New regs for company websites and social media

From 1st March the Advertising Standards Authority will, for the first time, be responsible for non-paid for advertising such as company websites and Twitter and Facebook accounts.

This does not include press releases and editorial content but if you are making a claim for your product or service on your website or any social media accounts they must now comply with the ASA’s advertising code.

There is a grey area around blogs – so if you post a blog on your own website it will be viewed differently to if you post it on someone else’s website. Similarly the ASA will view a customer quote you put up on the front page of your website differently to one posted on an internet forum.

The rule of thumb remains the same. Are the claims you make Legal, Decent, Honest and Truthful

This has got to be good news for consumers and small businesses as it means that businesses cannot say on their website or social media feeds what you would not be able to print

For more advice then the best place to start is the advertising standards authority page on digital advice. Or more simply ask a relative or friend if they think what you are saying is true!

As a soft toy wholesaler we are quite comfortable in saying on our website and on our twitter and facebook accounts that we have the widest range of knitted and fairtrade crochet toys as we now have toys from Indonesia, Peru and Bangladesh and our ranges are still growing