I just had to post about this because it’s really a neat concept I think. (And no, posting about it doesn’t get me any extra entries or benefits in any way.)
I got an email from a Mount Royal University student named Peter (PJ Hamilton) telling me about this TwitterLotto project he came up with:
I recently released a marketing experiment called “The Twitter Lotto”. Basically it converts publicity and advertising into prize. If you don’t mind blogging about it, I would really appreciate it as I am just a university student. If not, no worries I’m just trying to get any little exposure I can find!
To be entered to win, you simply have to follow @twterlotto on Twitter. That’s it. You don’t have to write a post, or retweet (RT) anything if you don’t want to.
As visits to the site’s home page accumulate, the jackpot prize goes up. At the time of this writing, it’s at $23 and change. He started at zero.
The prize winner will be drawn on December 25, 2009 and after validating that it’s a real person who actively uses Twitter, they will be awarded the jackpot.
According to the About:
The idea. What was originally suppose to be a simple school marketing project evolved into what you see before you today.I wanted to create something unique, interesting, creative and beneficial to not only myself, but everyone.
I personally think the kid’s pretty smart. He’s using a school project to make something that IS unique, doesn’t involve gambling or charging for entries, and can actually result in a great case study as well as a nice chunk of prize money!
Take a look, follow him. What can it hurt?
What do you think about the idea itself? Is this potentially a great new marketing trick or just wishful thinking? Share in the comments!
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@jasondrohn
This is a cool idea. I have the domain TwitterCompetition.com and I’ve been thinking of doing something fun like this… Don’t know what yet :0)
If any of you have any ideas – let me know!
– Jason
@stevegjohnson
Interesting idea. I started following. It will be fun to watch how this progresses.
@kpfingaz
This is a cool idea indeed. I’m following him to see how it turns out even if I don’t win.
@sciencebase
It is a neat idea…but…what does it say about you as a Twitter user if you’re following a twitter account created purely as a marketing exercise? If it wasn’t for the possibility of (literally) untold riches I really wouldn’t have…but I couldn’t resist.
@suthers
Looks a bit like another internet bubble to me. There is no real value to the site. When the jackpot is won, the visitors will surely just melt away.
@CodrutaMoga
I’ll follow him because I like the idea and the fact that his message is so direct, so easy to understand.
@josh_axtell
Calgary AB isn’t at the top of my list of places to travel in the middle of the winter, even if the ticket is provided by twitterlotto.
@NicksTraffic
It’s an interesting idea. Maybe if the jackpot were bigger…
@twitfools
Thanks for letting us know about this. We’ll share the news on our blog as well.
@budgetsaresexy
That is awesome. I’m a fan of both Twitter AND Xmas, so let’s do it
@trevord209
The simplest and most obvious ideas always seem to be the most effective.
This guy had a really great idea. I mean we all wear shirts. These shirts have logos. Might as well get paid for wearing them.
@lickitysplit
Very cool idea!!
i am not hoping to get the jackpot but i am just following excitedly its progress. i know it’s real and peter won’t fail anybody comes dec 25.
@mesau
Great idea! I’ll gladly go to Calgary if I win! I think this guy is helping opening up a section of the economy to us: Instead of paying money to the advertisers, generate traffic to your site to your site, and pay the winner instead! This would work on a monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly or twice a year basis! Awesome! We can learn from this experiment. And some of us will be in warm climates as we run our twitter-stakes!
@radiogagger
What happened with this? The account no longer exists..
Did the winner get the account? (and maybe change the name)
Or am i confusing with another comp, that planned on getting x amount of followers and then giving the account away?