Facebook have made a considerable amount of changes in 2012 so far. They always have made more rules – or perhaps just documented more of them. Competitions and promotions are not exempt from these laws either. I am not using the term ‘law’ loosely either. Some businesses have and continue to have their facebook pages taken down by facebook for not obiding by what they refer to as ‘guidelines’

I say, follow the law and no one gets hurt.

Any promotions or ads must be run using a third party app or ‘custom facebook page’

Details available here for Apps on Facebook.com

Communicate the correct information to your potential entrants. Ensure that they know, that this is not affiliated with facebook – no endorsement or sponsorship. Also, let them know that the information which they provide is not being administered or held by facebook. A full competition disclaimer releasing facebook of any responsibility and liability, make it clear that you (and not Facebook) are collecting it.

Notify your Facebook fans that you need their consent share a link to your website privacy policy or terms and conditions page, to show how their information will be used by you.

There are two goals of the facebook promotion or competition, usually to gain additional ‘likes’. The correct method of entry is not to like the page but to enter using a third party app or custom page.

Examples of what not to do:

“To win, share/upload a photo/25^th new fan wins/like this photo, most likes wins/tell your friends to like our page/add a comment! They should not share content on your wall or like your page, in order to automatically enter.

What you can do in a nut shell:

Encourage your audience to Like a Page, checking in to a Place, or connect to your app. Use an app or canvas custom page, in the first instance – it is your best option.

A great way to notify winners of your competition is to email them. This ensures that you have not used facebook message, chat, the user’s wall or your page to notify them – all against the “guidelines” (I say law)

The same will go for your ad campaign and wall posts, promoting your service or product. Always link to an app or web site, use a disclaimer and stay safe.

Facebook says “We reserve the right to reject or remove Pages for any reason.”
Read the facebook guideline here…
https://www.facebook.com/promotions_guidelines.php

Have you made a mistake? Have you taken your competition down?

Still confused? Let me help.

Tam