Giveaways are a common promotional feature on blogs and in some cases a blog will almost exclusively be involved in regular giveaways. These giveaways are typically done to promote book releases or as a marketing tool to create awareness for other products. Free stuff is a feature that can attract readers to a blog in addition to serving as a good marketing tool for the one providing the "prize".
During book promotions authors or publishers might offer product to be given away during a tour or a specific visit on a blog. Marketing companies or business with product they wish to promote will often provide bloggers with product samples to giveaway. Any of these might contact you the blogger directly or put out a call for bloggers who want to give away products
Your blog can become a very commercial site if you start doing too many giveaways, but if that's where your interest lies then there is undoubtedly a market for this. However a giveaway now and then on your blog can be an added feature that might bring new visitors who might actually return for the content for which you are most interested in building an audience.
Do you ever participate in trying to win giveaway prizes? Do you ever use giveaways on your blog? Do you find that giveaways increase your own blog traffic in any significant way?
Battle of the Bands Results
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These Battle posts have often been compared to a horse race, but as the votes came in for this recent one between two versions of "Ask Me No Questions" I could almost hear the announcer calling the race. At first The Bangles took a strong lead. But then Kindred Spirit came up to eventually take the lead. The Bangles stayed behind as Kindred Spirit took the contest for a solid win.
At first I thought The Bangles would be the favorites since they were the better known of the two groups. However voters were listening and in the end those who voted for Kindred Spirit made the same assessments that I did.
For me, the choppy acoustic guitar of the Kindred Spirit version set the more upbeat tempo for the song. The vocals were stronger with the harmonies far more pleasing with a greater resonance. I thought this version was more reminiscent of the early Beatles and other 60's groups. This version definitely won me over but that's not to say The Bangles version wasn't good because I thought it was excellent. And the lead vocals in each version were performed by the same singer, Debbi Peterson!
The Kindred Spirit version won by a healthy margin even without my vote, but my vote put them another notch ahead. This was an excellent contest by my estimation. Thank you to the voters especially on a blogging day when so much was happening.
Final Vote Count
The Bangles 18
Kindred Spirit 24
I've got another Battle of the Bands post coming up during the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge and once again I've cleverly worked it into my "Elements of Blogging" theme. I think many of you will not only enjoy the Battle, but you might also have some fun with my thoughts about the song I've chosen and the questions I've put forth to you the readers and voters.
Here's a hint about my next song pick: Originally written and performed by a Motown great, the song pick comes from what I consider to be one of the greatest albums of the Rock Era. The versions I'll be putting up against each other are by a New York punk band collaborating with a well-known West Coast based grunge vocalist and an artist originally from Ferguson, Missouri who first came to fame with a couple of huge California based bands before going on as a solo act. This is going to be a fun Battle!
What do you think might be my "Elements of Blogging" topic for the letter "M"? (hint: It won't be the first time for this topic on Tossing It Out) Any guess as to the song or any of the artists hinted at?
