Ad Content Policy

1. Who this applies to

This policy applies to every ad submitted to LocalAd, including the business information you provide, the AI-generated draft, your edits, the final approved artwork, the URL behind your QR code, and any landing page that URL resolves to. We may review your destination page at any time and disable the QR code if it violates this policy.

2. Universal standards

Every ad we print must:

• Be truthful. Claims must be accurate, current, and substantiable.
• Identify the advertiser. A real, contactable business name must appear on the ad.
• Be legible.Minimum body copy of 8 pt; minimum disclosure copy of 6 pt; sufficient contrast against the background.
• Comply with USPS standards. No content that would render the mailpiece nonmailable under USPS regulations.
• Comply with the law in every jurisdiction where the card is mailed, including federal, state, and local rules for the advertised category.

3. Prohibited categories

We do not accept ads for the following, regardless of legality in the local jurisdiction:

• Tobacco, e-cigarettes, vaping, or smoking accessories
• Cannabis (including CBD/THC), kratom, and other psychoactive substances
• Firearms, ammunition, explosives, and weapon accessories
• Adult content, escort services, or sexually suggestive material
• Gambling, sports betting, sweepstakes-as-a-service, and lottery promotions
• Multi-level marketing recruitment, “business opportunities,” and get-rich-quick schemes
• Payday loans, debt-settlement, and credit-repair services
• Cryptocurrency, NFTs, ICOs, and trading-signal services aimed at retail consumers
• Political campaigns, ballot measures, election-related issue advocacy, and electioneering
• Religious recruitment or proselytizing content
• Contests, raffles, or giveaways unless run by LocalAd or an approved partner
• Counterfeit goods or unauthorized reseller listings of branded products
• Hate speech, harassment, or content that demeans a person or group based on a protected characteristic
• Shock content, gore, or imagery designed to alarm the household

4. Restricted categories

The following are accepted only with documentation and additional review. Allow extra time before the drop date.

• Alcohol. Licensed retailers, restaurants, breweries, wineries, and distilleries only. No promotions targeting underage audiences and no price promotions in jurisdictions that prohibit them.
• Healthcare & medical. Licensed providers only. No before/after photos that imply guaranteed outcomes; no claims to cure, prevent, or treat disease without substantiation.
• Financial services. Licensed advisors, brokers, banks, credit unions, and insurance providers. APR, rate, fee, and disclosure rules must be followed in full.
• Legal services.Licensed attorneys only, with bar information and any state-required disclaimers (e.g., “Advertisement”).
• Real estate. Must comply with the Fair Housing Act. No discriminatory preferences or limitations.
• Children’s products and services. Must comply with COPPA-equivalent expectations; no direct calls to action aimed at minors.
• Home services requiring licensure (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, contracting, pest control). License number must appear on the ad where required by the state.
• Auto sales and financing. Truth-in-Lending disclosures required where applicable.

5. Claims, prices, and disclaimers

• Superlativeslike “#1,” “best,” or “top-rated” require a verifiable source (e.g., a third-party rating with date) printed on the ad.
• “Free” offers must clearly state the qualifying terms.
• Prices, discounts, and limited-time offers must be honored through at least 30 days after the drop date or include an explicit expiration on the ad.
• Endorsements and testimonials must be genuine and identifiable. Stock photos may not be presented as customers.
• Comparative advertising against named competitors requires documentation that the comparison is accurate and current.

6. Intellectual property

You must own or be licensed to use every logo, photograph, illustration, font, and piece of copy in your ad. Don’t use brand marks (including Apple, Google, Meta, sports leagues, or franchise logos) unless you have written permission. We will reject ads that use third-party trademarks suggestively to imply an affiliation that does not exist.

7. AI-generated artwork

LocalAd uses AI to draft layouts and imagery from the information you provide. You are the publisher of the final ad: you must review every variant for accuracy, spelling, factual claims, and rights clearance before approving it for print. Common issues we catch (and you should too): misspelled business names, hallucinated phone numbers or addresses, fabricated review counts, and AI imagery that includes recognizable people without consent.

Once your order is paid, the finished artwork is licensed to you for any use connected with promoting your own business, including reprinting it elsewhere. The exact grant, and the three things it does not cover, are in Section 8 of the Terms of Service.

8. QR codes and destination URLs

• The QR code must remain visible and unobstructed in the printed slot. We may adjust the surrounding artwork to preserve scannability.
• Your destination URL must resolve to a working page at the time of approval and remain live for at least 90 days after the drop date.
• The destination must match the offer on the postcard. Bait-and-switch redirects, deceptive landing pages, malware, phishing, and pages that auto- download files are prohibited.
• You may update the destination URL through your dashboard. Updates that violate this policy will be reverted and may result in QR-code suspension.

9. Privacy and household-friendly content

Postcards are seen by everyone in a household, including children and people who did not opt in to your message. Ads must:

• avoid alarming or fear-based copy (e.g., fake invoices, fake notices, fake checks);
• avoid simulated personal correspondence (handwriting fonts paired with a fake signature, “hi neighbor” framing that implies a personal relationship);
• not collect personal data on the destination page beyond what is necessary, and must disclose how data is used.

10. Review process

Every ad is checked automatically the moment it is generated. We read the text off the rendered image, list the visual elements in it, and compare both against the rules on this page. Most ads pass in seconds and you never see the check happen.

An ad the check blocks is not offered to you. An ad it flags is queued for a human look, and we aim to clear that queue within one business day. Ads in restricted categories take longer, because the check is looking for a disclosure and a human has to confirm it is the right one. If we reject an ad, we will tell you the reason and offer a redesign or a refund per our Terms of Service.

We may remove or revise an ad after approval if new information surfaces (for example, a license lapses, the destination URL changes, or a complaint is substantiated). Where possible we will work with you to bring the ad into compliance before pulling it.

11. Reporting a violation

If you received a LocalAd postcard you believe violates this policy, email hello+legal@localad.io with a photo of the card and the QR-code short code (printed under the QR). We investigate every report.

12. Changes to this policy

We update this policy as laws, mailing standards, and community expectations evolve. The “last updated” date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be communicated to active advertisers by email or in-product notice.