With so many products and services available to consumers, how do you make yours stand out?

The
temptation to cut corners by making misleading claims or not performing that complex and lengthy
quality test is real, but come with serious legal risks. Resisting temptations like these may be one key to
avoiding legal troubles in the future, but also make sure you understand the more nuanced regulations
on advertising. While deliberately lying about the safety of your product in a television ad is obviously
illegal, are you ready to back all of your claims with fact-based evidence?

Below is a list of "do's" and "don'ts" for advertising, ranging from the legal to the practical. See
FindLaw's Marketing and Advertising Laws section to learn more.

THE DOs

Do pick a company name and trademark or service mark that has not already been chosen by someone
else (How to Search for Trademarks).

Do register your company with the appropriate state officials (State Resources: Starting a Business).

Do obtain trade name, trademark, service mark, copyright, and trade dress protections to ensure that
your products and expressions are safe from copycats and infringers (Copyrights).

Do make yourself knowledgeable of state and national laws and regulations concerning creation of
businesses, management of businesses, and consumer protection (Business Laws and Regulations).

Do follow all state and national health and safety requirements in developing your product.

Do perform the necessary testing to ensure that your product or services stand up to the claims you
make about them.

Do advertise and market your product or service in a manner which is lawful (Advertising Mistakes:
Lessons Learned the Hard Way).

Do your homework: if you claim your product is the "fastest," the "cheapest," the "newest," or anything
like that, do your research before making the claim so that you know it is true.
Do plan ahead. Develop a budget for marketing that you are willing and able to stick to. Be prepared to
spend money to market your product, but know your financial limitations and avoid over-extending your
pocketbook (Your Marketing Plan).

THE DON'Ts

Don't be a copycat and use someone else's idea for a product or service without their knowledge and
approval.

Don't make guarantees or claims in your advertisements that you cannot support with facts and
evidence.

Don't advertise in a misleading or deceptive manner. Consumer protection statutes in every state
protect against these types of actions and if you are caught attempting to deceive consumers the
punishment can be more than monetary -- your business reputation will also suffer.

Don't fail to appreciate your target audience when seeking to market and advertise your products and
services.