Competitions are currently all the rage. They are a fantastic tool of grabbing someone’s attention. Everyone loves a good deal, and better yet, no one can really resit the opportunity to receive something for free. It is a fun and engaging way to encourage people to like your page, therefore increasing traffic to your website and enhancing the performance of your business.
For instance, popular celebrity chef, Marion Grasby, hosted a Malaysian Curry Competition to celebrate the introduction of a new product to her food range. Result: 6030 new likes generated in the month long campaign. Facebook competitions are a powerful marketing tool that should not be overlooked, so here’s a few tips on running a successful Facebook competition campaign.
Read the T&Cs
It is important you familiarise yourself with Facebook’s promotion guidelines, because if you do not adhere to them, Facebook can and will remove your page. The Social Skinny provides an excellent article on Facebook’s new rules around Facebook competitions which came into play in September this year.
Create a fun & enticing graphic
It’s simple, create a graphic that attracts attention and draws them into learning more about the campaign. Whether you use an app or a post to run your competition, ensure that is captures the eye of your target audience. Depending on your campaign budget or in-house capabilities, hiring a professional graphic designer can go a long way in achieving this.
Provide the goods
This is self-explanatory . If you want people to enter your competition, your prize needs to be wanted. This will motivate the user into engaging with your brand and entering. As a rule of thumb, ensure that you offer something of value that everyone in your target audience will want.
Make sure your campaign fits with your overall marketing plan
An increase in “Likes” does not automatically create sales. Sure you may have many Facebook fans, but if you are not keeping up with the promotion of your business, you will find no significant return. Continually interact with your fans and provide them with relevant, engaging content. In a nut shell, keep them interested, keep them purchasing.
Write your rules
Competitions require rules, and it is important you clearly stipulate them. Provide a start and end date, and ensure to include an eligibility section. Also it is vital to include a disclaimer saying that Facebook is no way involved with the competition. Socially Stacked provides 10 handy tips for writing Facebook contest rules.
Budget for paid promotion
Aside from email marketing, in-store promotions and regular posts, another way to get the word out about your competition campaign is through paid advertising. Facebook offers paid targeted advertising and paid promotion of posts, easily created and monitored through Facebook ads manager or Facebook Power Editor. Set a suitable budget and take advantage of this tool to gain the exposure you need to achieve results.
Need further assistance with running a successful Facebook competition campaign? The team at BFJ Media, a Brisbane based full-service marketing agency, are helping clients achieve real leads and sales through Social Media Marketing. Simply get in touch with us to learn more.