Thinking of running a contest on Facebook to get some new fans?
Well, don’t just jump in without learning about Facebook’s rules and regulations around running a contest. Yes, you read that right, you can’t just run a contest on Facebook without okay’ing it with them FIRST! You risk having your contest or even your page taken down without warning if you don’t follow their guidelines.
Here’s a few highlights of what you CAN’T do:
- The prize cannot contain alcohol.
- You can’t run a contest that’s open to individuals in Belgium, Norway, Sweden, or India.
- You can’t mention ‘Facebook’ in the rules except in a few specific ways.
- You cannot notify winners through Facebook, such as through Facebook messages, chat, or posts on profiles or Pages.
Here’s a few highlights on what you MUST do:
- It must be featured on an application box in a tab on a Facebook Page
- You have to include the following copy: “This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to [recipient(s) of information] and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for [disclose any way that you plan to use the user's information].”
- You must designate an individual to act as a primary contact for the contest.
So, how can you get around all of this?
It should be noted that Facebook states that you do not need their prior written approval if you are publicizing a promotion that is administered completely off-site of Facebook. So, microsites that host contests are a good idea if you want to bypass these strict rules and regulations.
Want to read them for yourself?
Check out the Facebook Promotions Guidelines
Need to run a contest by Facebook?
Contact them on their business integrated solutions contact form.
Written by:
Tamara Brooks {Profile}: Online Marketing Wizard @ October 17 Media
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Tags: contests, Facebook, Online PR Management, promotion, Viral Marketing
