The first decision is whether promotion is permitted
We take on a contest entry only when its rules allow the promotion being considered. A popular entry or an approaching deadline does not override a restriction set by the organizer.
The distinction matters because contest rules can treat paid advertising, asking for votes, or sharing an entry beyond the organizer’s own channels differently. Before suggesting a channel, we read the wording available to you and identify the activities it permits. If you are unsure what the contest allows, our contest rules and risk consulting can help interpret the practical choices.
| What the rules say | How we respond |
|---|---|
| Outside promotion is prohibited | We decline promotion that would cross that boundary |
| Paid ads are restricted but other sharing is allowed | We assess whether an allowed, consent-based plan fits |
| Wording is unclear | We identify the point to clarify with the organizer |
The useful preparation is simple: save the current rules, note the exact clause that concerns you, and include any organizer response. We do not treat another entrant’s behavior as evidence that a tactic is allowed. If the organizer clarifies the rule, we can assess the updated wording rather than guess.
What do we check before giving you an answer?
We check the contest’s purpose, participation conditions, age and consent considerations, and the promotion methods the rules permit. This separates a project we can support from one that falls outside our work.
Send the contest page, its rules, your entry link, the deadline, and a short description of the promotion you have in mind. We look for the following:
- Political purpose: campaigns connected to candidates, parties, or ballot measures are declined.
- Chance or wagering: lotteries and gambling projects are outside our contest-promotion work.
- Minors: an entry involving a minor needs parental or guardian consent for the entry and planned promotion.
- Voting methods: we do not use or accept automated voting, purchased votes, bots, scripts, fake accounts, or click farms.
- Promotion restrictions: a ban on outside promotion means we cannot promote the entry through that route.
The outcome is not a judgment about the entrant. It is a decision about whether the requested work can be carried out with white-hat methods and in line with platform rules and contest rules. For a project that does fit, the contest marketing overview explains the types of promotion we consider, while contest creative and copy covers the materials that may support an allowed plan.
Can a declined contest be reviewed again?
Yes, when the facts that led to the decision change or become clearer. A different promotion plan, updated contest rules, or documented parental consent may address the original concern; simply asking for a way around a restriction does not.
For an unclear rule, ask the organizer a direct question about the specific activity you are considering. Keep the response in writing, then send it with the relevant clause. If consent is the missing item, confirm that the parent or guardian agrees to both the entry and the proposed use of its materials. For a youth-focused project, see our guidance on beauty, kids, pets and school contests.
A new review uses the updated information, not assumptions about what the organizer might accept. If the answer remains no, we explain the boundary and do not suggest another route that would have the same problem. If it becomes workable, we can discuss permitted options such as creative, paid promotion, or outreach with consent. The contest promotion process outlines how planning proceeds after a project is accepted.
What should a useful refusal tell you?
A useful refusal gives you a clear reason and tells you whether anything can be clarified or changed. During our Desk Review, we connect the decision to the rule, consent requirement, or requested method that makes the work unsuitable.
A refusal is not an invitation to disguise the same activity as something else. We do not sell votes, followers, or engagement, and we do not promise a win, a vote total, a ranking, or a particular contest result. Platform ad review, organizer decisions, voting rules, and audience response remain outside our control; we commit to the agreed work and reporting, not an outcome.
If your project may fit, prepare the contest link, entry link, complete rules, deadline, and any organizer clarification or consent information. Send those materials through the free contest analysis. We will review the actual conditions and tell you the next practical step.
Frequently asked questions
What should I send if I am unsure whether promotion is allowed?
Send the contest link, the complete rules, your entry link, and the deadline. If one clause is unclear, point it out; we can identify the specific question to put to the organizer and assess the reply when you receive it.
Can you promote a contest if only paid advertising is prohibited?
Possibly. We first check whether the rules allow another proposed method, such as sharing through a community or contacting supporters with consent. We will not treat a restriction on ads as permission for every other form of promotion.
Will you review a contest involving a child?
We can consider it when a parent or guardian has agreed to the entry and the planned promotion, and the applicable platform age and privacy rules can be followed. Include confirmation of consent and which materials may be used.
What happens if the organizer changes the rules after you decline?
Send the revised rules or the organizer’s written clarification, along with the clause that changed. We will reassess the project using that information and tell you whether the permitted scope is now different.
Free starters on WhatsApp
Pick one. It opens a prepared message so we know what you need.
Replies usually arrive within 10-30 minutes in working hours (Mon-Fri 09:00-21:00 GMT+3). We do not share your contest details.
Tell us about your contest
Answer four quick questions and we reply with a plan and the next step. The free contest analysis comes first, and any quote is confirmed in writing before work starts.
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