Category: Administration & Compliance

Can the Official Rules Be Changed After the Promotion Has Started?

Fae Savignano, EVP, wrote this post dealing with a questions we often get from our clients: Can the Official Rules be changed after the promotion has started? All promotions, such as contests, sweepstakes, instant win games, etc. must have an appropriate set of Official Rules that will govern the promotion. These “Official Rules” are referred to as the contract between the sponsor of the promotion and the entrant. And to

June 15, 2018

Why Asking Questions as Part of a Qualified Entry Sweepstakes is a Good Idea

Fae Savignano, our own EVP, explains what a qualified entry sweepstakes is, and why they could be a great part of your next brand promotion. A sweepstakes entrant may ask…Why do I need to respond to all of these extra questions just to enter a sweepstakes? Are they really required? Don’t they just need my name or email to process my entry? A sweepstakes sponsor may ask…Is it a good

May 4, 2018

What is Contest Indemnification?

What is contest indemnification and why do you need it? The dictionary definition of “indemnification” is defined as the noun for form of indemnify, and “indemnify” means that you compensate (someone) for harm or loss or secure (someone) against legal responsibility for their actions. In the contest world, indemnification can take two forms, prize indemnification and general contest indemnification. Prize indemnification is when you offer a large prize in

November 10, 2017

Win Experiential Marketing with Legal Giveaways

Experiential Marketing is all about brands creating exciting or memorable experiences for their customer, or potential customers, in order to increase brand affinity. These experiences can be in the form of a limited mini-experience like a meet and greet or surprise freebie in-store, or part of a larger event such as a branded booth at a big sporting event, or even as a large event where the brand is

October 9, 2017

Official Rules vs. Terms and Conditions: A Guide to Help You Choose Correctly!

EVP Fae Savignano contributed this post on Official Rules vs Terms and Conditions. Promotional Marketing can be a key element in promoting your brand, product and/or service through various forms of on and off line publicity and advertising tactics. When executed properly, promotions can increase sales, brand awareness and consumer engagement. All of which are positive reinforcements why promotions are still and will always be a relevant marketing tool. The

September 6, 2017

3 Tips for a Big Football Sweepstakes Score

Football season is back! Time for tailgating and weekend fun watching the pee-wee, high school, college and professional games. You might think that it would be a great time to promote your business by giving away game tickets or running a football sweepstakes. And it is! People love winning free tickets or team merchandise, especially autographed items or trips to big games. However, there are three questions to ask before

August 25, 2017

Sweepstakes Void in Florida and New York

One question we hear frequently: Why are so many sweepstakes void in Florida and New York? The answer is simple: some states require registration and bonding. Many companies either don’t want to deal with that requirement, don’t want to spend the extra money, or they have run out of time to file. We have written other posts about the registration requirements for Florida, New York and Rhode Island, as well

June 7, 2017

Regulated Industries and Sweepstakes

Some regulated industries require special disclosures and/or have special legal requirements for running sweepstakes. These regulated industries include alcohol, tobacco, gasoline, firearms, dairy, banking, pharmaceuticals, and cause-related marketing. It is absolutely essential to know the laws of these industries, or partner with a promotional marketing firm who works with legal counsel who is familiar with these laws, before undertaking a contest or sweepstakes. Here are some basics to be

April 14, 2017

Social Contests and Sweepstakes: Favorite (and Least Favorite) Platforms to Use

Social contests and sweepstakes are currently the most popular tactic that we are seeing our clients use to increase brand awareness and reach. The Marden-Kane team has some strong ideas on what social platforms work, and which ones can cause headaches. We compiled this list of pros and cons to use when evaluating social platforms for your brand’s next social promotion. Remember: If you are thinking of running social contests

April 4, 2017

Running a Puerto Rico Sweepstakes

Account Coordinator Lindsey McLaughlin contributed to this post to help us better understand how easy it is to run a Puerto Rico sweepstakes! Legal restrictions used to keep companies from running a sweepstakes in Puerto Rico. However, in 2009 Puerto Rico lifted their tedious sweepstakes requirements, which now makes it easier to include them when running a promotion. Here is what you need to know to make a Puerto Rico

March 31, 2017