If you are a serious sweepstakes/giveaway hunter like I am here is another way to find *hot* giveaways for stuff YOU want: TWITTER!

I’m still new to using Twitter to it’s fullest potential. I’ve had my account for over a year and I barely surpassed 1000 tweets recently. I don’t know that I ever will master it. I’m willing to try though. Now that I know what it can truly get me, I say BRING IT!  First of all, just like couponing and  sample hunting, create a Twitter account just for giveaways. Most if not all require that you re-tweet to enter. This will save your friends from being bombarded with “Contest Tweets” OK now let’s get started!

Use Twitter Search 

• Think about what you need/want.
• Search Twitter by item type or brand. Example: ”Clothing giveaway” or “Sephora giveaway.”
• Scroll through the tweets and click on the hyperlinks of the giveaways that interest you.
• Each blog is different. Make sure you follow the directions exactly or you’ll forfeit the entry.
• Usually find a “Tweet” button on the blog giveaway post to complete your Tweet.
• Go to your Twitter home page.
• Click on your latest Tweet to see “details.”
• When you click on “details” look for a URL unique to that Tweet.
• Copy the URL and go back to the blog giveaway page and paste the URL to finish your Tweet entry.
• Use Twitter to re-Tweet.

Follow Up

• Most blogs allow one Tweet entry per day. The more you are able to enter, the higher your chances of winning.
• To see previous entries, go to your Twitter home page. Click on Tweets.
• Click on hyperlinks of the previous day’s entries and you can reenter from the blog’s giveaway post again.

Winning

• Most blogs will send an e-mail and allow 48 hours for a reply with a name and address. I have found these contests are legitimate. They are new products sent from a company (not a blog) or from a contracted marketing firm. Remember, make sure you respond to contest entries that you’ve sought out and entered.
• When the item arrives, send a quick reply to the blogger. If the prize fails to arrive for six weeks, contact the blogger who has direct contact with the company.

Obviously, the more time you devote to this, the more often you will win. It’s been slow for me at first, but I’m beginning   to receive 1-2 FREE  items a week.  As I put more time into it, I’m sure my rewards will grow greatly.