Internet Advertising & the Federal Trade Commission Issues: What Every Website Owner Should Know

In a competitive industry, you may be wondering how best to promote your products and services. While marketing and advertising provide the best option to improve the look and revenue of your business, many business owners struggle to determine where to place their advertising and marketing dollars in addition to concerns over portraying a credible image.

If you are considering advertising and marketing needs for your company, it is important to look at how the Federal Trade Commission, FTC, has continuously committed to monitoring advertising claims. In doing so, the FTC commonly looks to companies advertising claims, addressing both implied and expressed claims, to ensure the claim is credible and in-line with consumer beliefs. In other words, it is the goal of the FTC to eliminate those advertising or marketing efforts that make claims that may be deceptive, unfair or in violation of any federal guidelines.

For your business you may be opting to utilize a website as a way to promote and advertise your products and services. While your website may be well designed, it will not be found by many consumers unless you market and advertise that website appropriately. To optimize your website’s advertisement, the information must not only be accurate within the company website, but must also be informative.

Consumers frequently use the internet to gather information, make decisions and even to develop impressions. With the advance in social marketing movements, your website can be further enhanced through networking promotions. One of the aspects, therefore, of your advertising and marketing design should not only be the look and feel of your website, but also to develop the information within to provide the consumer with the most accurate information in a user-friendly format.

Keeping this in mind, it is important to never over-state your information on the company website. Because the Federal Trade Commission is closely monitoring the advertisement and marketing of company websites, even a claim on your company page that is deemed unfair or deceptive, may result in long-term ramification with your company and the FTC.

To ensure your company website is optimized to the best possible search engine result, and to provide some guidance in advertising within the Federal Trade Commission guidelines, it is important to consider an SEO or SEM company for your website development. While there is a cost associated with the use of a company that optimizes your website and develops a marketing plan, this company can provide the guidance you may need to prevent FTC inquiries in the future.