Social Media Training

Facebook revised  their contest rules in May of this year, but still many people are either unaware of the update, or confused by how to run a successful contest on Facebook.

Every day it seems I see a Facebook promotion in my news feed. And, many times the contest boasts the winner will receive [enter a really great prize here] for ‘liking’ the page. [CRINGE!]

Mistake #1: Using the “Like” Button as a Voting Mechanism

If Facebook could have made this rule any clearer, it would be crystal. OK, silly analogy. But really, Facebook clearly states that contests “must not use Facebook features or functionality as a promotion’s registration or entry mechanism.” Facebook even clearly states that “the act of liking a Page or checking in to a Place cannot automatically register or enter a promotion participant.” Now, that’s not to say that you cannot create a “Fan Gate” – which we will explain in a moment.

Mistake #2: Not Using a 3rd Party App to Administer the Contest

This is actually Facebook’s #1 rule. They state: “Promotions on Facebook must be administered within Apps on Facebook.com, either on a Canvas Page or an app on a Page Tab.”

Running a contest or sweepstake via a 3rd party app is really very simple. We currently use ShortStack App, but have also used Wildfire Interactive in the past. There are actually a lot of apps out there that offer Facebook content features at a very reasonable price. So there is no reason not to use one.

Mistake #3: Giving Away a Prize Unrelated to Your Industry

What is the purpose of your contest? Do you really want to attract people who enter 100 contests a day? Or, do you want to attract potential customers? I’m going to guess you want to attract potential customers. Then instead of offering a $500 Visa gift card, a better prize may be a $500 gift card for your product or service. Or maybe, you give away one of your products for free. In other words, if you don’t work for Ford, then don’t give away a new Ford.

Mistake #4: Not Using a Fan Gate to Build the “Likes”

A ‘Fan Gate’ is as it sounds, a gateway. Many of the 3rd party apps we mentioned have the functionality where a visitor has to “Like” your page before they can enter the contest. I know what you’re thinking. ‘You just told us that using the “like” button as a voting mechanism is breaking the rules.’ Yes, that is true. However, with a Fan Gate, you’re not using the Like as the voting mechanism, only as a gateway to the voting mechanism. Pretty cool, right?

Mistake #5: Making the Entry Super Complicated

To enter just fill out the form, followed by uploading a photo, followed by uploading a video, followed by getting your friends to vote on your photo, then on your video, followed by….. If it’s not simple, people will not enter. Even the most loyal of fan will not follow a 10 step entry to your contest.

Mistake #6: Not Promoting Your Contest

If you create it, they will enter…. NOT! Social media, is just that, social. In order to get the word out about your contest, you have to promote it and encourage your supporters to share it. Start mentioning your contest on your Facebook page a few weeks before you launch it. Follow it up by an invitation to your current fans. Send out an email to your email list too. Larger brands, or those with really nice marketing budgets, may also run a radio or TV spot to promote the contest. You get the drift….

Mistake #7: Ignoring Facebook’s Rules

Read the rules; obey the rules. It’s not difficult to do, I promise.

There you have it. Any other mistakes you think should be added to the list? Feel free to leave them in a comment. For help planning and administering your Facebook contest, request a no-obligation consultation. We’re happy to help.

Have you ever said: “I wish I could like and comment on other pages as my business page.” Well, now you can!

If you’re a page admin, they you’ve received this email from Facebook:

“Facebook pages are getting an updated layout and several new features to help you engage with your fans. Here’s some of what you’ll be getting:

• Notifications when fans interact with your page or posts
• A place to showcase photos along the top of your page
• A news feed for your page
• The ability to Like and post on other pages as your page

Preview your page and you’ll be given the option to upgrade early. All pages will automatically be upgraded on March 10.”

How to upgrade your page early:

It’s super easy… Log on to Facebook and go to your page. You’ll see a notification message from Facebook at the top of the page. Click on “Preview” to see what your page will look like with the upgrade.

Want to see the new page version in action? Visit the CreativeMind Search Marketing Facebook page!

Just when everyone was getting used to the last Facebook change (the “News Feed” vs “Live Feed” thing), they once again make another change to their home page.

According to Facebook, the new home page is “provides easy access to your entire Facebook experience”. That statement has yet to be proven. From what I can see, the most apparent changes are:

1. Search field has relocated from the upper right corner to the upper left center

2. Friend requests are in the upper left corner, identified by this symbol: 

3. Messages are next to the “friend requests”, identified by this symbol:

4. Notifications are right next to “messages”, identified by this symbol: 

5. If you are the admin of a Facebook “fan” page, you can now enter that page via the left side bar (moved from the bottom footer bar), identified by this symbol:

6. Privacy and account settings can now be found under the “Account” drop down in the upper right corner

Of course this change couldn’t come at a worse time. Yesterday I hosted a four hour workshop in Social Media to a local real estate company, 1.5 hours which were spent on Facebook, and everything they learned has changed.

Honestly, I can see how the new changes will make Facebook easier to navigate, but they should just leave it alone. Facebook may soon find that their 400 million users may dwindle due to frustration.

Tell us what you think of the latest Facebook changes. Your comments may appear on CreativeMind’s  Facebook Fan Page.