Five Tips to a Successful Facebook Contest

So you created a great Facebook page for your business. You‘ve even uploaded a great profile image, a stunning cover photo and added all the info about your business to your page. You’re wondering why the only people who “Like” your page are your family members.

Some very basic ways to inform people that you’re on Facebook and encourage “likes” is to add a Facebook icon to everything that your business name is associated with. Add it to your business cards, your printed marketing collateral, even your vehicles if they’re branded. Add it to your website and your email signature with the ability to link directly to your Facebook page when someone clicks it.

Another way to build your fan base is to host a contest through Facebook. This is an exciting way to engage existing and potential fans of your Facebook page. Here are a few tips:

1. Offer a prize that is from your place of business, a free product or service that you offer. If you have a tricky type of business that the average Facebook user might not benefit from, you can offer something unrelated but valuable, like a gift card for groceries or gas or a department store.

2. Announce the contest on Facebook. Post a status update with the prize and let users know that each person who “likes” the post receives an entry to win. Each person who also “shares” the post about the contest gets an additional entry. This encourages users to both like and share your post which creates viral activity, allowing more Facebook users to see your business. You can also require users to “Like” your official Facebook page (in addition to your contest post) in order to be qualified to win. This will ultimately build your overall Facebook fan base.

3. Be sure to develop and include “official rules” and post them as “Notes” on your Facebook page. These should include a start and end date to your contest, the value of the prize, how the winner will be selected and notified, and that immediate family is ineligible (it just doesn’t look good if your spouse or sibling wins). Also, keep accurate records of entries. Create a spreadsheet and update it regularly. Determine a method to randomly select a winner.

4. Notify the winner and present the prize. If the winner is willing, take a photo of him or her with the prize and push it through some PR channels. Share it with the local newspaper, on your website, and – of course – on Facebook. If the prize is a service that your business offers, be sure to provide the service in the same manner that you would for a paying customer. People can connect with your business quickly and easily via social media and they can share a bad experience just as quickly and easily via social media. Provide your typical top-notch service and you may get some more referrals as a result. 

5. Finally, measure the success of the campaign. How many Facebook users liked and shared your contest post? How many Facebook users have “liked” your official page? Are there things you could have done better? Maybe adjust tactics and run a contest again with a different prize, or different ways to enter. A photo contest or trivia question related to your industry might be engaging. Have fun with it and your fans will too.  

Previously Facebook had some tight restrictions for hosting a contest. They have made some adjustments that make it less restrictive, but you should read the updated terms from Facebook for running a contest or promotion:

https://www.facebook.com/facebookforbusiness/news/page-promotions-terms

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