Small businesses hindered by social media

Small business marketing has been taken to new heights with the emergence of social media outlets in recent years.

Social media marketing has played an integral role in increasing a company's business and expanding its reach to become more popular in the market they serve. Now, businesses are being forced to abide by rules on social media outlets that are unfavorable for the companies.

According to Business Spectator, if a company is promoting their business through social media networks, comments that anyone posts on its site are now being considered as advertisements by the company. The business owner is responsible and will be punished if the comment breaches the law.

The law was implemented as a result of an Australian advertising regulator, which could also be adopted by other countries soon. Everything that is shown on ads is self-regulated, according to the source. The ads are self-regulated through the Australian Association of Advertisers, which includes all of the big-name advertising firms in the country.

The company has a code of advertising conduct that is enforced by the Advertising Standards Board, reprimanding inappropriate language, images, portrayal of violence, sex appeal and sexualized images.

According to Nielsen estimates, social media and blogs reach 80 percent of all active internet users in the United States, accounting for 245 million people. With the internet proving to be so important to social media marketing now, more Americans might look to start their own business marketing plan with social media as the key component. Marketing experts recommend having a plan before diving into the the field.