The short version
- Meta has its own rules for promotions on Pages, so read them before you post anything.
- Meta's policy says you can't require or reward people for sharing or tagging friends to enter.
- You are responsible for official rules and for following your local laws, which vary by place.
- Keep it simple: one prize, one clear way to enter, a short deadline and a fair winner pick.
- When in doubt, check with a local attorney or your state or local consumer office.
A giveaway sounds easy. Offer a prize, ask people to comment, pick a winner. Before you post, you need to know that Facebook has rules for promotions and that local contest laws vary.
This guide covers what Meta's own policy says, a simple plan to follow and a post to announce the winner. It is not legal advice, and the rules can change, so always read the current policy yourself.
What Meta's rules say about promotions
Meta's Pages, Groups and Events policies include a section on promotions, which covers contests, giveaways and sweepstakes. Read it here: Meta's Pages, Groups and Events policies (opens in a new tab). In plain words, it says:
- The section applies to anyone who uses a Page, group or Event to announce or administer a promotion.
- You can't require or reward people for publicizing the promotion, such as by sharing, reposting or tagging others.
- You must give entrants the official rules and disclose offer terms and eligibility requirements.
- Entrants must release Meta from liability and acknowledge the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Meta.
- The promotion must comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including registering it with the relevant authorities where required.
- Meta will not assist you in administering a promotion.
Local contest laws vary
Contest, sweepstakes and raffle laws differ by state and country. Some places require official rules, a registration or a bond for certain types of promotions. Some treat a game of chance differently from a skill contest.
You don't need to become a lawyer, but you do need to check. Call your state attorney general's office or consumer protection office, or ask a local attorney, before you run anything where winners are picked by chance.
- Ask your local office what rules apply to a giveaway in your state or country.
- Write official rules, even a short version, and link to them.
- Skip any entry that requires a purchase until you know whether that's allowed where you are.
- Keep a record of who entered and how you picked the winner.
A simple giveaway plan
Keep it small. One prize, one way to enter, one deadline. A small giveaway you can run well beats a big one you can't.
Pick a prize you can afford
Choose something that fits your business, like a free service, a gift basket or a gift certificate. Make it something your customers want, not a random gadget.
Check Meta's policy and your local rules
Read the Promotions section of Meta's policy and ask your local office what applies. Fix anything that isn't allowed.
Write short official rules
Say who can enter, how to enter, the deadline, how the winner is picked and that Meta isn't involved. Put them in a post, on your website or both.
Choose a simple way to enter
Something like 'Comment on this post.' Don't require sharing or tagging, since Meta's policy says you can't require or reward that.
Announce it
Post the giveaway with a clear photo of the prize, the deadline and a link to the rules.
Pick and announce the winner
Pick fairly and keep a record. Contact the winner and post the result.
A giveaway works best when your Page already has regular posts. See what to post on your business Facebook Page for what to keep posting around it.
Posts to announce the giveaway and the winner
Giveaway announcement
Giveaway time! We're giving away [prize] to one lucky [town] neighbor. To enter, comment below by [date and time]. Official rules: [link]. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Meta.
Photo: A clear photo of the prize
Reminder, one day before
Last day to enter our [prize] giveaway. Comment on the original post by [time] tonight. Rules are here: [link].
Photo: The prize again, from a new angle
Winner announcement
Congratulations to [winner's first name or initials] from [town], the winner of our [prize] giveaway. Thanks to everyone who entered. We picked the winner by [method, such as random draw]. Watch this page for the next one.
Mistakes to avoid
Do
- Read Meta's promotions policy first.
- Write short official rules and link them.
- Pick the winner in a way you can explain.
- Follow up with the winner and post the result.
Don't
- Ask people to share or tag friends to enter.
- Run a prize draw without checking local laws.
- Forget to say that Facebook is not involved.
- Go quiet after the winner is picked.
After the giveaway, reply to comments the way you normally do. How to reply to Facebook comments as a business has scripts. Looking for more ways to get seen locally? Try how to get more local followers on your Facebook Page.
Sources
Outside numbers in this article come from these pages.
