By now, you know I’m the social media sweepstakes attorney. My focus is on helping my clients make the most of their social media giveaways and provide answers to any questions they might have. Lately, I’ve been asked my opinion on the laws that governing Facebook contests and giveaways. It can actually be a really complicated issue, so let’s dive right in.
First off, there’s no question that running contests, sweepstakes, and giveaways can result in a lot of engagement, and from that perspective, it works. If you’re going to give away a Starbucks gift card or tickets to a local game, people will absolutely like, comment, and share your post; however, there are three challenges to consider:
1. Is your contest or sweepstakes legal?
Are you complying with state and federal laws that regulate contests and sweepstakes and giveaways? You might not realize, but the same laws that apply to an automobile company giving away a $30,000 car on TV also apply to a family-owned ice cream shop giving away a $10 gift card on their Facebook page. Failure to comply with these laws could result in civil or criminal liability, or if you violate the social media site terms, you can get your social media profiles permanently deleted. No bueno.
2. Is it worth it?
By this I mean are the risks vs the rewards? Meaning, if you run don’t follow the social media sweepstakes laws by not having proper terms and conditions, then you can be sued or have your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram account closed down.
These are questions you’ll have to answer for yourself, but at the end of the day, you really need to be careful if you decide to go down this route. Personally, as a social media sweepstakes lawyer, I think these online giveaways are worth the risk if you have the proper terms and conditions and follow the social media site guidelines. However, if you are going to launch a contest, it has to fit your overall marketing plan and serve to accomplish a particular objective, like raising awareness or connecting with the local community. And if you do decide that you want to post a contest, giveaway or sweepstakes on your law firm’s social media page, remember you can always contact a social media contest lawyer like me to make sure you’re complying with the law.
Have more questions about contests, sweepstakes, or social media sweepstakes law in general? Then give me a call. I’ll walk you through what you need to do to ensure your firm’s social media use is ethical, legal, and most of all, fun! Contact me today to get started.
