When a contest project is not a fit for our team

Does the contest allow promotion beyond its own channels?

We only consider promotion when the contest rules allow it. Before discussing channels or creative, we read the rules for limits on advertising, asking for votes, sharing entry links and contacting potential supporters.

A restriction on paid ads is not necessarily the same as a ban on all outside sharing. If the wording is unclear, we help you identify the exact point to confirm with the organizer. Until there is a clear answer, we do not plan a campaign around an assumption.

When you review the rules yourself, look for:

• Restrictions on entrants asking other people to vote or share.
• Limits on who may promote an entry, and which channels they may use.
• A ban on paid promotion, even if personal sharing is allowed.
• Terms that change during a contest or apply only to certain stages.

Send the relevant rule text, not just a summary, so we can interpret the actual wording with you. If promotion is allowed only in certain ways, we can discuss a plan inside those boundaries. Our contest rules and risk consulting can help when the terms are complicated, and the contest marketing overview explains the kinds of support we provide.

Which contest formats do we turn down?

We decline political campaigns, lotteries and gambling projects, as well as contests whose rules prohibit outside promotion. These are firm boundaries for our contest work, not challenges to solve with a different promotional tactic.

A project can be described as a contest and still be a political campaign in practice. If the purpose is to support a candidate, political party or ballot campaign, we do not take it on. We also decline lottery and gambling promotion rather than trying to fit it into a standard contest plan.

We do not sell votes, followers or engagement, and we never use bots, scripts, fake accounts or click farms. We also decline requests for purchased votes or automated activity. Our no-bots policy explains the approach; for suitable entries, we use white-hat methods in line with platform rules and contest rules.

If you are unsure whether a project belongs in one of these categories, send the contest page and its rules. We will tell you what we see and whether there is a suitable way to help. For example, an award or community poll may be a fit when its rules permit outreach and the project is not a political campaign, lottery or gambling promotion.

What needs to be in place for a contest involving minors?

For a contest entry involving a minor, we need parental or guardian consent before we consider promotion. The consent needs to cover the entry and the proposed use of any photos, video or other material; platform age and privacy rules still apply.

Before asking us to review a youth contest, gather:

• Confirmation from a parent or guardian that the entry and promotion are approved.
• The specific images or clips you plan to use, and where you want to use them.
• The contest organizer's terms about sharing or promoting entries.

This gives us enough context to discuss appropriate channels and creative without guessing what the family or organizer has approved. If consent is not available, we decline the project. If it is available, we can review the entry and conditions rather than treating every youth contest as automatically eligible.

We do not plan advertising that targets children or use a child's image without the required permission. Families can read more about the scope of beauty, kids, pets and school contests. For questions about consent wording or contest terms, our rules and risk check is a practical place to start.

What happens when we review a contest request?

We check the contest rules, the entry, the proposed promotion and any consent requirements before recommending work. A useful first message includes the contest link, the rules, your entry link, the deadline and what you hope to achieve.

We then identify the relevant boundary, explain whether the project fits, and outline the next step. If a rule is unclear, we can help you frame a question for the organizer; if the project is suitable, we can discuss appropriate options such as paid promotion, creator outreach or community and email outreach.

The organizer controls how rules are interpreted and whether an entry remains eligible, while platform review and delivery are outside our control; we cannot promise a win, vote total or ranking. We commit to the agreed work and clear reporting, not to an outcome beyond our control.

If your project falls outside our scope, we will say so plainly and explain the reason. If it may fit, send the contest link and rules for a free contest analysis; we will review those materials and tell you the next step.