6 Steps To Running A Successful Facebook Contest

Most people love the idea of winning a contest. It’s fun and exciting, and who doesn’t love to get a prize? That’s why many companies and brands run Facebook contests to increase engagement, attract new followers, and drive sales.

As you might expect, there’s a right and wrong way to run a Facebook contest. Here are 6 tips that can ensure your next contest is successful.

#1: Read Facebook’s Contest Guidelines

Facebook has guidelines that they expect brands to follow when they run a contest. These rules are subject to change, so instead of listing them here, we’re going to provide you with a link. 

Make sure to read the guidelines before each contest you host. That way, if the rules have changed, you’ll be aware of it and you won’t run into trouble with Facebook.

#2: Choose Your Prize Wisely

The prize you give away must be appealing to your followers. It must also be something you can afford to give away. One mistake that companies make is choosing a prize that appeals to everybody, not just their followers.

It might sound strange, but if you give away something universally appealing, like an American Express gift card, you might attract entrants who aren’t part of your target audience. In the long run, that won’t help you grow your business—so stick to something specific to your audience’s needs.

#3: Make Your Contest Easy to Enter

Your contest might require entrants to fill out a form or come up with a caption for a picture. Whatever type of contest you choose, it should be very easy to enter. Putting hurdles in place won’t help you get the results you want.

For example, if you include a form, add only those fields that you need. In most cases, that will just be a name and email address. You can ask for more, but keep in mind that adding additional fields may discourage some people from entering.

#4: Specify Rules for Your Contest

You already know you must adhere to Facebook’s contest rules, but you still need to create a set of rules for the contest. These may include the opening and closing dates for entries, guidelines for eligibility, details about user-generated content, and the date when winners will be announced.

The rules should be easy to find and understand, and you should link to them on your Facebook page and on the contest entry page, if you have one.

#6: Boost Your Contest

As of this writing, Facebook does not permit you to require contest entrants to share your content on their personal Facebook pages or tag friends in your post to enter them in the contest. However, there are still ways you can get your contest out to potential followers.

One way is to boost your content by creating an ad. Most posts you create on your business page can be boosted. The best way to promote a contest is to choose a target audience that shares things in common with your current followers. You can also boost to your followers and their friends.

#6: Deliver Prizes Promptly

When the contest ends, it’s your job to announce the winners on time. People who enter the contest are expecting timely results. If you must delay the announcement for any reason, make sure to announce it and apologize for the delay.

The same goes for prizes. If your prizes are to be delivered electronically, they should go out immediately. If you must ask for mailing addresses, reach out to the winners promptly and send the prizes as soon as you hear back from them.

Conclusion

If you do it properly, a Facebook contest can help you attract new followers, build brand loyalty, and increase sales. The keys are choosing the right prize, promoting your contest, and delivering on your promises.

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