Contests & Activities: April 02, 2014 Issue [#6244]
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Contests & Activities


 This week: Drawing Attention Through Visuals
  Edited by: 🦄🏳️‍🌈Sapph Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

The purpose of this newsletter is to share my thoughts, ideas, and experience with anything and everything relating to contests and activities. Information from me to you on entering and running activities here on Writing.Com.

Today's Topic
Drawing Attention Through Visuals


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B01DSJSURY
Amazon's Price: $ 5.99


Letter from the editor

You've come up with the idea for you contest or activity, you've got everything planned out that you need, but have you thought about the visuals? Images can be an important element in drawing someone to participate in your contest or activity.

In a typical contest or activity, you will see a banner at the very top of the page, before any of the information given. This is because people are drawn to nice-looking images and have a tendency to stay on a page longer if they're drawn in immediately. Have you ever glanced at a billboard, looked away, and then back again because part of it caught your eye? They got you spend more than a second looking at the image and thus achieved their goal. This is the exact same thing except with your own contest or activity and keeping a potential participant on the page longer.

Now, you may think that if one image works to draw someone in, more images might be even better. More images can actually be worse and drive potential activity-goers away. Too many images can make a page look crowded and confusing and users do not stay one pages like that very often. Your goal is to attract a potential participant at first glance and keep them interested, not be so overwhelming that they close the page and never come back.


There are a few tips or guidelines that I've come up with when working with images in regards to contests and activities that I would like to share with you:

*Starr* Create one image and stick to it. You don't want to constantly change it and confuse your participants.

*Staro* Keep it simple. Images don't need to have everything on it, just some simple visuals and the text of the contest or activity.

*Star* If you want to use more than one image, use a page set, with one main banner and smaller supporting dividers.

*Starg* Make sure that the image is visually appealing and will draw attention. Ask some other members what they think before using it.

*Starb* Make the image match your contest or activity. Images should enhance the feel of what you're doing, not detract from it.

*Starv* If you can't create an image yourself, reach out to those who can to have one created for you.




In your future contests and activities, remember the visuals and these tips. They can be key in attracting more participants or driving them away and as a host, you want as much participation as possible.


Editor's Picks

Image Protector
Kiya's Sig & Banner Shop Open in new Window. [18+]
*CLOSED* Shop for images - animated/non-animated for site/off-site use.
by iKïyå§ama Author Icon


Image Protector
Leger's Shop Open in new Window. [18+]
Gift certificates are available! Signature images and cNotes! Dress up your forums!
by Leger~ Author Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor




 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


Image Protector
Roots & Wings Contest Open in new Window. [E]
Can you capture the essence of an ancestor in one story? CLOSED
by GeminiGem🐾 Author Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 
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Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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ASIN: B083RZ2C5F
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Amazon's Price: Price N/A
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Ask & Answer

My question for you this time: What attracts you to a contest? The visuals, the genre, the type of writing accepted, etc?


Question from before: What do you resolve to do this year around WDC?


Elle - on hiatus Author Icon replied: I resolved to review more regularly, and to work on revising my 2012 NaNo novel. *Smile*


len_gray replied: My resolution isn't just for WDC but my writing in general. I want to be get my work out there. Whether it ends in publication, rejection, or something else entirely I still want people to see my writing and fall in love with it the same way I've fallen in love with so many other stories.



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