But it is worth combining the fact you remember about the basics with taking care of details and possibly the widest perspective. To get most out of a Facebook competition check out our tips:

• decide if you really need a competition. Name its goals, don’t make it only because “everybody does”

• choose the type of competition. You can choose from among four types on Facebook: raffle, essay, photo, video. Each of them is for a different type of recipients. Some provide much content, others let you obtain substantial information about the user

• read the Facebook policy and guide (the “do’s and don’ts” list)

• the competition needs to be activated by external companies offering special apps – choose the firm and the app well (pay attention to the widest possible use of the application)

• the award should be possibly your company’s product (even if everyone else is handing out iPads)

• engage your followers, e.g. in choosing the winner, making a video, use pics from Pinterest

• keep it simple and easy. Don’t require too much information from the users to get access to the competition

• combine the competition on Facebook with other social networking websites. You can post the latest news on Twitter, and Pinterest is a great place to import photos

• consider making a Facebook competition based on “checking in”. The customers not only think about your company but also physically go to places related with it

• use other Facebook functions, such as photo tags (tag marketing was successfully used by IKEA) or a “sponsored stories” promotion (information about the competition will be visible on the right of the screen in “sponsored” links)

Last but not least: tell the world about your competition! Use communication channels other than Facebook (your website, newsletter, other social media).