Sweepstakes
Promoting “Singles Day” in the U.S.A.
Singles Day originated in China during the 1990’s and is still celebrated on November 11th (11/11) each year. As you can see, the date corresponds with four “ones”, representing four singles. Similar to China’s Singles Day on 11/11, the UK celebrates that day on 3/11 and the U.S.A. on 9/22…this of course is above and beyond our Singles Awareness Day on 2/15, that follows our national Valentine’s Day. According to the U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the number of single adults in our country is growing significantly, almost exponentially, from year to year. And, it has been reported that in 2017 … Continue reading
Can You Use a Coupon as a Prize?
Question: Can you offer a coupon as a prize in a sweepstakes or contest? Answer: It depends. If the coupon or voucher value covers the entire full priced item without any hidden fees (like shipping & handling, etc.) then you can offer it as a prize coupon. But if the coupon offered is for savings on a purchase, or if it does not cover the shipping and handling necessary to receive the prize, then the answer is no. The prize offered and claimed needs to cover an entire product and shipping so that the winner will not incur any expense. … Continue reading
Federal Lottery Laws Explained
According to Federal Lottery Laws, it is illegal to operate a lottery through the mail or over the telephone. Let’s begin by explaining what a lottery is…A lottery is generally defined as a promotion in which all three of the following elements are present: prize, chance and consideration (otherwise known as, the “Standard Lottery Rule”). Most states follow this Standard Lottery Rule; and all 50 states and the District of Columbia have statutes that prohibit lotteries, except those that are state-run. To avoid being classified as an illegal lottery in any State, at least one of the elements noted above … Continue reading
How Do I Run a Text to Win Sweepstakes?
A text to win sweepstakes provides your customers with a quick, easy way to enter a sweepstakes from a mobile phone. A text to win can be set up in days instead of weeks. This type of promotions is fast to enter. And it provides a way to collect minimal private, personal information if your brand is privacy focused. Here are 6 best practices to consider when running a text to win sweepstakes. 1. Obtain a Shortcode A shortcode is a short, abbreviated phone number used by mobile messaging providers. You can obtain a dedicated shortcode directly from a cellular … Continue reading
Mexico Sweepstakes Basics
Are you thinking of running a sweepstakes in Mexico? If the answer is yes, then you should note that the Mexico sweepstakes laws and regulations regarding promotions (e.g., games of chance and/or contests of skill) differ from US law and other countries. We compiled a list of frequently asked questions we typically receive regarding promotions in Mexico that should provide you with some general information during your planning stages. Is it permissible to run a game of chance in Mexico? Yes, as long as the sweepstakes and/or instant win games meet certain requirements. Contact us so we can review your … Continue reading
11 Small Business Social Promotion Ideas for the Shutdown
Small businesses, especially those considered non-essential right now, have to come up with creative ideas to retain loyal customers and ensure that they will have a business to reopen. For most small business this is definitely not “business as usual,” but rather, “business unusual” that keeps you in the black. For each of these small business social promotion ideas, please remember that each social platform has promotion guidelines that still apply and the FTC is still watching to make sure you are running your hashtag promotions legally. For Retail: Make your customers into your brand ambassadors during these challenging … Continue reading
Prize Fulfillment Considerations for Your Next Sweepstakes or Contest
Prize fulfillment is the part of the sweepstakes or contest that consumers may love the best, but for the promotion administrator there is a lot more involved than putting a prize in the mail. Here are 6 things to consider when putting together a plan for prize fulfillment for your next sweepstakes, contest or instant win game. 1. Prize sourcing Giving away the latest goods, services, and experiences takes planning — and potentially lots of vendors and contacts, especially if an item is hard to find or in high demand. Cars given as prizes need to be sourced locally … Continue reading
Use Unique Codes for Your Next Instant Win or Sweepstakes
Use unique codes can enhance your next sweepstakes, giveaway, or instant win game. With unique codes incorporated into your promotion you can: Provide tracking of entrants back to a region or store. Give your sales team a specific range of codes that can be tracked back to their sales, which can give you the opportunity to reward the highest producers. Pinpoint game participation to a specific geographic area. Determine which products are the biggest drivers in the promotion. Unique codes on printed game pieces given out at stores or on products, or obtained online or via email, can be … Continue reading
McMillion$ and the Importance of Instant Win Game Security
If you aren’t sure why instant win game security is that big of a deal, you might want to watch the new HBO docuseries called “McMillion$”. It details the strange, and almost unbelievable, true story of how an employee at a promotional marketing company called Simon Marketing, a former competitor of Marden-Kane’s, committed fraud in the McDonald’s Monopoly games between 1989 and 2001, bilking McDonald’s and their customers out of $24,000,000 in prizes. The first episode of a six-part HBO documentary series aired on Monday, February 3, 2020. When the story of the McDonald’s fraud case first broke in 2001, … Continue reading
How to Run a Legal Scavenger Hunt
Ever thought about running a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt as part of your brand’s marketing efforts? A legal scavenger hunt is the way to engage your loyal customers and offer a fun, immersive experience. Depending on the level of skill involved in your scavenger hunt, the promotion may be deemed a contest (skill-based) or a sweepstakes (game of chance). Either way, you will want to have a full set of legal, official rules in place to govern the promotion to cover all possibilities – such as what the tie-breaker would be if two people found the treasure at … Continue reading
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