Q. What Information Should I Use for Sweepstakes Entry Forms?

Before you start to enter sweepstakes, you should think about what information to use to fill into your entry forms. Since most people have a variety of telephone numbers, email addresses, and perhaps even physical addresses to choose among, this is not a light decision to make.

Name:
Many sweepstakes sponsors need to receive a signed and notarized affidavit before they can officially name a winner. Make sure that the name you use on your entry form can be verified by a notary (i.e., it matches the name on your official documents, such as your driver's license or passport).

Address:
Sweepstakes frequently use delivery companies such as UPS or FedEx to deliver prizes. Because these companies do not deliver to PO Boxes, many sweepstakes prohibit their use. Also, requiring a physical address allows sweepstakes sponsors to enforce rules like "one entry per household." For these reasons, it is better to use a street address than a P.O. Box on your entry forms.

Telephone Number:
Many companies notify prize winners by telephone. Notification calls may be made in the evening or during the day, and many sponsors do not leave messages. If you have a cell phone that you carry with you, that is a good number to use for sweepstakes entry. If you do not want to risk receiving telemarketing calls on your regular numbers, learn about how to enter sweeps without using your home phone number.

Email Address:
When you enter a lot of sweepstakes, you are sure to receive a ton of marketing emails from sponsors. For this reason, I highly recommend setting up an email address specifically for prize entry. A separate email address for sweepstakes entry will make it much easier to recognize win notifications when they appear in your inbox, and will help reduce the amount of spam that you receive in your regular email. Visit the About Email Guide for the Top Ten Free Email Accounts.