Run Giveaway Ads on Facebook: An Ultimate Guide for Your Giveaway Promotion

How to run giveaway ads on Facebook? Is it possible? Does Facebook allow to run such ads? Well, the questions are endless. Let me tell you, if you follow my ultimate guide, it is possible to run giveaway ads on Facebook successfully.

Before I dive into the step by step, let’s first understand what a giveaway ad is and why it is beneficial for businesses.

giveaway ads on facebook

What Is a Giveaway Ad?


A Giveaway ad is a promotional strategy where businesses offer their products or services free of charge to a select number of recipients. You can run such ads both in paid or organic ways. These ads are designed to create buzz, increase brand awareness, and drive high levels of engagement.

For instance, a skincare brand might offer a giveaway ad promoting their new range of organic face creams. This ad may invite users to ‘Like’, ‘Share’, and ‘Comment’ for a chance to win a free product. Such a strategy not only boosts social interaction but also expands the brand’s visibility across multiple networks, each time the post is shared.

Another example could be a local restaurant offering a free dinner for two. This giveaway ad might ask Facebook users to ‘Tag a Friend’ they would like to dine with and ‘Share’ the post on their timeline. 

This method essentially turns the engaged users into brand ambassadors, promoting the restaurant in their social circles, hence, increasing the chances of attracting new customers.

Benefits of Running Giveaway Ads on Facebook


Let’s know all the benefits of running Facebook Giveaway ads.

Increased Brand Awareness

Running a giveaway ad on Facebook is a proven way to enhance brand awareness. For example, when users enter your giveaway by ‘Liking’ or ‘Sharing’ your post, they are essentially broadcasting your brand message to their own Facebook networks. This widens your brand’s reach and enhances visibility among potential customers. 

Large Audience Reach

With over 2.85 billion monthly active users, Facebook provides an enormous platform to reach a large audience for your giveaway ad. 

Furthermore, with Facebook’s advanced targeting options, you can specifically target your desired demographic and increase the chances of reaching potential customers who are more likely to engage with your brand.

Higher Engagement

Giveaway ads often require users to interact with the ad in some way – be it through ‘Liking’, ‘Commenting’, ‘Sharing’, or ‘Tagging’. This results in a higher level of user engagement compared to traditional ads. 

For instance, a local bookstore running a giveaway for a newly released novel might see increased engagement if they ask users to comment on their favorite fiction genre.

Increased User-Generated Content

Giveaway ads can act as an avenue to collect user-generated content. For instance, a clothing brand running a giveaway might ask participants to post a picture of them wearing the brand’s clothing and use a specific hashtag. This not only promotes the brand but also provides them with valuable user-generated content that can be used in future marketing efforts.

Building Email List

Many businesses use giveaway ads to build their email lists. By making ‘Entering the Email ID’ a requirement for entering the giveaway, businesses can collect email addresses of potential customers. This can be a valuable asset for email marketing efforts, ultimately leading to more conversions.

Customer Acquisition and Retention

Giveaway ads can help businesses attract new customers and retain the existing ones. For example, a restaurant offering a free ‘Dinner for Two’ not only attracts new customers who might want to try their offerings but also encourages repeat visits from existing customers.

These benefits make running giveaway ads on Facebook a viable and potentially rewarding marketing strategy for businesses of all sizes and across various industries.

Can You Run Paid Ads on Facebook For Giveaway Promotion?


Yes, Facebook allows businesses to run paid ads for giveaway promotions. As a matter of fact, Facebook has its own rules and regulations in place that need to be adhered to while running such ads.

According to Facebook, “Promotions like contests, giveaways, and sweepstakes on Facebook monetization products must follow the relevant Facebook and Meta policies. These include all the Terms of Service, Community Standards, Partner Monetization, Content Monetization policies, and product terms of service.”

You must read and adhere to all applicable Facebook and Meta policies for your specific giveaway ad. It is your responsibility to ensure that your ad compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Failure to comply with these policies may result in your ad being rejected or your account being suspended.

Following all the rules, you can boost your giveaway promotion with paid ads and reach a larger audience, increase engagement, and ultimately, drive more conversions.

Remember that running a giveaway or sweepstakes that requires an entry fee or payments is not permitted. Additionally, asking entrants to share your giveaway on their personal timeline or with their friends as a means of entry is also prohibited. Any actions involving personal timelines or friend connections are strictly against the rules.

Read also: 33 Best Facebook Contest Ideas

How to Run Giveaway Ads on Facebook: An Ultimate Guideline


Now you know that, you can run Facebook ads for giveaway. And to make your ads successful, follow the below-mentioned steps:

#1. Understand Facebook Guideline:

Before launching your Facebook giveaway, it’s crucial to understand Facebook’s policies and guidelines for promotions. These guidelines are designed to protect both parties—the brand conducting the giveaway and the users entering the contest. Here’s what you need to know:

Respect Facebook’s Terms and Conditions

Ensure your giveaway doesn’t violate Facebook’s Terms of Service or Community Standards. This includes rules against hate speech, violence and graphic content, and spam.

Clearly State the Rules

Your giveaway post must clearly state that it is not sponsored, endorsed by, or associated with Facebook. You also need to include all the necessary rules for your giveaway, such as who is eligible to enter, how to enter, the closing date, and how the winner will be chosen and notified.

No Entry Fees

Facebook strictly prohibits requiring entry fees or other forms of payment to enter or increase chances of winning in the giveaway.

No Personal Timelines or Friend Connections

Using personal timelines and friend connections to administer promotions is not allowed. For instance, you can’t ask entrants to share your giveaway on their personal timelines or tagging their friends as a means of entry.

Follow Local Laws

Remember, you are responsible for running the promotion in compliance with all applicable laws. Ensure your giveaway meets the legal requirements of your country or state, including any age or residency restrictions.

Understanding and following these guidelines will help ensure your Facebook giveaway runs smoothly and successfully, reaching a wide audience without violating any rules.

#2. Set Your Goal

Once you have clear knowledge of Facebook’s guidelines, it’s time to set your goal. What do you hope to achieve with this giveaway? Are you looking to increase page likes, drive website traffic, or boost product awareness?

Perhaps you want to encourage user-generated content or collect email addresses for your newsletter. Identifying your goal at the outset will guide every decision you make, from the prize you offer to how you promote your giveaway. This will ensure that your giveaway is designed to deliver the specific results you’re looking for.

For instance, if your goal is to increase page likes, consider a simple giveaway where users are required to ‘like’ your page and the post to enter. If you’re aiming to increase website traffic, you might ask users to visit your site and answer a question about one of your products or services to enter.

If your goal is to boost product awareness, you could ask participants to share a photo or a post about your product. Always remember, your giveaway should align with your overall business goals, while providing valuable and engaging content for your audience.

#3. Plan Your Giveaway Ad

Whether you plan an organic giveaway promotion or paid ads, you must have a plan.

Paid Giveaway Ads

Paid giveaway ads are an effective way to extend the reach of your promotion beyond your existing followers. With Facebook’s robust targeting capabilities, you can ensure your ads reach the right people at the right time. When creating a paid ad for your giveaway, consider the following:

  • Ad Creative: Your ad should be visually appealing and include a compelling copy that clearly explains what the giveaway is and how to enter. High-quality images or video can significantly improve engagement.
  • Targeting: Use Facebook’s audience targeting tools to define who should see your ad. This might be based on demographics, interests, or behaviors.
  • Budget and Schedule: Set a budget for your ad campaign, and schedule it to run during the period of your giveaway. Remember, Facebook ads operate on a bidding system, so your budget will influence how often your ad is shown.
  • Call to Action: Encourage users to participate in your giveaway using a clear and compelling call to action.

[In later discussion, you will learn more about running paid giveaway ads on Facebook]

Non-Paid Giveaway Ads

Non-paid, or organic, giveaway ads rely on your existing followers and their networks to spread the word about your promotion. Here are some tips for maximizing the reach of your organic giveaway ad:

  • Engaging Content: Similar to a paid ad, organic posts should include high-quality visuals and engaging copy.
  • Encourage Sharing: While Facebook’s guidelines prohibit requiring users to share your giveaway on their personal timeline or with their friends as a means of entry, you can still encourage participants to share your post organically.
  • Utilize Your Network: Share your giveaway on your other social media platforms, and ask partners, employees, or influencers in your network to do the same.
  • Regular Updates: Keep the excitement going by regularly updating your followers about the giveaway. Remind them of the closing date, and share posts about the prize to keep the giveaway top of mind.

Whether you choose to run paid or non-paid ads for your giveaway, remember that the key to a successful giveaway lies in providing value to your participants and aligning the giveaway with the interests and needs of your target audience.

#4. Set the Giveaway Rules

Setting the rules for your giveaway is a crucial step. This not only provides clarity for your participants but also helps avoid any potential confusion or disputes down the line. Here’s what you need to consider:

Eligibility Criteria:

Specify who can enter. This could be based on age, location, and any other relevant factors. For example, “Open to US residents aged 18 and over.”

Entry Method:

Clearly explain how people can enter. This might involve liking a post, leaving a comment, signing up for a newsletter, or any combination of actions. For instance, “Enter by liking this post and signing up for our newsletter.”

Deadline:

Specify when the giveaway starts and ends, down to the time and timezone. For example, “The giveaway starts on June 1 at 9:00 AM ET and ends on June 7 at 5:00 PM ET.”

Read also: How long should a giveaway last?

Prizes:

Clearly describe the prize(s) and the value of each. If there are any conditions attached to the prize (e.g., it’s non-transferable or can’t be exchanged for cash), state this clearly.

Winner Selection and Notification:

State how you’ll choose the winner (e.g., randomly or based on certain criteria) and how and when they will be notified. Also, explain how they can claim their prize.

Privacy:

Assure entrants that you will respect their privacy. Explain how you will use any data collected during the giveaway, and make sure to comply with all relevant data protection regulations.

Remember, your giveaway rules should be easy to find and understand. You might choose to include a brief summary in your giveaway post, with a link to the full rules. This will make it easy for participants to find the information they need and help ensure your giveaway runs smoothly.

#4. Choose Your Prize Wisely

The prize you offer for your giveaway is a crucial element in attracting and engaging users. Consider what would motivate your target audience to enter and choose a prize that aligns with their interests. Some ideas for prizes include:

Product or Service:

Offer one of your own products or services as the prize. This can be an effective way to showcase your offerings and potentially bring in new customers.

Gift Card:

A gift card to your business or a popular retailer can be an enticing prize for many people.

Collaboration with Another Business:

Partner with another business to offer a joint prize. This can help expand your reach and attract participants who may not be familiar with your brand yet.

Unique Experience:

Consider offering an exclusive experience, such as a behind-the-scenes tour or a meet and greet with a celebrity or influencer.

Keep the prize relevant to your brand and audience, and ensure it’s something that will generate excitement and interest. Additionally, make sure you have the resources and logistics in place to deliver the prize to the winner promptly.

Read also: Contest prize ideas for work

#5. Promote Your Giveaway

Effective promotion is key to maximizing the success of your giveaway. The more visibility your giveaway receives, the higher the number of participants you are likely to attract. Below are some strategies to effectively promote your giveaway:

Social Media:

Use all your social media platforms to promote your giveaway. Regularly update your posts, stories, and even profile pictures or cover photos to spread the word about your giveaway. You can also use relevant hashtags to increase visibility.

Email Marketing:

Send out an email blast to your existing customer base about the giveaway. Include details about the prize, how to enter, and the deadline for entries.

Website and Blog:

Highlight your giveaway on your website’s homepage or as a pop-up. If you have a blog, write a post about the giveaway, detailing the reasons behind it, the rules for participation, and the prize.

Collaborations and Partnerships:

Collaborate with influencers or partner with other businesses to cross-promote the giveaway. This can help you reach a wider audience.

Press Release:

If your giveaway has a significant prize or unique aspect, consider drafting a press release. Media coverage can greatly expand the reach of your giveaway, attracting more entries.

Boost Your Giveaway Ad:

If you choose to run a paid ad, consider using Facebook’s “Boost” feature to increase the reach of your post and target specific audiences.

#6. Monitor and Follow Up

Once your giveaway is live, it’s essential to monitor its progress and follow up with participants. This not only helps you track the success of your giveaway but also allows you to engage with potential customers and build brand loyalty. Here are some tips for monitoring and following up:

Track Entries:

Keep track of the number of entries you receive throughout the duration of the giveaway. This can help you gauge its success and make any necessary adjustments for future giveaways.

Engage with Participants:

Respond to comments, questions, and feedback from participants. This shows that you value their engagement and can increase brand trust and loyalty.

Read also: How to get engagement on Facebook?

Announce the Winner:

Once the giveaway has ended, publicly announce the winner on your social media platforms, website, or blog. This not only gives closure to the giveaway but also generates excitement and interest for future promotions.

Follow Up with Participants:

Consider sending a follow-up email to all participants, thanking them for entering and informing them about upcoming promotions or offers.

Additional Guideline to Run Paid Giveaway Ads on Facebook


How to run paid Giveaway ads on Facebook? Here is additional guideline if you want to run paid Facebook giveaway ads for maximum reach.

Step 1: Visit Facebook Ads Manager

First, navigate to the Facebook Ads Manager. You’ll need to be logged into your Facebook account that has administrative permissions for the page you want to advertise on.

Step 2: Click on ‘Create’

Once you are in the Ads Manager, click on the ‘Create’ button. This will start a new ad campaign.

Step 3: Choose Campaign Objective

You’ll be prompted to choose a campaign objective. For giveaway ads, ‘Engagement’ would be the most suitable objective as it encourages interactions such as likes, comments, and shares.

Step 4: Set Up Ad Set

Next, you’ll set up your ‘Ad Set’. Here, you can define your target audience, placements (where you want your ads to be shown), and budget and schedule for your ad campaign.

Step 5: Design Your Ad

In the final step, you’ll design your ad. You can choose the format of your ad (e.g., single image, video, carousel, etc.), upload your media, and write your ad copy. Make sure to include all details about the giveaway in the ad copy.

Step 6: Review and Publish

Review your ad for any errors or improvements. Once you’re satisfied, click ‘Publish’. Your ad will be reviewed by Facebook before it goes live.

Remember to monitor your ad’s performance regularly and make necessary adjustments to maximize your giveaway reach.

Check out the below tutorial video on creating Facebook Ads.

Facebook’s Guidelines for Administering Giveaway Promotions


If you’re thinking about running a giveaway promotion on Facebook, understand Facebook’s guidelines and rules surrounding these types of promotions. Here’s what you need to know:

Responsibility of the Promoter: 

If you use Facebook to administer a promotion-

  • you are responsible for making sure the promotion operates lawfully. This includes defining the official rules, eligibility requirements, and prize regulations. 
  • You must also comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing the promotion.

Promotion Content Requirements: 

All promotions on Facebook must include two specific elements. 

  • Require each entrant or participant to completely release Facebook from any and all liability connected with the promotion. 
  • Acknowledge that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook.

Promotion Administration: 

Facebook allows promotions to be administered on Pages, Groups, Events, or within apps. However, you cannot use personal timelines or friend connections to run promotions. This includes activities like “share on your Timeline to enter” or “tag your friends in this post to enter.”

Assumption of Risk: 

Facebook will not offer any assistance whatsoever in the administration of your promotion. This means that if you use Facebook to run your promotion, you do so entirely at your own risk.

Limitations to Subscriptions or Stars Products: 

If you choose to run a giveaway promotion using a Subscription or Stars product, you can not-

  • Limit entry to paid subscribers. 
  • Require someone to purchase anything or offer anything of value in order to enter a promotion.

FAQs on Running Giveaway Ads on Facebook


How to write a giveaway ad copy for Facebook?

When writing a giveaway ad copy for Facebook, include all necessary information about the giveaway, such as the prize, how to enter, deadline for entries, and any rules or restrictions. It’s also helpful to use attention-grabbing language and visuals to make your ad stand out.

Also, consider using persuasive techniques like scarcity or exclusivity to entice more participants.

Here is an example of an effective giveaway ad copy for Facebook:

🎉 GIVEAWAY ALERT 🎉

Enter now for a chance to win our exclusive new product! Simply like this post, tag 3 friends in the comments, and follow our page to enter. Hurry, giveaway ends on [deadline date]! Don’t miss out on this limited-time opportunity. Good luck! 🍀

#giveaway #contest #win

Read also: How to write Instagram giveaway post caption?

How much should I spend on a Facebook giveaway ad?

The amount you should spend on a Facebook giveaway ad will depend on your budget and the reach and engagement you want to achieve. It’s recommended to start with a small budget (e.g., $20-$50) and monitor its performance before increasing the budget for future ads.

Plus, consider using Facebook’s “Boost” feature to reach a larger audience within your budget.

How long should I run my Facebook giveaway ad?

The duration of your Facebook giveaway ad will depend on the deadline for entries and the timeframe that you want to promote it. It’s recommended to run the ad for at least 1-2 weeks to give enough time for potential participants to see and enter the giveaway.

Can I target a specific audience for my Facebook giveaway ad?

Yes, you can target a specific audience for your Facebook giveaway ad. In the ‘Ad Set’ section of Ads Manager, you can define your target audience based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and connections. This targeting allows you to reach a more relevant audience for your giveaway and increase the chances of engagement and conversions. 

Additionally, you can also use retargeting to show the ad to people who have previously interacted with your brand or shown interest in similar products or services.

Should I boost my Facebook giveaway ad?

Boosting your Facebook giveaway ad is an effective way to reach a larger audience within your budget. By boosting, you can specify the audience, duration, and budget for your ad to be shown to more people on Facebook and Instagram.

However, regularly monitor and adjust the boosted ad’s performance to ensure that it is reaching the desired audience and generating engagement. 

Overall, boosting can be a valuable tool for maximizing reach and conversions for your giveaway ad. So, it’s worth considering.

Which hashtags are best for running giveaways on Facebook?

When choosing hashtags for your Facebook giveaway ad, it’s essential to use relevant and popular ones that will help your ad reach a wider audience. Some of the most effective hashtags for giveaways on Facebook include #giveaway, #giveaways, #contest, #win, #sweepstakes, and specific hashtags related to your brand or product.

Additionally, you can create a unique hashtag for your giveaway and encourage participants to use it in their posts and shares for more visibility. This tactic can also help you track entries and measure the success of your giveaway campaign.

Conclusion

Now you have a complete guideline on running giveaway ads on Facebook. Either you choose paid ads or organic reach, make sure to follow the tips and strategies mentioned above for a successful giveaway campaign.

Remember, giveaways are not only an opportunity to attract potential customers but also a chance to engage with your existing audience and build brand loyalty. Use it wisely and creatively.

Julia Nancy
Julia Nancy

I have vast experience arranging online voting contests for hundreds of clients worldwide in the last 8 years. I also helped countless clients to win their online competitions. Here, on royalvotes.com, I am just sharing knowledge from my experiences. If you need any help regarding the online contest, email me at julia@royalvotes.com