Bonus entries are an easy to way extend the reach of your sweepstakes. It doesn’t require much effort to implement on your part. However, it does require that your entrants participate more if they want to increase their odds of winning.

The key to getting entrants to go the extra mile to submit bonus entries for your sweepstakes? Make it fun! That is, the bonus entries should require the same amount or less effort than the initial entry.

Here is how to offer bonus entries in your sweepstakes and make it easy and exciting for your entrants:

Bonus Entry Idea #1: Share This Sweepstakes With a Friend

Want your sweepstakes to go viral? Offer a bonus entry for each additional friend that the entrant invites to the sweepstakes.

Make sure that your sweepstakes rules specify that the friend must successfully register for the sweepstakes with valid information in order for the additional bonus entry to be credited to them to avoid any fraudulent shares.

Bonus Entry Idea #2: Upload a Video or Photo Giving Your Brand a Shoutout

This bonus entry method can help you identify entrants who are brand loyalists. While you must make it clear that there is no purchase required in order to receive the bonus entry or join your sweepstakes in your sweepstakes rules, this can be a cool way to drive engagement with your brand.

Bonus Entry Idea #3: Watch a Video From Your Brand

If you’ve recently created a new commercial or video for your product or service, this is an easy way to help it go viral. Upload the video on your social media account or website and tell users they will receive a bonus entry if they watch it in its entirety.

Things to Consider Before Offering Bonus Entries

Before you decide to offer bonus entries for your sweepstakes, consider the following:

Bonus entries from sharing are against Facebook TOS. While bonus entries can help your sweepstakes go viral, keep in mind that giving away bonus entries for sharing a sweepstakes on Facebook is against Facebook promotion guidelines.

The FTC requires that users disclose that they received an incentive for sharing a social media post. So to indicate that the social post is a part of your sweepstakes, require your entrants to include #sweepstakes or #yourbrandsweepstakes with their post.

Finally, be prepared for some entrants to simply spam. People don’t like to share with close friends but they will be more than happy to spam people they don’t care about or don’t actually know in order to receive bonus entries. Make sure that your sweepstakes rules indicate that you will not count bonus entries that are the result of spamming or using other methods to game the system.

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

The post How to Offer Bonus Entries in Your Sweepstakes appeared first on Sweeppea Blog.

If you’re running a sweepstakes on Facebook or Instagram your sweepstakes promotions must include the abbreviated and full sweepstakes rules. Both abbreviated rules and a link to the full sweepstakes rules are required in order for your sweepstakes to comply with Facebook’s and Instagram’s Terms of Service.

Here is the scoop on where and how to include your sweepstakes rules.

Abbreviated Rules in Every Post

When you post to Facebook or Instagram about your sweepstakes, every post should include a form of abbreviated rules. This ensures that your entrants are aware of the rules that they are bound by every time they engage with one of your sweepstakes-related posts.

Here are the specifics of what to include in those abbreviated rules and how they benefit your promotion:

1. Sweepstakes End Date

Mentioning the end date of your sweepstakes lets entrants know how much time is left to participate in your campaign. Not only is this important for complying with Facebook and Instagram TOS, mentioning the sweepstakes also creates a sense of urgency among entrants leading them to take immediate action on your promotion.

2. Winner Selection Date

Since there may be a small gap of 1 or 2 weeks between when you end your sweepstakes and when you will select the winner, make sure that your sweepstakes abbreviated rules mention the exact date on when the winner(s) will be announced. By doing this, more entrants will check back on their own to see if they won. This may also make it easier for you to reach the winner to deliver the sweepstakes prize.

3. Contact Information

Facebook and Instagram do not permit you to run sweepstakes that make no mention of the actual sponsor of the sweepstakes. As a result, your abbreviated rules should always include contact information, such as the name of your company, mailing address, phone number, and email address. This also makes it easier for entrants to get in touch with you once the promotion ends in the event that they’ve won but missed your winner announcement.

4. Disclaimer

Make sure to include a disclaimer in your abbreviated rules that your sweepstakes is not sponsored or endorsed by Facebook or Instagram. This is specifically required by both social media platforms’ terms and conditions.

Always Link to Full Official Rules

Finally, at the end of your abbreviated rules, include a link to or reference to (if links are not allowed in posts) where entrants can view the full official rules. Abbreviated rules are only intended to provide an overview of the most important aspects of the official rules. Always advise entrants to review the full official rules before entry.

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

The post How to Include Sweepstakes Rules in Your Social Media Campaigns appeared first on Sweeppea Blog.

Photo contests are a great way for you to drive traffic, increase engagement, and generate leads. However, photo contests rules require attention to detail to create because you have to make sure that your campaign doesn’t break the rules of the social media platforms. 

Here is what you should make sure to include in your photo contest rules for best results.

Contest Eligibility

You must specify who is eligible to enter your photo contest. Make sure to place an age limit on the contest so that minors can’t enter your contest. If your contest is for an alcohol brand, you should set the minimum age at 21 years of age.

You will receive entrants from all over the world so make sure to specify in your official rules the states and countries where entrants must live in order to enter.

Contest Winner Selection

Since this is a photo contest, and not a sweepstakes, that means that there will be an element of consideration (skill). Make sure that you explain in your contest rules exactly how photo submissions will be judged and how winners will be selected. For example, you may choose to judge photos based on originality, creativity, clarity, and the quality of the photo.

Judging Criteria Example for a photo contest:
a. Quality and Detail of Photo – 40%
b. Creativity of Paint Project – 40%
c. Quality of 200 Word Written Submission – 20%

You must also specify the restrictions on eligible submissions with regard to copyright and intellectual property concerns. Specify the types of content that are prohibited as well (e.g. no nudity, no sexual or violent content).

Good Example: Behr Mini Makeovers Photo Contest Official Rules

Facebook Requirements for a Photo Contest

Facebook has its own rules for how contests should be run on its platform. Make sure to clearly indicate in your official rules for your photo contest that your contest is not sponsored by or associated with Facebook. You must also have a link to the official photo contest rules that is visible and legible on your Facebook page.

Deeper Dive: Facebook Contest Rules and Ideas

Pinterest Photo Contest Rules

Pinterest is another popular platform that brands often use for photo contests because it’s filled with user submissions and has a majority female audience that brands can tap into. However, Pinterest has some unique rules when it comes to contests that you should make sure to mention in your contest rules:

• Entries are limited to one per person.
• Your contest is in no way sponsored or endorsed by Pinterest.
• Pinning an image or commenting more than other entrants doesn’t increase your chances.

Instagram Photo Contest Rules

As with all social platforms, Instagram also requires that you mention in your contest rules that your contest is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Instagram. You must also mention that by participating in your contests, users agree to abide by Instagram’s terms of service.

Deeper Dive: What Are Instagram Contest Rules & Best Practices?

Final Thoughts

As you plan your contest, carefully review social media platform rules for contests to ensure that you have covered everything you need to include in your contest rules. You should also make sure that you have complied with all federal, state and local laws that are applicable to your contest.

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

The post What Should Be Included in Your Photo Contest Rules? appeared first on Sweeppea Blog.