Some of us have been comping for years and along the way it's more than likely we’ve picked picked up a lot of tips and advice about the world of competitions - especially if we're Compers News subscribers.
But at the same time, there will always be new people just starting out on their comping adventure, and for them everything is potentially still something of a mystery!
Comping is a friendly world, one that these newcomers hopefully feel comfortable in straight away. Having said that, advice is always useful when you're finding your feet with any hobby.
Comping can be a very simple hobby, where you just enter the competitions that appeal to you, but as veteran compers will tell you, there are also a wide range of tips that can help make your comping experience even better and improve your odds of winning a prize.
Here are just four pieces of advice that we think will appeal to new compers. If you've been comping for some time, why not let us know how these things have helped you with the hobby?
Get the news
We always think that if you want to get to grips with a hobby, it's a great idea to read about it in a dedicated magazine. These are designed to appeal to people who love the activity, and are always home to helpful suggestions.
Compers News is no exception, and a subscription to this will get you right in the comping spirit from the moment you see the tales of great wins that grace the front page.
Tips galore are just one of the features of this invaluable competition magazine, there's also a brilliant listings section with clear details about how to enter a wide variety of competitions from your favourite magazines, products and more.
Get chatting
Get in touch with other people who love comping, you don't even have to live close to them.
These days, the internet can be a great place to connect with people over a shared hobby.
And the Chatterbox forum is a brilliant starting point for new compers to get a deeper insight into the world of comping. With a section containing threads about purchase necessary competitions, one dedicated to creative competitions and another about text and phone comps, to name just three, there's plenty to get your teeth into on this online resource. You can only gain access with an active subscription and by registering, but don't worry - it's not a tricky task. Once signed up, we'd very much recommend that you hit the Welcome to Chatterbox section, then take a look at our FAQs.
Think about becoming part of a comping club
Another way to get in touch with fellow compers, would be to join a comping club. A comping club might be able to really make you feel like your hobby is something that you share with others, so if you love the pastime, why not check if there's one in your area and get in touch to see if they can take you on as a new member? Then, as a new comper, you'll soon have fellow competition fans to make friends with!
Click here to find out whether there is a comping club near you.
Harness the internet
When it comes to comping, as with many things in life, the internet has really helped to make things super-convenient. If you're prepared to embrace this great technology, you'll likely have the chance to enter even more great competitions.
Look into social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. You may have felt these were not for you, but as comping tools they can be invaluable - and as social spaces they can be heaps of fun!
You'll commonly find prize opportunities on these platforms, as well as elsewhere on the internet. So even if you don't feel like you know much about tech, your hobby might give you an excuse to learn more!
If you've been comping for some time, why not let us know how these things have helped you with the hobby?
