How to Take Screen Shots of Instant Wins

Why should you take screen shots of instant win prizes?

When you win an instant sweepstakes, the winning screen holds a lot of important information, such as a verification number, whether to expect additional information, or how long you'll probably need to wait until you receive your prize. This article on taking a screen shot of your instant win will help you retain this important information until you receive your prize.

What is a Screen Shot?

A screen shot is a picture of what your computer screen looks like. "Capturing" a screen shot is like taking a photograph of what is shown on your monitor at any given time.

How Do I Take a Screen Shot?

Capturing a screen shot is free and easy. Here are instructions on how to create screen shots with various operating systems:

• How to Take a Screen Shot in Windows XP
• How to Take a Screen Shot with Windows Vista
• How to Take a Screen Shot in Max OS X

Although you don't need any special programs to take screen shots, there are some programs available to streamline the process or add extra features. Here is a list of free screen shot utilities for Windows.

When Should I Take the Screen Shot?

The right time to take the screen shot is after you receive the winning screen on your instant win game play. Make sure that the screen is maximized so that the text is as large as possible.

How Do I Save My Instant Win Screen Shot?

I recommend setting up a folder on your computer for instant win screen shots. Save the images with the date and the instant win name. For example, 20081231CompanySweepName.jpg. Not only does this make it easy to find the screen shots again, but it is also inspirational to look through that folder and remind yourself of some of the great prizes you've won. You can also print out your screen shot and put it in a scrapbook of wins.

How Do I Use the Screen Shot?

If you don't receive a confirmation email or letter from the instant win sponsor, you can attach the screen shot to your email when you write to ask about your prize. It can also be helpful to refer back to that screen shot when you have questions.

For example, I had a situation where I was nervous because I hadn't received a confirmation email after winning a large instant prize. When I referred to my printout of the screen shot, however, I realized that it said that confirmation would come by postal mail, not email. Sure enough, the mail arrived a week later. Referring to that screen shot saved me a week's worth of nervousness.

Should I Do Anything Else to Verify My Instant Win?

I also recommend writing down the verification number and the other pertinent information about your win in a sweepstakes spreadsheet.