Facebook has just released it’s Promotions Guidelines that detail how and where you can use contests, sweepstakes and promotions on your Facebook Profile and Fan Page.  In a nutshell,  Facebook has put the brakes on doing any of these without prior written approval and I’m thinking that’s not going to be easy to obtain.

Here are a few of the highlights of the new guidelines:

• You can’t promote any contest, competition or sweepstakes that require people to become a Fan of your Page to be entered
• You can’t use Facebook Fan Pages, your profile, chat, or messages to notify winners of any contests you administer
• You can’t require content on Facebook as a condition for entry in any sweepstakes or contest
• You can use third-party applications for entry into contests when content is required
• You can allow your Page Fans to access a Tab on your Page that contains the third-party application
• You can use a third-party application to collect an email address or mailing address in order to contact the winner of a contest

To fully understand these guidelines, how they effect your Facebook accounts and learn how not to be an “offender” you should print them and keep them handy.  Click here Facebook Promotions Guidelines to review all the details.