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.

When it comes to promoting a sweepstakes online, Pinterest is a platform that is often overlooked by marketers in favor of Instagram and Facebook. However, Pinterest can actually provide a very powerful platform for you to connect with your customers, especially if your business is related to the types of content that often trend on Pinterest like fashion, food, and beauty.

To help you get started with your Pinterest sweepstakes, here is what to include in Pinterest sweepstakes rules to ensure your compliance with the platform’s guidelines.

One Entry Per Person

While some brands like to give additional chances to win away to entrants who complete additional steps after entering the sweepstakes, this practice is not allowed on Pinterest. If you promote your sweepstakes on Pinterest, you must limit the number of entries to one per person and specify this limitation in your official sweepstakes rules.

Make It Clear That Entrants Can Not Improve Their Odds of Winning

The odds of winning a sweepstakes on Pinterest or any other platform for that matter must always remain the same for every entrant. In addition, Pinterest prohibits you from requiring entrants to interact with your content in order to increase their odds of winning.

Specifically, you may not:

• Require users to Pin a specific image. People must always have the ability to choose Pins based on their own personal preference, even if you give them a selection of Pins to choose from.
• Ask people to repost the same content about your sweepstakes. Pinterest hates spam and so do the users. As a result, you should never ask users to post the same content ever.

Explain to entrants in your sweepstakes rules that none of these actions will increase their odds of winning.

Never Suggest That Your Sweepstakes Is Sponsored by Pinterest

If you promote your sweepstakes on Pinterest you may not suggest that Pinterest sponsors or endorses you or the promotions. Make sure to include this in your sweepstakes rules and indicate on every page that you link to in your promotions.

Make Sure That Participants Use the Word “Sweepstakes” or “Contest” With Their Pins

If your entrants will submit Pins as a part of the sweepstakes or during the winner announcement, make sure that they use the word “contest” or “sweepstakes” in their descriptions or images when they save Pins for the event.

Pinterest requires that you have all entrants do this to clearly indicate that the sweepstakes is an event and not natural, unincentivized behavior of users on the platform. You should indicate in your sweepstakes rules that users must also comply with this requirement when creating Pins for the sweepstakes.

Review Guidelines for Alcohol Brands

While Pinterest does not allow sweepstakes related to certain prohibited categories including adult content, tobacco, and political campaigns, they do allow limited advertising when it comes to alcohol brands. Make sure to specifically review and comply with all alcohol-related restrictions in your sweepstakes rules including the following:

• Your promotions can not target minors
• Your sweepstakes rules comply with applicable federal and local laws and regulatory guidelines, including age gating where necessary

If you promote your sweepstakes on Pinterest, make sure to review all of the Advertising guidelines and include these required details in your sweepstakes official rules.

Additionally, all sweepstakes and contest (running on any social platform) must comply with state rules. See the Sweepstake and Contest Laws by State.

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

The post What to Include in Pinterest Sweepstakes Rules appeared first on Sweeppea Blog.