FAQ
Who can enter?
Anyone can enter The Big Blog Exchange, the only thing you need is your own blog. All genres of bloggers are welcome, in any language, in any country.
Do I have to create a blog within bigblogexchange.org website?
No, you just need to add a link to your blog URL.
Is the competition free to enter?
Yes, the competition is completely free to enter. You have nothing to lose!
Can I submit more than one entry?
One entry, per blog, per person is accepted. Multiple entries will not be counted.
Which languages are accepted?
All languages are accepted. Whatever language you blog in, you are welcome to enter. Our site can be translated (using the Google translate tool provided) into your own language if you do not blog in English.
What is the difference between Nationality and Country of Residence in the registration form?
Nationality corresponds to the country you “represent” in the competition. This is the country your exchange blogger will travel to and the country that will be shown in the list of participants.
How will my entry be judged?
The majority of the competition relies on readers votes, so make sure once your profile is set up – you encourage your family, friends and readers to vote for you by writing on your blog or your social media networks. On the 15th April, the 100 top voted bloggers from around the globe will be judged by an international jury. However, two bloggers will be chosen to take part based on their content, regardless of votes. These will be the ‘wildcard’ choices.
I don’t have my own blog, can I still take part?
If you are interested in the project, but don’t yet have your own blog, you are welcome to create a brand new blog exclusively for use of the project, as we welcome small blogs, big blogs, with any sized readership. Or, you may get involved with the project as a reader – voting for and promoting your favourite bloggers, before then watching the project unfold!
I am under 18, can I still take part?
If you are under eighteen, you are welcome to still be involved with the project as a reader, voting, encouraging and promoting your favourite bloggers, however for legal reasons, we are unable to let you travel on the exchange this time around.
What does the prize include?
The final sixteen lucky selected bloggers will be exchanging places with another blogger from across the world. HI (and the rest of the world) will be following each of the bloggers journeys, as they explore their exchange destination, immersing themselves in local culture. Flights, accommodation and a daily allowance will be provided for the duration of your stay.
If I am selected, what will I be doing during the ten day exchange?
Once we have the final 16, and have announced where you will be jetting off to, we will be able to start planning an itinerary and activities for you, based on each specific blogger undergoing the exchange. We have National Associations in over 90 countries, so we will have international representatives in your exchange destinations who will act as a guide or a mentor throughout your stay. We will try and tailor each itinerary to the blogger, so if you are a fashion blogger, with a keen eye for design – we will try to make sure you have the chance to see and experience what fashion means to the people in your exchange destination.
Can the deadline be extended?
No, entries and voting will close after the 15th April. So make sure you get your entries and votes in plenty of time.
What if I am selected but unable to take part in the exchange?
By entering the competition and accepting the terms and conditions, you confirm that you are available from the 7th June 2013 – 17th June 2013 to take part in the exchange. If a last minute emergency prevents you from undergoing the project, a replacement will be found. Unfortunately, due to the nature of this project, we cannot change or alter the dates to meet specific bloggers requirements.
Am I literally swapping ‘lives’ with another blogger? Will my family have to host the blogger that I exchange with?
You will be swapping countries with the blogger you are paired with, but you won’t literally be swapping ‘lives’, so no homes, cars or families will need to be exchanged. You will only be swapping destinations with the blogger, and will travel around the exchange country, staying in our accommodation, with a planned itinerary and where necessary, a HI representative.
So, I’ve entered, how do I get people to vote for me?
Once you have entered your blog in the competition, we are sure you are going to want to start getting as many people to vote for you as possible. Some ideas you could do to promote your blog and start getting your votes up is to write a blog post to your readers, letting them know about the project, your inspiration and why you want them to vote for you. Readers will be able to vote for you on this site, so make sure they know where to go to vote. You could also spread the word about your profile on Twitter, Facebook, Google + or other social networking sites. Similarly, you could always write to your local paper, magazine or other blogs, promoting your part in the competition.
What is a “wildcard”?
The two wildcard choices will be chosen to undertake the project based purely on their written content/video content, rather than on votes. This ensures that the project is accessible to all and does not rely purely on popularity.
What is the “Top 100”?
The "Top 100" represents the top 25 bloggers from each of the four regions.
If I am one of the winners, what is required by me?
If you are lucky enough to win one of the 16 places on the exchange, you will be expected to have a passport valid for at least eight months, and if required by your exchange destination - you may need to organise any vaccinations or visas.
The 16 selected bloggers will be flown to different countries? What countries are they?
This depends completely on which bloggers we have who enter and who makes the final 16. As we are a global network with contacts in 90 countries, we are hoping to attract bloggers from all over the world, so although a specific destination isn’t guaranteed, you can be sure it will be somewhere exciting. If you have a favourite blogger you would like to nominate, please feel free to email us and let us know.
If you have any further questions, please email TBBE@hihostels.com with your query.
Bloggers will be divided into four regions and the countries that form these regions according to the UN are:
Africa & Middle East
Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte D'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Iran , Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Benin, Bahrain, Angola, Algeria, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania (United Republic of), Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
America
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Asia Pacific
Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam.
Europe
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Republic of), Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom.