Hi all, it's me Lisa Swifka from A Whimsical Bohemian....your host for this event.
If you'd like to read a bit about this event click HERE. Earlier this year(2008) Artful Blogging did a Q&A about the event as well.
So........How can you get involved in One World-One Heart as a
participant in this, the 3rd annual event?
I know it may seem like there are all sorts of rules and regulations......but really there isn't.......it's all designed to make it flow easily is all.
To be a participant on The Gypsy Caravan with your link on the right sidebar on this blog you must have a giveaway posted on your blog sometime on or after January 19, 2009. The giveaway can be more than one item with multiple winners or just one thing….it’s entirely up to you. You must have a clear reference that you are part of OWOH by adding the badge to your post which makes it obvious to those that visit you and even linking back to the OWOH blog. This also enables those who may not know about the event to still get involved.
You must have an active blog and very importantly an easy way for others to comment on your blog. Also the idea is not to use this as a marketing tool so that those visiting during the event have to jump through hoops, or sign up for anything in order to enter their name. If you have an Etsy shop or another website be sure these are visible on your sidebars instead. The idea is for people to be introduced to YOU and your blog through this event and then bookmark you if they see something they want to go back and see.
This is a jumping off point for meeting and getting to know one another. Keep in mind the participant list will remain up for 6 months AFTER the event ends on February 12, 2009. I leave it up so we all can go back and forth visiting and spending more time at each of the blogs. You may want to bookmark those that particularly interested you.
Keep in mind weight and content of your giveaway item(s) as you could be shipping to any place in the world. Some countries restrict certain things like organic elements (feathers, shells, plant materials etc) so that is something else to keep in mind. Other than that the item or items you offer are up to you. Obviously questionable content or subject matter (in 2 years I’ve only had to turn one person away for that reason) will not be tolerated or posted as part of the participant list. By that I mean no pornographic or objectionable images or items.
Although most love receiving a parcel in the mail I was
asked about charitable donations made in the winners name…..that is perfectly
fine. I would like to add that it would hopefully follow up with a notice sent
to the winner from the organization stating a donation was made in their name.
You may have hundreds commenting to win your giveaway so how you choose the winner or winners is up to you. There are sites that offer a random number generator, you can print the names and draw them or have someone draw them for you. It’s up to you.
You definitely need to post your winner(s) BUT do NOT rely on the winner(s) knowing they have won your giveaway. To post that the winner must contact you within a certain time does NOT work. With so many on the list it’s very hard to then go back through them all at the end to see if you won anything.
This means when you leave a comment entering someone’s giveaway be sure you can be linked back to, even leave an email addy in your comment if you want. It is then the responsibility of the giver to contact their winners to let them know. IF after a few days you hear nothing back from the winner you contacted you can choose to select another winner. So it’s KEY there is a way to communicate between the giver and the receiver.
Beginning on or after January 19, 2009 you can post your giveaway on your blog making sure to let people know you are apart of OWOH in your post.
- You must then EMAIL me the link to THAT post. VERY IMPORTANT: You MUST let me know how you want to be listed. Often times the blog URL is not the same as the blog name on a banner. For example, if your URL is gardeninggoddess but your banner says Flower Child…….you must let me know which of those is the name you want to go by on the participant list. I will check out all links prior to adding them to the list. Comments will be closed here starting that day so you cannot leave your link in comments. It must be via email!! Do not worry, I will be on top of this so links will be added constantly. If you post a giveaway but do not email me the link no one will know about you here!
- Please note, if you are already in the middle of a giveaway on your blog that started out as nothing to do with OWOH please do NOT send me a link to that post. All giveaways for this event must not begin prior to January 19th.
- If I have any questions for you after receiving your link I will reply to you immediately, otherwise I will let you know in my comment that your link has been added.
- Be sure there is an easy way for comments to be left on your blog – AND if you are allowing ANYONE to enter be sure the “anonymous” commenter leaves some kind of contact info. You MUST have a way to either link back to someone’s blog (if you require bloggers only) or another means to contact your winner (if it’s open to non bloggers too).
- All winners should be announced on blogs sometime during Thursday February 12, 2009. Bloggers should be able to contact their winner or winners immediately and the winners must reply with address info in a timely manner. (see above)
- You may enter all the giveaways that
appear on the list EVEN IF you, yourself, are not participating with a
giveaway on your own blog. So do not fret about that. This is first and
foremost a way to get to know new people or reconnect with some you haven’t
connected with for a while.
- Please do not try and duplicate the participant list on your blog. It gets quite confusing and LONG. I know there are some who feel this may be helpful but in fact it just isn't necessary. Point people here on your blog.......maybe even do a post prior to the start of the event so those who know you but not the event will know about it and can come here to read how to get involved.
I know it seems like a lot to absorb but really it's all just common sense. and OH the people you will meet and connect with and perhaps begin wonderful new friendships. (Plus potentially win some wonderful things in the process!!)
I hope to see those links pouring in to my inbox come January 19th!
If you still have questions feel free to email me: oneworldoneheart@comcast.net
Love,
Lisa
XOXOX
P.S.The reason the giveaway announcements are being held on February 12th this year is because here in the US Valentine's Day falls on the Saturday of a three day holiday weekend.
