1. READ THE RULES! I can't stress this one enough. There is no faster way to get disqualified. Most contest directories try to list basic information (like prizes, times you can enter, expiration date, etc.) so you will know if you want to bother with the contest. "Time is money," or prizes, and if you enter a contest and get disqualified you have just wasted time that you could have used entering other contests or sweepstakes.

2. Make sure you actually want the prize offered. This is another potential time waster. If you enter a contest for a prize you don't want, that's time taken from entering a contest for a prize you do want. I had a friend win a $5,000.00 cosmetic surgery prize. She just saw $5,000 and entered. Well, she won and had to turn it down because she really could care less about having a cosmetic surgery procedure.

3. Print out the single entry contests and sweepstakes page of your favorite online contest directory and use it as a guide. Checkmark the contests/sweeps you have entered so you don't get disqualified by entering a contest more than once. Some places will throw out extra entries, but others will disqualify you. You may want to do the same with the weekly and monthly entry pages as well, and instead of checkmarks write down the date you entered so you know when to enter again to maximize your chances of winning.

4. Which brings us to the next tip, enter the daily entries: daily, the weekly entries: weekly, and the monthly entries: monthly - to maximize your chances of winning.

5. Join a few of your favorite contest directory mailing lists or webzines. This is a notification, sent to all list members, as soon as new contests and sweepstakes are added to their sites.

6. It's always a good idea to check out a site's privacy policy, you can avoid getting a lot more SPAM (SPAM is unsolicited email, not opt-in newsletters. If you signed up for a newsletter and didn't mean to, just unsubscribe). You can also avoid getting unwanted mail by "un-checking" some pre-checked boxes that want to send you information and newsletters that you might rather not have. It's always a good idea to know whom you are giving your private information to, as well. If you're not sure about it... don't do it.

7. NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER send money for a prize. Almost all scams are run this way. I don't care if they promise you a billion, jillion or bazillion dollars... don't do it. It will be the fastest way to lose your money. (Go to the Better Business Bureau website, click on "get tips" and brush up on some of the most current scam alerts.) You are obligated to pay taxes on your prize - generally on your tax return - but you should never have to send money in order to receive your prize. I personally would avoid entering any sweepstakes that mentioned anything along those lines. Use your own judgment for shipping and handling requests. Smaller companies may ask for it, but I'd be wary unless I trusted the company. My opinion is that they are using this as a promotion and cost of prize and shipping should be something they can write off on their taxes as a business expense.

8. Sweepstakes should never require a purchase to enter. They should ALWAYS list at least one way to enter free. Contests, on the other hand, are allowed to charge for entry.

9. If you have the time to enter more than the big contests, consider entering some of the little contests. They generally get fewer entries so your chances of winning are greater. Just make sure it is for a prize you want.

10. Websites generally run contests (and give away freebies) to increase the amount of visitors to their site, increase the amount of subscribers to their newsletter, and/or hope to tempt you into buying something. This is a fair trade-off, but don't feel pressured or obligated to do so.

ALWAYS REMEMBER, the more you educate yourself, the more you can protect yourself and still win!