Touch Cleveland - Resources #BusinessTouch Cleveland - Resources #Businesshttps://www.wetouchmarkets.com/blogs/tag/businessMon, 01 Dec 2025 17:52:58 -0800http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[9 Ugly Truths of Entrepreneurship That No One Is Talking About]]>https://www.wetouchmarkets.com/blogs/post/9-ugly-truths-of-entrepreneurshipWe glorify entrepreneurship as the ultimate dream: freedom, financial independence, and the opportunity to make a mark on the world. But behind the filtered images and inspiring quotes lies a darker, less glamorous reality that few people discuss.]]>

We glorify entrepreneurship as the ultimate dream: freedom, financial independence, and the opportunity to make a mark on the world. Social media feeds are filled with success stories of entrepreneurs working from exotic locations, launching products that change industries, or living lives that seem too good to be true. But behind the filtered images and inspiring quotes lies a darker, less glamorous reality that few people discuss. As someone who has experienced these challenges firsthand, I can tell you that the myth of freedom, the struggle to find competent, committed help, the cost of trust, unrelenting pressure, financial instability, isolation and loneliness, mental health struggles, the identity trap, and the five-year roadblock are all part of the journey.

Freedom of entrepreneurship

 1. The Myth of Freedom

One of the biggest selling points of entrepreneurship is the promise of freedom: being your boss and setting your schedule. However, the reality is that most entrepreneurs end up working longer and harder than they ever did in a traditional job. Emails, client calls, or the never-ending to-do list consume evenings, weekends, and even vacations. Freedom exists—but it's often a long way down the road. 

Entrepreneurs convince themselves that their freedom is guaranteed once they have a team, only to end up working twice as much.

2. The Struggle to Find Competent, Committed Help

One of the most frustrating realities of entrepreneurship is the need for skilled, reliable people who are invested in your business's success. Hiring employees or freelancers who genuinely care about your mission is rare, especially in today's gig economy. Naturally, most workers are there to collect a paycheck or use your business as a stepping stone to gain experience for their ventures. The revolving door of talent can be exhausting, requiring you to constantly be on board and train new people while still trying to move your business forward. This lack of alignment can stunt growth and leave you feeling like no one cares as much about your vision as you do—which is often the case.


3. The Cost of Trust: Employee Misconduct and Its Ripple Effect

Employees can become one of the biggest sources of frustration for entrepreneurs. Issues like stealing time, calling off work without notice, missing deadlines, or infiltrating your organization just to learn your processes before leaving, can wreak havoc on your operations. These behaviors disrupt productivity and erode trust, leaving you second-guessing every hiring decision. Over time, this repeated cycle can lead to major trust issues, making it even harder to identify and hire the right people in the future. The emotional and operational toll of dealing with unreliable or opportunistic employees can feel like a constant uphill battle, further complicating the already challenging business journey.


4. Unrelenting Pressure

Entrepreneurs live with the constant pressure of being accountable for every aspect of their business. Whether it's meeting payroll, closing a deal, or managing a team, the responsibility stops with you. This weight can suffocate your business, especially during lean periods when the stakes are highest. Many entrepreneurs suffer in silence, unwilling to admit they're struggling for fear of appearing weak or unprepared.


5. Financial Instability

Entrepreneurship often requires a leap of faith—and significant financial risk. If things go south, there's no guaranteed paycheck, no employer-sponsored benefits, and no safety net. Many entrepreneurs burn through savings, take on personal debt, or rely on family and friends to keep their dreams alive. The stress of financial uncertainty can lead to sleepless nights and strained relationships.

6. Isolation and Loneliness

​Being an entrepreneur can feel like being on an island. When you're the one responsible for the big decisions, there's no boss or colleague to turn to for reassurance. Friendships can strain under the weight of your unpredictable schedule, and family relationships may take a hit as your work-life balance tips heavily toward "work." This isolation is more than just emotional and can stifle creativity and problem-solving. With a supportive network to bounce ideas off of, you may find freedom from the echo chamber of your own thoughts.

7. Mental Health Struggles

The combination of isolation, financial stress, and unrelenting pressure takes a toll on mental health. Anxiety and depression are common among entrepreneurs. The culture of hustle and grind often leaves little room for vulnerability, perpetuating the stigma around mental health in the business world. Entrepreneurs are notorious for wearing multiple hats, from CEO to marketer to janitor. Yet, the constant juggling act can lead to burnout—a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that leaves you questioning why you started in the first place. Yet, many push through the burnout, driven by the fear of letting their team, investors, or clients down.


8. The Identity Trap

For many entrepreneurs, their business becomes their identity. The highs of success feel euphoric, but the lows can be devastating. A failed venture often feels like a personal failure, making it hard to separate self-worth from business performance. This identity trap can make stepping away, pivoting, or even taking a much-needed break difficult.


9. The Five-Year Roadblock: Outgrowing the Help Around You

After running your business for five years or more, you may hit a frustrating roadblock: the realization that you've outgrown most of the available resources and advice. While many organizations mean well, their focus is often on startups, offering programs and support tailored to businesses in their infancy. Resources are scarce for those beyond the five-year mark, and the staff at these organizations often need to gain firsthand experience in growing a business beyond this stage. This gap leaves you navigating uncharted territory with limited guidance, emphasizing the need to rely on your instincts and problem-solving skills. The result? Well, you're left feeling more competent and experienced than many people who claim they can help, but this only makes it harder to find the proper support to break through to the next level.


Self care isn't selfish

The Silver Lining


Despite these challenges, entrepreneurship remains a deeply rewarding journey for many. But to thrive, it's crucial to address the ugly sides head-on:

  • Build a Support Network: Connect with fellow entrepreneurs who understand your struggles. Peer groups, mentors, or trusted therapists can make a huge difference. 
  • Prioritize Self-Care: Protect your mental and physical health by setting boundaries, taking breaks, and seeking help when needed. Remember, you are the most valuable asset to your business, and taking care of yourself is not a luxury, but a necessity. 
  • Redefine Success: Success isn't just about profit; it's about building a sustainable life and business. Celebrate small wins and focus on the long game. By redefining success on your own terms, you can free yourself from the pressure of meeting conventional expectations and find joy in the journey.
  • Be Honest About Challenges: Share your struggles as openly as your triumphs. Vulnerability fosters connection and reminds others (and yourself) that you're human. 

Entrepreneurship isn't for everyone, and that's okay. It's messy, unpredictable, and often downright ugly. But by embracing its realities—both the good and the bad—you can navigate the journey with resilience, self-awareness, and maybe even a little grace.


What are the challenges you've faced as an entrepreneur? Let's start an honest conversation.

Share Your Story Below!
]]>Mon, 09 Dec 2024 21:53:31 -0500<![CDATA[A Step-by-Step Social Media Strategy for Small Businesses]]>https://www.wetouchmarkets.com/blogs/post/A-Step-by-Step-Social-Media-Strategy-for-Small-BusinessesIn today's digital age, a robust social media strategy is essential for small businesses to thrive. Here is a step-by-step guide to unlock the potential of social media and drive growth, engagement, and success.]]>
In today's digital era, having a strong social media strategy is no longer an option but a necessity for small businesses to thrive in the competitive landscape. In this blog post, we'll walk you through a step-by-step guide to help you unleash the power of social media and create a winning strategy that drives growth, engagement, and success.

1. Define Your Goals and Your Objectives:

Before diving into social media, it's crucial to define your social media goals and objectives. Are you looking to increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, boost sales, or improve customer engagement? Identifying your objectives will guide your strategy and ensure your efforts are aligned with your overall business goals and help you to track your progress along the way. 


2. Research Your Target Audience:

To effectively connect with your audience, you must understand who they are, what they want, and where they spend their time online.Conduct thorough research to uncover their demographics, interests, pain points, and preferred social media platforms. Use this knowledge to select your platform and engagement strategies. From there, you can tailor your content and messaging to resonate with your audience. 


3. Select the Right Social Media Platforms:

Not all social media platforms are created equal, and it's essential to choose the ones that align with your target audience and business objectives. Each platform has its own strengths and characteristics. Evaluate each platform's demographics, features, and engagement opportunities to make informed decisions about where to invest your time and resources. 


4. Create Compelling and Relevant Content:

Content is the heart of any successful social media strategy and drives your social media success. Develop a content strategy that aligns with your brand identity and resonates with your audience. Craft compelling and relevant content that educates, entertains, or inspires your followers. Use a mix of formats such as images, videos, infographics, and blog posts to keep your content fresh and engaging while maintaining a consistent brand voice.


5. Plan and Schedule Your Content:

Consistency is key in social media marketing. Create a content calendar that outlines your posting schedule, topics, and key events. Use social media management tools to schedule your posts in advance, ensuring a consistent presence and freeing up time for other important tasks.

6. Consistent Branding:

Maintain a consistent brand identity across all your social media platforms. Use cohesive visuals, colors, and tone of voice to create a recognizable and memorable brand presence. Consistency builds trust and helps establish your brand as a reliable source of information and a go-to authority in your industry.


7. Engage and Interact with Your Audience:

Social media is a two-way street. Engage with your audience by responding to comments, messages, and mentions promptly. Encourage conversations, ask questions, and actively participate in relevant industry discussions. Building genuine connections with your audience fosters loyalty and brand advocacy.

8. Track and Analyze Your Performance:

Regularly monitor your social media performance using analytics tools. Track metrics such as reach, engagement, follower growth, and conversion rates. Analyze the data to identify what's working and what's not. Use this information to refine your strategy, make data-driven decisions, and optimize your social media efforts.


9. Stay Updated and Adapt:

Social media platforms and trends evolve rapidly. Stay updated with the latest features, algorithm changes, and industry best practices. Continuously learn, experiment, and adapt your strategy to stay ahead of the curve and maintain a competitive edge.

A well-executed social media strategy can be a game-changer for small businesses. By setting clear objectives, understanding your audience, choosing the right platforms, crafting compelling content, and fostering engagement, you can create a powerful social media presence.  Regularly analyze your performance, adapt to changes, and never stop learning. Remember, social media is not a one-size-fits-all approach, so experiment, learn, and adapt to find the strategies that work best for your business.

Get Started Now
]]>Tue, 15 Aug 2023 14:58:00 -0400<![CDATA[Unleashing the Power of Marketing Visuals: Captivate, Connect, Convert]]>https://www.wetouchmarkets.com/blogs/post/Unleashing-the-Power-of-Marketing-Visuals-Captivate-Connect-ConvertVisuals come in a wide variety of formats, each with its unique advantages and use cases. From product photos to social media graphics, visual content plays a critical role in capturing attention, building brand recognition, and driving engagement and sales.]]>
Visuals come in a wide variety of formats, each with its unique advantages and use cases. From product photos to social media graphics, visual content plays a critical role in capturing attention, building brand recognition, and driving engagement and sales. 

In this blog, we will explore the immense value of marketing visuals and how you can incorporate visuals into your marketing strategy.

Here are some of the key benefits of marketing visuals:

  1. Visuals capture attention: In a world where we are constantly bombarded with information, capturing your audience’s attention is no easy feat. Marketing visuals act as the ultimate attention-grabbers. Humans are naturally drawn to visual content, with studies suggesting that visuals are processed 60,000 times faster than text, making it a more effective way to communicate messages and capture the attention of your audience. By strategically employing eye-catching visuals, brands can cut through the noise and make an immediate impact, enticing viewers to explore further.

  2. Visuals convey emotions: Visuals are a great way to convey emotions and feelings in a way that text alone cannot. Visuals have the unique ability to evoke emotions and create a multi-sensory experience, fostering deeper engagement with your audience. By using colors, images, and other visual elements, you can create an emotional connection with your audience and make your brand more relatable and memorable.

  3. Visuals increase engagement:  Engagement is the lifeblood of successful marketing campaigns. Visual content is more likely to be shared, liked, and commented on than text-based content. By incorporating visuals into your marketing strategy, you can increase engagement and reach a wider audience. Whether it's through interactive content, user-generated visuals, or immersive videos, leveraging visuals can significantly enhance audience participation, social sharing, and overall campaign success.

  4. Visuals build brand recognition: Consistency is key to building brand recognition, and visuals play a vital role in establishing and reinforcing brand identity. Elements such as logos, colors, and typography form the visual DNA of a brand. By incorporating these elements consistently across marketing visuals, brands can create a strong and recognizable visual identity that helps them stand out in the crowded marketplace.

  5. Visuals drive conversions: The goal of marketing is to drive conversions. Visuals play a critical role in this process by effectively communicating the value and benefits of your products or services. High-quality product images, informative videos, and visually appealing testimonials can instill trust and confidence in your audience, helping to guide them through the conversion journey.


So, how can you incorporate marketing visuals into your marketing strategy? 

Here are some tips:

  1. Use high-quality visuals: High-quality images are the backbone of visual marketing. Invest in professional photography or leverage stock photo platforms to curate a collection of images that represent your brand. The quality of your visuals can make a big difference in how they are perceived by your audience. Use these images across your website, social media channels, blog posts, and email campaigns to evoke emotions, tell stories, and create a visual experience that resonates with your audience.
  2.  Use visuals to tell a story: Visuals are a great way to tell a story and create an emotional connection with your audience. Storytelling lies at the heart of effective marketing, and visuals serve as powerful storytelling tools. They can convey emotions, trigger curiosity, and evoke responses from your audience. Whether through a series of captivating images or a thought-provoking video, visuals enable brands to communicate their narratives more engagingly and memorably, forging deeper connections with their audience. Use visuals to highlight the benefits of your product or service, showcase your brand's values, or tell the story of your brand's history.
  3. Use visuals consistently: Consistency is key when using visuals in your marketing strategy. Use consistent colors, fonts, and imagery across all marketing channels to create a strong and recognizable brand identity.
  4. Harness the Power of Infographics: Infographics are an excellent way to present complex information in a visually appealing and easily digestible format. Whether you include statistics, data, or step-by-step processes, infographics can transform dense content into visually engaging narratives. Utilize online design tools or collaborate with a graphic designer to create visually stunning infographics that inform, educate, and entertain your audience.
  5. Create Captivating Video Content: Video content continues to dominate the digital landscape, making it an indispensable component of your marketing strategy. From short promotional videos, product demonstrations, or customer testimonials, leverage the power of videos to tell compelling stories and engage your audience on a deeper level. Consider utilizing platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn to share your video content and maximize its reach.

    In conclusion, marketing visuals are a critical component of any successful marketing strategy. Visual marketing can captivate attention, tell compelling stories, build brand recognition, enhance engagement, and drive conversions. As you develop your marketing campaigns, make visuals a core component of your strategy, ensuring they align with your brand's identity and resonate with your target audience. Embrace the immense potential of marketing visuals, and watch as your brand captivates, connects, and converts like never before.


    Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but the right marketing visual is worth a thousand conversions.

    Request a Consultation
    ]]>    Tue, 01 Aug 2023 14:58:28 -0400    <![CDATA[Best Practices for Web Design: Creating Engaging and User-Friendly Websites]]>https://www.wetouchmarkets.com/blogs/post/Best-Practices-for-Web-Design-Creating-Engaging-and-User-Friendly-WebsitesWith countless websites dying for attention, it's crucial to implement strategies that will set your site apart and drive success. Here are best practices will help you create a website that captivates visitors and drives results. Let's dive in!]]>

    Web design is an ever-evolving field that combines creativity, aesthetics, and functionality to create engaging online experiences. In today's digital landscape, a well-designed website is essential for businesses and individuals to establish a strong online presence. With countless websites vying for attention, it's crucial to implement best practices that will set your site apart and drive success. Whether you're a seasoned web developer or just starting your online journey, these best practices will help you create a website that captivates visitors and drives results. Let's dive in! 

    1. Know Your Audience

    Before diving into the design process, it's crucial to understand your target audience. Conduct thorough research to identify their demographics, preferences, and behaviors. Who are they? What are their preferences and needs? This knowledge will shape your design decisions, ensuring that your website resonates with and caters to your intended audience.


    2. Keep it Simple and Intuitive

    Your website's design should prioritize user experience. Simplicity and intuitiveness are key principles of effective web design. Ensure intuitive navigation, responsive layouts, and visually appealing elements. We recommend removing any clutter and unnecessary elements. Guide visitors seamlessly through your site with clear menus making it easy for users to find the information they need. and logical information architecture.Strive for a clean layout that guides users through the content effortlessly.

    3. Responsive Design

    With the increasing use of mobile devices, your website must be responsive and adapt to different screen sizes, it is no longer optional– it’s essential. Mobile-friendly designs improve user experience and search engine rankings. Using a responsive design allows your site to adapt seamlessly, providing a consistent and user-friendly experience across desktops, tablets, and smartphones.


    4. Visual Hierarchy and Readability

    Utilize a visually appealing layout that guides users' attention to the most important elements. A well-structured visual hierarchy helps users understand and navigate your website. Effective use of colors, fonts, spacing, and contrast can help prioritize content and enhance readability. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to break up content and improve readability. Ensure that the text is legible and easy to read, even on smaller screens.

    5. Consistent Branding

    Your website should reflect your brand identity consistently. Use a cohesive color palette, typography, and visual elements that align with your brand's personality and values. By maintaining a consistent tone and style throughout your website will reinforce your brand identity and build trust with visitors. 


    6. Engaging and Relevant Content

    Content is the heart of your website and plays a vital role in engaging visitors and conveying your message effectively. Craft attention-grabbing headlines, use captivating imagery, and structure your text for easy readability. Structure your content with headings, subheadings, bullet points, and short paragraphs. Utilize multimedia elements, such as high-quality images and videos, to enhance the visual appeal and storytelling aspects of your website. Breaking up text with visuals can help to improve readability and enable users to quickly scan for relevant information.


    7. Optimize Website Performance

    In a fast-paced digital world, users have little patience for slow-loading websites. Page loading speed is crucial for user satisfaction and search engine rankings. Optimize your website's performance by minimizing file sizes, leveraging caching techniques, and compressing images without sacrificing quality. Regularly monitor and optimize your website to ensure optimal speed, performance and a seamless user experience. 


    8. User-Friendly Forms and Calls to Action (CTAs)

    If your website includes forms or CTAs, make them user-friendly and visually prominent. Keep forms concise, asking for only essential information, and provide clear instructions. Use compelling CTAs that stand out and guide users towards desired actions.

    9. Accessibility

    Make your website accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Follow WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) to ensure that your website is usable by people with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor impairments. Consider factors such as alt tags for images, proper color contrast, and keyboard navigation options.

    10. Continuous Improvement

    Building a website is an ongoing process. The web design process doesn't end with the launch of your website.  Regularly test your design and functionality to identify areas for improvement. Collect user feedback and analyze website analytics to gain insights into user behavior. Continuously refine and enhance your website to ensure a seamless user experience.


    Building a well-designed and user-friendly website requires a deep understanding of your audience, a focus on simplicity and responsiveness, and a commitment to consistent branding and engaging content. By following these best practices, you can create a website that captivates visitors, fosters engagement, and helps you to achieve your desired goals. Remember, your website is your digital storefront. Invest time and effort into building a stellar online presence that captivates visitors and drives your success! 

    Request A Consultation
    ]]>    Tue, 13 Jun 2023 10:33:00 -0400    <![CDATA[Top Free Marketing Resources for Small Businesses]]>https://www.wetouchmarkets.com/blogs/post/Top-Free-Marketing-Resources-for-Small-BusinessesThere are many free marketing tools out there that can help you save time and promote your business without breaking the bank. Here are our recommendations for top marketing resources that you can use today for free!]]>

    Marketing is an essential aspect of any business, but it often requires more time and money than small businesses have. There are many free marketing tools out there that you can use to help promote your business without breaking the bank and give back some of the time you spend on these efforts. 


    Here at Touch, we like to work smarter, not harder. The free marketing tools listed here are our recommendations that you can get started with today.

    Social Media

    First up are our recommended social media scheduling tools. When used correctly, social media is a powerful tool that small businesses can use to grow. When used strategically, social media outreach can build awareness, increase sales and build a customer base. 


    Often content is put out on social media to check off the box and does not yield results. Social media goals should align with the mission and goals of your business. Once you have a social media strategy, we suggest building out monthly content. With this plan, we recommend utilizing a social media scheduling tool to ensure that your content makes it to the intended platform and remains consistent throughout the month.

     

    Our recommendations include Meta Business Suite and Buffer. 


    Meta Business Suite: the social media giant Meta, aka Facebook and Instagram, has made scheduling within the business suite seamless. 

    • Publish feed posts and stories for both Facebook and Instagram at the same time

    • Schedule posts and stories

    • Save drafts and upload creative assets to the media library

    • Post performance and ad management


    Buffer: this social media management tool allows you to schedule posts across multiple platforms. 

    • Schedule up to ten posts across three social media platforms

    • Perfect option for small businesses who want to schedule content on platforms other than Facebook and IG

    • Option to upgrade to paid tiers for additional services


    While there are other options on the market, we recommend these free tools for your social media scheduling. 

    Graphic Design

    Branding is an essential aspect of your business. Competition for real estate on social media, inboxes, and ad space is steep. Compelling graphics, images, and videos is essential to grabbing and keeping the attention of your target audience. The number of free graphic design tools on the market continues to grow.


    Canva: Our recommendation is Canva. Canva is a popular design tool that has a free and a premium version. Canva offers all the capabilities needed to build graphics for a successful marketing campaign. 

    • Wide range of templates and design elements

    • Upload your images and customize them to fit your brand 

    • User-friendly

    Web Design

    In addition to graphic design for your social media, email marketing, and ads, having a professional and eye-catching website is essential for success in today’s digital world. 


    Two free tools and website design services are Wix and WordPress.


    Wix: With Wix, you can create a professional-looking website in minutes.

    • Easy-to-use drag-and-drop builder

    • Offers templates and customizations

    • Add-ons including photo galleries, social media icons, and contact forms

    WordPress: WordPress is a free website builder and content management system.

    • Hundreds of website templates

    • Customization options

    • Integrates with social media platforms 

    • Thousands of free plugins to enhance functionality

    While we love both tools, we suggest Wix for beginners and most small businesses. 

    Email Marketing

    Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to communicate with your audience and drive conversions, to directly reach customers and provide updates on your latest products or services.


    There are a ton of free email marketing tools available that can help you get started.


    We want to share two of the top contenders, MailChimp vs. HubSpot. 


    Both of these email marketing tools offer solid free plans

    • Mailchimp is intuitively user-friendly
    • HubSpot has a steeper learning curve for new users
    • Both offer drag-and-drop templates
    • Mailchimp offers more with limited customization options
    • HubSpot offers fewer templates with more customization options

    Our recommendation for most small businesses starting, Mailchimp is the perfect fit, it offers just enough to be successful without being overwhelming. 

    Free marketing tools are suited for most small businesses. By utilizing these tools, you can avoid investing heavily in services and tools you don't need. We suggest due diligence to investigate these free options based on organizational needs. Follow us on IG for marketing tips.

    Touch Latest Tips
    ]]>    Fri, 12 May 2023 10:24:00 -0400    <![CDATA[Five Laws You Should Know Before Doing Business in Ohio]]>https://www.wetouchmarkets.com/blogs/post/Five-Laws-You-Should-Know-Before-Doing-Business-in-OhioIt is said you are not really in business until you get sued. In business you certainly cannot please everyone so the likelihood of a client or custom ]]>
    It is said you are not really in business until you get sued. In business you certainly cannot please everyone so the likelihood of a client or customer taking legal action increases as your company expands and takes on more employees. While a lawsuit may be an implicit attainment of success, it is a milestone that can be avoided by knowing the laws of the state(s) your company is registered in. 

    For Ohio, the Consumer Sales Practice Act of 1972 protects consumers from businesses that take advantage. The Act ensures consumers are not asked to do unfair or deceptive actions for a purchase; the Act makes it illegal for a seller to misrepresent their business, product, service or the price of their transaction; the Act prohibits a seller from taking advantage of those illiterate or mentally disabled. The Act even prohibits sellers from selling a product or service to a consumer they know cannot afford or benefit from the purchase. Lastly, the Act requires sellers to honor guarantees, warranties and protects consumers from deceptive advertising. 


    When it comes to advertising, here are five laws you should learn and practice from year 1 in business. 
    1. Gift Cards – As a small business growing your customer base, you may want to offer gift cards to your customers. Gift cards are a great way to influence a purchase for a buyer unsure of what to get for a friend or loved one, and they are a popular purchase during the holidays to save time.  Under Ohio law, a gift card should not have an expiration date less than two years of the date it was issued.  For a startup, the risk of this two-year requirement for expiration is the possibility of no longer offering that product or service by the time the gift card is redeemed. 
    2. Rain Checks – In the age of social media, startups and entrepreneurs are notorious for offering sales online or as vendors at local events. If your business promotes a sale, you must list specific limitations such as “limited number in stock” or “while supplies last.” Otherwise if the seller runs out of the sale item, the consumer is entitled to a rain check – a ticket that will allow them to purchase the item at the sale price advertised whenever you have the item in stock again. 
    3. Prizes – Ohio law prohibits advertising that a consumer has won a prize and then requiring the consumer to pay fees or perform any action to receive the prize. All terms and conditions of the prize offered must be disclosed in the advertisement. 
    4. Repair and Service Rules – For any repair or service $25 or more, the seller must provide an estimate or notice of the consumer’s right to receive an estimate. If the total cost is found to be 10 percent or more of the estimate, the seller must get the consumer’s signed permission before beginning additional work. 
    5. CAN-SPAM Act – In business, your contact list is king. In today’s age of technology, email marketing is still one of the top ten methods to advertise to your target audience. However the CAN-SPAM Act bans deceptive subject lines and requires an individual or business to provide an easy way for the consumer to opt-out of email messages. 


      While these laws are the most significant that businesses need to be compliant with, there are more specific laws that apply to certain industries. To learn more about business and advertising laws, visit Complying with Ohio Consumer Law: A Guide for Businesses. 
      ]]>      Thu, 06 Apr 2023 15:00:00 -0400