How do you feel about the social network portion of contests on EF?

How do you feel about the social network portion of contests on EF?

 
 
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DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
I've seen brought up recently a lot of comments about so many of the contests requiring social network integration and participation (you must like xyz on facebook and retweet about the contest on twitter, etc.) and I wonder what we're thinking about it as a community.

I think that it can be difficult for people who choose not to belong to social networking sites, as well as those who do not wish for their Eden life to be linked to their other life; and not everyone wants to/has the time to have multiple accounts.

This poll is ONLY referring to the contests that have sharing/liking/retweet ing as the ONLY ways to enter, not to the contests with multiple entry options.
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
15  (6%)
35  (15%)
34  (15%)
135  (58%)
14  (6%)
Total votes: 233
Poll is open
03/12/2011
Coralbell Coralbell
I don't really like it, but it's not a big deal to me. I just made seperate accounts to keep things private.
03/12/2011
jfree jfree
I don't really like it since I deleted my Facebook and Twitter (personal reasons.) I don't want to make a Facebook/Twitter account all over again just to enter contests, I don't like being connected to people all that much (doesn't help a lot of sites I follows make contests pertaining to using social media to enter.)
03/12/2011
awhirlwindlife awhirlwindlife
I don't like it because I have family members as young as 11 years old as friends on Facebook...there are just things that they don't need to be exposed to.
03/12/2011
indiglo indiglo
It makes me sad that I can't participate in those, because I don't want to be on any of those networking sites at all. So I don't participate in those contests, I just work on earning points and stuff right here on EF instead.
03/12/2011
Alyjazz Alyjazz
I don't like it because a lot of people don't use those sites (I think I know as many people who DON'T use those sites as I do people who DO).

Also because the people that do use them don't ALL feel comfortable sharing links like this on their personal accounts. I'm a little embarrassed at the idea of having my family seeing those links pop up.

When the contest is over I usually go through and take down the links so it's not the first thing people visiting my page see.

I understand wanting to spread the word about eden and the contests and products, but it seems a little unfair to have that as THE ONLY way to enter.
03/12/2011
Dusk Dusk
I really don't like it. I eventually made a FB and Twitter account just for my sex-blogging self, but it's frustrating to keep up with my two FB accounts and I feel like I'm spamming everyone all the time.
03/12/2011
Eliza Eliza
I try to keep this area of my life separate from my friends/family on the social networking sites, so I don't participate in any of those contests.
03/12/2011
CafeSabroso CafeSabroso
I don't mind talking about my private activities, but only if someone asks, or if it's a dedicated forum (like Eden). The Eden contests I feel are "forcing" my thing on others, which I feel is improper. Facebook just isn't the place for it.
03/12/2011
Lucidity Lucidity
I'm not a fan of it, but at the same time, I get the reasoning behind it. This is a way for Eden and the company that provides the prizes to get advertising in exchange for the products they are giving away for free.

If they did these contests without the use of social networking sites, they would not be able to give away as many high quality prizes as often, ya know.

So as much as I don't care for it from a consumer standpoint, from a retailer standpoint (especially one like Eden, who gives so much to their patrons) it's the only way that makes sense, and it's a wonderful marketing tool.
03/12/2011
DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by Lucidity
I'm not a fan of it, but at the same time, I get the reasoning behind it. This is a way for Eden and the company that provides the prizes to get advertising in exchange for the products they are giving away for free.

If they did these ... More
I, of course, understand the reasoning behind it; social networking is a huge way to get consumers to see you and your products.

On the other hand, if it's limiting the people who are able/willing to participate, perhaps there should be more opportunities for OTHER kinds of contests to have a bit of spotlight, as well.


This thread is not a critique. I intended it to be, perhaps, a way for the staff of EF to consider having more contests that do not require social network integration as the sole entry platform.
03/12/2011
ImABarbieGirl ImABarbieGirl
Maybe - do double contests then - you can choose to enter the social network side of the contest, OR you can enter the EF side, but not both. That could be it. Or have more than just the social network to enter.

Or just do a few of both. rotate.

I dont mind the social network side. I think it helps spread the word about EF to people who havent heard of it before, and Im all about sharing the love. I have more than one FB profile (one that is personal-ish, but has some links to eden), one that is specifically all about Eden, and a page for my blog. I spend the most of my time on my personal page.
03/12/2011
Lucidity Lucidity
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
I, of course, understand the reasoning behind it; social networking is a huge way to get consumers to see you and your products.

On the other hand, if it's limiting the people who are able/willing to participate, perhaps there should be more ... More
I know that most people understand the reasoning behind it. Maybe they could have one entry that was non-social network related and then the people who do the social networking thing still get to have the opportunity to get multiple entries and spread the love?
03/12/2011
cobiffle cobiffle
I hate it because it is stuff that I want to keep hidden from my family and my girls family. This is just not something that they need to be preview of, specially because they are nosy. There is some friends I do talk to about this stuff and I want to keep it with them and not everybody else.
03/13/2011
zeebot zeebot
It would be nice if there was at least one way to enter without having to belong to a social networking site.
03/13/2011
macho99 macho99
Quote:
Originally posted by zeebot
It would be nice if there was at least one way to enter without having to belong to a social networking site.
I don't really mind it. But the entries concerning social media is better off being additional entries rather than being the only way to enter.

My way around the system is creating a separate account for my "private" stuff. A little bit more complicated than having just one but keeps everything secret.
03/13/2011
Taylor Taylor
I get why they do it, and I think it's fine that they found a way to get people to spread the word about EF. I just don't feel comfortable participating in the contests since I think a lot of my friends wouldn't want to see that side of me.
03/13/2011
bunny love bunny love
Quote:
Originally posted by Taylor
I get why they do it, and I think it's fine that they found a way to get people to spread the word about EF. I just don't feel comfortable participating in the contests since I think a lot of my friends wouldn't want to see that side of me.
Totally agreed.

After all, I don't think my brothers would be very interested in finding out that I'm looking forward to a new line of vibrating butt plugs
03/13/2011
TaylorVon TaylorVon
I have young family that don't need to see what I 'like'.
03/13/2011
PussyGalore PussyGalore
Truthfully, I wish there was a different way to handle the contests. Having to remember to log into a separate account (when I already have three other registered sites open) annoys me. The very existence of Facebook annoys me, especially the privacy issues.

I'm old school internet - from the days of yore when it was a user's responsibility to keep their private life private, if they wanted it that way. Social networking was logging into a group chat that moved at warp speed, making acquaintances and friends through instant messaging outside of the chat prog. It wasn't this contrived popularity contest like it is today.
03/13/2011
Vaccinium Vaccinium
I recently set up a Facebook page because of the Eden Photographers Club after refusing to be a part of Facebook. I actually don't participate in the contests very frequently, so I can't complain about that aspect of things regardless.

I will say, though, that for those of you on Facebook already who don't want your friends and family to know what you do on EF, many of us have set up EF-specific Facebook accounts. Mine, for example, is Vaccinium Eden, and many others have adopted the "Eden" surname as well.
03/13/2011
WomanChina WomanChina
I hate the fact the EF has so many Social Networking contests and give aways simply because I cannot get onto any of the social networking sites here as The Great Firewall of China does not like them.

If I could get on them... I'd be all for it.

I used to have two Facebook accounts set up... and still do when I travel outside the country I guess. One for family which I had for strictly family and family friends, students etc... and was kept VERY clean. The other was for more of my fun and frolics and online life. They were kept very separate and my family and friends knew about both. If they wanted to be on both that was their choice. VERY few people from the fun and frolics Facebook thingie are on my uber personal one though.
03/13/2011
csweatc csweatc
I definitely don't want my social life and my EF life intertwined. I've told some people about what I do here, and I've turned others onto this site, but in general I keep all of this to myself and I would prefer it stay that way. If they contests weren't linked to facebook and other accounts, then I would most certainly participate.
03/13/2011
Alys Alys
I have a separate online life and I try very hard to keep my family and most of my real life friends and coworkers away from my online life, because I couldn't be myself on here as comfortably if I knew that my Mom would be able to search out everything I say or do and hold it over my head. Because of this I've set up a Twitter (@alys_alcyone) and Facebook (Alys Alcyone) where I can friend all my Eden friends and take part in all the Eden contests that way. It also lets me promote my club, too
03/13/2011
alliegator alliegator
I wish the contests weren't strictly social network based, but I totally understand that EF is a business, and that the contests are one way they keep their totally awesome business going.
03/13/2011
Carrie Ann Carrie Ann
(EdenFantasys)
I can't speak for anyone else but when it comes to EdenCafe contests they are generally part of a promotion of a product -- hence using promotional tools to enter the contest.

We give away big, valuable items most of the time and while we love providing the community with prizes -- as is most obvious by all the prizes given away on site, the sponsored review items, the points -- we do also need to do things to promote sales, as well. We are, after all, an online store.

Social media channels are a great way for us to do that.

I'm sorry not everyone enjoys the contests that require it but we do offer many, many perks and freebies that do not require you to have social networking accounts.
03/14/2011
Misfit Momma Misfit Momma
I don't mind. Honestly I'm shocked to see that so many people voted that they don't like it. Social networking plays a huge part in online business and it would take you all of 30 seconds to create a new account on Facebook or Twitter.

It isn't as though Eden is the only place that does it.
03/14/2011
tigerkate tigerkate
Quote:
Originally posted by awhirlwindlife
I don't like it because I have family members as young as 11 years old as friends on Facebook...there are just things that they don't need to be exposed to.
Yeah, I have a cousin whose older sisters made him a facebook account. The little guy just turned 5 years old. And the older cousins who made him his facebook? 11, 13, 16.

If I do some of these contests, I have to immediately hide them from my feed.

Sure you can change privacy settings, but I don't want my 5 year old cousin asking why he can't leave me a comment about the dinosaur he drew at school

I am thinking of just creating a separate account now that I read that so many people do that. It seems cheap though, because.. no one will really be able to see those promotions.
03/14/2011
JR JR
(EdenFantasys)
It's pretty obvious from voting that some people don't want to do the public/private dual FBing or Tweeting. One thing to think about though: We've recently seen more than a handful of contributors/reviewers create "Eden" FB accounts.

People have been creating their own Facebook accounts and incorporating them into their daily Eden activity and, as a result, have been able to connect more than just on-site alone.

It's just an observation. I have public and private Facebook accounts for the same reasons a few people on here do and don't have too much of a problem keeping them apart.
03/14/2011
BBW Talks Toys BBW Talks Toys
I voted OTHER because I have a Twitter and a Facebook that are specifically designated to EF. If others want to link their real life to Eden, that's fine, but for the time being, I'm not. (Unless I get hired, which I've already told Victoria that if a position were to ever open up, I'd totally ditch the anonymity.) But until then, no.
03/14/2011
Total posts: 96
Unique posters: 84