The bottom line with running promotions on Facebook is this:

• Promotions on Facebook must be administered within Apps on Facebook.com, either on a Canvas Page or an app on a Page Tab.

• You cannot do a promotion, contest or giveaway through your Facebook Wall.

Below are some important rules on running a promotion or giveaway from the Facebook Promotions Guidelines.

If you administer or run a giveaway or promotion on Facebook where you select a winner, you need to adhere to Facebook’s Promotions Guidelines.

Facebook’s Promotions Guidelines state:

• You will not administer a promotion through Facebook, except through an application on the Facebook Platform.  Administration includes operation of any element of the promotion, such as collecting entries, conducting a drawing, judging entries, or notifying winners.

• 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.

•  Promotions on Facebook must be administered within Apps on Facebook.com, either on a Canvas Page or an app on a Page Tab.

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

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

• You must not notify winners through Facebook, such as through Facebook messages, chat, or posts on profiles (timelines) or Pages.

Facebook also strongly maintains that all promotions must comply with all laws and regulations of the jurisdictions where the promotion is open.  The responsibility for checking that a promotion can legally offer a specific prize remains the responsibility of the promotion administrator and page owner.

Click Here to the complete Facebook Promotions Guidelines.

What does this mean for you?

Below is my interpretation of the guidelines on using Facebook for promotions based on the Facebook Promotions Guidelines and expert resources like Social Media Examiner and Mari Smith.

• If you are asking people to “Like” your page to win, enter the contest, etc. you cannot promote the contest on your Wall.  This must be done by through a Third-Party Application.
• You cannot use Facebook features or functionality such as the Like button as a method of voting for a promotion.
• You cannot ask people to vote on photos, comments, etc. on your Facebook wall to find a winner.
• You cannot ask people to upload photos to your wall, comment on or like a photo or post to enter a contest.
• You cannot choose a random winner from your fans to give something away.

You can run a promotion where entrants have to first “Like” your page, as long as the promotion is administered through a Third-Party App on a separate canvas page or tab.  All forms of entry must be run through the Third-Party Application.  You may also administer a photo contest where the participant uploads a photo to a Third-Party App to enter the contest.  You must notify the winner of the promotion outside of Facebook as well.

Here’s a great article from Social Media Examiner and  Mari Smith that explains all of the Facebook rules on running contents and promotions.  You will find several examples of what you can and cannot do with running contests and promotions on your Facebook page.  http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/facebook-promotions-what-you-need-to-know/

Should you run a contest and not use a Third-Party App?

Facebook has strict rules on contests and promotions.   In some cases they have shut down an entire page if the Facebook Promotions Guidelines were not followed.

From Facebook: In addition to our other remedies, we may remove any materials relating to the promotion or disable your page, application or account if we determine in our sole discretion that you violate any of our policies.

What is a Third-Party App?

There is a list of several free as well as paid for apps available in this Social Media Examiner article as well.  I use a Third-Party App that allows me to create custom pages or tabs with HTML.  There are many paid apps that even set everything up for you like Wildfire and Pagemodo.  The Facebook app is not included as a Third-Party App.

Watch this Facebook Guidelines Training Video that clearly explains how you can run a promotion on your Facebook page.

Keep Up With Changes

Facebook changes occur often, always be sure to check with the Facebook Promotions Guidelines for up to date information on running a contest or promotion on your business page. You must also comply with rules governing running a promotion or contest based on your location.

As of writing this post, Facebook has also mentioned possible significant changes to Facebook Pages coming soon.  Experts are predicting we will see a Timeline version of Pages by the end of February 2012.  At this time it is not clear how Third-Party Apps using Canvas Pages and Tabs will be affected.

Are you running a promotion using a Third-Party Application?  How have you set up Contests on Facebook using an app?  We would love to hear your experiences!

To view your External Referrers you need to view your business page Insights.  The link to your Insights (or analytics) is below your profile image on the left side of your business page.

1.  Click on Insights

2.  Now click on the sub-menu called Reach

3.  Scroll to the bottom of the page

4.  At the bottom of the page you will see the list of External Referrers to your page

You can scroll back to the top of the page and change the date range to a specific date.  This will update the External Referrers to reflect the number of visits from the selected date range.

If you are not getting visits from an external website such as your business website, you may want to change your strategy on how you display or advertise your Facebook page.  Click Here to learn more about Facebook Insights.

Consider these four steps before you begin your social media marketing strategy and campaign:

1.  Make a Plan

Determine what your general intentions are and what the big picture is for using Social Media for your business.  Social media is a conversation tool, not a broadcast or push tool, so in developing your plan keep this in mind when determining what you will share or offer.  Your strategy should achieve the goals of the organization as a whole, and require participation by all areas of the business.  Designate your team of administrators, content providers and resources and keep everyone on the same page.  Your social media strategy needs to be done professionally and consistently.  Additionally, an important part of your plan should be creating a content calendar.  The content calendar should clearly lay out your goals and overall plan including what and when to post.

Need a Content Calendar Template?  Click here to complete the form and download the Microsoft Excel template I use.

2.  Set Goals and Have Clear Objectives

Having clear objectives will help measure your time spent on social media and will help determine what works and what doesn’t.  Set goals that are measurable.  Do you want to raise the number of followers and fans you have?  Do you want to grow your email list?  Are you trying to raise awareness of your brand?  Do you want to grow the number of followers on your blog?  Keep in mind your social media strategy can also be measured on reputation protection, brand advocacy and even research and development.

3.  What Is Your Strategy

Your strategy should tell how you will meet those goals and objectives with:

• How
• What
• Why
• Where

Your strategy should also include the platforms you will use such as Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and YouTube.

4.   Measure Your Efforts

Measure your success based on the goals and objectives set above.  Use your Content Calendar to track which post topics generate the most response and sharing.   Use your website analytics and social media tracking tools like Facebook Insights to measure the results of your strategy.

• Did you gain followers and fans and by how much?
• Did you increase your email subscriber list?
• Did followers visit your website and buy products from your online store?
• Did you get foot traffic in the door because of your social media strategy?

Don’t end your campaign at measurement though.  Test and retest your plan, adapt to any new findings in your strategy and measurement, and provide what your fans and followers are looking for.

Every business will use social media and their strategy differently.  With a clear plan and strategy, you avoid being overwhelmed and not using social media in the right way, or not using social media at all.

Do you have a social media strategy in place?  What are some things you have learned while implementing your plan?  Any tips on how to achieve your goals?  Share your thoughts and comments below!

Tool Bar
To save space and increase efficiency, WordPress has combined the admin bar and the old Dashboard header into one toolbar. Hovering over the toolbar items will reveal submenus when available for quick access.  You can create new posts from the drop down menu, you can still get to the dashboard and log out. Basically the new admin bar gives easy access to the things you use the most.

Media Uploader
The other big and important thing that has changed is the image and media upload button.  Instead of needing to click on a specific upload icon based on your file type, now there’s just one. Once your file is uploaded, the appropriate fields will be displayed for entering information based on the file type as WordPress detects what that file type is.

You can now drag and drop photos or use the upload button like in the past. So you can Drag files from your desktop or folders and drop them into the uploader. Add one file at a time, or many at once.

Other Significant Changes

Admin Panel
The size of the admin panel has been improved.  For example if you are updating your website on the iPad, the dashboard will fit better in your screen.

Co-Editing
Normally you see a warning if someone else is editing your post or page when you are logged into that page.   WordPress has made improvements to this feature and you will only see the warning if that person is actually making changing to those posts or pages you are working on.

These are the main changes that will effect how you update your website with the new WordPress 3.3.   Please contact me if you need any help or have any questions!

To market your company online through Web Marketing, there are many tools available including having a website, blog, and using social networks to create a digital presence online.  Start with a website and domain name that is search engine friendly, containing keywords or phrases about your company, services and products.  Your website should contain information, photos, calls to action, and a way for clients to contact you.  Include information on products, services, a way to purchase, company history, staff profiles, interactive directions and more.  Always remember to use your website as the hub of your online marketing.   Integrate a blog into your website, giving you the ability to add new and fresh content that is relevant and useful for current and potential clients.  Blog articles and content that contain keywords and keyword phrases are favored by search engines as well.  The blog is interactive, allowing your visitors to make comments or ask questions regarding your topics covered in the blog posts with in that article page.

For Social Media Marketing, use social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google + and LinkedIn to nurture and grow relationships with current and potential clients.  You can share content and information, most often by providing a link to your blog posts, that answers the questions they are searching for.  Create sharable content to engage your followers using strategies that entice comments, likes, and sharing of your information.  Don’t forget that social media is about building relationships and having conversations with your followers.  Using social media sites as a push or selling tool is often less effective in building a community around your brand.

Use email marketing campaigns to keep your current and potential clients up to date on what’s happening with the company, how they can purchase your products and how to follow you online.   Experiment and use QR Codes on traditional marketing efforts to drive traffic to your website as well.

As with any marketing effort, be sure to set goals and make a plan for your digital efforts.  Have clear objectives so you can measure the results of your time spent on Social Media and the web.  Measurable goals can be anything from driving traffic to your website, growing your mentions, shares and likes, growing your email list, to generating sales and leads.  By using a content and sharing calendar, you can easily manage your time and efforts spent online.  Remember to use tools available to listen, manage and monitor your reputation and your brand on social media networks and the web.

We know that people buy from others they like, know and trust.  Create a digital presence online and give your clients what they are looking for.

I was given the opportunity to interview Social Media Speaker, Expert and Author Mari Smith on her new book; The New Relationship Marketing: How To Build a Large, Loyal and Profitable Network on the Social Web.

Mari is a true leader in the social web world and shares her knowledge and expertise unconditionally.  She has become a main center of influence and always shares the most important and relevant information I am looking for.  Not only does she tell us how to be great at relationship marketing, but practices her wonderful suggestions and techniques on a daily basis, including treating everyone as someone.

In the interview Mari talks about how to get started use the social web, using social media to build relationships, and how businesses and organizations can benefit from these marketing tools.

Topics and questions discussed in the interview include:

1. What is the definition of relationship marketing, and what is new about this type of marketing?
2. What are some of the most common fears that prevent individuals and businesses from fully embracing social technologies?
3. In terms of building a loyal network, just how important is it to build loyalty? And what are some ways to do so?
4. Do you think businesses today are missing out if they’re not nurturing relationships on all the major social platforms, e.g. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and now Google+?
5. With all the competing demands for consumers’ attention, how can business owners ensure they stand out?
6. What are some of the biggest mistakes businesses make today regards social technologies online and offline?
7. What are some tips you can share about how businesses can turn all this networking into an increase in the bottom line?
8. What are some effective ways to build a community online?
9. Who should read your new book and how will they benefit?
10. How can people find out more about your new book?

Visit Mari Smith’s website, www.RelationshipMarketingBook.com to order your book today!

Mari Smith is a passionate social media leader, specializing in relationship marketing and Facebook mastery. She is coauthor of Facebook Marketing: An Hour A Day and author of The New Relationship Marketing. Mari travels the world to give keynotes at top events and lead social media workshops; she frequently shares the stage with notable leaders and celebrities. Fast Company described Mari as “a veritable engine of personal branding, a relationship marketing whiz, and the Pied Piper of the Online World.” With her popular blog at MariSmith.com, and her large, loyal following on both Facebook and Twitter, Mari is considered one of the top resources and thought leaders in the world of marketing.

Thank you again Mari for helping myself and those in my network become better at relationships and using the social web!

The presentation will last 1 hour with networking and socializing following.  A light breakfast and coffee will be served!!

The idea behind the Social Media Breakfast is to bring together businesses and individuals in our area interested in using social media and the web to better our business and ourselves.  We’ll get together in a casual and fun atmosphere to talk about what’s new and happening in the online world, network with our peers and have a little breakfast too!

The Social Media Breakfast will be held the first Friday of each month with a presentation from an area business or organization.  The presentations will be focused on how we are implementing and using social media, blogging and web marketing for business.   It will give us as businesses and organizations an opportunity to share what’s working and what’s not, how we can better our business using the social web, and discuss any topics that may be effecting our business in general.

For complete schedule, registration and details, click here!

QR Codes are the square bar code looking images that have uneven, squiggly lines that you see in magazine ads, newspaper ads, store front windows, and product labels.  QR means “Quick Response” and the codes can be scanned by smart phone.  They direct you to the website and information (business name, address, phone number, Facebook page, etc.) put into the QR Code when generated.  QR Codes are getting a lot of buzz these days but they are not widely used, yet.  The best part about QR Codes is they are free to generate.

You can create unique QR Codes for different products or services.  You can even create or use special landing pages for each QR Code you create.

More and more of my clients are using QR Codes to drive traffic to their website for general ads and information as well as targeted promotions and offers.

At Scott Preusse, Inc. we came up with a plan to use QR Codes on the window stickers of vehicles in the car lot.  Each vehicle will have a unique QR Code that links to the web page associated with that vehicle.  They will be able to view all details of that vehicle online including several photos of the vehicle, financing options, a way for them to contact Scott Preusse, Inc. while physically looking at the vehicle.  The web page also contains other information the person may not have access to when the showroom is closed (car lots are technically open 24/7).  They can also keep that vehicle web page stored on their smart phone.

The Atomic Chef Spices added QR Codes to their bottle labels of the spices.  The QR Code points to their website which contains information on where to purchase the spices, recipes, videos on cooking and more!

Blossom Town Floral and Green House is using a QR Code on their greeting card envelopes.  When someone receives a special delivery from Blossom Town they can scan the bar code to access the Blossom Town website, map the address, contact via phone (where they can click and call) or email and more.

Other clients are implementing plans to add QR Codes to their printed ads, in-store locations where you can learn more about a product or service all while physically standing there!

This past September I attended the state fair where it seemed every exhibitor had a QR Code to scan (OK maybe every other).  The QR Codes were as simple as a link to their website up to a link to register for events, promotions and giveaways while standing right there looking at their booth.  I entered so many different promotions using QR Codes, what a benefit for those vendors who all now have my contact information (which I didn’t have a problem with because I really wanted to win).

A good practice is to use your QR Codes everywhere.  I use them on my business cards, rack cards and newspaper ads.  Here’s a few ways you can use QR Codes in your marketing efforts:

• on your store front door
• invoices and receipts
• envelopes and packaging
• create a scavenger hunt
• offer coupons, promotions or discounts
• promote your social media networks to gain more likes and followers
• next to products in your store giving details and how to use information
• grow your email subscribers list
• populate a your online shopping cart

Just think, if someone stops by your store after hours they can scan your QR Code posted on the front door.  They can access your website, phone number and more, including your store hours of operation. 

I’ve seen QR Codes on t-shirts and even read about them on billboards and gravestones.  In a recent conversation with Ann Treacy of  Treacy Information Services, she talked about how popular QR Codes are in Europe and that they are being used everywhere.  QR Codes may be the next big thing in marketing, so start thinking of unique places to add and use your QR Codes.  One thing you can do to help those new to using QR Codes is to put information on how to use the QR Code in text near the code explaining how to use it.

There are many websites available to generate QR Codes.  The site I use most often is ZXing Project QR Code Generator, click here.  Need help setting up and using QR Codes?  Contact Sarah at RV Tech Solutions today!

Other presentations at the event included how to Mobilize Your Army of Brand Advocates and Disaster Recover – Helping a Community Recover.  The disaster recover presentation was on the July 1st tornado in Minneapolis.  It was exciting to hear how Social Media made an impact in their communication and processes.

Following my presentation Russell Herder spoke on Seeking Social Solace which included research on how consumers use social media to disclose information.   Their presentation was a great follow up to me as they went in-depth and spelled out just how to use social media networks to listen and benefit from online conversations.

The MHSCN membership and attendees of the event consists of health care marketers for hospitals and clinics across the state of Minnesota.  This event’s focus was on Health Care Marketing, Health Care Social Media and Networking.

While at conference, I met some really amazing marketers who are doing great things with social media and they were all so eager to jump in and learn more, asking questions and sharing ideas.  After the presentations, Carol Russell of Russell Herder, Chris Bevolo of Interval and myself sat on a panel where the attendees could ask questions related to the challenges they see in their market.  It  was a fun addition to the presentations and networking of the event.

A big thank you the MHSCN Board and to everyone for a great day spent talking social media!

If you are interested in joining MHSCN, click here for details!

I will be sure to share my interview with Mari Smith on my blog and social media networks following the interview!

In her new book, social marketing thought leader Mari Smith outlines a proven nine-step program for building a sizable, loyal network comprised of quality relationships that garner leads, publicity, sales, and more. The pressure is on to shift your approach to using social media marketing, to better understand the new soft skills required for success on the social web, and to improve your own leadership skills through emotional and social intelligence. Mari will share proven tactics to develop and hone a solid marketing skill set for the digital age.

Learn More about The New Relationship Marketing, Click Here

Check out this video for a great overview of who Mari Smith is and what she does!

Mari Smith is passionate about people! She is a Relationship Marketing Specialist and one of the world’s foremost experts on using Facebook as a marketing channel. She is coauthor of Facebook Marketing: An Hour A Day and her next book The New Relationship Marketing out in September 2011, both published by Wiley.

Fast Company describes Mari as “a veritable engine of personal branding, a relationship marketing whiz and the Pied Piper of the Online World.” Dun & Bradstreet Credibility named Mari one of the top ten Most Influential Small Business People on Twitter.

Mari’s background includes over ten years in the fields of relationships, marketing and Internet technology, making social media her ideal arena. She travels the United States and internationally to share her wisdom and provide social media keynotes and in-depth training. She has shared the stage with the likes of Sir Richard Branson, the Dalai Lama, President F.W. de Klerk, Tony Robbins, Dr. Stephen R. Covey, and Paula Abdul. Through her consulting and training business, Mari helps business owners to accelerate their business profits by integrating proven social media marketing strategies. After applying Mari’s methods, her clients typically experience a significant increase in traffic, subscribers, clients, affiliates, lucrative strategic alliances and targeted media attention.

Mari also mentors up and coming social media professionals in a variety of specializations. Sixty-five graduates have gone through Mari’s intense social media professionals training since 2009 and thirty-five students are currently under Mari’s mentorship.

With her popular blog at MariSmith.com, and her large, loyal following on both Facebook and Twitter, Mari is considered one of the top resources and thought leaders in the world of marketing. She regularly appears in media locally and nationally in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Inc., and Success Magazine.

A self described “bubbly Scottish-Canadian,” Mari was born and raised in Canada to Scottish parents, then lived in Edinburgh for 20 years and has been living in San Diego, California since 1999. Mari has a penchant for turquoise and bling and is frequently known for “owning” the color turquoise; she only ever wears shades of blue in public.

Sources:

http://www.marismith.com/
http://www.relationshipmarketingbook.com/
www.facebook.com/marismith
www.twitter.com/marismith