Occasionally I enter a poetry competition. Even more occasionally, I get a poem shortlisted, but I have never won. There's no doubt it helps to get you recognised, but I also find it incredibly frustrating. The worst thing is that you can normally only enter a poem that is completely unpublished (ie not even put on facebook or a webpage) and you can't share the competition entry until you are absolutely sure you haven't won, which can take months. If I write something I think others might like, I want to share it straight away. How do others feel about this?

Personal Opinion: I think poetry competitions are like beauty pageants (the prettiest girls don't enter).

Seriously though the best thing to do is to self publish a collection and then self advertise, perhaps by readings in libraries, arts festivals, local bookstores etc.

One former Write Out Loud regular told me he went in for competitions rather than seeking publication in magazines because he liked a gamble; yes, you paid an entry fee each time, but there was the outside chance that you might win hundreds, and sometimes thousands of pounds. A news story that's just gone up on the site is interesting in this regard, too http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=59924