The Legal Issues That Could Arise in Social Media Marketing
Deceptive Online Advertising
Just because social media is a newer world doesn’t indicate the old rules have vanished. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations apply online just as much as they do for television and radio ads. Make sure each promotion or advertising campaign you run is precisely explained. An FTC complaint can really affect your ability to work.
Copyright and Trademark Matters
You likely already know that you can’t use trademarked or copyrighted material in running your enterprise. Sadly, some business owners fail to realize that this extends to social media as well. Just because you find an ideal image to use on your blog doesn’t suggest you are allowed to use it.
The truth is, some photographers and artists use reverse search engines just to see if others have used their work without consent. If they find your blog using it, they could opt to sue you. Stick to public domain sites when finding content to supplement your own content.
Social Media Competitions
Social media contests can be a complicated area. Facebook and other sites have rules governing the contests, but they tend not to often make a big deal when organizations conduct one. You should be more focused on state laws. If you hold a raffle where people pay for tickets, for instance, you might need to have it authorized by the state. You can even get in trouble with a state’s attorney general if you’re not clear about sweepstakes rules. Be sure to know the laws in your locality.
Social media is an exciting spot, but it holds many of the same challenges as the offline world. Make sure you evade any potential legal liability by following the aforementioned points and knowing the laws where you live.
