1. SweepsU.com does not support Internet Explorer 6.  The Sweeps and Contests section will likely look horrible and not function correctly.  There are no plans to support IE6 at this point as it is a very small portion of internet users, it's very old and outdated at this point,  and it takes a great deal of work above and beyond the other browsers.  We strongly recommend Firefox for your browser as there is a LOT of flexibility and tools that can make sweeping easier.  However, modern Chrome, Internet Explorer (versions 7 and 8), Safari, Opera, etc are all supported.  I'll post links at the bottom for these downloads.
2. In order for the SweepsU.com Enter Sweeps to work, you must set all pop-up blockers to allow SweepsU.com to open pop-ups.  Otherwise SweepsU.com will not be able to open the pages for you.
3. SweepsU.com was designed to use resolutions of 1024x768 and greater.  As I develop and test the system I have my browser sized to look as though that's the resolution I'm running on.  Anything lower than 1024x768 isn't supported.  The reason for this is that there is a lot of information and functionality I need to put in front of you to help you be productive.  At lower resolutions that becomes VERY difficult to do.   1024x768 is also the commonly accepted standard for web design currently.  Due to the nature of SweepsU.com's utility, phones and small screen netbooks probably will not give you a very good experience.  At some point in the future, if it's requested by enough folks, I'll create a "light" version that can be used on these devices.
4. SweepsU.com does not enter contests for you.  When you click the Enter button it will open the contest entry form (or as close as I can get to it) in another tab or window of your browser.  From there it's up to you to fill in the form, submit, and close that tab or window.  Therefore the information you used to register for SweepsU.com does not necessarily have to be the information you use to enter sweeps and contests.  Automated is a big and interesting subject that we will talk about more as time goes on.  However, it's typically very frowned upon by the folks running these promotions (and can disqualify you in some cases).  However. . .
5. There are a number of tools that are commonly used to help you fill out forms.  The two I am most familiar with are Roboform and Sxipper.  Roboform works on Internet Explorer and Sxipper works on Firefox.  There are a ton of these out there and I'm sure something for just about every flavor of browser.  If somebody has other form fillers that they like, please post a link in the comments below.  These tools are pretty much invaluable to a sweeper.
6. Don't burn out.  Sweepstaking is a marathon sport, not a sprint.  Successful sweepers are those that continue at a regular pace over a long period of time.  Don't start out trying to enter every sweepstakes and contest listed.  My personal advice (and this is MINE, I do not claim to be a great sweeper and haven't been doing it all that long.  Gwen will have other articles talking about this later):  Figure out how much time a day you want to spend, 30 minutes, 2 hours, 6 hours, whatever and search for sweeps that are offering prizes you really want that fill up that time to enter.  I try to do about 30 minutes a day and I can go through 30-50 sweeps following the above advice regarding browsers, tools, etc.  I'm seeing a lot of the new folks get on, spend 5-10 hours tracking and entering sweeps then not seeing them again.  Remember consistency is the key, and as Gwen tells me all the time, "Luck is spelled W O R K".

Ok, Sam's getting hungry so I have to go for now.  I hope this helps you folks and please do let us know if you have other comments or questions (can post comments in response to this blog post, or use the forums, etc).

Gerald

Browser Links:

Firefox 3.6 (All platforms) (SweepsU.com Recommended)

Internet Explorer 8 (Windows)

Chrome (All platforms)

Safari 4 (Windows, Mac OSX)

Form Fillers:

Roboform (Internet Explorer)

Sxipper (Firefox)

Thanks!

Gerald

Next up are implementation of the last features we're getting ready for launch.  Should be an exciting couple weeks with new and useful functionality coming your way!

Along with all the great Sweeps already listed on SweepsU.com we're starting a good one of our own. Gerald has removed the wait time for new Beta Testers, which means everyone gets on as soon as they are approved. SO BRING 'EM ON! Send invitations to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, bowling team, carpool, Sunday School class, PTA members...you get the idea!

Everyone who signs up using the link you sent them earns you an entry towards winning some great prizes. At the same time, you will be giving your friends the advantage of using SweepsU.com at no charge during Beta Testing. So what are you waiting for? Read the rules below and start sending your invitations out now.

Gwen

SweepsU.com Beta Tester Sign-Up Sweepstakes & Contest

Eligibility: Open only to registered SweepsU.com Alpha and Beta Testers. Previous winners are eligible to win again.

Promotion Start Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Promotion End Date: Will be the same as the Beta Testing end date currently scheduled for the 1st quarter of 2010.

Promotion Drawing Date: Within five (5) business days of the end of the promotion period.

Entry Limit: There is No limit to the number of entries submitted by any one person.

How to Enter: Login to SweepsU.com and click on "Sweeps Management System" (SMS). Once you are in the SMS you will see a new heading, "Invite Friend." Click on it and type in the first and last name and email address of a friend you think would like to be a Beta Tester at SweepsU.com. You can also include a personal message to your friend if you would like. Click on "Send Invitation" and you are done.

You will receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes and one (1) entry into the Contest for each new Beta Tester who signs up as the result of your invitation.

Each new person who signs up to be a Beta Tester for SweepsU.com will be eligible to enter the Contest and Sweepstakes by inviting their own set of friends.

There will be two (2) Grand Prize winners. The person who has the most people sign up as Beta Testers for SweepsU.com will be awarded the Contest Grand Prize. The Sweepstakes Grand Prize will be awarded to the person who is randomly drawn from all the entries received throughout the Promotion Period. The Sweepstakes winners will be selected in a random drawing using www.random.org. If there is a tie for the Contest Grand Prize, the winner will be determined by a random drawing of the tied entries. The Contest Grand Prize winner is not eligible for the Sweepstakes Grand Prize. There is a limit of one (1) prize per person.

PRIZES:

One (1) Contest Grand Prize: An Acer Netbook (ARV $300) and a Life-time subscription to SweepsU.com (ARV: Priceless!)

One (1) Sweepstakes Grand Prize: An Acer Netbook (ARV $300) and a Life-time subscription to SweepsU.com (ARV: Priceless!)

Two (2) Sweepstakes Runner Up Prizes: Five (5) large bars of Scharffen Berger Premium Milk Chocolate (courtesy of TuttiFoodie.com)
(ARV $20)

How far should a sweeper go to win a prize? For some sweepers, it doesn’t take much to redden their cheeks. For these few, just putting entries in a drop box becomes an espionage mission. Heaven forbid someone should actually see them! Yet others will boldly walk in, fill out several forms and plop them in the box without a care. Of course, it is not always the sweeper who is embarrassed. I remember walking out of a fast food restaurant with my teenage daughter and just before we got to our car I saw it. A cup…WITH THE GAME PIECES STILL ATTACHED!  I looked at my daughter, who had also seen the cup and was shaking her head as she said, “DON’T YOU DARE!” Needless to say, I bit the dust on Mother’s Day that year. SIGH!

Another mortifying situation occurred when I put a handful of entries in the drop box on a customer service desk. That particular desk was being manned by an overzealous teenager who was watching me out of the corner of his eye. I had turned and taken two steps when he shouted, “You can’t do that, that’s cheating. I’m taking all of your entries out of the box.” I couldn’t stand being called a cheater, not to mention the thought of my entries being trashed.  I turned back and said, “I want to speak to the manager”. When he arrived, I had a hard time being heard over the accusations of cheating being shouted again. As the boy quieted down, the manager informed me that I could only put one entry in the box. I then asked the manager to read the rules and pointed to the sentence that said “ENTER AS OFTEN AS YOU LIKE”. I did receive an apology and learned never to put entries in a box when a teenager is present!

I have been witness to sweepers battling with bathroom plungers attached to their heads, watched adults peddle tricycles through an obstacle course and saw sweepers stand for hours with their tongue on a pole. All for the ever elusive PRIZE! I even allowed my youngest daughter to compete for the title of Silliest Kid in Dallas. She bounced up on stage with her boom box and props. Spread a plastic sheet and emptied a box of Trix on it. Sitting down, she proceeded to coat her arms, legs and face with Crisco shortening. She started the music for the song “Grease” as she laid down full length and rolled from one end of the plastic to the other coating herself in multi-colored cereal.  The next thing I knew, she was dancing fast and furiously with Trix cereal flying everywhere. Yes, its official, my daughter is the SILLIEST KID IN DALLAS!

Now, some of you are probably thinking, what kind of mother is she? To make her little girl do all of that in front of an audience no less! That poor child planned the whole thing herself with a sister’s help and wouldn’t let Mom in on half the fun! She had a blast, especially when it came to spending the $500 shopping spree that was part of her prize. But just so you’ll know that I have put myself on the line, let me tell you about the “Jeep Stick in the Mud” contest. When my name was selected to be a participant, my husband didn’t think I would do it. Okay…so he was probably right, but a dare goes a long way with me. Besides they were giving away a brand new Jeep and one of the 100 finalists was going to win it. So I showed up early at the event location wearing the lovely brown t-shirt they sent me, a pair of shorts and sandals. When my turn came to get in the mud pit along with 14 other contestants, I shed the shoes and put on my goggles. There were big sticks scattered all through the mud and each one had a different point value. The object was to find as many sticks as you could in the amount of time given. Sounds easy…right? Wrong! That mud was thick and very hard to move through, plus a short person, like me, had to immerse themselves to the shoulder to reach those sticks. They were very slippery and I ended up using the bottom half of my shirt to hold the ones I gathered. The two people with the most points would move on to the next round and the rest of us would head for the showers. I had managed to find two 100 point sticks which put me on top, but others were still being counted. I held my breath as I waited for the final count…I was third in my group. DARN! I was actually hoping to do it again! So I didn’t win the Jeep, but I am told that my skin had a beautiful glow afterward!  *

Luckily there are others in this hobby that are willing to be good sports and participate in some of the fun and unique challenges sponsors come up with. One of my favorite stories comes from Fran Perry in Florida. Several years ago she was listening to the car radio on her way home from work when she heard about a promotion. Whatever prize was being offered, it was good enough to make her take a detour and give it a shot. Still dressed nicely in her work clothes, Fran climbed the ladder and slid into a swimming pool full of whipped cream. She did not win the contest, but this picture is a prize in itself. **

So what about you? What were you willing to do to win a prize? Post your stories here or on the SweepsU.com Forums, so we can all enjoy and learn from each other’s experiences. We want to hear about your "Adventures in Sweepstaking"! I like to think that it is that daredevil attitude that makes sweepers special!

*To view more photos from the Jeep Stick in the Mud contest visit Gwen’s Community page on SweepsU.com

**Photo and story printed with full permission from Fran Perry.