![\"Contests](\"http:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Shaheen-blog-1.png\")
<\/p>\nLast month Facebook announced a big change to its promotion guidelines. One of the most significant takeaways from this is that businesses can now run contests and host other promotions on Facebook right from their timelines unlike before. Previously, businesses were required to use a third party app to do so, now there are no such constraints! This is good news for small businesses that require running simple and basic timeline contests without any complications.<\/p>\n
What was once against the rules is now permissible by allowing Facebook users to like, comment, or create posts on a page as a voting mechanism or entry into a contest.<\/p>\n
Does that mean the end of apps? Not nearly! Apps are still more flexible and very effective in collecting and organizing data that are of much significance to that marketing database and for a more consistent branding program. It simply means that businesses now have a choice. An option to choose which alternative better suits the aims and objectives of their digital marketing strategy.
\nSo here\u2019s the simplest way to decide which of these options work best for your business\u2019 needs. It boils down to the basics; the purpose of your contest!!!<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0To Crowdsource Ideas \/ Feedback![\"Facebook](\"http:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Shaheen-blog-2.png\")
\nEg: If a business is planning on rolling out a new service\/product, a timeline contest can be a great way to get feedback, tap into those first impressions and maybe even crowdsource ideas. Simply share a photo or video of the product and motivate users to share their comments on your page, for a prize. It is a great way to drive comment entries; and may result in valuable feedback for your product.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0To Drive Likes and Engagement
\nFor brands that want to drive a lot of Likes on their timelines, the best way to go is to keep it as simple as possible. A fact\/ trivia or a simple question like \u2018Who likes our new chocolate chip cookies?\u2019 or \u2018Did you know our cookies are made from whole grain flour?\u2019 is enough to have users liking the post. It\u2019s basic and doesn\u2019t require them to ponder over it or spend time on it. Simply ask them to \u2018Like this post to win prizes!\u2019<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0To Collect User Data![\"Facebook](\"http:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Shaheen-blog-3.png\")
\nBusinesses that aren\u2019t looking at collecting just Likes and Comments, but valuable user data for marketing promotions, recruitment etc. can host a timeline contest alongside a contest app with an entry form. Users entering the contest via the app will be required to fill in details, thus providing the brand with a rich primary database.<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0To drive Contest Sharing, More Entries and Page Likes
\n![\"Facebook](\"http:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Shaheen-blog-4.png\")
As per Facebook guidelines, pages are still not allowed to require fans to share contest \/ giveaway \/ sweepstakes on their personal page. Pages cannot ask fans to share in order to enter timeline contests \u2014 only likes and comments can be used as entries. The only way to really drive page Likes with a Facebook contest or promotion is to host it using a fan-gated app.
\nWhile it\u2019s great to have a choice, this freedom comes with some restrictions. Here are the primary Dos and Don\u2019ts of running Facebook timeline contests.
\nBusinesses running promotions on their timelines can:
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Collect entries by having users post on the page or Comment \/ Like a page post.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Collect entries by having users Message the page.
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Utilize Likes as a voting mechanism.<\/p>\n
But it is not permissible to:<\/p>\n
Facebook explained that they want to make sure that people continue to post authentic, high quality content to their Facebook Timelines; to stay better connected with the people they care about. Last month Facebook announced a big change to its promotion guidelines. One of the most significant takeaways from this is that businesses can now run contests and host other promotions on Facebook right from their …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":1083,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[72,147,188,187],"class_list":["post-1081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-media-marketing","tag-digital-marketing-strategy","tag-facebook-marketing","tag-facebook-promotions","tag-running-facebook-contests"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1081"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1081\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1087,"href":"https:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1081\/revisions\/1087"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1083"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n![\"Running](\"http:\/\/www.ethinos.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/Shaheen-blog-5.png\")
If you’re considering running Facebook contests anytime soon, be sure to look up Facebook\u2019s promotional guidelines. After all, it is in everyone\u2019s best interest to ensure that you brand benefits as much as possible from Facebook promotions; without hurting the privacy or interests on the users on the network, and still being within the legal boundaries.
\nDo you manage the Facebook presence for your brand on your own; or have you hired a digital marketing company<\/a>? Do you have a process in place to ensure that your social media agency does not violate any of Facebook\u2019s contest guidelines?
\nShare your insights in the comments!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"