To my knowledge, no one has landed in the slammer due to a violation of Facebook's Promotion Rules, but that doesn't mean that there can't be grave consequences for throwing the rulebook to the wind. Despite the fact that Facebook has outlined clear rules of engagement for businesses to follow when running promotions on Facebook, it seems as though many small to medium-sized businesses continue to violate Facebook Promotion Rules. Rogue hooligans who blatantly disregard Zuckerberg's commandments? Meh. Although these violations are careless, businesses are most likely unaware that there are rules regarding Facebook promotions.

Most of the ignorance surrounding Facebook's rules about contests, sweepstakes, and other competitions is likely due to the fact that A) Facebook doesn't notify businesses when they are breaking the rules, B) they've changed the rules overtime, and C) some small to medium-sized businesses run their own social media and simply do not have a budget for expensive applications or for an expert on board to steer them clear of the Fail Whales (Wait, that's Twitter, let's not get side-tracked.). Whatever the reason behind most missteps, businesses can easily avoid angering the Facebook Gods and suffering the embarrassment of being called out by competitors if they educate themselves on these simple guidelines for promotions. I'll go over them step -by-step so you'll be able to clearly identify the types of behavior that are acceptable and the kinds that will banish you to the dog house— or worse, get your Facebook Page deleted all together. Before we start, let's go over a little terminology so that we have all our ducks in a row. Please note these definitions are provided by Facebook. “Administration” = operation of any element of the promotion, such as collecting entries, conducting a drawing, judging entries, or notifying winners. "Communication" = promoting, advertising or referencing a promotion in any way on Facebook, e.g., in ads, on a Page, or in a Wall post. “Contest” or “competition” = a promotion that includes a prize of monetary value and a winner determined on the basis of skill (i.e., through judging based on specific criteria). “Sweepstakes” = a promotion that includes a prize of monetary value and a winner selected on the basis of chance. Alright, now that we are all on the same page, let's get down to the Facebook Promotions Guidelines. I've included some screenshots of outlets that are doing it right and others that could soon fall victim to the Facebook police.

Facebook Promotion Rules

1. All promotions MUST be administered within Apps on Facebook.com, either on a Canvas Page or an app on a Page Tab.

If you're running a contest or promotion through Facebook, you MUST have a contest tab or application attached or installed to your Business Page in order to run any type of contest or promotion on Facebook. If you're looking for a free or inexpensive solution, check out WooBox or WildFire's iFrame App. Both include a free fangate which will allow you to hide specific content from non-fans. Below is an example of a contest being conducted correctly on a Page tab using a Fangate. This is the Non-Fan view which means that this is the content that users will see if they do not currently Like the Page. When users click the Like button, different content will appear.

2. You CANNOT use Facebook features or functionality as a promotion's registration entry.

For example, the act of liking a page or checking into a Place cannot automatically register or enter a promotion participant. Most often, I see this rule being violated in promotions that prompt users to Like a page to be automatically entered into a sweepstakes or a drawing. Despite the mistakes of the masses, these types of promotions are still in violation of Facebook Promotions. Below are some good tips to avoid making this common mistake. You CANNOTinclude the following in your contest or sweepstakes language:

• Like us to be automatically registered for x, y 0r z.
• Like us to be entered to win x, y 0r z.
• Check-in at our location to be automatically entered to win x, y or z.

You CANinclude:

• Like us to find out how to win x, y or z.
• Like us to share your submission.
• Like us for details on how to register to win x, y or z.

The original contest I grabbed a screenshot of had the appropriate contest language because it prompted users to Like the page to perform another action for registration. Below is the reveal page (Fans-only view) for that contest where users can find the information on how to register within the Facebook Tab.

This particular contest is adhering to Facebook's promotion guidelines. This is prime example of how useful (and still free!) fangates can be. Fangates A) require the users to like the page in order to see the contest's content and B) appear in a third party tab in the left hand navigation. Both A) and B) adhere to Facebook promotion rules.

3. You must not condition registration or entry upon the user taking any action using any Facebook features or functionality other than liking a Page, checking in to a Place, or connecting to your app.

For example, you must not condition registration or entry upon the user liking a Wall post, commenting, or uploading a photo on a Wall. This means you CAN condition registration upon or entry upon the user liking a page, checking into a place, or connecting to an app. Therefore, promotion language CAN say variations of the following:

• Like us to participate in x, y or z.
• Step 1: Like us on Facebook. Step 2. Follow the rules outlined in the contest tab to enter.
• 1. Check-in to our page. 2. Follow the registration process in the "Contest Tab".

You CANNOTinclude language like the following:

• Like this wall post to be entered to win.
• Reshare this wall post to be entered to win.
• Upload your photo to enter our photo contest.
• Comment on our wall to enter our contest.
• Comment on this photo be be entered to win.
• Reshare this photo to be entered to win.
• Tag yourself in this picture to be entered to win.

There are numerous variations, but I think you understand the gist. You cannot use Facebook functions such as commenting, liking, resharing, tagging, or uploading as a way to enter a contest. Below is an example of the type of VIOLATION we are talking about here:

You cannot prompt people to Like or Share a Wall post to win.

4. You must not use Facebook features or functionality, such as the Like button, as a voting mechanism for a promotion.

Pretty straight forward here. As tempting as it is to use Facebook for official voting purposes for contests, Facebook bans this type of voting method. Below is an example of a Page violating this rule.

A page wrongly using the Facebook Like button as voting mechanism. In your official contest language, you CANNOTinclude the following:

• The photo with the most likes will win the grand prize.
• The photo with the most comments will win the grand prize.
• The wall post with the most likes will win the grand prize.

Yet another using Likes on photos as a way to tally votes and select a winner. You CAN, however, say something alone the lines of the following:

• Show your support for your favorite with a Like. Please note that official voting will take place on our blog and that a Like does not constitute a vote. For official rules, visit CONTEST RULES PAGE.

5. You CANNOT notify winners through Facebook, such as through Facebook messages, chat, or posts on profiles (timelines) or Pages.

You must have another way in which to officially notify winners outside of the Facebook platform such as using an e-mail address that was provided at registration. Many Pages get around this rule by creating a graphic featuring the profile picture of the winner of the week. The Official Rules below are for a Facebook Sweepstakes that has some language you should try to avoid. Although this contest below appears to be doing some things correctly, their contest language leaves room for confusion.

Official Contest language must specify that you must like the page before you can perform another action to be on the safe side. You can allude to variations of this in contest promotion language, but the official rules should make it perfectly clear how to enter. Also, Facebook admins should never Facebook message winners.

Another outlet notifying a winner via Facebook message.

If this is the official notification, there is an obvious violation. The winner may have been alerted in another manner as well, but due to the fact that "Likes" were used as voting mechanism and there is no third party app being used here, Facebook seems to be the only way that this business could contact their winner.

6. Promotions on Facebook must include the following:

• A complete release of Facebook by each entrant or participant.
• Acknowledgment that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.
• Disclosure that the participant is providing information to [disclose recipient(s) of information] and not to Facebook.

This information is usually best suited within your official contest rules on a landing page on your website or within a tab on Facebook. This type of violation can be seen in any type of contest that doesn't use a third party application or website page for rules.

7. Ads may not imply a Facebook endorsement or partnership of any kind.

From Facebook, "Ads linking to Facebook branded content (including Pages, groups, events, or Connect sites) may make limited reference to 'Facebook' in ad text for the purpose of (1) fulfilling your obligations found in rule #6 and (2) clarifying the destination of the ad. All other ads and landing pages may not use our copyrights or trademarks (including Facebook, the Facebook and F Logos, FB, Face, Poke, Book, and Wall) or any confusingly similar marks, except as expressly permitted by Facebook Brand Usage Guidelines."Basically, do not use the Facebook logo in your official rules and do not imply that Facebook is in some way affiliated with your promotion in ads, verbiage, or landing pages.

On Wednesdays We Wear Pink

"Whatever. Those rules aren't real." "They were real that day I wore a vest!" There has been much debate on whether or not Facebook strictly enforces these rules since violations are so prominent and widespread. In my opinion, if your promotion is small pickings for Zuckdawg, you'd probably be able to fly under the radar, but why would you want to risk it? Although Facebook, to my knowledge, does not proactively search for these types of (small) promotions, I wouldn't dismiss your competitors' ability to take advantage of your recklessness and report your violations. As for the violators featured, I wish that I could claim that I searched for days and scraped up these few, alas, I only researched for about 15 minutes and pointed to a drop in the bucket of thousands of offenders all over the social sphere. Whatever the other guys may be doing, when it comes to social media and your business, it is really better to walk on the safe side and adhere to these simple rules when creating and conducting Facebook promotions. So collect your $200 and step lightly knowing that you aren't in danger of losing your turn. Disclaimer:All the examples and Pages included in this write-up are public Facebook Pages that all individuals have access to.

About The Author

Mallory Woodrow is the Director of Social Media for a search marketing firm. She is also a blogger and writes for outlets like Social Media Examiner and Entrepreneur Magazine. She likes bejeweled ballet flats, tomfoolery, and you for reading. For her complete profile, visit www.mallorywoodrow.com. Follow her on Twitter @malloryloren.