View Full Version : PTO's First Members Contest!! $50 Prize!


Fed-X
10-09-2002, 02:05 PM
Welcome to PTO's first Members Contest!

Contest Prize: $50.00 Cash! (Money Order, Paypal, etc.)

Contest Start Date: October 10, 2002
Contest End Date: December 9, 2002
Winner Announced: December 12, 2002


I would like to invite all of you to join in PTO’s first members contest!
This contest is based on our community referral system, where new members can tell us how they heard about Prison Talk Online when they register. The member who has the most referrals in the contest period will be the winner of $50.00 from PTO.


What is the PTO referral system?

All PTO members have the ability to earn referral points by bringing in new members to our community. The PTO community software offers a feature to track referrals by each member and credit their individual accounts points for each person that joins PTO because of them. We have decided to turn this system into a contest to see who can bring in the most new members in the allotted period of time.



How does the referral system work?

There are two methods in which members can gain referral points:

1. When a new member goes through the registration process, she/he will be asked to “Enter the username of the forum member who referred you to this forum”. They will then need to enter your username EXACTLY as it is used by you. Once they have completed the registration process your account will be marked with 1 referral point.

2. The second and more transparent way of gaining referral points is to give everyone you are referring to PTO a link to the site that will identify you as the person that sent them here. Each member has their own unique referrer ID number. To get this complete link with your unique ID, you can click here:
http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/misc.php?action=faq&page=2#referrals
(You can also locate this by going into the Help area of the site and clicking on referrals)
In the middle area of the referrer information, you will see a hyperlink that begins with http://www.prisontalk.com/forums/index.php?referrerid=XXXX. Where I have placed “XXXX” at the end of this link, your number will automatically be included in the link when you go there yourself. For me, the “XXXX” is a number “1”. Each of you will have your own user/referrer ID number that will be included in the link that you see.
You will need to copy this link and send it to whomever you want to invite to PTO. They will simply click on that link and when they register, it will record that you were the person who sent them here.
*Note: They will need to register when they come here via that link. If they leave and come back later by other means than that link and then register, there is a very good chance it will not record that you were the person that sent them here.


Rules!!

There are only a few rules governing this contest, but be very sure that you read them carefully.

1. New Members MUST BE AUTHENTIC - This means that there MUST be a person behind each new account. I am fully aware that we all have the ability to go open multiple hotmail and other web mail type accounts that would allow individuals to register multiple new accounts. Something that should be known is that all accounts on PTO record each member & guest IP number. These numbers show who your ISP (internet service provider) is and a unique account identifier. So, to put it in basic terms, if you are registered to multiple accounts, they will show up as originating from the same person on the internet. Though I rarely look into comparing these IP addresses, I will be employing it extensively during the contest just to insure fairness for all members. Anyone found to be cheating will not only be out of the contest, they will be out of PTO!

2. New Members NEED TO BE ACTIVE – I understand that it is not in your control whether someone that you send here decides to become an active part of our community (posts messages, etc.), but if you end up referring a rather large number of people to PTO and none of them (or a very low percentage) ever post a message, that is going to throw up a flag that maybe people are being sent here that are unrelated to the Prisoner Support Community or not actually interested in PTO. In short, please make sure the people that you refer to PTO are people that will benefit from our community and have some type of interest in the Prison Reform / Prisoner Support systems.

3. Teams – Teams are not allowed during this contest. What I mean by “team” is where multiple people work for one person to win. This is often achieved by multiple members sending out one member’s referrer ID link. This creates an unfair advantage over those who are working hard by themselves to win the contest. Anyone found to be working with/as a team will be disqualified.

*If there are any questions regarding this contest or the referral system, please post them in this thread! I will not respond to questions about this contest via PM or Email.

Thanks & Good luck to all!!

Fed-X

jbmccormick
10-09-2002, 03:25 PM
David,

I support this method of stimulating our membership drives and believe that it will have very positive results.

I generally promote this site by posting on a site in general or making reference to it and I also believe that several other members also promote this site this way. While I believe that this method results in the greatest increase in numbers, there is nothing better, in my opinion, than the grass-roots recruitment by people talking to other people. I would believe that those who are personally invited are most likely to be active.

While I have no doubt that I will not be in the running for the greatest number of members naming me, that is not important to me and to be honest, if I did win, I would much prefer that the $50 prize money be put into the PTO site maintenance fund. Again, this is just my opinion and as much as I could really use that money, active memberships and continuing this excellent service is much more important.

I am not trying to suggest what the winner does with their prize money as it is legitimately won and is theirs to do with as they choose. I am only offering my not so humble opinion. :)

I look forward to watching the numbers increase and I hope that this contest drives the POINT home to the members here that increase in membership is critical. IMO, we really need to have 100,000 members by December of 2003. This is very possible when one considers the global scope of PTO and the numbers of families that are even semi active as well as ministries and other support groups.

Respectfully,

Jim

Fed-X
10-09-2002, 04:17 PM
So, any questions anyone? ;)

Also, please feel free to use the PTO Banner when needed.


http://www.prisontalk.com/ptobanner1.jpg

Fed-X
10-14-2002, 06:46 PM
Is nobody interested in this contest?? Or are there any questions?

David

sherri13
10-15-2002, 09:39 AM
I think the contest is a great idea David! I think the reason there are no questions is because you explained the process so well :)

Fed-X
10-15-2002, 11:55 AM
AS soon as someone gets a referral point, I will agree with you. :) :p

Phil in Paris
10-15-2002, 03:22 PM
David,
I agree with Sherri, this contest is a great idea, and you DID explain the process very well ! :)
Anyway I guess that we, Europeans, feel less concerned than American or even Canadian members. Don't frown Davis, I've said less "concerned" not "excluded" !!! :) But I think it will be harder for us to bring new members to PTO, not so many Europeans are concerned by American prisoners, and not all Europeans speak English. This is my opinion of course, maybe it would be interested to know what the others think about it. Anyway I wish good luck to all competitors !!! :)
Hey David, if I've won 10 USD for this answer, please send them to Joey, in Milton Fla :D
All the best
Philippe

Phil in Paris
10-15-2002, 03:29 PM
Hi David

I agree with Sherry, this contest is a great idea, and you DID explain very well the process! :)
Anyway, I guess that we Europeans, feel less concerned than American or even Canadian members. Don't frown David I've said "less concerned" not "excluded" !! :) I mean not so many Europeans are concerned by American prisoners, and not eveybody speaks English on this side of the Atlantic. Of course this is my own opinion, it would be interested to know about the others.
Anyway, I wish good luck to all competitors !!! :)
All the best
Philippe
Hey David, if I've won 10USD with this answer, send them to Joey, in Milton Fla :D

Fed-X
10-15-2002, 07:53 PM
Ahhh! Amelia is now up and running! Currently in first place! Keep it up hon!

Fed-X
10-18-2002, 05:37 PM
Since I am seeing very little activity/interest on this, I am going to add a few stipulations to the contest.
Winning Referrer must have at least 5 referral points during contest period. I was going to also add that there had to be a minimum of 5 people entered with points, but I will pass on that.

I also want everyone to know that everybody is eligible with the exception of myself, of course.. ;) That includes Moderators, Super Mods, etc..

** In the Event of a Tie, the person who has the most number of active members will win. If there is a tie between two or more members where they have the same number of "active" members, I will then go in and determine who has the highest total post count out of each set of new members, and whichever group does, the referer will be the winner.

lulu
10-18-2002, 06:11 PM
yall have fun now, you here? :)

Amelia
10-19-2002, 10:00 AM
HEy I got a point?! WOW! I haven't even staerted my "campaign" yet?!!??...lol...I think this is a great idea David..not only does it promote PTO but it gets one of us 50 bucks..WooooHoooo!

Amelia
10-23-2002, 01:56 PM
Am I still in first place??...:D

Fed-X
12-06-2002, 01:26 AM
We have a 4 way tie for first place right now. It's getting close to the end. :)



Amelia - 2 Elle, YellowRose
cherrie - 2 Adnilj, silvwd
deb - 2 petrucci508, Bella50
danielle - 2 mickey, mskrazykat99

lulu
12-06-2002, 07:59 AM
what happens if you have a tie?

cherrie
12-17-2002, 10:47 AM
hey who won this contest? I haven't seen anything posted about the winner or winners yet? i know i have had a few referrals and I had someone sign up yesterday too. so anyways just wanted to know who won?