To help inject added excitement into this year's tax season, in case preparing and filing tax returns isn't exciting enough, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has launched two social media initiatives: the Jackson Hewitt's Got My Back photo sweepstakes and the Win Win with the Big Check video contest.  Consumers can enter one or both promotions between now and April 15, 2011, for a chance to win a $1,000 weekly cash prize through Jackson Hewitt's Got My Back, or $20,000 in total cash prizes through Win Win with the Big Check.

 

 

Brought to consumers by Jackson Hewitt Online, the Win Win with the Big Check video contest encourages contestants to print out a downloadable "Win Win" image, and then videotape themselves creatively passing that "Win Win" image along to another person.  Once contestants upload their videos to Jackson Hewitt's "Big Check" Facebook page, site visitors can vote on their favorite submission based on creativity and originality. The 20 most popular videos will be reviewed by a panel of judges, comprised of Jackson Hewitt employees, who will select a winner to receive $10,000 for the winning video, and $10,000 for an additional person designated by the winning video entrant.

 

 

To enter the Jackson Hewitt's Got My Back photo sweepstakes, contestants must take a picture in front of any non-Walmart-based Jackson Hewitt location around the country, and then upload that image to Jackson Hewitt's Facebook page, tweet it to Jackson Hewitt on Twitter, or upload the image to Jackson Hewitt's Web site. Weekly winners will be randomly chosen (one entry per week from all valid entries) to win a $1,000 cash prize.  Jackson Hewitt will also create an online interactive map, posted on JacksonHewitt.com/sweepstakes and its Facebook page, which will allow site visitors to view all entries.

 

"We wanted to energize consumers in a creative and fun way that encourages them to interact with Jackson Hewitt both online and off," said David Koroghlian, director of interactive marketing, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. "We know that millions of consumers use their annual tax refunds to pay off debts like credit cards, school loans and mortgage payments, or to help their families and others.  These contests celebrate both online creativity and human interactions, while also providing ways to win some extra money to pay debts, have fun, or help others.  We can't wait to see the images and videos that consumers create and submit."