Having your app usage displaying as a featured story is a great marketing tool.  However, Facebook has guidelines that must be met in order for your app to be eligible for this type of promotion.  Facebook quietly unveiled the new guidelines, changing both the amount of time of required engagement and the amount of time that the activity is deemed relevant.

The previous guidelines were: A user must have used the app twice within a 28 day time period or used the app for over ten minutes on one occasion within the last 28 days.

The new guidelines are as follows:  A user must use an app for a total of 4 minutes in the last 14 days in order for the app to be deemed eligible.  Or a user can use the app twice in the last 14 days.

These are important changes for app developers and brands if they are planning to incorporate sponsored stories within their overall marketing campaign.  For non-game game based apps, even 4 minutes of use may be a lofty goal.  For these designers and brands focusing on repeat engagement may become critical.  Regardless of your design or overall marketing campaign these new guidelines should come in to consideration when building out a marketing plan and even app development.