Rowan's Journey: From Casual Comper to 112+ Prize Winner
Competitions.com.au member Rowan Barber (smalot11) shares how he went from winning just 10 prizes in his lifetime to over 112 in less than a year - including a $5,000 NZ trip and his wife's $8,000 Whitsundays holiday!
Total Prizes Won
112+
Combined Family Wins
$13,000+
Entries Per Day
20
"When I got the call about the NZ trip, it was pure shock to think I'd been pulled out of all those names."
â?? Rowan Barber
112
Prizes Won
Dec 2016
Started Serious Comping
20/day
Daily Entries
Tracked
System in Place
The Transformation
Before Dec 2016
- ~10 prizes in entire lifetime
- Entered competitions "on and off"
- No tracking system
- Casual approach
After Getting Serious
- 112+ prizes in under a year
- 20 entries per day
- Tracking system with draw dates
- $13,000+ in family travel wins
Major Wins
$5,000 Trip to New Zealand
ROWAN'S WIN"When I got the call, it was pure shock to think I'd been pulled out of all those names. It's an amazing feeling to have someone else pay for your holiday. The promoters are also excellent in making sure everything is perfect."
$8,000 Whitsundays Holiday
WIFE'S WINRowan's wife also got into comping and won an incredible Whitsundays trip valued at $8,000! Proof that comping can be a family affair.
Combined Family Wins: Over $13,000 in travel prizes alone - plus 110+ other prizes!
Rowan's Tracking System
"I have a system of noting the competitions I enter along with the draw date. This way I can remember what I have entered and check back to see if I have won."
Log Entries
Note every competition entered
Track Draw Dates
Know when winners are announced
Check Results
Follow up on draw dates
Pro Tip: "I have also recently joined a group on Facebook that announces winners on some Facebook competitions."
Rowan's Creative Entry Example
For a Sheridan competition for a weekend away to Tasmania and MONA, Rowan created this acrostic poem:
(S)o romantic,
(H)er and I.
(E)xploring Mona,
(R)ecapture the rapture of weekends away.
(I)t's the ultimate,
(D)ate weekend.
(A) wine to celebrate,
(N)ever forgotten memories.
"I thought this was quite a good entry but unfortunately the judges thought differently," Rowan laughs. Even great entries don't always win - but you keep trying!
Full Interview with Rowan
Any rituals or habits to entice lady luck?
"Staying positive I think is important. Also remembering you can't win if you don't enter. Half the time luck is also generated from noting the rules and following them. I also love reading of other compers who have won as it's regular people winning some amazing prizes which motivates me."
What's your dream prize?
"A prize home or a car is on top of the list, followed closely by luxury holidays."
Favourite type of competition?
"I love simple online entries because they are easy but realise that lowers my chances. Working on improving my 25WOL entries and actually thinking about who may be judging my entry."
Are your family and friends supportive?
"Maybe a little jealous but as mentioned above you can't win if you don't enter. When I win I ask, 'Did you put in an entry?' and the answer is normally no. I love how supportive the forum is on competitions.com.au too."
Rowan's Winning Tips
Stay Positive
"If you stay with something long enough and strong enough you are bound to get results."
You Can't Win If You Don't Enter
"There is a story of an English man who in one year only won a box of chocolate, the very next year he won a luxury yacht!"
Follow the Rules
"Half the time luck is generated from noting the rules and following them."
Keep Those Receipts!
"Enter and stay positive, and don't forget to keep those receipts."
Key Takeaways from Rowan's Story
Get serious = Get results (10 â?? 112 prizes)
Track entries with draw dates
20 entries per day is achievable
Stay positive through dry spells
Get family involved
Keep receipts for purchase entries
Ready to Transform Your Comping?
Rowan went from 10 prizes to 112+ in under a year. What's stopping you?
"You can't win if you don't enter." â?? Rowan Barber