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Build a Leaderboard shortcut APP Icon
Using the widget url you can bulid a leaderbaord shortcut on your mobile. The video below is an …
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Free Balloon Race Setup
Today I’ve introduced free race setup. Running a race still costs £39, but instead of paying …
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SuperKind
Here’s a new way to take online payments for School PTAs that’s free to setup and the …
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Using Facebook to promote your race
Facebook does not allow you to add html code to your posts so unfortunately you can’t display …
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Selling balloons face to face
If you plan to sell your balloons at local events you have a couple of options. You could create a …
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I had a warning come up for offensive language in the message?
As the race is used extensively in schools the system is very sensitive to any swear words. It …
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I need to restart my race
Once your start date has passed your dates become locked and your balloons and ducks begin to move. …
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I need to restart my race
Once your start date has passed your dates become locked and your balloons and ducks begin to move. …
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Updating Balloons
Within the “administer balloons” section of your admin area you can edit and add …
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Exact Balloon Names for CSV upload
When using the CSV upload you need the exact balloon colour name in the spreadsheet field. For …
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What's the latest we can close sales before the race starts?
You control when sales end by selecting “hide” for the buy button.
You can sell right up to your …
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How to Buy A Balloon
To buy a balloon go to your race URL and click “Buy A Balloon”:
Next fill in your …
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Hi Thanks for subscribing to the balloon race, get 10% discount in June with code DS24601 Thanks …
: Widget To embed a widget for a race on your website, copy the provided HTML code into your site, but note …
: Can I run a balloon race in Australia? Running a virtual balloon race in Australia presents challenges such as time zone differences and …
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Adding Custom Balloons
I’m asked fairly regularly if custom balloons can be added to the race. In the past I’ve …
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Promotional Image Downloads
Click on the below links and export as pdfs or drag them to your desktop.
: A virtual balloon race is an environmentally friendly online event that involves selling virtual …
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Online Snail Race
I've added 6 new snail balloons to The Balloon Race. Rather than adding snail character/shapes I've …
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NHS Balloon
Small update, NHS balloon added to the balloon race as requested by Caring Minds.
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Payout Button
This month we've improved the payout button. Previously a link opened your email client with the …
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Duck Race Updates
The online duck race is becoming more popular. During lockdown I added 1 Yellow Duck to the balloon …
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Inactive Balloons in Search
I'm removing inactive (unpaid) balloons from the search results. Below describes a repeat issue: …
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£3 Minimum per Virtual Balloon
The race now has a minimum price per balloon or duck @£3 each (this is the price you charge). The …
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Custom Balloon List
You can now edit your list of balloons. You can find this in the “administer the balloons” section …
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Floating Menu
This week we've added a floating menu to the admin area. This gives quick access to the list of …
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Balloons & Ducks Available
Balloons, ducks, snails & kites in the order they appear on the drop down list.
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New Halloween Balloons
4 New Halloween balloons added to The Balloon Race. …
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Wrong Payment Notification
Why did I receive a payment receipt from Stripe when I didn't buy the balloons? Stripe can only …
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Women's World Cup
This month we've added 32 new flag balloons to represent every country entering the Women's World …
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Flag Balloons
Just in time for The Coronation we’ve added some flag balloons. Like most updates this was …
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Apple & Android Pay
Apple & Android pay have been added to the checkout. Everybody seems to be buying their …
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Balloon Count doesn’t match my Paid Count
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12% Cost for integrated card option (stripe)
I know 12% sounds steep, hopefully the below explains how I only just break even. If it was highly …
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Balloon Race New Server 2023
The move to PHP was completed in September 2022 and everything is running so much better. During …
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Selling less than 200 balloons?
The easiest way to run the race is to use the stripe option and I bacs a payment to your bank …
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How do I contact the winners?
There are 2 ways to find contact details for the winning balloons. Login to your admin area, scroll …
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Upgrade from ASP to PHP
The balloon race software was built in 2008 when ASP was "a thing". Over the years PHP has been the …
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"Buy a Balloon" Button
You control when your sales start and finish by selecting "show" or "Hide" for your Buy a Balloon …
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Track Your balloon
There are 3 ways to track your balloon.1 - Click on the …
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Uploading Your Logo
Let's take a look at how to add your logo. The logo only displays on your full web page (not on the …
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Uploading a CSV
TIP: Have a play with the CSV before your big upload day. Upload 5 test balloons to see how it …
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I want to offer FREE balloons
You can set the balloon price to £0 and all the balloons can be added for free - there's no limit …
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Donation Websites, SuperKind, ParentPay & Third Party Platforms
Donation websites are amazing, especially if they include gift aid. The pitfalls are their limited …
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PayPal
16/09/2022 - We have removed Paypal from the platform so it's no longer an option. Unfortunately it …
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Will the race start automatically?
Yes - the race starts and finishes automatically. The balloons move at 25 & 55 minutes past …
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Setting up Third Party shop
See also: Donation Website To help with selling …
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Valentine's Virtual Balloon Race
We've now added heart shaped balloons to the selection to cater for valentines themes and the …
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Adding custom balloons
To keep the cost down the balloon race is designed for 1 size fits all - to pay £30+vat it's best …
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Bacs (Card Payments)
Card payments are setup by default when your order is placed so you're ready to start selling . If …
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Sharing your URL
Following the server move in 2023 you now have unique URLs for all your pages: You can now link …
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Viewing Messages
When setting up a balloon there's a space to add a message. Once the messages are added where do we …
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Admin Area
Your admin area is password protected, you'll receive a …Instructions on how to use the Admin Area
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Add Balloons Manually
To add balloons manually, go to your admin URL and login. Click on "Go to balloons/user list" …
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Legal Classification
Every race has a free postal entry button so you do not require a Gambling License. Without the …
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Changing Backgrounds
You can change (& upload) the background when the race is live - and you can change it as often as …
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Active / inactive balloons
The inactive balloons are balloons that have been created but payment not completed. On most …
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Can we limit free entry?
I …
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Free Entry by Post
We've updated our free "online" entry button to "Entry by Post" and this links to a page where you …
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balloonrace.com relaunch
The relaunch is getting closer. I’ve been given the go ahead from my solicitor to add a FREE entry …
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Christmas Virtual Balloon Race
The Christmas balloons have now gone live. …
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Halloween Virtual Balloons
Today we added more balloons and ducks to all races. With 4 Spooky balloons added to the selection …
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Backgrounds
It's now possible to change the background the balloons fly over & upload your own background. …
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Balloon Race Updates
Here's a few recent updates over the summer 2020: 29/04/2020 - We created the leaderboard widget …
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Gambling Laws
UPDATE November 2020 - This is resolved - download the attached 22 page Legal Classification Advice …
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PTA
Virtual Balloon Race for your PTA. Meet Sarah. Sarah volunteers for the PTA and wants to …