Techniques for discovering competitions before they become crowded

One of the challenges of comping is that the most attractive competitions often attract the most entrants – reducing your odds of winning. If you’re entering a giveaway that tens of thousands of others have also entered, luck will have to work extremely hard in your favor. That’s why a key strategy is to find competitions as early as possible (or those flying under the radar), before they become crowded with entries. In this chapter, we’ll cover how savvy compers discover new competitions ahead of the pack and seek out contests with fewer competitors. By casting your net smartly, you can consistently find fresh opportunities and improve your chances of snagging prizes.

Tap into competition listing sites and forums (and then go further)

The first stop for finding competitions is usually the big competition listing websites and forums. These are treasure troves where hundreds of new contests are posted daily, curated by either site owners or comping community members. Examples include sites like Loquax, ThePrizeFinder, and forums like MoneySavingExpert’s Competitions Time board​. In the internet age, these resources have made finding competitions much easier than it was back in the days of scouring newspapers or magazines​. Cora Harrison notes that thanks to online databases listing competitions (often with prize details and closing dates), compers can quickly see a huge range of current contests in one place​.

For instance, the MoneySavingExpert (MSE) forum’s Competitions Time board is described as a place where “dedicated compers post hundreds of contests” for others to find​. At any given time, you might find literally hundreds of live competitions aggregated on such a platform​. Lola (the comper who enters on her commute) said “I have bookmarked a forum that has 20 pages of new competitions a day”– likely referring to one of these active communities. That gives you an idea of volume: dozens if not hundreds of new chances to win every single day.

Use these resources systematically: When you visit a competition listing site or forum, don’t just cherry-pick one or two contests. If time permits, go through the listings methodically. MSE advises sorting their forum by closing date, so you can work through and ensure you don’t miss any “good ones” before they expire​. Many compers will systematically enter most of the competitions listed on their favorite site that are relevant to them. This ensures you’re casting a wide net. You can always skip those that don’t interest you (remember the earlier tip: focus on prizes you want), but scanning a consolidated list is far more efficient than randomly searching the web.

However, everyone in the comping community knows about these main listing hubs. That means competitions posted there – especially very attractive national competitions – can become “crowded” fast. Thousands of fellow compers might enter the same magazine prize draw or big-brand giveaway because it’s right there on page one of Loquax or MSE. To get ahead, seasoned compers often use the listings as a starting point but then dig deeper or go further afield for less-publicised contests.

Think of the main listing sites as the top of the funnel. To find contests before they hit those sites or that might never be listed there, try the following techniques:

Use social media smartly: follow, search, and set alerts

Social media is a goldmine for competitions, especially those run by smaller companies, local businesses, or bloggers. Many times, a company will announce a giveaway on their Facebook, Twitter (X), or Instagram page without much other advertising – meaning only their followers (or people who stumble on it) know about it. If you’re among the first to find it, you’ll be entering before the contest is widely known.

Here’s how to leverage social platforms:

• Follow brands and influencers that run competitions. Make a list of companies you like (whose prizes you’d want) and follow their official social media accounts. Many retailers, food/drink brands, travel companies, etc., do periodic giveaways to promote new products or grow their follower count. For example, an airline might do a “Win flights for two” contest on Facebook, or a beauty brand might run a prize draw on Instagram. If you’re following them, you’ll see these posts early. Some compers also follow dedicated “comping” profiles on Twitter/X that retweet UK competitions. Additionally, follow influencers or bloggers who host giveaways (often in collaboration with brands). These might have fewer entrants than big corporate contests.
• Join Facebook groups for local community or interest-based competitions. Local radio stations, newspapers, or community pages often post competitions (like “Win tickets to the town fair” or “Win a meal at X restaurant”). These tend to have a geographically limited audience. By following or joining local groups (for your town/county), you might catch these small comps. Local competitions often attract low entry levels​
• , since only people in that area or readers of that local page will enter – improving your odds significantly. For example, a local bakery’s Facebook giveaway for a cake might only get a few dozen entries, but one lucky person (maybe you) will win a sweet treat.
• Utilise search features and hashtags. On Twitter, search for keywords like “RT to win” or hashtags like #competition, #giveaway, #win, or specific ones like #FreebieFriday or #WinItWednesday (popular days when many brands do promos). You can filter results by “Latest” to see newly posted competitions in real time. Similarly on Instagram, check hashtags like #giveaway. Be prepared to sift through irrelevant stuff, but you can often find smaller brand contests this way. Also try combining a keyword with a prize or brand name (e.g., search “win tickets London” or “giveaway UK win”) and limit the time frame to the past day or week. Some compers use Twitter’s advanced search to find tweets from UK-only accounts containing “win” or “giveaway” and filter out older posts.
• Set up Google Alerts or saved searches. You can create a Google Alert for terms like “win + [prize] competition UK” or “enter to win [prize]”. Whenever a new page with those terms appears, Google will email you. This can occasionally tip you off to a competition listing (or even a blog post competition) that hasn’t been broadly advertised. Similarly, you can save searches on Facebook (for instance, search “giveaway” in the Facebook search bar and filter to “Posts” in your region, then check it periodically).
• Sign up for newsletters. Many companies and websites announce exclusive competitions via their email newsletters. For example, a travel agency might include a “this month’s prize draw” link in their newsletter to subscribers. If you subscribe to newsletters of brands you like (or comping websites’ newsletters), you might get early or unique access to contests that aren’t shouted about elsewhere. It does mean more emails, so consider using your dedicated comping email (more on that in the Organising chapter) to handle this.

Lyndsey Bruce mentioned that nowadays she finds all her competitions online, from websites that list them to social media posts which flood her feed. The “flood her feed” part is telling – she likely follows a large number of competition sources on social media, so her timelines are full of comping opportunities. You can curate your social media in a similar way so that whenever you scroll, you’re as likely to see a “Like and share to win a prize” post as you are to see a friend’s holiday photos.

Insider tip: Some compers create separate social media accounts just for comping. For example, a dedicated Twitter account where their sole activity is entering competitions (retweeting, commenting, etc.), or a separate Facebook profile for joining competition groups and liking pages. This can keep your personal feed separate from comping stuff and also signal to friends that you have a “comping persona” (so your main account isn’t spamming them with tags and shares). Do note, however, that some contests (especially on Facebook) require entrants to use their real profile (to prevent people making fake accounts solely to enter). Always stay within platform rules – e.g., Facebook officially doesn’t allow multiple personal accounts, so a “competition-only” account could be risky. A workaround is adjusting privacy settings or using lists to control who sees your comping activity. Many compers simply use their real profiles but are mindful of not overwhelming friends with tags unsolicited. You can find what balance works for you.

Hunt for low-entry and niche competitions

While social media and big listing sites cover the broad field, another technique is to actively seek out lesser-known, niche, or low-entry competitions that others might overlook. Here are some avenues:

• Local media and businesses: We touched on this via social media, but don’t forget traditional sources. Listen to your local radio station – they often run daily or weekly call-in or text-in competitions for small prizes (e.g., trivia contests, or “secret sound” games). Local newspapers (print or their websites) sometimes have comp pages – maybe a monthly crossword competition or a reader prize draw. Fewer people enter these because they have limited reach. As Loquax notes, “Local newspaper/online and radio competitions can attract low entry levels”​. If you make it a habit to enter your local paper’s contests or call your local radio when they announce a competition, you stand a decent chance since the pool is just the community, not the whole country.
• Special interest communities: If you have hobbies or belong to certain interest groups (like gardening, photography, reading, etc.), look for competitions within those circles. For example, a gardening club’s website might have a competition to win a set of tools for members, or a niche forum might run a giveaway sponsored by an equipment manufacturer. These might not be widely advertised beyond that community. Similarly, specialist magazines (e.g., a fishing magazine, a crafts magazine) often have subscriber competitions. They might allow postal or email entries from readers. The entry numbers are likely modest because only enthusiasts know about them. If you are such an enthusiast (or even if you’re not but stumble on it), you can take advantage.
• Blogs and small websites: Many small blogs host giveaways to grow their readership. These are usually in the form of a blog post where you might have to leave a comment or use a widget like Rafflecopter to enter. The prizes are often provided by sponsors or are small items (books, gift sets, vouchers), but the entry count might be very low – sometimes only dozens of entries. Finding these can be a bit of a scavenger hunt. One way is to use search engines – try queries like “Win blog competition” or “giveaway ends [Month] 2025” to find recent ones (bloggers usually mention when it ends). There are also Facebook groups where bloggers share their latest giveaways. If you tap into the blogger network, you’ll find a steady stream of minor comps that others might miss.
• In-store and on-pack promotions: Not all competitions are online. Some are quite literally hiding in plain sight at the supermarket or high street. Brands often run promotions where you have to buy a product and either enter a code online or send off a form. These can have surprisingly good odds. For example, a cereal brand might have a prize draw where every 100th shopper wins something, but only those who notice the small print on the box will enter. Keep your eyes peeled for “Enter to win” labels on products, posters in shop windows (small retailers sometimes have enter-in-store giveaways), or flyers. While these aren’t “early” in the sense of time, they’re “under the radar” because many consumers ignore them. If it’s a purchase-necessary competition, consider whether it’s something you’d buy anyway or if the potential prize justifies it. Also check if a free entry route is available (some on-pack promotions allow a free postal entry – details are usually in the T&Cs on the packaging).
• Competition calendars and aggregators: Some sites offer a competition calendar (for example, PrizeDeck or certain forums) where you can see comps listed by closing date​. Skimming these can help you find comps that might have been announced a while back but are still open – sometimes, contests that launched quietly a month ago (with low entries so far) come to light only as they near closing. By monitoring calendars, you can catch these just in time. There are also email newsletters (like those from sites such as prize-draw.com or Compers News) that highlight new or ending-soon competitions – subscribing to a few will push prompts to you so you don’t miss opportunities.

The general principle is: go where not everyone is looking. If you only enter contests from the most popular comping website’s front page, you’ll have lots of competition. But if you put in a bit of legwork to find those comps that require discovery – whether through social media sleuthing, local knowledge, or niche interests – you’ll often find yourself in a much smaller entrant pool.

As an example, consider that a national free-to-enter prize draw (say, a big tech giveaway) might get tens of thousands of entries because it’s blasted everywhere, whereas a little contest by your neighbourhood cafe might get 50 entries. The prize might be smaller (free coffee for a month vs a laptop), but a win is a win, and small prizes can add up or save you money on things you’d otherwise buy. Many top compers have a mix of big wins and a steady flow of little wins – the little ones often come from these low-entry contests that they smartly scoop up.

Be early: pounce on new competitions

There’s also an advantage to being among the first to enter a contest even if it eventually becomes popular. Some competitions – especially those run on social media – gain traction over time. Being early can occasionally benefit you in a few ways:

• In tie-break situations or judge-awarded contests, early entries set the bar. If it’s a skill contest (like “best caption wins”) and you enter early with a strong entry, later entries might not displace yours if it impressed the judges first. This isn’t a guarantee, but judges do go through entries, and sometimes being memorable early can help. (However, note some judges only review after closing, so timing may not matter – know the contest format.)
• If winners are picked periodically or daily, early entry gets you in more draws. Some comps have multiple draws – e.g., “a winner every week” or “daily instant win”. If you join on day one, you’re in all subsequent draws (assuming rules allow one entry that stays in the hat). For example, a promotion might say “enter any time this month, we’ll pick one winner each day.” Enter on the first day so you’re eligible all month, rather than finding it at the end and only being in the last draw.
• Avoid missing deadlines. Quite simply, the earlier you enter, the less likely you are to forget and miss out. Many compers have regretfully discovered a great competition a day after it closed. By actively hunting and entering as comps launch, you won’t face that disappointment.

How do you catch competitions right when they launch? Follow brands closely (as discussed), but also consider the timing of recurring contests. Many companies do seasonal or regular giveaways – for instance, a big Christmas sweepstake, or a summer promotion each year. If you remember or note that “Brand X had a summer comp last July,” keep an eye on them as June/July approaches. You might predict when something will drop and be ready to act.

Another trick: Check websites’ contest pages regularly. Some companies have a dedicated “Competitions” section on their site (common for magazines, media, or brands that frequently run contests). Bookmark those pages. For example, a radio station’s site might list current competitions – checking daily ensures you see a new one as soon as it’s up. Some compers even automate this by using RSS feeds or web monitors that alert them when a specific page updates with a new contest.

Leverage competition sites with limited entries or tickets

In recent years, a number of competition websites have emerged that host paid or partly-paid prize draws, often with limited entries for each prize to improve odds. For example, websites like Prize Draw UK (prize-draw.com) offer a range of competitions for desirable items, but with a capped number of entries and often a small ticket cost (sometimes with free entry options)​. These are more like raffles, but they differ from mass free draws in that they might only allow a few hundred or a few thousand tickets total. That means your chance could be, say, 1 in 500 instead of 1 in 50,000 for a similar prize in a free national comp.

While many traditional compers focus on free entries, some do try their luck on these low-odds, paid-entry competitions if the value proposition is good (and especially if there’s a free postal entry route so no purchase is necessary – legitimate sites will offer this to comply with UK laws, see the Scams chapter for details on that). The advantage of such sites is the limited pool: you know not millions will enter because there’s a set ticket limit. Plus, reputable competition companies are very transparent – Prize Draw UK, for example, hosts live draws for their competitions and clearly lists all terms, being a registered UK company​. If you identify a legit site, you might find a sweet spot of better odds with still exciting prizes.

However, exercise caution and do your research on any site requiring payment. Stick to ones that have clear credentials (company registration, winner announcements, good reviews) and remember to never spend more than you can afford – treat it like buying a treat or a fun gamble, not an investment.

By spreading your net wide and not relying solely on one source, you’ll catch many competitions right as they emerge. Over time, you’ll also develop an intuition for where the “hidden” comps lie. Some seasoned compers can just sniff out an opportunity – they might notice a brand active on Twitter and predict a giveaway coming, or spontaneously check a store’s site and find a contest by chance.

Remember, every competition starts somewhere. Your goal is to be there at the start (or close to it) as often as possible. When you become that early bird, you won’t have to worry how many others have already pecked at the prize. And even if a comp does become popular later, you’ve lost nothing by being in the first wave of entrants – you’re in it to win it, and you can move on to scouting the next opportunity while others play catch-up.

Armed with these discovery strategies, you should never run out of competitions to enter. In fact, you might find more comps than you realistically have time to enter (a good problem to have – then you can be picky). In the next chapter, we’ll focus on what to do once you’ve found those competitions: how to maximise the number of entries you make (within the rules) and boost your winning chances through smart tactics. It’s about working efficiently and strategically as a comper. Let’s dive into entering smarter, not just more.

Main photo credit: Apple