How To Host a Competition on Facebook the Right Way

The Problem:

I was recently asked for advice from a small business owner requesting some help to work out the correct way to run a Facebook Competition. This business owners current understanding was that Facebook competitions had to be run through a third-party application,  but was confused by many other business pages regularly running “Like and Share”  type competitions on their Business Page Wall’s. This business owner wanted further insight into how to run a basic competition that would help to increase her business fan base and excite her followers but by conforming to the facebook rules.  She noted that she had a Website and Blog that could be utilized.

The Answer:

Competition Applications
The business owner was absolutely correct with her understanding of the rules of hosting Competitions for Business or Community Pages on Facebook.  To run a competition and abide by the Facebook Rules you need to use a Canvas App or Page App such as Sweepstakes, ShortStack etc. All competition applications will give users a  full guide on how the application/competition works and will result in a professional result for your business page. Full Terms and Conditions should be displayed within the competition application. Many of the Competition apps are expensive and not ideal for small business, it is then that I would recommend the Blog or Website hosted competition listed below. 
Please Note: All competition results are to be notified directly to the winner by email or phone - not through any form of facebook utilities like message, chat or on the page wall.  


View The Facebook Competition Guidelines:
 
I suggest that  before you begin to set-up a Facebook Competition that you are familiar with the exact rules and regulations supplied by Facebook.   Scroll down to Section E on these facebook guidelines for Promotion Rules:  https://www.facebook.com/page_guidelines.php

 
What is Your Main Goal For Holding a Competition?

If your main aim of holding a competition is to purely gain new likers to your page, try using the Facebook "Get Likes" Option, and for around $11 a day you will see your liker numbers and interaction skyrocket.  This type of
advertising can be stopped at any time and can be a far quicker approach to the result you are after, compared to setting up a competition.


Businesses Doing It Wrong

We have all noticed that many businesses have "competitions" on their pages all of the time of the type "like and share to win" etc.  These are against facebook's strict guidelines and I would not recommend doing these, as I have heard of business pages being deleted by facebook for such offences. 
Businesses also face the possibility of fines or being sued.  It only takes a competitior to notice your competition and report it for you to be caught out.  It is really not worth the risk – everyone knows how long it takes to build a successful facebook page and gain genuine followers, losing all of this work and contacts overnight would be
devastating.


Competitions Hosted on a Blog or Website

If you decide that a Facebook Competition is just too hard, you have the option of hosting your competition on an external site that you own such as your Blog or Website.   Should you choose this option, I would suggest that you enhance your reach for the competition by utilizing your email client database to inform others of your competition. I suggest ensuring that you have an "email subscribe tab" on your facebook page or alternatively regularly share links on your facebook wall to your email subscription form, to entice new subscribers.  There is nothing wrong with listing on your facebook page status that there are benefits for users who subscribe to your email newsletter.  Please check with the Australian State Government Guidelines for Trade Promotions prior to hosting a competition, some  Australian states require a permit or licence to run a competition. 
Queensland Link:   http://www.business.qld.gov.au/industry/liquor-gaming-racing/gaming-licences/competitions


TOP 5 TIPS FOR COMPETITIONS ON FACEBOOK:

 1.       Read up on the Facebook Guidelines for Promotion Rules prior to commencing a competition.
 2.       All Competitions on Facebook are to be hosted through a Facebook Application.
 3.       Ensure Your Competition Terms & Conditions are listed making sure they comply with each Australian State’s 
             Regulations.
 4.       Winners are to be notified by Email, Phone or Mail, not through any Facebook facilities.
 5.       Don’t be tempted to host a Like and Share Competition on Your Page – it’s not worth the risks.
 
Now you are informed I wish you all the best with your competition!

Judi Gray
Blue Bird Internet Marketing & Social Media
www.bluebirdinternetmarekting.com

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