Can a Facebook Contest Help You Grow Your Business?

One of our clients had a notable concept for a competition. We determined to use Facebook as the platform for a couple of key reasons

    Their page turned into incredibly new and it needed a promotional shove to build the agency's brand on Facebook.
    We knew it was a completely cheaper promotion to run accordingly reducing the client's threat in giving it a whirl.

We ran the picture contest for one month and the results had been wonderful.

    It took their Page Likes from absolutely 0 to over 350. That won't be big for a few industries however for this niche B2B it gave them the pinnacle likes for in their category in Canada.
    It value about $a hundred and fifty (which blanketed the competition app charges and advertising prices) plus prize expenses.
    They now have over a hundred new e mail addresses to attain out to and probably upload to their newsletter listing.

Needless to mention, walking a Facebook contest may be a a laugh and exciting opportunity for your business, however you want to make sure to preserve it relevant on your target audience, to set it up nicely and to adhere to the contest policies laid out by means of Facebook.

Here's a step-by using-step technique to installation your next Facebook contest.

Step One - Set Your Objectives

Are you looking to growth loves to your page? If so that you would possibly want to "Like-Gate" the contest or make Liking a part of the contest necessities.

Are you seeking to increase email addresses? If so then you'll want to acquire contestant information. Ask for as little contact data as you can, as it will increase your variety of entrants.

Are you trying to growth logo focus? In our case we had been without a doubt seeking to growth the purchaser's exposure on Facebook, so we created a balloting contest that might require entrants to percentage the contest with as a lot of their pals as feasible.

Step Two - Set Out the Details of the Contest

You want to consider the form of contest you need, rules and prizes.

In our case, we decided on a image contest. Contestants could easily publish their photograph thru our patron's Facebook page. The winners might be chosen with the aid of the quantity of votes their photo acquired. We had to make it smooth for contestants to percentage the photograph with their Facebook pals so they might inspire their pals to come back and vote for their Photo. We decided that contestants could best enter one photograph and could handiest vote once to preserve it truthful.

A word on prizes...

You want to make certain that the prizes offered make sense on your audience (assuming those are the humans you are trying to attract along with your contest). These should also be one in every of your corporation's product or service offerings. It's an excellent idea to have multiple prize in case the first vicinity image is to date in advance of the second that human beings surrender attempting.

Step Three - Setting Up The Contest

Once you have got found out your event info, policies and prizes it's time to installation the contest page. Start by means of searching at a few Facebook Contest Apps. Luckily there may be a myriad of Facebook applications that make putting in place the competition a snap. Choose wisely. Because we determined to go with a image contest - we wished an app that would:

    Let humans upload their photograph
    Share the picture without difficulty with their pals on Facebook
    Limit them to 1 vote according to person
    Limit them to one photograph per character
    Allow others to like/vote for pictures without difficulty
    Provide us with reporting at the progress of the competition.

We used an app referred to as Woobox and have been very glad with its usual functionality.

Make positive first of all an attention grabbing image and then listing all of the details of the contest (deadlines, guidelines, prizes and the way to input). You also want to inspire human beings to share the contest and possibly event leave comments. The more engagement, the higher!

Make positive to provide your self a terrific week to installation a contest, particularly if it's your first one. That manner you have time to discover ways to use the app, layout any pictures and test the entire experience earlier than launch date.

Step Four - Promote Your Contest

Congratulations you're equipped to launch your contest. Now it's time to promote it. Luckily the sort of contest we set out promotes itself thru contestants, but you still want to get the ball rolling.

Here's some ways to easily get the word accessible:

    Change the main banner of your Facebook web page to the competition banner and add the software on your organisation information phase on the left.
    Set up a Facebook ad campaign
    Put up a banner to your website and weblog
    Promote through strategic alliance websites and their social media channels
    Promote through your other social media web sites.
    Promote on "contest" sites
    Share it with your newsletter and blog subscribers
    Include it in your business enterprise electronic mail signatures

Step Five - Monitor The Contest

Once the contest is up and going for walks, you want to make sure to display it closely on a day by day foundation - mainly for the first week. Check feedback and posts for questions, concerns or problems that people is probably having with signing up or balloting. It's critical to deal with any questions or concerns as speedy as possible and be as transparent as you could.

Watch for individuals who are looking to trick the machine. Even the excellent applications cannot 100% forestall a decided "cheater" so make certain that people aren't breaking your contest guidelines.

Step Six - Have a Strong Post Contest Plan of Action

Once the competition is completed you need to make certain it's miles in fact closed down. Change any banners posted through promotions to another organisation banner and forestall any paid marketing if it is nonetheless going for walks.

Ensure that you announce the winners on your Facebook web page as soon as viable and recall selling winners via different social media websites, your newsletter and on your internet site.

Let the winners realize how to declare their prizes and inside the case of a photo contest, get them to sign a picture launch form if you intend to use their images anywhere.

When contacting all the different contestants take into account:

    Announcing the winners
    Offering a special on one in all your services or products
    Getting their permission to feature them to an e mail listing
    Asking for their comments on the contest
    Letting them know dates of your next contest