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Contestant FAQ

This guide answers common questions that participants may have when entering SweepWidget giveaways. If you’re experiencing an issue entering a contest, check the solutions below.

Entry Marked as Spam

If your entry has been flagged by the anti-spam system, try the following:

  • Disable VPN: If you’re using a VPN or proxy, disable it and try entering again. Many giveaways block VPN traffic to prevent fraud.
  • Use a common email provider: Try entering with Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another major email provider instead of disposable or uncommon email domains.
  • Clear your browser: Clear cookies and cache, then try again in a fresh browser session.
  • Contact the contest host: If none of these solutions work, you must contact the person hosting this contest and ask them to whitelist your email address. If they don’t know how, share this article with them: How to Unban a User.

Cannot Complete Entry Method

If you’re having trouble completing an entry method, check the following:

  • Actually complete the action first: Make sure you’ve actually completed the action (followed, liked, subscribed, etc.) before clicking the confirm button on the widget.
  • Username format: When asked for your social media username, enter it without the @ symbol unless specifically requested.
  • Public profile required: For social media verification to work, your profile must be set to public. Private accounts cannot be verified.
  • Correct account: Make sure you’re completing the action on the correct social media account that matches the username you entered.
  • Wait and retry: Some platforms have delays in reporting follows/likes. Wait a minute and try confirming again.

“Already Entered” Error

This error occurs when your email address or IP address has already been used to enter the giveaway.

Common causes:

  • You already entered: Check your email for a confirmation from when you entered previously.
  • Shared WiFi: If you’re on shared WiFi (home, office, school, coffee shop), another user may have already entered from the same IP address.
  • Multiple email addresses: You may have entered with a different email address earlier.

If you believe this is an error, contact the contest host and explain your situation.

Email Marked as “Disqualified”

Your email may be flagged as disqualified due to:

  • Previous suspicious activity: Your email may have been flagged in a previous giveaway.
  • VPN/proxy usage: Entering while using a VPN can trigger fraud detection.
  • Blocklist: Your email domain or address may be on a blocklist from a previous giveaway by the same host.
  • Disposable email: Using a temporary/disposable email address often triggers automatic disqualification.

Contact the giveaway organizer and ask to be whitelisted if you believe this is a mistake.

Country/Region Restriction

Some giveaways are restricted to specific countries or regions due to legal requirements or shipping limitations. If you see a message that the giveaway is not available in your location:

  • This is intentional: The contest host has chosen to limit entries to certain locations.
  • Check the rules: Review the giveaway’s official rules to see which countries are eligible.
  • VPN won’t help: Using a VPN to bypass country restrictions may result in disqualification even if you manage to enter.

Entry Methods Not Showing

If you can’t see all the entry methods:

  • Complete required steps first: Some giveaways require you to complete certain entry methods before others become visible.
  • Login required: You may need to enter your email and complete the initial login before seeing all entry methods.
  • Daily/recurring entries: Some entry methods may only be available once per day or week.
  • Browser issues: Try refreshing the page or using a different browser.

Referral Link Not Working

If your friends are using your referral link but you’re not getting credit:

  • They must complete entry: Your friend must actually enter the giveaway, not just click your link.
  • New participants only: Referral credit only works for new participants. If your friend already entered, you won’t get credit.
  • Check your link: Make sure you’re sharing the correct referral link from the giveaway widget.
  • Processing time: There may be a short delay before referral entries appear on your account.

Widget Not Loading

If the giveaway widget isn’t loading on the page:

  • Disable ad blockers: Some ad blockers may prevent the widget from loading.
  • Try a different browser: The issue may be browser-specific.
  • Check your internet connection: Ensure you have a stable connection.
  • Clear cache: Clear your browser’s cache and cookies, then refresh.
  • Contest may have ended: If the giveaway has ended, the widget may no longer be active.

How to Check Your Entry Status

To verify your entry was recorded:

  1. Return to the giveaway page
  2. Enter the same email address you used to enter
  3. You should see your current entry count and completed entry methods
  4. If the giveaway has a leaderboard, you can check your ranking there

Contacting the Contest Host

SweepWidget is the platform that powers the giveaway, but we do not run the individual contests. For questions about:

  • Prize details or shipping
  • Winner selection or announcements
  • Being whitelisted or unbanned
  • Contest rules or eligibility

You’ll need to contact the person or company running the giveaway directly. Look for contact information on the giveaway page or the host’s website/social media.

Still Need Help?

If you’ve tried the solutions above and are still experiencing issues, the contest host is your best resource. They have access to the giveaway’s entry data and can investigate specific issues with your entry.