Thread: Writing Contest Not Yeilding Fruits - Problems And Suggestions

Please take time to read this. I hope that this article would do you some good.

Even after the passage of three weeks since the starting of the writing contest here in the Indiabroadband, the number of entries has not yet reached a reasonable figure. And, because of this, the contest is getting no better. Let us all look upon some of the reasons for this and see how this can be solved.

Probable Reasons
Let me say it openly.The main reason due to which most people don’t right any article might be that they think that the reward sum would be very low and not worth giving a try. But I think that the mechanism put up by the Admin is good enough to make the reward sum a good one, maybe more than good. When many users come to the contest thread and find that the number of posts is very less, they will think that posting their article that week won’t do them much good, and therefore they won’t post their article that week.
One another reason might be that most of the users here (including myself), get short of topics. Yet another problem that can be seen in the case of most of the users is the lack of enthusiasm. When some are writing articles enthusiastically, and find that no one else have posted any, they themselves feel discouraged. This is one of the most dangerous problems.
Giving up after the first attempt is also one bad thing prevailing in our forum. If I’m right, many here are very lazy.:yawn:

Recommendations to Adminji
I would like to recommend Adminji to give some special topics to write upon, for each week. When the users get a topic, most of them would try to write on that. Otherwise, they would just sit wondering what to write. You can encourage them by giving extra points for the best article of the week, which was written based on your topic (I mean that you should add quality to your system of replies + views). Please note that this should apply to those articles only which was based on your topic. Otherwise, it would bring up a bad feeling among the users, when one is preferred over the other.
Another thing which I would like to recommend is the bringing of the ‘Buffer’ system, as mentioned earlier by itsmemad in another thread.

Originally Posted by itsmemad

@ Admin

In first two contests, I've noticed that there were some real good articles which lost out cuz they were submitted late... Or the replies started to come after the contest ended cuz the thread picked up late... Another thing is that the current format of contest discourage members to post any article after 1st couple of days of contest...

IMO, there can be a buffer period of one week to declare the result, after the end of the contest week... This will ensure following things -

1) It will encourage members to post entries on all 7 days of week.

2) It will probably increase the prize money cuz of longer duration of contest.

3) Participants will stop saving their entries to publish on 1st day of the next contest, as they will feel confident to post on last day of ongoing contest too.

4) Cuz entries will pour in on all 7 days, the no. of entries might go up too.

5) Most importantly, it will give equal chance of winning to all the entries.

Thanks.

Please note that these are only recommendations. If you find my points to be of no use or sense, please feel free to discard them as mere words. I just wanted to give my opinion.

Friends, Indians, Countrymen!

Please be aware that it is up to us to decide how the contest goes. Never pull yourself back from posting articles, thinking that no one else is going to post any articles. Everyone might be thinking so.
It, on one side shows our unity.
But, we cannot afford go on like that, if we have to keep the contest alive.
So, have you thought about it?

Here are some quotes for all of you :

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.
-Henry Ford

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.
-Harry S Truman

Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn
-Harriet Beecher Stowe

Please share your suggestions.

Some stats:

No of Entries:
Week 1 (Entries for writing contest ending 30th NOV): 14
Week 2 (Entries for writing contest ending 7th DEC): 11
Week 3 (Entries for writing contest ending 14th DEC): 15

No of participants:
Week 1 (Entries for writing contest ending 30th NOV):9
Week 2 (Entries for writing contest ending 7th DEC): 11
Week 3 (Entries for writing contest ending 14th DEC): 3

For week 4 (Entries for writing contest ending 20th of December) there are only 2 articles till now.

Originally Posted by Rameshjeee

Some stats:

No of Entries:
Week 1 (Entries for writing contest ending 30th NOV): 14
Week 2 (Entries for writing contest ending 7th DEC): 11
Week 3 (Entries for writing contest ending 14th DEC): 15

No of participants:
Week 1 (Entries for writing contest ending 30th NOV):9
Week 2 (Entries for writing contest ending 7th DEC): 11
Week 3 (Entries for writing contest ending 14th DEC): 3

For week 4 (Entries for writing contest ending 20th of December) there are only 2 articles till now.

It's really bad that the number of participants have decreased, instead of increasing...

Guys after reading your efforts to improve the contest.
i just wrote the topic and post it now.

Originally Posted by prasannaganesh

Guys after reading your efforts to improve the contest.
i just wrote the topic and post it now.

Happy to know that you are getting into the contest.
Hope that more would start participating, inspired by ones like you. :thumbup1:

Its a really good thing you have written dhaneshv, and it is to the point and is relevant to all the members on the forum.

I think that Admin should consider some of your suggestions, and others can add in more to make the contest a major part of the forum! Because it would be a shame for something like this to go, when we have a chance to contribute!

I think we can ask people why they don't enter, i mean its not even hard work! Even Admin entered into the contest himself!

Yes, Preeti. I had also thought about that.
But, wondered how everyone would take it.
Adminji could set up an e-mailing system or whatever to inform at least some of the active members, and to the new members, about the starting of each week's contest.

And, many such innovative ideas may come good.

i expected from the beginning, its just not attractive enough ,

i mean think about it , writing articles is not that hard, but doing it every week is not that interesting either, like me for instance, i can articles but i m too lazyy and this contest is not tempting enough for me to become active and write a article

i think admin should try something completely differnt , and plzzz ad some fun stuff in it

Well we all are the forum members, and i personally think that if there is something that should be done or changed, we should point it out, because we may think from a different view point and this may help Admin, which would maybe be better for the forum!

I dont think there is any harm in suggesting things or giving your own opinions!

Originally Posted by sb21pro

i expected from the beginning, its just not attractive enough ,

i mean think about it , writing articles is not that hard, but doing it every week is not that interesting either, like me for instance, i can articles but i m too lazyy and this contest is not tempting enough for me to become active and write a article

i think admin should try something completely differnt , and plzzz ad some fun stuff in it

It's sb21pro's style. Isn't it?
Having FUN in everything.
I also agree with your point. There is not much 'fun' in the contest. It can be made more interesting.

Originally Posted by Preeti_20

Well we all are the forum members, and i personally think that if there is something that should be done or changed, we should point it out, because we may think from a different view point and this may help Admin, which would maybe be better for the forum!

I dont think there is any harm in suggesting things or giving your own opinions!

is she talking to me ?? i did exactly as she said, why is she angry

:yawn: admin stop drinking vodka, ur forum needs u, come bak noww

I could suggest one thing.

most of the members are not aware of the contest, they browse their favorite part and get off.

so we must make keep the contest link in an attractive manner, so everybody entering into the forum get an eye on it.

what you say guys?

Originally Posted by sb21pro

is she talking to me ?? i did exactly as she said, why is she angry

:yawn: admin stop drinking vodka, ur forum needs u, come bak noww

im not angry!

@ prasannaganesh, i like your idea its good and will be noticed!

Originally Posted by prasannaganesh

I could suggest one thing.

most of the members are not aware of the contest, they browse their favorite part and get off.

so we must make keep the contest link in an attractive manner, so everybody entering into the forum get an eye on it.

what you say guys?

Yes. I have already pointed that.
Most of the forum members are not aware that a contest is going on.

dhaneshv, why don't you post this thread (article) for this week's contest..

Repo for you for starting this thread....

Shall we suggest the admin to keep the contest ,to the above of all the topics with some attractive graphics and bold text.

so every one get noticed.

I think another reason why some participate in the contest and not in the next weeks one is because, if they don't win, they give up and not bother entering the next contest. Isnt that what little kids do?

Be practical if you haven't won this week, then you can do the next week, or even the week after!

Originally Posted by Rameshjeee

dhaneshv, why don't you post this thread (article) for this week's contest..

Repo for you for starting this thread....

Good Idea.

Originally Posted by Rameshjeee

dhaneshv, why don't you post this thread (article) for this week's contest..

Repo for you for starting this thread....

Thank You Ramesh!
I have now submitted this thread for the contest.

Yes i strongly go with this point.

Originally Posted by Preeti_20

I think another reason why some participate in the contest and not in the next weeks one is because, if they don't win, they give up and not bother entering the next contest. Isnt that what little kids do?

Be practical if you haven't won this week, then you can do the next week, or even the week after!

yes it is.

-====================================
Lets make India a corruption free country, join us (10 points plan to make India, A corruption free country.)

Originally Posted by Preeti_20

I think another reason why some participate in the contest and not in the next weeks one is because, if they don't win, they give up and not bother entering the next contest. Isnt that what little kids do?

Be practical if you haven't won this week, then you can do the next week, or even the week after!

Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.
-Henry Ford
Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.

Admin is online,let see whether he has anything to say....

Originally Posted by Rameshjeee

Admin is online,let see whether he has anything to say....

Adminji! Come on Ji!

Nice thread dhaneshv...

The idea of contest is great... It just need few changes to encourage the users to post on all days and everyone visiting the forum should know about it... Like someone pointed out... That the link of ongoing contest can be flashed like an alert or something like that..
Mods should also take initiative to participate in th contest too...

I'm hoping for a new year gift hamper for the participant who wins the last contest of current year! (Just an idea Sir jee)

Yes. What an idea madji!
The mods 'should' also participate in the contest. That should make it more interesting.
Another idea Sirji!
I don't know what everyone is going to think about this.
Usually, when an unregistered user views the forum, Ads are displayed. Similarly, some info about the contest can be put displayed for them in every page, with some attractive caption.
Anyway, it should seem not to be a scam.
I wonder if anyone is not participating in this thinking that it is a scam.
Are there any out there like that?
Then, we would like to make it clear for you.