BookRaffle
Lessons Learned
If you have too much stuff to give away, let winners select more than one prize.
It's useful to break up the giveaways into groups of three. This takes about 5-7 minutes, and still leaves time for other announcements at the podium.
At least two people should handle the raffle so that one person can call the names and the other person can handle prize distribution. Also, someone needs to note the names of the winners so they can be removed from the next raffle.
Timing is critical. Giveaways immediately after lunch go faster because most attendees come back to the room for the next session. Slots after a poster session or between lightning talks and breakout sessions are much slower, as many people choose to take a break and not return to the room. It is therefore necessary to call lots of names before selecting someone present in the room. Giveaways on the final day are avoided since attendance is lower that day.
For fun, have a sound tech add a drum roll.
In 2020, several publishers gave an ebook license or discount code for all attendees. It might be better to request more of those kinds of rewards from publishers and do fewer individuals prizes.
Publishing and software companies
Be sure to include companies in a "Giveaway Sponsors" section on the conference sponsorship page.
The following companies have contributed prizes:
- ALA Publishing
- APress
- Balsamiq
- CRC press
- Manning
- Morgan & Claypool
- No Starch Press
- Oxygen XML
- Pragmatic Programmers
- Rosenfeld Media
