 5 have typos in your email and 5 accidentally broke rules – those 10 are wasted, leaving you effectively 90, and possibly jeopardising wins. The seasoned compers operate almost like machines but with a human touch: they go fast, but they’ve trained themselves to double-check critical elements quickly (like glancing that the email field has “.co.uk” properly, or that they ticked the no-marketing box if they meant to). It’s a good practice to review the form once after autofilling before hitting submit, which takes only a second and can catch errors. Some compers even speak out (“Ticket? Check. Terms? Check.”) as they go – whatever prevents errors.
Lastly, remember that maximising entries should not come at the cost of breaching competition etiquette. For example, don’t create 10 fake Facebook accounts to tag yourself – that’s unethical and likely detectable. Don’t harass friends to death with referral links either; find a community for that instead. The comping world is smaller than you think and reputation can matter (especially in judged contests or community draws).
By combining all these techniques – reading rules for max entries, using entry tools, organising workflow, getting legitimate extra help, and being efficient – you’ll significantly increase the number of competition entries you can make and the odds that one of those entries turns into a win. As you refine your system, entering competitions becomes almost second nature, and you’ll be hitting that “Congratulations, you’re a winner!” message more often simply by law of averages coupled with smart effort.
With your entry process optimised, the next piece of the puzzle is to manage this comping activity without it overwhelming your life. In the following chapter, we will discuss organising your comping schedule effectively – ensuring you keep on top of all these competitions, never miss a beat, and integrate comping smoothly into your daily routine. After all, maximising entries is great, but not if it leads to chaos. A bit of structure goes a long way, so let’s get organised!
