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Kokomo Scanner Advertising Guidelines

Our Community Partner program supports independent local businesses and organizations while helping cover the app’s running costs. Advertising should serve our community and protect the trust people place in Kokomo Scanner.

Who Qualifies

  • Independent local businesses and organizations with a verifiable Howard County presence.
  • Qualifying home-based businesses, except home-based food vendors at launch.
  • Local nonprofits and community organizations. Nonprofit status does not automatically mean free advertising.

National franchises and national or regional chains are not eligible at launch. Locally owned businesses expanding beyond Howard County may be reviewed individually.

Verification and Privacy

We may review business websites, social-media pages, and public Indiana business-registration records. Missing registration does not automatically disqualify a business; additional review may be needed. A physical Howard County location helps establish local presence, but a storefront is not required.

Application details and verification information stay private. Only advertiser-approved ad text, images, and destination links are published. Providing a link for verification does not authorize republishing application information.

Advertising We Don’t Accept

  • Political campaigns, candidates, parties, ballot measures, or issue advocacy.
  • Gambling or adult-oriented businesses and content.
  • Cannabis or illegal intoxicating products.
  • Multi-level marketing, recruitment schemes, predatory lending, or deceptive income promises.
  • Misleading medical claims, miracle cures, unsupported before-and-after claims, or fake job offers.
  • Promotions exploiting local incidents or emergencies, whether or not KS reported them.

Tobacco and vape advertising is generally excluded at launch. Firearms, weapons, and other age-restricted advertising will be declined where it requires age verification, sensitive targeting, or personal-data collection.

Additional Rules

  • Restaurants, bars, and breweries may promote food, events, entertainment, and general offerings, but not primarily alcohol, drink specials, or drinking. Dedicated alcohol retailers are excluded at launch.
  • Legitimate local healthcare providers, banks, and credit unions may advertise within these guidelines.
  • Jobs must be legitimate positions from verifiable employers.
  • Giveaways must clearly state eligibility, dates, rules, and material terms. No “like, comment, or share to enter” promotions.
  • Ads must not falsely imply endorsement by KS or public-safety agencies. Falsely claiming KS endorsement is grounds for immediate removal from the program.

KS Approval and Discretion

All ads require KS approval and follow the same content rules. KS may review unusual situations individually and decline ads that do not fit the program’s community-focused purpose. This discretion does not waive prohibited categories.

Advertisers cannot purchase or access app users’ personal information.

Changes After Approval

Advertisers must keep their ads and linked websites or social-media pages consistent with the approved promotion and these guidelines. Material changes to the ad, destination link, or advertised offer require KS approval.

Kokomo Scanner reserves the right to immediately suspend or remove an ad if changes after approval make it materially different from what was approved, violate our guidelines, or introduce misleading, unsafe, or prohibited content. Removal for these reasons does not qualify for a refund, including unused advertising time, subject to the Sales and Refunds policy below.

Routine website updates that do not affect the approved promotion or compliance do not require reapproval.

Sales and Refunds

All advertising sales are final, except where required by law. Payment purchases the agreed advertising placement and duration, not guaranteed views, clicks, inquiries, customers, or sales. Dissatisfaction with advertising results does not qualify for a refund.

Editorial Independence

Advertising does not influence Kokomo Scanner’s reporting or guarantee favorable coverage. Disagreement with our reporting does not, by itself, qualify for a refund.