bloggers beware: the Facebook rules have changed. as of May 2011 asking readers to LIKE your Facebook page as an entry to a giveaway is illegal.
"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."
the complete Promotions Guidelines are here: http://www.facebook.com/promotions_guidelines.php
asking readers to LIKE your Facebook page as an entry to a giveaway clearly violates this rule and can result in Facebook officials deleting your entire page and all of your "Friends." and that would just be tragic, now wouldn't it? {wink}
stay informed of the rules. and don't ask your readers to do anything illegal.
do you want to know what i think of this rule? i LIKE it. really, i do. i personally think that asking for LIKES and Followers as a giveaway entry is falsifying your blog influence numbers. bloggers use their number of Facebook LIKES and blog Followers to prove their reach and popularity, so asking readers for LIKES and Follows in exchange for their name in a hat to win something is obviously a way to up those numbers quickly. but...that's just the way i see it.
LIKE it or not, rules are rules. be careful what you're asking your readers to do.
this guy has some great tips and advice for engaging with your readers within the legal limits: http://www.unmarketing.com/
you can legally and genuinely LIKE MamaHall: Making the Most of It on Facebook and connect with me on Twitter. {smile}
-----------------------
