Category: Consultation

What Should Be Required for a Sweepstakes Entry?

This post covering what information should be required for a sweepstakes entry was contributed by Cheryl Thornton, Account Director. We have written about data collection in a past article, but since this is a major concern for both Sponsors and consumers alike, we wanted to discuss the topic further. Before the recent issues of privacy concerns and new privacy regulations, the required standard information – also known as “PII”, or

October 10, 2017 No Comments

Win Experiential Marketing with Legal Giveaways

Experiential Marketing is all about brands creating exciting or memorable experiences for their customer, or potential customers, in order to increase brand affinity. These experiences can be in the form of a limited mini-experience like a meet and greet or surprise freebie in-store, or part of a larger event such as a branded booth at a big sporting event, or even as a large event where the brand is

October 9, 2017 No Comments

Official Rules vs. Terms and Conditions: A Guide to Help You Choose Correctly!

EVP Fae Savignano contributed this post on Official Rules vs Terms and Conditions. Promotional Marketing can be a key element in promoting your brand, product and/or service through various forms of on and off line publicity and advertising tactics. When executed properly, promotions can increase sales, brand awareness and consumer engagement. All of which are positive reinforcements why promotions are still and will always be a relevant marketing tool.

September 6, 2017 2 Comments

Running a Swiss Contest: Swiss-US Privacy Shield Required

Marden-Kane, Inc. became listed with the Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework on April 18, 2017, becoming the first promotional marketing company to meet Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield requirements after applications were opened on April 12, 2017. The Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework was designed by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Swiss Administration to provide companies a way to comply with data protection requirements when transferring personal data from Switzerland to the

April 27, 2017 No Comments

Regulated Industries and Sweepstakes

Some regulated industries require special disclosures and/or have special legal requirements for running sweepstakes. These regulated industries include alcohol, tobacco, gasoline, firearms, dairy, banking, pharmaceuticals, and cause-related marketing. It is absolutely essential to know the laws of these industries, or partner with a promotional marketing firm who works with legal counsel who is familiar with these laws, before undertaking a contest or sweepstakes. Here are some basics to be

April 14, 2017 No Comments

Social Contests and Sweepstakes: Favorite (and Least Favorite) Platforms to Use

Social contests and sweepstakes are currently the most popular tactic that we are seeing our clients use to increase brand awareness and reach. The Marden-Kane team has some strong ideas on what social platforms work, and which ones can cause headaches. We compiled this list of pros and cons to use when evaluating social platforms for your brand’s next social promotion. Remember: If you are thinking of running social

April 4, 2017 No Comments

Running a Puerto Rico Sweepstakes

Account Coordinator Lindsey McLaughlin contributed to this post to help us better understand how easy it is to run a Puerto Rico sweepstakes! Legal restrictions used to keep companies from running a sweepstakes in Puerto Rico. However, in 2009 Puerto Rico lifted their tedious sweepstakes requirements, which now makes it easier to include them when running a promotion. Here is what you need to know to make a Puerto

March 31, 2017 No Comments

Conducting a Background Check on a Winner — Is It Necessary?

This week’s blog on running a background check was contributed by one of our Account Supervisors, Cheryl Thornton. From time to time the topic of running a background check on a winner is discussed with our clients. There are number of factors to consider before determining if a background check is applicable for a promotion. We guide our clients by asking what their goals or needs are, along with

March 24, 2017 2 Comments

20 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Contest Vendor

Before hiring a contest vendor you should ask lots of questions. Not all vendors are created equal. Some may be technically proficient but lack legal expertise. Some have the legal credentials but can’t build a web site or do registration and bonding. Here are twenty questions you should be asking before you select your contest vendor: How well do they know sweepstakes law and advertising and mobile? A top

March 10, 2017 No Comments

What is Contest Collusion?

Contest collusion is a term used in conjunction with scams or fraudulent promotions or promotion activity. Here is the definition of collusion. Contest collusion by a brand could occur if a contest is rigged by a sponsor so that winners are selected based on something other than actual entry criteria. Other examples might include not selecting a winner at random, or allowing people to enter and win who either work for

January 27, 2017 3 Comments