{"id":4536,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:33","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/business-operations\/advertising-do-s-and-don-ts.html"},"modified":"2024-06-06T01:59:56","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T06:59:56","slug":"advertising-do-s-and-don-ts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-operations\/advertising-do-s-and-don-ts.html","title":{"rendered":"Advertising Do’s and Don’ts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Advertising Do's and Don'ts<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

According to the\u00a0Small Business Administration<\/a>\u00a0(SBA), more than 99% of all businesses are small businesses. A "small business" has fewer than 100 employees. Collectively, they have more than 48% of all workers in the United States. Small business owners must keep their businesses alive and thriving in a competitive marketplace.<\/p>\r\n

A good marketing strategy is the first place that business owners should start when bringing their product or service to consumers. Potential customers need to know what you’re selling and why they want to buy it. Many new businesses have failed because nobody knew what they offered or what made them different from the hundreds or thousands of other products on the market.<\/p>\r\n

In today’s social media marketplace, you can create high-quality advertising on a low-cost budget. You must know federal, state, and local laws about what you can promise and show in your ads. This article will review some of the "do’s and don’ts" in advertising for small businesses.<\/p>\r\n

See FindLaw’s\u00a0Marketing and Advertising Laws<\/a>\u00a0section to learn more.<\/p>\r\n

Operating Your Small Business<\/h2>\r\n

Presumably, by the time you begin your marketing efforts, you have registered your company name, applied for all necessary business licenses and permits, and filed your "Doing Business As" or "DBA" with the city or county. You need a Federal and state tax ID number if you have any employees.\u00a0Every state<\/a>\u00a0has its laws about start-up businesses and can advise you on what you need to get going.<\/p>\r\n

Small business marketing is no different than large business marketing. But your budget is smaller, and your prospective customer base is narrower. Rather than marketing to the entire world or the whole nation, you’re selling to the neighborhood or the state.<\/p>\r\n

Develop a Marketing Campaign<\/h3>\r\n

Rather than throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks, devise a targeted campaign that funnels customers into your business. If you are a brand-new business, you need to attract new customers. If you’re rebranding or offering a new product, you need to create brand awareness of your new offering.<\/p>\r\n