Running a TikTok contest may be new for many brands. However, the rules to follow when it comes to contest guidelines to follow are pretty much the same as other social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

For more information check out How to Include Sweepstakes Rules in Your Social Media Campaigns

As a Sweepstakes Company, here is what you need to know about the guidelines on how to do a giveaway on TikTok.

Why Use TikTok for a Social Media Video Contest?

In 2021, TikTok reported 1 billion monthly active users worldwide. This makes TikTok one of the biggest social media platforms.

Simply put, TikTok is fun and it’s addictive. It has also become a primarily social platform for Gen Zers thanks to its short-form user-generated videos that have trended like nothing we’ve ever seen before.

Thanks to the viral nature of videos on this platform, TikTok is the perfect opportunity for a TikTok giveaway. Not only can TikTok giveaway video contests bring tons of engagement for your brand, it can also bring you tons of new leads and sales!

To get started, here are some tips on how to do a giveaway on TikTok:

Set Your Goals For Your TikTok Giveaway or Contest

Before launching your TikTok giveaways you have to think about what your ultimate goal is. Is it to drive sales? Promote your brand? Grow your following?

TikTok does not allow users to add links to posts. Given this, it is recommended that you focus your strategy on increasing engagement.

Choose A Contest Hashtag for Your TikTok Giveaway

Defining a unique hashtag for your TikTok giveaway will allow you to track entries and keep the sweepstakes content separated from the other content posted by your brand and followers of your brand.

To ensure that your entrants know what qualifies as an entry, make sure to write in your Official Rules for your TikTok Giveaway that any post that is made during the promotion that has the required hashtag will be considered as an entry for the online video contests.

A hashtag is a common way to enter TikTok contests, however other entry methods to consider are:

• Visiting a profile and completing an entry form
• Comment on TikTok video
• Follow TikTok profile 

Share A Direct Link to Your TikTok  Contest or Giveaway on Your Page

Once your TikTok business account reaches 5000 followers you can add a link to your TikTok profile. Adding a link to your TikTok account is a great opportunity to drive traffic to your contest or giveaway website and promote your TikTok contest. This way you have the chance to convert your TikTok followers into entries.

Set Time Limits for Entry Videos

Make sure to specify a time limit of three minutes or less for entry videos to your TikTok giveaways to make it easier to review the entries. This also keeps things light and fun for your followers.

Include a Link to the Official Rules

Every time you make a new TikTok video, make sure that there is a link to your contest’s Official Rules. Put the link in the video itself, the video caption, or add the link to your bio.

For more information on what to include in your Official Rules check out Ready to Run Giveaway? Laws and What to Include in Your Official Rules

Avoid Copyright Infringement

Although TikTok is best known for its dance crazes to popular songs, you’ll want to watch out for copyright infringement when it comes to your contest guidelines. Avoid requiring or allowing entrants to post entries that include copyrighted music, photos, brand logos or other intellectual property as per Contest Laws.

Review TikTok Terms of Service

Before your contest goes live, make sure that you review TikTok’s Terms of Service to ensure that your giveaway on TikTok is in compliance with the latest version of the rules. You can also request a Sweeppea sweepstakes review of your TikTok contest.

Pick a TikTok Giveaway Winner 

After your TikTok giveaway has ended, it is time to pick a winner or winners. 

When your giveaway has ended, make sure you announce your winner with a TikTok video. In this video you should :

• Share how many entries did your TikTok giveaway received
• Thank you followers for entering your contest
• Encourage your entrants to stay tuned for more giveaways to come.

You can also consider a TikTok giveaway picker tool so you can easily draw winners.

Give Away A Good Prize

When planning your contest or giveaway on TikTok, make sure you think about the right prize for your TikTok followers. A good prize will attract more entries. However, take in consideration that in the U.S. a prize with ARV of over $600 has tax requirements.

Need help with sweepstakes administration or contest management? Call 305-505-5393 or email us with your questions.

The post Guidelines for Running a TikTok Giveaway or Contest appeared first on Sweeppea Blog.

Whether it’s copying from another of your own recent promotions or someone else’s, copying sweepstakes rules can lead to more problems than it’s worth.

Here are the risks that you should be aware of.

1. Sweepstakes Rules and Copyright

If you’re copying another company’s sweepstakes rules without their consent, what you’re effectively doing is breaching copyright laws by stealing their intellectual property.

To avoid this, make sure that all of your sweepstakes rules are original. If you’re using official rules drafted from a template, make sure that you have permission from the sweepstakes platform to use them.

2. Sweepstakes Rules Aren’t Relevant

Every promotion is different. As a result, every promotion needs official rules so that the risks related to that promotion can be managed. The problem with copying sweepstakes rules from another promotion or company is that doing so could actually put your business at risk rather than protecting you. By drafting sweepstakes rules that are specific to your promotion, you can ensure that all of the bases are covered.

You need to make sure that your sweepstakes rules comply with all applicable sweepstakes laws at the federal, state, and local levels. Furthermore, your sweepstakes rules should always include all of the required sections including start/end dates, eligibility, prize description, and more.

Omitting any of the essential terms or disclaimers from your sweepstakes rules could mean that your sweepstakes rules will not protect you in the event of a lawsuit or inquiry from a regulatory agency.

What Every Marketer Should Know About Sweepstakes and Contest Laws in the U.S.

3. Errors in Sweepstakes Rules

When you copy official sweepstakes rules from the internet, you have no idea where that company originally sourced their sweepstakes rules or if they are correct.

Never assume that other companies have legally sound sweepstakes rules. There is a chance that they themselves have actually copied the sweepstakes rules from somewhere else. Those sweepstakes rules could be outdated or simply incorrect.

Request a Sweepstakes Rules Review

We always recommend having a sweepstakes company that has an attorney or an independent attorney review rules to make sure they’re appropriate for your campaign.

Here at Sweeppea, performing a review of sweepstakes rules before your promotion goes live is a part of our 5 Steps Launch Ready Review. If there is an issue that you don’t feel has been appropriately addressed by your sweepstakes rules or you’re not sure about, let us know. As a sweepstakes company we can advise you on how to create comprehensive sweepstakes rules for your specific needs.

Need help with sweepstakes or contest management? Call 305-505-5393 or email us with your questions.

The post Can You Copy Sweepstakes Rules From Another Promotion? appeared first on Sweeppea Blog.