Free items are promotional devices used to attract customers. When a product has a free offer, the price of the pruchased product must not be increased from its regular price. Besides that, if a product is “free” or offered at a lower cost along with the purchase of another item, the advertisement must clearly disclose all terms and conditions of the promotion. Important information like terms affecting the offer’s cost must be placed near the advertised price.
Advertisements promoting rebates should state the before-rebate price and the amoung of the rebate. This way, consumers have the information they need to make comparisons. Rebate ads should also disclose other conditions and terms including additional fees and when consumers should expect to receive the rebate.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires that consumer reporting agencies (CRAs), such as credit bureaus and resellers of consumer reports should provide information to its creditors, employers, insurers, and others, do so with due regard for the confidentiality, accuracy, and legitimate use of such data. When those parties take adverse action on the basis of information in a credit report, they must identify the CRA that provided the report so that the consumer can learn how to get a copy to verify or question its accuracy and completeness. Creditors and others may not knowingly provide false information to CRAs, which are required to maintain reasonable procedures to guarantee the maximum possible accuracy of their data.
(Source:FTC.gov)
It’s delusory to misrepresent either directly or indirectly, that a product offers a general environmental benefit. Your ads should qualify broad environmental claims or should avoid them altogether to prevent deception about the specific nature of the benefit. Furthermore, your ads shouldn’t imply significant environmental benefits if the benefit isn’t significant. For example, a trash bag is labeled “recyclable” without qualification. Because trash bags ordinarily are not being separated from other trash for recycling from a landfill or incinerator, it is unlikely that they will be used again. Technically, the bag may be “recyclable,” but the claim is deceptive because it asserts an environmental benefit where there is no remarkable or meaningful benefit.
(Source:FTC,gov)
The FTC’s regulations on endorsements state that all endorsements made by celebrities or experts should reflect his or her honest opinion or experience of the product, and not just the experience of a few satisfied customers. The endorsement should not contain any deceptive, unsubstantiated representations. The ad must also disclose if consumers can expect the same results or limited results as the endorser’s experience.
For expert endorsements, the endorser must meet certain qualifications before he or she is considered an expert in the field. Simply being an expert, however, isn’t enough. There has to be an actual evaluation or product testing other experts would normally conduct to support the concludes made in the expert endorsement.
Firms in this industry prepare ads for various companies and organizations in different mediums. Companies with divisions that place and market their own products are not part of this industry. Advertising is often a means to increase sales and boost profit for firms. Some firms are not involved in the creation of ads; instead, they sell airtime in radios and televisions. Since they do not produce ads, the workforce of these firms is mostly sales staff.
Enormous amounts of talent can be found in the advertising workforce. They are involved in the conceptualization, graphic design, lay outing, and other creative works to formulate an ad campaign.
Spamming is the sending of unsolicited e-mail advertising a certain product or service. This type of unsolicited e-mail is what is considered junk mail. Due to the proliferation of products and services on the Internet, some advertisers have used this annoying tactic in order to promote their products and services.
Laws are now being passed and approved in order to put a stop to this practice. Some states have placed hefty fines on those found guilty of sending unsolicited e-mails. Collecting of e-mail addresses or opening multiple e-mail addresses for the purpose of sending unsolicited e-mails is also being prohibited.
A book titled Creative Advertising, Ideas and Techniques from the World’s Best Campaign by Mario Pricken is out in the market and it reveals the creative procedure with some of the most effective and original campaigns of all times. The book shows over two hundred examples of international advertisement from all sorts of media. Magazines, billboards, televisions, cinema and also from the Internet are included. Every chapter gives importance to various practical methods used in the creation of original and unforgettable advertisements. The coverage ranges from looking for great ideas or just plainly duplicating old techniques. The choices include works from big names in the industry.
Advertising now have become part of our lives. Sometimes they even control most of our choices and experiences. Ads are everywhere. You see them in our websites, on our televisions, you hear them over the radios, practically anywhere. Sometimes, you may even think that we see too much of them already. Online ad usage is fast rising. On the other hand, we should be aware that we have to use advertising in such a way that is relevant to our lives and will help us become better people. For example, if you are reading an article on the blog about design, the ads should be relevant to the content and at least you will get some value out of the real context.
Advertising must be truthful and not deceptive and advertisers must be able to back up any claims with evidence.
A deceptive ad usually contains a statement or omits information that is important to the buying decision and is apt to mislead consumers. A health or safety claim must be proven by reliable scientific evidence before the running the ad.
If an ad could possibly cause substantial consumer injury that cannot be avoided, and is not compensated by the product’s benefits, it is deemed as unfair.
Ads which include product guarantees, refunds and exchange policies, are closely monitored by federal and state regulations. This also includes product claims that consumers cannot easily evaluate on their own.
Refund and exchange policies must be visible. Buyers must be aware of the period allowable for returning unused or new items.
Items must be sold at their regular price for at least 90 days before advertising a sale or discount.
End date of the sale must be included in all sales advertisements.
Explain from where the sale price percentage is taken — the original manufacturer’s suggested price or the original marked price.
Avoid saying that the merchandise is the same as one being sold elsewhere at a higher price unless the merchandise is identical to the item.
All disclosures must be clear and conspicuous