Facebook Competition Rules
“You’ve got to be in it, to win it”. We’ve all heard it, the faithful old competition mantra spoken throughout the years. To win a prize in any competition you do, of course, have to take part in one. They used to be simple but, with the advent of social media, the rules have changed for both businesses and their eternally-optimistic customers. Facebook competition rules, in particular, can be quite tricky.
With the rise of social media, companies have quickly embraced the power of social networks to reach their customers in new and innovative ways. Running competitions on those platforms is a great way to attract more followers to your brand.
The Power of Social Media Competitions
Social media competitions are an exceptional tool for attracting more followers to your brand, which can ultimately translate into more customer leads and even sales. Increasing your followers can trigger a ripple effect, as they share your messages through “Retweets,” “Likes,” and “Shares” with their friends and followers. These simple actions form the foundation of most social networking competitions.
So what kind of competition can you run? Answers on a #postcard.
Well, there are a number of different ways to run a competition, but the first question to ask yourself is “which is best for your business”? Whichever competition you choose, it will need managing, so make sure you have the time and resources to make it work effectively. Also, think carefully about your prize and who you want to enter. If you run a Garden Centre then offering a free hanging basket or garden related products should mean that only interested and relevant customers enter your competition. If the same Garden Centre offered an iPad as a prize you would probably find that every Tom, Dick and Harry would enter and they are probably not all interested in your business!
The only real limits are your imagination, following the rules and keeping it very simple.
Facebook Competition Example
We’ve helped many business owners run competitions and over those years and we have learnt a lot. The most important lesson is to KEEP IT SIMPLE. People don’t like to have to think, so keep entry simple. Let’s use the Garden Centre as an example again…
COMPETITION TIME
WIN one of our stunning hanging baskets (worth £40) for your garden.
To win just
LIKE this post (if they like the post you can invite them to like your Facebook page).
Tell us what your favourite flower is (longer comments tend to go further on Facebook as they are seen engaging with the audience). Click this link to enter.
Don’t forget to tag your friends and family members who would love to enter.
*Terms and Conditions*
– Giveaway open to local residents only.
– Giveaway begins (time and date).
– Giveaway ends (time and date).
– Winner to be drawn at random.
– Winner to be contacted via Facebook.
– Our decision is final.
– The prize is non-transferrable, no cash alternative is offered.
– Delivery within 8 miles included.
– Employees of Garden Centre or Agencies that work with them are not eligible to enter the competition.
– Not associated with Facebook in any way.
**Please note we will never ask for your bank details. All winners will be contacted by email. If you see any scam accounts please let us know and report them.
One of our favourite type of competitions is to ask customers to enter with their email address. The good thing about this type of competition is that you gain a potential lead and an email address. Have you heard that saying “the money is in the list”? Building your email list is important in any business and this email address can then be used for future contact.
Avoiding Fraud on your Facebook Competitions
Running a competition on Facebook is an exciting way to engage your audience and promote your brand. However, amidst the excitement, it’s crucial to stay vigilant against fraudsters who may attempt to exploit your contest for their gain. Fortunately, platforms like Gleam.io provide advanced features to protect your business while ensuring a fair and transparent contest. In this article, we’ll guide you through the essential steps to safeguard your business from fraudsters when hosting a competition on Facebook using a third party competition website.
1. Set Clear Contest Rules:
Begin by drafting comprehensive contest rules that outline eligibility criteria, entry requirements, deadlines, and any restrictions. Clear rules deter fraudsters and create a level playing field for participants.
2. Use a Trusted Platform:
Opt for a reputable contest platform like Gleam.io. These platforms offer security measures and fraud prevention tools designed to minimise the risk of fraudulent entries.
3. Verify Identities:
Require participants to provide their real and complete information. Platforms like Gleam.io allow you to gather essential details, ensuring the authenticity of entrants.
4. Implement CAPTCHA:
Integrate CAPTCHA mechanisms to prevent automated entries by bots. CAPTCHA tests are designed to verify that participants are human, not malicious software.
5. Monitor for Suspicious Activity:
Stay vigilant during the contest period. Regularly review entries and watch for patterns that might indicate fraudulent behaviour, such as sudden spikes in entries from a single IP address.
6. Limit Entry Methods:
Use a platform like Gleam.io to offer a variety of entry methods, but avoid making it too easy for fraudsters to exploit. By limiting entry methods to those requiring genuine engagement, you discourage fraudulent attempts.
7. Encourage Engagement:
Design your contest to encourage genuine interactions. Require participants to engage with your brand by following social media accounts, sharing content, or answering questions related to your products or services.
8. Monitor Social Profiles:
If entrants are required to follow your social media accounts, ensure their profiles are authentic and active. Fraudsters may create fake accounts, so verifying profiles adds an extra layer of security.
9. Address Fraudulent Entries Promptly:
If you suspect fraudulent activity, promptly disqualify the entries in question and communicate your decision transparently. Transparency builds trust with genuine participants.
10. Regularly Review and Audit:
Regularly review the progress of your contest and assess the quality of entries. This ongoing review helps you identify any unusual or suspicious trends early on.
11. Promote Transparency:
Communicate your commitment to fair play and transparency with your audience. Address any concerns they might have regarding fraudulent activity and provide clear channels for reporting suspicious behaviour.
12. Analyse Data Insights:
Platforms like Gleam.io offer data insights and analytics that can help you identify unusual patterns. These insights assist you in detecting fraudulent behaviour and making informed decisions.
In conclusion, running a contest on Facebook is an excellent strategy for engaging your audience and boosting brand visibility. Utilising a trusted platform like Gleam.io provides essential fraud prevention tools that ensure fairness and transparency. By setting clear rules, verifying identities, monitoring entries, and actively addressing any fraudulent activity, you create a secure environment that encourages genuine participation and protects your business from fraudsters’ attempts.
Follow the Facebook Rules
With the sheer amount of people who use these networks, it would be understandable to think anything goes, but this isn’t the case. Facebook, in particular, is very strict about their rules and regulations when it comes to competitions. They have some very detailed terms and conditions that they expect every user to follow. As of May 2020, these are the current rules.
The basic rule-of-thumb is that Facebook does not want to be associated with any competition in any way whatsoever.
You can …
*Ask people to like a post as a form of entry
*Ask people to comment on a post as a form of entry
*Ask people to send a private message as a form of entry
You cannot …
*Ask people to share as a form of entry
*Ask people to tag themselves or a friend as a form of entry
*Ask people to like your page as a form of entry
Communicating a Promotion
If you use Facebook to communicate or administer a promotion (e.g. a contest or sweepstakes), you are responsible for the lawful operation of that promotion, including:
the official rules;
offer terms and eligibility requirements (e.g. age and residency restrictions); and
Compliance with applicable rules and regulations governing the promotion and all prizes offered (e.g. registration and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals).
Required content
Promotions on Facebook must include the following:
A complete release of Facebook by each entrant or participant; and
Acknowledgement that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook.
Administration of a promotion
Promotions may be administered on Pages, groups, events or within apps on Facebook. Personal timelines and friend connections must not be used to administer promotions (e.g. “share on your timeline to enter” or “share on your friend’s timeline to get additional entries” and “tag your friends in this post to enter” are not permitted). Instead, you could say “Don’t forget to tag your friends and family members who would love to enter” or “Feel free to share our competition” but these statements cannot be a condition of entry.
Assisting promotions
Facebook will not assist you in the administration of your promotion, and if you use our service, you agree to administer your promotion at your own risk.
Make sure you add a disclaimer stating that Facebook does not sponsor or endorse the competition. I’m sure companies do unknowingly contravene these rules, but the risk that you’ll get found out is very real. You wouldn’t want to have your Facebook Page deleted!
Instagram Competition Rules
Facebook owns Instagram, and therefore, the rules are very similar. Instagram wants you to agree that if you use their service to administer your promotion, you do so at your own risk. You can read more about the guidelines on Instagram here.
Plan your Social Media Competition
So before you create the next big social buzz for your competition, make sure you are aware of the rules. Don’t overly complicate the competition and ensure whichever route you take is going to promote your brand in the right way. There has never been a better way of interacting and having FUN with your customers on a multitude of social networks, just make sure you remember, you have to be in it to win it.
Over to you, which type of competitions have you used on Social Media? Have they worked?
Working with Piece of Cake Marketing
Are you looking to enhance your marketing and social media presence? We’ve got you covered. Drop us an email at hello@pieceofcakemarketing.co.uk and let’s discuss how we can help you in taking your business to new heights.
Whether you need guidance on developing a comprehensive marketing strategy or require hands-on support with social media management, we can help.
Contact Emma on 07799626332.