Focusing on traditional or postcard/letter entries, it doesn’t make much difference when you decide to enter. Some people believe that sending their entries in near the start of a competition will help in the hope that if a post bag is tipped up their entries will be on the top. Personally, I don’t believe this and know many people that have won by sending their entries at different times during the competition. As long as you get your entry in before the closing date there should be no difference to your chances of winning. If you are sending your entries by second-class post then make sure you leave 3 working days for your entry to get there.

The next thing to think about is whether it makes sense to focus on the format of your letter or postcard. Generally, I think that good quality, and good value postcards will increase your chances of winning. You don’t want your cards to get bent in the post and the better value – the more you can buy and the more comps you can enter! Many stationary stores and websites offer good value on bright, eye-catching designs that could make your entries stand out to the judges. If you are sending in a letter, make sure you use a bright envelope to stand out.

It can make sense to send your competition entries by recorded delivery in some cases. With simple prize draw entries (postcard, or plain paper), it is probably not worth the money you would spend on recorded delivery – especially if you are entering many competitions every week. If you have to send off a winning scratch card worth a large value prize, it may be a good idea to make sure it is recorded delivery. In the event of it going missing in the post, you can opt for compensation depending on the type of recorded delivery you paid for.

Finally, telephone and text entries have become a very popular ways of participating in competitions, particularly those run by TV companies. This can also be a more discrete way for these companies to charge you for entering the competition. Remember, the terms and conditions of a competition should always state how much a call should cost per minute and how many minutes you will be on the line. If you are unsure of the cost of the call, make sure you check before calling. For example in the UK, BT’s website will give you the cost of specific codes in the UK. Look out for numbers with the prefix ‘0800’, ’0500’ or ‘0632’ as they are generally free, however watch out if you are using a mobile phone as costs may vary depending on the operator and it could end up being quite expensive!

Good luck to all of you out there. Remember to always read the terms and conditions carefully and think twice before sending off you entries. It can definitely pay to spend a bit more time on each competition rather than sending off your entries in bulk!