The best way to incorporate a Strutta contest as part of your site is to create a domain C-name.

In this example, we're going to create the Cname "contest" at www.exampledomain.com. When the settings are correct, our fictional contest should reside at http://contest.exampledomain.com. Every domain registrar has specific directions as to how to accomplish this domain change, and Google provides a list of instructions for many of them at the bottom of this page.

For the sake of this example, we'll use the specific instructions for GoDaddy, a popular domain registrar. Keep in mind for that for this to work, your DNS settings need to be pointing to your domain regsistrar itself (like it is by default when you buy it), or your domain needs to have an A-record or be CNAME'd already at the top level. Still with us? Great.

1. Log in to your account at www.godaddy.com.
2. Open the Domains tab and select My Domain Names. You'll be directed to the Domain Manager page.
3. Click the domain that you'd like to use with Strutta.
4. Click the Total DNS Control And MX Records in the box entitled Total DNS Control.
   Note: Adding entries to the Manage Subdomains section does not create a CNAME record.
5. Click Add New CNAME Record. If you've already created a CNAME record for the address, click the marker icon under the Actions column next to the existing CNAME record.
6. In the box that reads "Enter an Alias name," enter: contest.
7. In the "Points to Host Name" box, enter: hosted.strutta.com. Keep the TTL setting as the default.
8. Click OK. In the Review and status box, you can see the results of your updates.

The changes won't take effect immediately, but will before too long. If your settings in your Strutta account are set correcty, then once the change has taken effect, our example contest would be live at http://contest.exampledomain.com.

We understand that the preceeding directions can be incredibly confusing, especially if it's the first time you've ever made changes to your domain's DNS settings. It can be downright daunting. If you need a hand, hit us up at the feedback link on the top left, or using the contact info at the bottom of this page.

Thinking about launching your own contest promotion? Why not check around to see some of the current contest promotions on the web, and get a few ideas? 

We'll be honest, there are no lack of contest sites on the web, and a Google search turns up all sorts of ugly sites that are covered in ads and look as though they haven't seen a redesign in decades. We skipped all of those for you, and opted to share a selection of contest sites that are a little easier to read: 

1. Contests.Alltop.com. This is it, the mother lode of contest listings and contest sites. The folks at Alltop do such a good job of finding and listing the best feeds on the web that we'd be crazy not to refer you directly to this list. All of the headlines on the page are links to the actual RSS feeds too, so you can either bookmark this badboy and revisit it, or just pick and choose the feeds that interest you most and add to them to a reader. Need an RSS refresher? Lee can help. 

2. Contests.About.com. While About.com is certainly home to its share of annoying ads and what I like to call "advertorial," there's no question they do offer some decent lists and resources, including a tutorial called "Sweepstakes Basics."

Tip For Contest Enterers:

Not all web browsers are created equal. We recommend using Firefox for its fast loading time and the fact that it will automatically save your information in any online forms you've filled out.

Learning from the Experts

Our searches turned up a number of blogs with useful contest info, and we've been secretly learning from their wisdom ever since.

1. Carolyn, the "Contest Queen." Carolyn operates a great contest info website and newsletter, and publishes a blog as well. She's made a cottage industry of the contest industry, and folks flock to her for advice. Plus, she recently discovered she has personal connections to Strutta!

2. VidOpp.com. This video contest hub will tell you all about the various video submission contests out there. Since video has been a big part of what we do at Strutta, we keep a close eye on this feed. 

3. Momdot.com. The gals over at MomDot spill all sorts of info about contests, promotion discounts and shopping, so if you if you're looking for a resource that has loads of info aimed at moms, and a considerable amount of influence in that community, then you've found it.

Tip for Contest Administrators: 

There are a few key questions that people always have when they enter a contest. The first is "What's the prize?" and the second is almost always "Who can enter?" This information should be made readily available in all contest-related promotions and marketing.

Leading up to the launch of our contest platform, we'll continue to share insight into the online contest space, and as always if you have questions you can ask them her in the comments or visit our contact form. 

If you know of other great online contest resources, feel free to share those here. 

*mgs: "Dart Game" by cheese roc, 

This morning we launched another contest on our platform, and we are especially proud of this one.

Operation Gratitude is a charity that sends care packages to US troops deployed overseas. Especially during the holiday season, they make every effort to send care packages of familiar items from home to as many US servicemen and women as they can. To date, "OpGrat" volunteers have shipped close to 400, 000 care packages. Each contains a personally written note from a citizen at home, thanking them for their bravery and service.

Write a Letter, Enter to Win

Writing a short letter of thanks is a simple gesture, but to hear how much difference it makes in the lives of the troops, you get a sense of how rewarding an experience it is. The following video explains the contest, and features a few sound bytes from troops that have received care packages: 

Reminding these men and woman how important and appreciated they are seems reward enough, but Operation Gratitude and the contest sponsor, Roger's Family Coffee Company, are offering prizes in a random draw just for entering. Win the Grand Prize and your letter will go in the box of the 400, 000th Operation Gratitude care package. $2000 will be donated to the school of your choice, and you'll also receive a $250 gift certificate (good for a year's supply of Roger's Coffee) and a $100 iTunes Gift card. More information on prizes can be found on the prize page.

Your letters make a big difference, and Operation Gratitude appreciates your help in making sure they can send letters and packages to as many members of the US Military as possible.

Our team at Strutta are happy and proud to be involved, and although we have just one American on our team, we too send our encouragement and support to the individuals serving in the US military, and of course those stationed in our Canadian Military as well. After all, showing support the men and women who put themselves in harm's way for the safety of others should have little to do with politics, nationality or any other affiliation.

If you share this sentiment and have a few moments to spare, head on over to the contest site and start writing your letter.   

First, for our American visitors, a bit of history: The Hockey Night in Canada theme song resonates so well with Canadians that it has often been referred to as our "second National Anthem."

From the Wikipedia article about the theme, composed by Delores Claman: "(She) said she wrote her song to reflect the narrative arc of a hockey game; from the arrival on the rink, to the battle of the game, to the trip home, 'plus a cold beer.'" No wonder Canadians respond to it so passionately.

This year, the CBC (Canada's national public broadcaster) was unable to come to terms to renew the contract with the theme's composer, and CTV (a second Canadian network) bought the rights to the sacred hymn. In an effort to replace the theme with one that Canadians would agree was a suitable heir, the CBC invited submissions from all Canadians, and opened the contest up to a public vote.

Great idea. Awful execution.

And Then There Were Six

In the initial submission round, contestants were asked to upload their submission (with accompanying video) to be shown in the CBC's flash video player. Thousands of submissions were received, and in a matter of weeks, dwindled down to just six semi-finalists based on the public vote. This is where the CBC drops the ball.

Without conducting an exhaustive audit of their technology and site usability, we'll just address the biggest error in the entire campaign. In an effort to appease an advertiser (over providing a pleasant user experience), the Ceeb makes the bone-headed decision to run 15 second pre-roll ads before each of the six themes. To make matters  worse, it's the SAME AD ALL SIX TIMES. Even the advertiser themselves (wireless carrier Bell Mobility, in this case) has to see that as a major gaff.

So, to evaluate all six finalists in a contest that will determine a major part of our country's identity, we're forced to watch the same ad featuring an annoying rock has-been six whole times, no skipping. To say that this is frustrating would be something of an understatement. How many votes are being lost because no one of sound mind and body can endure the repetition? 

The Final Two

The vote is now down to the final two, and Canadian rock music producer legend Bob Rock has given the remaining contenders a bit of a polish in his studio. They sound good, an although the winner will inevitably take some getting used to, it won't be long before Canadians will be humming the winning theme from memory, the way we have with the original (and will continue to for years to come). To listen to the either one and cast your vote though, you're going to have to sit through the ill-placed ad. Chicoutamie!

Update: Above, one of the videos features the original submission by 13-year old Robert Fraser Burke. The embed codes from the CBC site that should show the post-produced finalist submission are embedding his original video.

Yet Another Update: In the embedded versions of the individual videos, the viewers is spared have to view the ads. Yet, to watch all six in one place, the above still holds true.