Editors Note: Rules updated 11/03/2011 12:52pm; rules were edited and prizes were added; changes will not effect standings or posts prior to this change.

The Great Tech Blog Off is back!  This time we’re pulling out all the stops!  That’s right, we’re having more prizes than ever before as well as more ways to earn entries.  We’ve even created 2 Tiers to make sure you get a fair chance at the prize you want.

So, here’s the rules…

Basic Rules – Bloggers:

1. Blog:  All entries must be ORIGINAL CONTENT.

2.  Submissions must relate to something Eberly Systems is involved with (i.e. Computers, Networking, Phones, Electronics, Power, Security).

3.  Submissions must be at least several paragraphs in length, and must say something worth reading!

4.  You may enter as many times as you like.

5.  Submissions will receive a varying number of “entries” (i.e. tickets in the hat), based on length and quality – varying from 1 entry (a very short “snippet” of an article) to 10 entries (a top quality, page or greater article or review).

6.  Submissions can be made via email to contest@eberlysystems.com, or via the blog directly at www.eberlysystems.com/blog (for this method, create a user and then email contest@eberlysystems.com with your username to request permission to post).

Basic Rules – Promoters:

1. Comment: Don’t have anything to write about? Well, then READ – and leave a few thoughts or observations about someone else’s article on the blog! For the second time, Commenters (who leave QUALITY comments, not just spam) will be given 1 to 3 tickets per comment, based on (you guessed it) the quality and length of their comment!

2. Share: Don’t feel like reading or commenting?  Then you’ll like our newest edition to earning entries – share via Facebook.  Every blog entry we receive that is posted to our website will be posted to our Facebook page.  Once it’s posted to our Facebook page, share it on your wall.  You may share each article that is posted ONCE to your wall, for a Single entry (ticket) each.

3. Recruit: Another new edition to the blog contest is recruiting fans to our Facebook page.  How do you do that?  Simply share our page on your wall, and ask others to ‘like’ our page.  After your friends like our page, they need to comment on our wall, tag you and state that you referred them.  That’s

1. Share page

2. Your friends like page

3. Friends tag you in a comment on our wall, saying they were referred by you

All three must be done to receive an additional entry per recruit.

We are guaranteeing the top 3 people who earn the most entries in each tier a prize.   The top 3 contestant in the Bloggers group and the top 3 in the Promoters group will earn a gift card whether their name is pulled out of the “hat” or not.

Drawings will be done in the following manner…

– First drawn gets first choice of available prizes

– Second drawn gets second choice of available prizes – etc, etc…

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Can I be entered into both Authors AND Supporters?  :
A. No, good question though.  Those who write blogs are automatically entered into the “Authors” group.  They CAN earn entries through all means (i.e. Comments, shares, referring “likes”) but all entries earned will go towards the Authors prizes.

Q. What Prizes are offered to Authors?  To Supporters?
A. Authors: Apple iTouch 8gb, Dell Netbook, Gift Cards, random gadgetry, and MORE.
Supporters: Gift cards, stocking stuffers, and a Dell Netbook

Q. Why would I bother writing an article when I can win by easier means?:
A. Another good question. Well, several reasons.
1. There are MORE, “better” (i.e. higher dollar value”), and MORE BETTER prizes in the Authors prize stash.
2. There will likely be FEWER entrants in the Authors group, i.e. less competition, i.e. better chance of WINNING!

IMPORTANT! Your article may NOT be posted immediately! Our goal this contest is to offer a steady stream of articles throughout the month – so to start, we will post every few days – if we have a high volume of submissions, we may post 1 per day – but it all depends on how many we receive, so SUBMIT!

Blog Contest 11.11 has begun!