Have you ever come in 4th place in a Helium contest?
By AnythngArt
@AnythngArt (3302)
United States
August 18, 2009 11:51pm CST
There's nothing more frustrating than 4th place in a Helium contest because only the top 3 get any cash. Fourth and lower get zip. Over the past two weeks, my articles in the contest fluctuated. One day I would have all number 1s, the next day, they'd be in last place. Well, the timing worked against me this go round, and today (the contest's end), I had 3 number 1s and all the rest in last place.
Even more frustrating is that the articles are likely to improve their scores once the contest is over.
Anyone else experience this?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@Stiletto (4579)
•
19 Aug 09
Oh unlucky with the contest but hopefully you will be more successful with the next one. I've been fourth a few times and it is frustrating. Timing is definitely a factor and unfortunately it seems to work against me quite often! But I'll tell you what's even more frustrating - writing a Marketplace article that doesn't get picked and then having it ranked number 1. I have a few articles like that.
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
19 Aug 09
I am glad to hear other people have that same dilemma on marketplace articles. I have one marketplace article like that and I wondered if that meant the winner's article isn't in circulation on Helium so I was really number two. It really makes you proud when there are a lot of articles in the category and you are ranked so high. It's frustrating though, because you lost out on the money.
2 people like this
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
19 Aug 09
I am not sure which is worse...losing out on the Marketplace (when you were selected as number 1 yet not chosen...been there) or coming in 4th on the contest. I think the real frustration with the contest is that you have to write so many titles. I know that I should just let it slide off me. Sometimes it's hard, particularly when you read the other (winning) articles.
It's hard to say what people are attracted to or what they downgrade...or if they really spend any time at all reading an article? I wish they had real judging for the contests, but I guess we just have to live with this imperfect system and hope for the best.
1 person likes this
@Stiletto (4579)
•
20 Aug 09
To be honest I don't think the rating system on Helium works. I've seen loads of articles in the number one spot that are full of errors and definitely are not the best in the title. What they seem to have in common is length! I suspect many people don't really read what they are rating, they just pick the longer of the two articles.
1 person likes this
@iakulchen (615)
• Singapore
19 Aug 09
Yes, the articles in a contest do tend to flucuate a lot, I have a few articles in the Asian Culture contest that have been bouncing between first place and last place for quite a while now. Up until yesterday, the leader had around 30 over points and the second place had around 10 points. However, when I dropped by to check today, her score had dropped dramatically, so that she was no longer in the lead.
And yes, I have gotten 4th place before. Think it was in some technology title related contest. I wouldn't have minded so much were it not for the fact that a guy who got one of the top three spots had plagiarised my articles plus a number of articles from other people. He's apparently been banned from Helium though, so that's something I'm thankful for.
1 person likes this
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
21 Aug 09
That's the part that totally drives me nuts...going from number 1 to last place and back again (or not). There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason, it's more a matter of luck as to where your articles end up when the contest is over. I am wondering if a strategy of posting them all at the last minute is the way to go? I usually just post them one at a time, as I write them. Any thoughts on that strategy?
Good luck with your Asian Culture contest!
@iakulchen (615)
• Singapore
21 Aug 09
Opinion seems to be divided on which one is better. There are some who advocate writing consistently to titles over the course of a competition. Then there are others who advocate saving your articles offline and submitting them only on the last day of the competition.As far as I can tell, the arguments for writing in consistently seems to be that it's better for you if you establish a lead early in the competition, and the arguments for the second, is that you're able to avoid plagiarisers who copy your work if you submit them on the last day of the competition. I suspect it's really a matter of how you prefer to work.
@nishdan01 (3051)
• Singapore
19 Aug 09
It has happened to me. I think it was just 2 weeks ago, I got the 4th position in a contest. It may be frustrating, but I do not let such things let me down. I would forget the failures as soon as it is over. I would aim another one and move on.
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
21 Aug 09
Oh, you have such a positive attitude! I need to be more like that. I keep telling myself that I still get credit for writing, and I have re-posted one of the articles to Associated Content, where people gave me very positive comments. I guess I am too much like a school girl, needing to please and get praise. Doing contests is murder on the ego.
I did win one contest (which I did about a month ago) or I probably wouldn't have attempted it again, and winning and getting the extra cash is nice. I just don't take defeat well, particularly when it seems so random who wins.
Thanks for shedding your positive light around!
@mrtimharry (1180)
•
19 Aug 09
Been there. I try though not to watch anymore after the contests are closed and just think whatever will be, will be.
A couple of months ago came joint although think I was fourth when the contest closed so was lucky.
I have seen my articles dive and also rise in rankings after the contest has been decided, but those that dive I just try and leapfrog to get back up to a decent position.
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
16 Sep 09
Ugh! I feel your pain! What burns me is that after the contests are over your articles rise right back up to the top where they belong AND STAY THERE. What I want to know is, how it's possible that even if no new articles are posted you could suddenly now have a better article when it doesn't count anymore?
I know that part of the problem is that there are not enough people rating articles regularly enough who can discern what is quality writing and what is mediocre and that certain people seem to rate at certain times of the month, but it all drives me nuts.
