Top 5 Things to Watch Out for when Advertising a Product
In today’s world, where people are more health-conscious than ever, the market for food and dietary supplement products is growing rapidly. As a result, the competition in this market is becoming fiercer, and companies are using various strategies to gain an edge over their competitors. However, marketing a food or dietary supplement product is not a straightforward process, and there are many things that companies need to be aware of to avoid potential legal or ethical issues. In this article, we will discuss the top five things that companies should keep an eye out for when marketing a food or dietary supplement product.
1. Reviews
Reviews are one of the ways a company can market their product. Users can provide negative or positive feedback which may influence the decision of other users to buy the product. Companies may select reviews that positively showcase their product on their website, however, if a review contains wording or implies that the product has diagnosed, treated, cured, or prevented any disease or ailment then a company may be in regulatory jeopardy. It is best to remove these reviews so that your company does not face any regulatory risk.
2. Comments
Similar to reviews, comments that can be made on any post or page of a website may contain feedback of a product or company as a whole that can violate FDA regulations. It is advised to not only monitor your reviews but comments made on any media page of your company.
3. Product Descriptions
If you sell your product online whether it is directly through your site or a third-party service such as an e-commerce website, it is recommended to only provide information that is factual and does not contain false or misleading claims. Any inaccurate information about your product will be deemed as non-compliant and can result in regulatory actions such as warning letters or recalls.
4. Social Media
The most common place companies may advertise their products is on social media sites including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, etc. Social Media is one of the quickest ways to reach an audience advertising your products. Be aware of any types of false or misleading information when posting pictures and videos of your products. If you have your own social media team, provide educational training on acceptable and unacceptable statements, phrases, and graphics for content so they do not pose a regulatory risk to your company.
5. Influencer Marketing
Tying directly into social media, many large companies utilize an influencer or celebrity to advertise their products. Sometimes influencers falsely make a claim about a product or use misleading information to promote the product. Before using an influencer to market your company, it is recommended to use the same training as your social media team to avoid any sort of regulatory mishaps.