The best trackback I’ve received yet came my way a couple of days ago. Clicking on the site, I learned that another blogger is trying to organize a boycott against me! I’m delighted, because when someone wants others to boycott you, it means that you are worthy of someone making a decision to try to bring you down. As opposed to already being so far down already that it would be a waste of time for anyone to try to put you where you already are.
The disgruntled fellow was a prize blogger, who took umbrage at my contest caveat: No sucky prize blogs.
He wasn’t the only person who was offended. More telling, however, was who was NOT offended. Due to procrastination, it took me a few days to contact Contest Blogger in order to let him know about my contest, and when I did, he sent me a friendly professional email letting me know when my contest would be posted. 
So why didn’t he get on the bandwagon with some other contest bloggers? Because he knows that his site is so good that if my contest isn’t featured on it, then it will be MY LOSS.
Check out what a typical post on Contest Blogger looks like:
The first thing I noticed is how he uses good, clean graphics. This is something that every blogger should do, as it is eye-catching, and when people are dealing with football field lengths of text in their feedreaders, this is important. Sadly, Bloggrrl’s graphics do not look nearly this cool, making Contest Blogger a bit of an inspiration for me.
Another thing that is outstanding here is the writing. Not only is it informative and funny, but he tells you what is cool about the contest, exactly how to enter and the appropriate links. Very nice.
Here is something that I absolutely hate about Contest Blogger. He had an incredible idea that I didn’t have first, and he executed it better than I could have anyway. Viewing this site makes me turn green and grow sharp little horns.
I am particularly jealous in regard to his site design. While I am over here at Bloggrrl fiddling around with the RSS subscriber thing trying to make sure that it is working, he is over there creating cool designs out of his and making jokes about it. This is so not fair. I’ll bet puppies have accidentally bought the farm just being around my own trainwreck of RSS feed.
It gets even more sickening. Not content to just be satisfied with his already outstanding posts, he went and added “Featured Contests” which have even more cool graphics. Perhaps to soothe my ever-building insecurity, he gave Bloggrrl’s Strip Poker Contest featured status. That’s because no one likes to see girls cry, right?
There I am!
Along with the rest of his wretchedly awesome site.
Not only does he do a great job with the contests, he also has one of the best About pages I’ve ever seen. Girls, go look. There are muscles on that page! Not only is Contest Blogger, aka Phil Van Treuren, a hunk, but he is also romantic! As in, a whole nuther blog romantic. I think Phil should run a contest of his own called “Win a Date With A Creative Hunk”. He could include plane tickets. I mean, is this guy for real?!? In the National Guard and published in literary magazines?? Excuse me while I go and call the emergency psychiatric hotline, as I am apparently experiencing a hallucination.
If you’re thinking that you’d like to launch a contest, look at what Contest Blogger offers. I’m going to use the Hula Dancer Contest as an example:
I’m assuming you’re smart enough to figure out what Go Visit Hawaii is all about, and their contest is offering a prize pack to one lucky subscriber that’s full of fun Hawaii-themed stuff. The prize pack includes:
* a battery operated hula dancer
* macadamia nut pancake and waffle mix
* dry roasted macadamia nuts with sea salt
* milk chocolate covered macadamia nuts
* milk chocolate toffee covered macadamia nuts
* dark chocolate macadamia covered nuts
* tropical fruit scented candle
* vintage art Hawaii post cards
* a kukui nut lei
And this is only half of the entry! And his bullet points are way cooler than mine as well, which is another peeve. You’ll have to go check it out for yourself, as I have no idea how to replicate that effect here.
In addition to his other, more hunksome qualities, Contest Blogger is organized. The Contest List is nice for those of us who want a quick glance at the contests, which are nicely organized by month. He also has a very attractive sense of humor.
To recap, this is why Contest Blogger rocks my world:
- He is a hunk
- He can write
- He has an awesome sense of humor
- He organizes information in a manner that is highly accessible
- He has mad design skills
- He is offering a valuable service to his readers while having all of the above qualities
So, if any of you would like to compare contest sites and let me know which one you think provides the best service to readers, let me know. Feel free to join in the boycott if you are so inclined, because it makes me feel important.
The Ineligible Contest Site with Boycott.
The Intelligent Hunky Romantic Contest Blogger.
Hopefully, Contest Blogger will be an inspiration to all of us to make our sites as attractive and useful as his!
Dont worry about the haters; they’re everywhere.
I have boycotted! **sets up picket line, brings a thermoflash full of tea, tucks into sandwiches**
Seems like an arse. I thought you were talking about Prize Blog, which is pretty cool and a different slant on contest blogger. Looks like I won’t have to choose between you like a father chooses between his daughters.
Boycott? God, I hoped you were kidding! Apparently not… Bloggrrl, I’m going to boycott you, too, when you start poisoning my dog food or putting lead in the toys my imaginary children like to buy, or maybe even if you start a campaign to restrict my right to marry.
In any case, you’re handling it much better than I would. Good on you! And keep blogging what you want to blog! Even if it is men’s underwear… *shakes head in dismay*
@Ryes: I like The Prize Blog too!
I think you should organize a counter boycott. A grrlcott!
(I hope that’s not the funniest joke a can come up with today)
And you thought I was flush….
check this out!
LOL!!! I just went over there. The guy only has like 5 subscribers. I think I counted 14 comments on the whole blog and his counter says 277 hits. Give me a break. You’ll double his traffic with this one post. The blogosphere is so funny
Fear the boycott. Even if there is only one participant.
I boycotted the contest too!!
but i did not boycott your blog.
lol @ Boycott
Honestly where I like (Pakistan) there is a whole lot of things to boycott than a blog contest hehe (considering my country’s current social and political scenario)
Bloggrrl, you do realize that my “boycott” post was facetious, don’t you?
Ohhhh! A boycott! I WANT ONE!
[...] is in my blogging folder in my reader she has a funny post about Contest Blogger. So naturally I visit Contest Blogger which then leads me to a contest. [...]