Facebook has developed an official Promotions Guidlines document that all users, developers and advertisers must agree to. These guidelines govern the publicizing and administering of any sweepstakes, contest, competition or other promotion on Facebook and may change at any time without notification.

Facebook also makes clear that it can disable the Page and/or account of anyone who violates its terms of service and guidelines.

It is strongly encouraged that all users read Facebook’s official Promotions Guidlines before running any kind of promotion or contest on your Page. Below are some key takeaways from the guidelines:

• You must not use Facebook features or functionality as a promotion’s registration or entry mechanism. For example, the act of liking a Page or checking in to a Place cannot automatically register or enter a promotion participant.
• You must not use Facebook features or functionality, such as the Like button, as a voting mechanism for a promotion.
• Promotions on Facebook must be administered within Apps on Facebook.com, either on a Canvas Page or an app on a Page Tab.
• Promotions must acknowledge that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

Promotion apps

Since users cannot utilize any Facebook functionalities as part of a promotion, it is required for users to use a third-party promotion app within Facebook to run their contests or promotions. Below is a list of possible promotion apps you can use on your Facebook Page:

• ShortStack
• Wildfire
• Fanappz
• Strutta