Haven’t Tried Swagbucks Yet? Today Is Your Lucky Day!
A few months ago, I read about the Swagbucks search engine on another blog, and I thought about trying it, but I wasn’t convinced. I had tried “Search and Win” type search engines before, and they had always been spammy and given me all completely sponsored and irrelevant results. However, I kept seeing Swagbucks mentioned different places on different blogs that I followed with really positive comments. So I decided finally to try it. And I haven been happy about it ever since.
Swagbucks is a “search and win” search engine but it has a few keys differences from the generic concept. First, Swagbucks uses Google and Ask.com to do its searches. I have compared my (first page of) search results to Google’s many times and have seen very similar results when using Swagbucks. Second, yes there are sponsored results (like any search engine) but in my experience, it isn’t every result or even the majority of results. They are clearly marked as sponsored so you can avoid them if you wish to.
When you do your online searches with Swagbucks, you have the chance, every search, of winning one or more “swagbucks”. Swagbucks can be collected to redeem for prizes. My prize of choice is $5 gift cards for Amazon.com. Currently, 45 swagbucks = 1 $5 amazon gift card. I have been using the gift cards (once I collect enough of them) to order some TV On DVD for my mom to watch when she can’t sleep in the middle of the night. I’ve sent her several seasons of Bones (her show of choice) since January when my dad passed away.
Generally I use search a lot (and did before I started with Swagbucks). I win anywhere from $1-$5 of Swagbucks in a typical day, which adds up quickly. I may use search more than the average person, I don’t know, but most of my friends who use it win at least $1 in swagbucks any day they do more than a search or two.
Swagbucks contacted me this weekend with a special promotion for Paidtwice readers who have not yet tried Swagbucks, and I was totally thrilled to be able to offer it to you. For new Swagbucks registrants, use the Swagcode PAIDTWICE when you register (case sensitive – all caps!) and receive a bonus 2 swagbucks on top of the 3 you get for registering already (so a total of 5). This is a limited time offer, and expires on Wednesday, April 15th at 11:59 PM (like the tax deadline in the US, heh). So file your taxes, and register to use Swagbucks!
So if you have not given Swagbucks a try – here is a chance to get an extra bonus for doing so. 5 Swagbucks for registering instead of 3 when you use the PAIDTWICE swagcode! Yay! Thanks for contacting me, Swagbucks!
As a PS – I use Firefox as my web browser, and Swagbucks gives you an option to add Swagbucks to the built-in search bar in the Firefox browser. So I have Swagbucks selected there as my default search, but if I ever want to use Google or something else to search, all I have to do is select it from the dropdown menu. Easy peasy! In Firefox, it isn’t a separate toobar or anything like that (in IE I think there is a toolbar you can install if you choose to).
April 13th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
So, I tried it out, and my first search generated what I suspect will be my biggest problem with it. It doesn’t provide the what I call “smart suggestions” that Google does. For example, when I search for an address, Google will suggest their map, and then provides links to Yahoo, etc. Or, when I search a stock ticker, Google provides the current quote for that ticker. Swagbucks provides a link to yahoo finance, but that is still one extra click. I’ve put it in as my default search in Firefox for now, and I’ll see if I get fed up with the extra clicks…
April 13th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I love Sawgbucks. I am up to 85 swagbucks and I don’t even use it that often. I am going to wait until Christmas and cash then in all at once.
April 14th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
don’t forget to refer your friends – you earn a swagbuck every time they do – up to 100 per friend!
April 16th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
I tried your code today 4/16 and I still got the extra 2 bucks. Thanks.
September 24th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Swagbucks is really great but if I’m feeling lucky on a given day I just type “free prize draw” or “win a car/phone/house/etc” to google and I usually get relevant results.
10-10-10 date should be a lucky day so make sure you enter a competition then;)