Take care when promoting your business

By Andy Munro – Slater and Gordon Lawyers Coffs Harbour

Small to medium business owners are often hard pressed to find time to keep up with the multitude of requirements that go hand in hand with running a business.

Ordering, sales, staffing, tax, and getting your name out there are but a few of the issues.

In these days of ever advancing social media, many businesses are now turning to the likes of Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to promote their business.

It is, however, unsurprising that businesses may be unaware of a vast array of complex laws that regulate what can, and cannot, be said in promotion of a business in the online environment.

Most people know that care must be taken when advertising a business, so as not to mislead the public.

However, when people go online, guards are often dropped in what is seen as an unregulated world.

But be warned: self-promotion is one thing; publicly writing off your competitor is another.

Making comments about the effectiveness or value of another’s product may be a breach of the Australian Consumer Laws.

Promoting your “faster, better, cheaper” product or service over an “inferior” one may infringe laws against passing off.

Falsely representing the accuracy, price, effectiveness or suitability of your product or service may amount to misleading and deceptive conduct.

It is a competitive market, and small business owners are often competing for the same dollar.

Effective marketing, advertising and self-promotion are means of increasing business, however care should be taken when describing your product or service.

If you are in any doubt over what you can say, or are concerned about another’s description of your business, feel free to contact Andy Munro or Lara Nurpuri at Slater & Gordon Lawyers on 66518440 for an obligation free discussion.