Do you have a friend who you'd like to get into comping but who just doesn't get it yet?
It shouldn't be tricky to get someone excited about the prospect of enjoying a spot of comping if they're clued-in enough about the subject. So chances are, if your mate isn't enthusiastic yet, it might be that they're missing some key info!
Here are just four tips that we think could really help create a comping convert!
Tell them it's easy!
"So do you have to trawl every website, magazine and TV channel to find comps?" a non-comper might ask. If this is the case, set them right!
Comp entering is pretty common among people who don't consider it a hobby, but these people might only enter comps they happen across, and not realise it's possible to take a more organised approach.
Of course you can hone your comping skills over time, but the basics are easy to grasp.
Your friends who don't comp might not even know that it's possible to find tasty comps compiled in places like Compers News and The Prize Finder, which is also published by Accolade and focuses on comps that can be entered online.
Meanwhile, comping is no longer a case of taking regular trips to the post box, unless you want it to be. It's possible to be a fully virtual comper, only entering easy online competitions, for example.
The level of effort you put in can match your needs. You might want to focus on creative comps that require a bit of thought, or spend an hour filling in online form entries.
Tell them it's social!
"But don't you get lonely filling in forms?" This is a view of comping that would have to come from a real newcomer! Firstly, it doesn't take into account the thrill that comes every time you know you're giving yourself a chance of getting a prize. But also, it's what someone might say if they weren't aware of all the social excitement that goes on around comping.
Comping societies are hubs of like-minded compers, while Chatterbox is an example of a great way that compers who are members of our mag can get in touch online and enjoy their hobby as a community.
Tell them there are prizes for them!
It's unlikely that even a non-comper would be under the impression that there are no prizes out there that they would like - after all, cash prizes appeal to everyone, right?
But if they're used to seeing a limited number of comps, they might not realise just how big the variety of prizes out there is. Anyone who has browsed ThePrizeFinder or our listings will know that there are always prize surprises popping up. Why not show your friend how they can use the category sections on ThePrizeFinder to narrow down the comps shown to those that may be more likely to appeal to them, for example? Or the way they can get an even more specific selection using the fab search feature?
Tell them it could make them tech-savvy!
You don't have to be tech-savvy to comp, but like so much else in life, the internet can play a massive part in the hobby.
If you're now impressing the kids or grandkids with your social media skills, why not tell a non-comper about how they've been boosted by comping? Maybe you've even used the tips in Compers News to help you become a Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter expert?
Comping can bring you lots of benefits, and not just in terms of tech. You may be able to impress your friend with the things you've won, for example, with the people you've met through the hobby and by the way it's opened your eyes to new things.
Comping can help you develop your attention to detail, for example (reading those T and Cs!) and creative comping could boost your creative skills!
