How to Do a Blog Giveaway Legally

How to Do a Blog Giveaway Legally

To ensure that your blog giveaway is fair and legal, consider the following steps:

1. Understand the Basics of Giveaways

A blog giveaway is a promotion where you ask your readers to sign up for your email list, in return for the opportunity to win a prize. The prize can be a physical product or a digital one. To ensure your giveaway is legal, you must follow the guidelines set out by the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).

These guidelines state that you must clearly state that your giveaway is sponsored, and that you may not require your audience to make any purchase in order to enter. The prize should be valued at no more than $50 in total value. Any entry methods, including social media, should be clearly explained. Any third-party sponsors should also be clearly stated.

2. Ensure Your Giveaway is Legally Compliant

Before launching your giveaway, ensure that it complies with the rules set out by the FTC. The rules apply not only to physical products, but also to digital ones. For example, if you’re giving away e-books, make sure they’re yours to give away, and that you have the rights to do so.

Additionally, ensure that you have the rights to use any images or videos that you may include in your giveaway, and that you have the permission of any third-party sponsors to use their branding in your giveaway.

3. Have a Clear Entry Method

Your giveaway should have a clear method of entry, which should be easy for your audience to understand. This could be a form on your blog, or a link to an entry page hosted on a third-party site. The method should be easy to follow, and the prize should be clearly described.

The entry method should also be clearly explained. For example, if your giveaway is hosted on social media, you should state that entrants must follow your blog before entering, and you should provide the URL of the page where entrants can follow your blog.

4. Have a Clear Prize Description

Your giveaway should have a clear prize description, which should be no more than 200 words. This description should include the value of the prize, any restrictions or conditions, and any branding that should be included on the prize.

The prize description should also include any shipping information, including the shipping address, and any taxes or duties that may be charged.

5. Have a Clear Rules and Regulations Section

Your giveaway should have a rules and regulations section, which should state that your giveaway is sponsored, and that you may not require any purchase in order to enter. This section should also state that your giveaway is in compliance with the FTC guidelines.

The rules and regulations section should also state that entrants must be over the age of 18 to enter, and that they must have the permission of any third-party sponsors to use their branding in their giveaway.

6. Have a Clear Entry Deadline

Your giveaway should have a clear entry deadline, which should be no more than 30 days from the date of the giveaway. This deadline should be clearly stated on your blog, and you should also provide a link to your giveaway’s entry page.

The deadline should also be clearly explained, and you should also provide a link to your blog’s privacy policy.

The deadline should also be clearly explained, and you should also provide a link to your blog’s privacy policy.

7. Have a Clear Winner Announcement

Your giveaway should have a clear winner announcement, which should be no more than 200 words. This announcement should state that the winner has been notified, and should provide the winner’s name, address, and phone number.

The announcement should also state that the winner must claim their prize within 30 days of the date of the giveaway, or the prize may be forfeited.

The announcement should also state that any taxes or duties that may be charged on the prize should be the responsibility of the winner.

**References:**

1. FTC (2017) Blog Giveaways: What You Need to Know. Available at: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0067-blog-giveaways-what-you-need-know. Accessed: 23rd April 2021.
2. Felt, D. (2016) How to Run a Legitimate Blog Giveaway. Available at: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-run-a-legitimate-blog-giveaway/. Accessed: 23rd April 2021.