Which contest projects do we decline?
We decline five kinds of project. The reasons are about what an honest promotion can and cannot touch, not about taste.
| Project type | Why we decline | What we can offer |
|---|---|---|
| Rules forbid outside promotion | Ads or outreach would put your entry at risk of removal | A written read of the rule and, if the organizer clarifies it, a new look |
| Political campaigns | Advertising rules differ by country and platform and need specialist approval | A pointer to what to ask a specialist |
| Lotteries and gambling | Entry by stake or chance falls outside a vote-based promotion | A clear no at the start, so you can look for a specialist |
| Minors without parental consent | A child's entry and image cannot be promoted without a guardian's agreement | A consent route, then a normal plan |
| Requests for automated or purchased votes | We never use them | The white-hat plan instead |
The common thread is simple. We are paid to bring people to your entry, and every item above is a case where that either breaks a rule or needs something we do not do. Our no-bots policy covers the last row in detail.
How can you tell whether the contest rules forbid outside promotion?
Read the rules for wording about promotion, soliciting, canvassing, paid advertising or outside campaigning, and then ask the organizer to confirm in writing. The text decides, not what other entrants are doing.
What to look for
- Phrases such as entrants may not solicit votes, or promotion is limited to the organizer's own channels.
- A line that bans paid advertising while still allowing you to share the link with friends.
- A rule that disqualifies entries whose votes arrive in a pattern the organizer considers unusual.
- Terms that cover only certain platforms or certain periods of the contest.
How we decide
A full ban on outside promotion is a decline. A ban on paid ads alone leaves room for organic and consent-based outreach, and we can plan that. When the wording is unclear, we draft a short question for you to send to the organizer and wait for the answer. A reply that arrives in writing changes the outcome, and you are welcome to come back.
The rules and risk check on WhatsApp starts this review, and the consulting service goes deeper when the contest is large.
Why do political, lottery and gambling projects stay off our list?
Political and gambling-related promotion sits under advertising rules that vary by country and by platform, and often requires approvals that an agency like ours cannot give. Our model is paid ads, creative, outreach and consulting for contest entries. It does not fit.
Political campaigns
A contest or poll that serves a campaign for office, a party or a ballot measure brings strict ad-account requirements. We decline these, including polls that are presented as contests but exist to move opinion.
Lotteries and gambling
If entry depends on a stake, a purchase tied to a draw or chance, or a gambling brand, we decline. Skill-based public votes are a different thing, and we can look at borderline cases in the analysis. When it is unclear which side a project falls on, we tell you what we read in the rules and where we draw the line.
In each case the reply names the reason. If another type of project from the same organizer fits, such as a photo contest run by a charity, we are glad to look at that one. See our contest marketing overview for what we do take.
When can we work on contests with children, and when not?
We can work on youth, school, pet and beauty contests when a parent or guardian has agreed to the entry and to the promotion, and when each platform's age and privacy rules are followed. Without that agreement, we decline.
What we ask to see
- A written agreement from the parent or guardian covering the entry and the planned promotion.
- Confirmation of which photos or clips may be used in ads, and where.
- Confirmation that the organizer allows promotion of entries by the family.
What we will not do
We will not run ads that target children, and we will not use a child's image in creative without the agreement above. If a parent changes their mind, the material comes down. These conditions shape the whole plan, as described on the page for kids, pets and school contests.
If consent cannot be shown, the answer is a decline, and we explain which document would change it.
What do you get when we say no?
You get a written reason, quickly, at no cost. The analysis is free, so declining costs neither of us anything except an hour.
A decline message contains three parts: the exact rule or policy behind the answer, what would change it if anything, and what you can still do on your own, such as asking the organizer a specific question. Where an honest alternative exists, we name it. For example, when paid ads are banned but sharing is allowed, we describe an organic plan.
We do not pass declined work to another agency, and we do not suggest tactics we would not run ourselves.
If your project is not on this list, send it. The free contest analysis takes the contest link, the rules, your entry link, the deadline and your goal. Our process page shows what happens next when the answer is yes.
Frequently asked questions
What if I am not sure whether my contest's rules allow promotion?
Send us the link and the rules. We read them for wording about soliciting, canvassing, paid advertising and outside campaigning, and tell you what we found. If the text is unclear, we help you word a question to the organizer. The read is part of the free analysis.
Do you decline small contests or only large ones?
Size does not decide anything. A neighbourhood poll and a national award are judged by the same questions: do the rules allow outside promotion, is anyone under the age of majority involved, and does the project need anything we never do.
Can I come back if the organizer changes the rules?
Yes. If the organizer confirms in writing that outside promotion is allowed, or removes a ban, send the new text. We read it again and tell you whether the answer has changed. There is no penalty for asking twice.
Why do you decline instead of finding a workaround?
Because a workaround is how entries get removed. If a rule forbids what the plan needs, the honest options are to change the plan, ask the organizer or walk away, and we will help with the first two.
Do you decline crypto and Web3 contests?
No. Crypto and Web3 contests are in scope, including hackathons, grants and community awards, provided the rules allow outside promotion. We avoid any talk of token price, profit or returns.
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.
Loading the form…