How to Run a Facebook Timeline Contest

Facebook allows businesses to run contests directly on their Page’s timeline, but this comes with trade-offs, including no automatic entry tracking, limited actions, and no built-in email capture.

Running contests through an app like Gleam helps overcome these limitations. It gives you proper tracking, ensures compliance, and makes it easier to collect leads so you retain control over your campaign data.

Running a contest directly on your Facebook timeline is easy and free, aside from the cost of the prize. However, Facebook’s rules severely limit how users can enter, which makes it difficult to track engagement or collect meaningful data.

On Facebook, you are generally limited to comment-to-enter contests because:

• Liking a post cannot be a requirement
• Sharing a post cannot be required
• Tagging friends cannot be required
• Reactions sit in a grey area
• Actions like newsletter signups or website visits require manual tracking

At scale, manual validation quickly becomes impractical.

Using Gleam alongside a Facebook timeline contest allows you to:

• Collect email addresses and grow your marketing list
• Track and verify entries automatically
• Pick winners fairly using transparent, random selection tools
• Encourage actions across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and more
• Increase reach using Gleam’s viral sharing features
• Use secret codes to unlock bonus entries

Gleam secret codes are especially effective when announced in Facebook posts, stories, or comments to drive repeat engagement.

1. Create a Facebook contest post with clear instructions and a strong visual
2. Link directly to your Gleam campaign for entry and validation
3. Use Gleam’s entry form to collect emails and offer bonus actions
4. Promote your contest using Facebook ads, social posts, and email
5. Pick a winner using Gleam’s random draw tools
6. Notify winners via email to avoid Facebook inbox issues
7. Announce the winner publicly on your Page to maintain trust

To get started quickly, you can use the following template:

• Run contests regularly to keep your audience engaged
• Use prompts that encourage creativity or discussion
• Guide users toward owned channels like email or your website
• Follow Facebook’s promotional rules and community guidelines
• Clearly explain eligibility, timing, and winner selection

Once your contest ends, the value does not stop. Entries can be reused across social media, landing pages, and galleries to extend the lifespan of your campaign.

User-generated content helps build trust, reinforces social proof, and provides authentic material you can reuse in future promotions.

Running contests directly on your Facebook timeline is a simple way to drive engagement, but it comes with limitations. Gleam helps you track entries, collect valuable data, and encourage actions beyond Facebook itself.

Whether your goal is growing an email list, increasing brand awareness, or boosting engagement, Gleam gives you the structure and flexibility to get more long-term value from every timeline contest.