Bloggers Chase Jackpot in Online Game

Posted on December 4, 2005

Votemerich.com is billed as an Internet game show where bloggers chase a potential $1,000 prize. So far there is $494 in the jackpot according to the website. An article in the Brandenton Herald about votemerich.com says 36 bloggers have registered since the website debuted in October.

To date, votemerich.com has relied on word-of-mouth advertising to attract attention. Thirty-six bloggers have registered, all vying for a shot at the prize.
The site works like this: contestants tell tales of woe, spin laughable yarns, poke fun at other contestants and even resort to begging to convince others of their dire need for the cash. Adbright.com, an online advertising agency, tracks the number of bloggers who link to advertisers on the site. Every link means a few pennies added to the jackpot. Once the kitty reaches $1,000, contestants will be asked to vote for the top bloggers. After a round or two of voting to narrow down the best of the best, a winner will be chosen.

Website founder Will Gorman offered some tips to would-be blogger contestants in a recent post on the Votemerich blog.

Here are a couple of small pointers to existing candidates and future candidates. Just like launching a website, launching a candidacy will require some work, in addition to blogging. You'll probably need to get your friends to sign up so you can get an initial core set of constituents. They will be your primary advocates, helping get out the word about your candidacy and giving you feedback on your Vote Me Rich approach. Also, you need to actively seek new advocates, either through registered users of VoteMeRich.com or through other sites that encourage community. I believe it will take someone active in the online community to win this competition.

It sounds like the strategy at the end of the game will be crucial. If a blogger survives the Survivor-like voting at the end they get voted rich -- if you consider $1,000 rich that is.