Running a contest on Facebook is one of the best ways to get and keep
fans. Let’s face it – many people are fans based on what they can get
out of it… and there is nothing wrong with that. What would be wrong is
not responding to what your customers are demanding.
Facebook
terms can be confusing and some businesses shy away from doing contests
because of this so let me clear up those rules for you.
Others
proceed ignorant of the rules and find their Business Page shut down by
the powers that be. Don’t make either of these mistakes. So go ahead and
run contests… just do it by the rules.
Here are a few things to
keep in mind (although it is always recommended to check the latest
Facebook Terms before running any contest – Facebook can, of course,
revise them at any point).
Now, promotions may be administered on Page Timelines and in apps on Facebook. For example, businesses can now:
- Collect entries by having users post on the Page or comment/like a Page post
- Collect entries by having users message the Page
- Utilize likes as a voting mechanism
As before, however, businesses cannot administer promotions on personal Timelines.
Accurate tagging is required in promotions
In
order to maintain the accuracy of Page content, our Pages Terms now
prohibit Pages from tagging or encouraging people to tag themselves in
content that they are not actually depicted in. So, for instance:
- It’s OK to ask people to submit names of a new product in exchange for a chance to win a prize
- It’s not OK to ask people tag themselves in pictures of a new product in exchange for a chance to win a prize
1.
If you use Facebook to communicate or administer a promotion (ex: a
contest or sweepstakes), you are responsible for the lawful operation of
that promotion, including:
a. The official rules;
b. Offer terms and eligibility requirements (ex: age and residency restrictions); and
c.
Compliance with applicable rules and regulations governing the
promotion and all prizes offered (ex: registration and obtaining
necessary regulatory approvals)
2. Promotions on Facebook must include the following:
a. A complete release of Facebook by each entrant or participant.
b. Acknowledgement that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
3.
Promotions may be administered on Pages OR within apps on Facebook.
Personal Timelines must not be used to administer promotions (ex:“ share
on your Timeline to enter” or “share on your friend's Timeline to get
additional entries” is not permitted).
4. Facebook will not assist
you in the administration of your promotion, and you agree that if you
use their service to administer your promotion, you do so at your own
risk.
Here is a key point that you can use as a bit of a loophole:
you can put in pre-conditions to accessing the contest. For instance,
you can give access to your 3rd party application that administers the
contest only to ‘Fans’. So while you can’t use the Facebook platform to
actually enter people in the contest, you can require them to take an
action to get access to the contest. This can drive up your Facebook
community numbers while still staying on the right side of the
regulations.
To keep it simple you can promote your contest on
your page with a link. If you would like to use a more interactive third
party app you can do so as well. You can also do it with Facebook Ads,
on your profile, etc. The one hard and fast rule is to make sure you do
not use any part of their platform or tools as part of the contest. For
extra protection, make sure you post a disclaimer that the promotion has
nothing to do with Facebook.
Only you can decide the right method
for your business. But it would be a mistake to ignore this opportunity
for deepening the connection with your fans. Don’t let a few rules keep
you from trying it.
