By Gloria Rand
Small business owners got a big break from Facebook today. The social networking giant has changed its rules regarding contests and promotions. You no longer have to use a third-party app to run a contest, sweepstakes, competition or drawing. You can still use a service like Woobox, for instance. But you’re not required to do so.
The Facebook changes allow Pages to:
►collect entries via users (fans and non-fans) posting on the Page wall
►collect entries by users commenting or liking on a Page post
►collect entries by having users message the Page
►collect votes via likes (new fans, post likes)
Businesses are still prohibited from conducting contests on personal Timelines, however.
Facebook has also changed the rules regarding tagging. In order to maintain the accuracy of Page content, Pages cannot tag or encourage people to tag themselves in content that they are not actually depicted in. So, for instance:
►It’s OK to ask people to submit names of a new product in exchange for a chance to win a prize
►It’s not OK to ask people tag themselves in pictures of a new product in exchange for a chance to win a prize
This is huge for small businesses, in particular, because contests are a great way to build brand awareness, recruit new fans and generate engagement! Many small companies with limited budgets had been reluctant to run contests because you had to pay for a third-party app. Now, you can do it yourself! Here are some ideas of contests you can run: photo contests, video contests, design contests, logo contests, essay-based contests and more.
See the official announcement here: https://www.facebook.com/facebookforbusiness/news/page-promotions-terms
Will this change encourage you to run a Facebook contest now? If so, what type will you run? Please share your ideas in the comments below.
