• When you make your Facebook contestyou need to be sure it follows all laws and regulations.
While having the contest be legal is more of a "duh" concept, it's actually easy to get lost in the contest rules. They can be complicated for many reasons, one being that regulations change with each residing country and within them as well. Make sure you look into everything that needs to be done in order to make sure that you are following the law.
• Make sure you state with absolute certainty that you are responsible for everything surrounding the contest, not Facebook.
You need to make sure you add the statement that the contest "is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Facebook." Your terms and conditions must also state that "a complete release of Facebook by each entrant or participant," when being accepted. You are running the contest, you must accept the risk and the reward. It's your responsibility. Facebook says, "We will not assist you in the administration
of your promotion, and you agree that if you use our service to administer your promotion, you do so at your own risk."
• Don't post it on your personal page
The only way a contest can be run is through a business page, so if you do not have one make one before you release your first contest. It's a great way to keep the business out of your personal life and as a result positively affects your professionalism as well.
• Don't promote sharing the contest for extra entries.
Facebook does not allow using friend connections to spread contests. You can't ask your friends or entrants to share the contest. Facebook forbids it and actually provide two lines that by no means may be used; "share on your timeline to enter" and "share on your friend's timeline to get additional entries." It's better if you ask them to like and comment instead. Not as a requirement, but as a simple suggestion.
• Don't ask for tags to enter
Having hundreds or thousands of names tagged on a contest r photos that do not feature them becomes a confusing mess. It makes it harder to understand and is just plain terrible. Facebook makes sure to make it clear by forbidding the line, "Tag your friends in this post to enter."
Now, some contests do in fact break these rules but don't follow suit. Everyone is found out and punished sooner or later and then your contest will be rendered null and voice along with other consequences.
Facebook updates its rules regularly, it is better you check any changes before making your contest. Under Facebook pages terms, scroll down to promotions. That's where you will find the rules.
Contest ideas and examples
• "Like or Comment to Win"
Like and comment to win contests are exactly as the name suggests. For the contest, the goal is to like and comment to enter and win. It is the easiest contest to create and launch. It requires you write up rules and instructions for the contest on the post itself, whether it is a video, link, picture, or status update. You need to be sure to inform what will be won and post it. It is a great way to generate information on your contestants and their preferences as well as their participation.
• User-generated content contest"
This contest involves content that is made by the users, examples being written stories, art, poetry, music, crafts, photos, and so much more. Offering a prize for the winner or the winners of the prize as well as the chance of showcasing what they have made is enough to drive wild ambition to participate in your contest. It is also a great way to get content to post over time while simultaneously displaying the hard work of your participants.
Now that you have some ideas on how to create your own Facebookcontest, don't be afraid to start planning and setting on your way. If you find you are having difficulty marketing and spreading your contests and content, go through Digital Marketing Experts International
(DMEI), they can help you set on your way and make your page stand out more from the crowd.
