Facebook Business Pages Hit The Jackpot; 3rd Party Apps No Longer Required For Promos

Business Facebook Page owners rejoice: 3rd party applications are no longer required to create promotions!

On 8/27/13, Facebook relaxed its guidelines for Fan Page Promotions.  As per the official Facebook guidelines:

…What is considered a promotion on Facebook?

Promotions typically include:

• Entry/registration
• Element of chance
• Giveaway or prize

What’s changing?

We’ve removed the requirement that promotions on Facebook may only be administered within apps 

With the change, promotions may now be  administered on Page Timelines and in apps on Facebook, but not on personal Timelines. 

For example, Pages can now: 

• Collect entries by having users post on the Page or comment/like a Page post
• Collect entries by having users  message the Page

See the full document here.

This is incredibly powerful news for Facebook Business Page owners!

By removing the 3rd party app requirement, Facebook page owners can now hold contests where winners can be selected simply by the number of likes.

• No technical aptitude required!

That means they can more easily create viral contests that spread without having to worry about obtaining a Developer App ID (talk about ease of use!) and offer cash prizes as well:

Some of the ways businesses can immediately take advantage of this include:

1.)  Run a contest for the favorite Business Mascot

Thinking about including an avatar or mascot like the Geico Gecko?  Create a contest where community members submit their favorite ideas and offer a gift certificate/complimentary product for the winner whose idea you choose.

2.)  Hold a contest for Most Creative/Profitable Use Of Your Product

If your product is tangible, encourage users to submit their photos that include creative positioning/uses of your product.  The most ‘liked’ one can win.

3.)  Be Bare-Bones Simple:  Have a “Caption This!” Photo Contest

All this requires is simply to upload a unique picture of your product and ask your readers to submit their captions.    A non-contest version might look like:

while a contest version might be:

In closing:

Facebook Page contests are a great way to build viral buzz.

The more engagement your page compels, the greater visibility it gains online.  And with more visibility and quality content, the more your authority will grow.

Smart businesses will start factoring that in today.

Grow strong,

Barbara Ling