Do you want to promote a Facebook Page?

Promote a Facebook Page

Don't administer promotions on the wall

Facebook is, quite simply, social networking at its finest. Not only can you use the platform to interact with family and friends, but from a commercial point of view, it’s great for marketing as well. 

It is a Marketer’s dream… You can connect with more than 500 million potential customers, you can choose your audience by location, age and interests… all with easy-to-target, self-reported demographics that are up-to-date and accurate. 

If you own a business, or are responsible for marketing one, you’re right to think about creating a Facebook Page (formerly a Fan Page) and build community around your business. And you’re right to think about using a drawing, contest, or sweepstakes to promote a Facebook Page and “gain likes” (grow your Fan base). 

How to Promote a Facebook Page: Be aware of the rules and regulations

It’s grown so much so quickly there’s still confusion about what you can and cannot do to promote a Facebook Page. 

For example, it is against Facebook’s promotional guidelines to post this offer on the wall of your fan page: 

“Like us and Win a $250 Shopping Spree (or some other prize)”

 

Potential problems with this offer:

  • You can not administer a promotion on your wall (without an approved 3rd party application)
  • You need to get Facebook’s approval prior to running a promotion on your wall
  • You can’t use Facebook to communicate with the winner

The big distinction that Facebook makes in their promotional guidelines is between publicizing and administering a promotion on a Facebook Page (this applies to contests & sweepstakes only): 

  • Publicizing a promotion means that you promote, advertise or reference a promotion in Facebook, but you do not collect entries or draw or notify winners in Facebook.
  • Administering a promotion means you both publicize it and collect entries in Facebook.

These guidelines have been a boon to 3rd party applications like Wildfire, Involver, FanBase that help Marketers administer promotions through Facebook, but on the 3rd party-application page (which is technically outside Facebook). These applications require users “Like you” as a condition of entry, and then have a an entry form that’s not “on” Facebook, so it conforms to all the rules. But many of these solutions can be expensive… a minimum of $750-$1,000/month and up–making it cost-prohibitive to many small businesses. 

The Solution? Use Facebook to promote – and not administer, your drawing, contest, or sweepstakes

Publicizing  your promotion does not need Facebook approval, and does not need an approved 3rd-party application to run it. 

You can use Facebook freely to promote, advertise or reference your promotion, but you can’t collect entries or notify winners in Facebook.  

Next Post: “3 Easy Ways to Get People to Like You”

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If you need some  help on how to promote a Facebook Page, please contact me today.

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Filed under: Lead Generation and Nurturing • Marketing Strategy • Social Media

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