You can now run contests on your Business Page without a third party app.
This is big news from Facebook who had strict rules on how you can run any type of contest or giveaway on your page. Previously you had to purchase software to install and run your contest, now this isn’t quite necessary. However, if you want your contest to look professional and have credibility with the entry process, than utilizing a 3rd parties software is still the way to go.
What can you do with promotions?
According to Facebook expert Mari Smith, “You can now run promotions (contests, sweepstakes, competitions or drawings) on your PAGE wall and/or via a third party app on Facebook.”
Easier for small business, allows you 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)
Smith say, “This is all great news for increasing ENGAGEMENT! Plus, with the message feature, companies can open up more dialogs with prospects via the Message feature.”
There is just one small rule Pages need to comply with now and it’s around accurate tagging. Pages cannot:
– ask users to tag themselves in any images in order to enter contests. (Facebook wants us to use photo tags for when we’re actually in the photo/image.)
Facebook’s Official Promotion Details
From a Facebook spokesperson via AllFacebook.com:
“This capability makes it even easier for smaller businesses to help build awareness for a new product, promote the opening of a new location, sell inventory, or advance other business objectives. Say, for instance, a local pizza parlor wants to give away free pizza for a month to the 100th person to like its post. Now the business can do this right on its page (and increase awareness of the post via promoted posts) without needing to work with a third-party to build an app.”
http://allfacebook.com/
See the official announcement here: https://www.facebook.com/
