Facebook policy for advertising sounds simple but it’s pretty complex – would you like a clear explanation?
I’ve worked at Facebook and see what you see when googling Facebook policy, with those generic headlines like:
TERMS AND POLICIES
HOW WE WORK
MORE POLICY TYPES
Clear as mud right? I’ll be helping you understand Facebook policy better in this article. You can also peep my Facebook Ad Policies Checklist.
In this article today I’ll be revealing some of the reasons for disabled Facebook ad accounts, and how to navigate Facebook policy without risking a Facebook ban. What sets my blog apart from all the other google results?
I’ve worked at Facebook in ads, tech and project management, high up at Facebook before and after it was rebranded to Meta. So, you’re getting high quality info from someone who worked AT Facebook, not guesses from randos online.
Wouldn’t you like to prevent Facebook from banning your ad account?
As Liana Lang, CEO of Power Up Strategy Inc. said, “Please meet Trevor, my ‘secret weapon’ for all things Facebook compliance. I highly recommend hiring him to help you out especially if you plan to be running ads.”
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Click here, to schedule a discovery call.
Now, you may have noticed Facebook changes their ad policies A LOT!
Who are the Facebook changes really for?
I’m sure we’ve all seen the awkward testimonial from Mark Zuckerberg when he faced Congress. Anytime there is a PR fire – like Cambridge Analytica (I was working at Facebook when this happened), Facebook has to get out and do damage control.
Facebook’s policy is to change Facebook’s policy to show they are doing something about an issue. Even if those changes wreak havoc on advertisers just like you.
Facebook creates new ad automations to police Facebook ads more to please their stakeholders, and show the board they are doing something. What they don’t do is look at the big picture for how these new automations integrate with the existing Facebook bots.
Free eBook: Top 5 Reasons Agencies Fail at Facebook
What you consider normal may not be perceived the same by the bots that do the flagging within Facebook’s ecosystem. That’s why things get tricky. You may feel your ad copy sounds normal – but if you want to follow the Facebook ad policies, you gotta frame your copy specifically for Facebook’s website.
The delete Facebook movement continues to gain pace
Other celebrities who have quit the social network include pop singer Cher, Starwars actor Mark Hamill, actor and Will Ferrell. What you don’t hear about is the ad agencies who represented these celebrities and the money they lost.
BUT, as the platform becomes less crowded because Facebook is driving many away with all the issues with privacy or Facebook bans on advertisers, this leaves more room for you to make money on Facebook after you figure out the Facebook policy which I’ll help with.
(Check out my article Facebook ad account disabled next steps).
Lets cover some common Facebook ad policies that ad agencies often get banned for.
Here are a list of the facebook ad policies Facebook frequently drops the ban hammer on:
VIOLENCE AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR SAFETY
OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT
INTEGRITY AND AUTHENTICITY
RESPECTING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CONTENT-RELATED REQUESTS AND DECISIONS
POLICIES
UPDATING OUR COMMUNITY STANDARDS POLICIES
ENFORCEMENT
SECURITY
FEATURES
OVERSIGHT
REPORTS
RESEARCH TOOLS
Many of these ad policies are triggered because marketers don’t keep Facebook policy in mind when making ads. Your first goal when designing ads should be to ask, “Will Facebook approve this ad?” THEN focus on the conversions aspect.
Facebook advertising policy principles explained
Facebook’s advertising principles are to keep the most amount of Facebook users on the platform without losing anyone to competitors like TikTok or Elon Musk’s Twitter.
Because of this, they are extra sensitive about how you say something. So a pro tip is to think like Facebook does when making ads, and be extra PC.
Did you already say something that got your Facebook ad account disabled?
Don’t get ripped off! Read How to Recover Facebook Ad Accounts now
#1: Name Your Page Accurately
May seem simple but a common mistake advertisers can make is to create a Facebook Business Page that doesn’t match their core audience or their core offer.
As a result, if there ever is an issue with Facebook policy, and Facebook looks at your Page that you barely put any effort into, and it’s blank or looks sketch, that’s a red flag to Facebook.
I would advise creating more than one Page if you run ads in multiple industries. Instead of using 1 Page to run all the ads for your clients, make sure to differentiate Pages per industry to give you a better chance of not being shadow banned.
#2: Have a Privacy Policy in Place if You Collect Data
Another easy miss that can get your entire funnel banned: a missing privacy policy. This is a legal document you need to get created before you run ads to a lander.
There are free privacy policy generators online, or you can get a lawyer to draw up one.
Just make sure to have it on the landing page you are sending traffic from Facebook to.
Attention Agency Owners, Brand Marketers, and Consultants
It’s a lot easier to prevent Facebook bans than it is to try to bully Facebook into undoing a ban. Think about how this works out with your friends.
When you prove your friend wrong in an argument what do they often do? Double down on their wrong answer out of pride. What do you think Facebook does?
The exact same thing. To some extent. I want you to think philosophically about this – someone in the wrong is more defensive than someone in the right. So, while not impossible, it is a lot harder to appeal a ban than it is to prevent one from happening.
#3: Don’t Imply That Facebook Endorses Your Promotions
Another easy to miss flag that many advertisers accidentally violate: You can’t use the Facebook “f” or “fb” or “facebook” or their logo on your lander.
If you do Facebook can and will shut your entire funnel down real quick as that’s trademark infringement, not a Facebook policy. It’s IP law, for intellectual property regulated on a federal level.
What’s the 1st rule about Fight Club?
Don’t talk about Fight Club. Apply this to Facebook branding on your site.
#4: Observe Copyright at All Times
If you’ve been shutdown a lot but never got answers, you’re like one of my clients, Steve Martinez, Vice President of Apollidon Learning.
“Trevor took us through the process of getting one of our University of Texas ad accounts reinstated (within minutes). He offered some critical insights to why our Facebook Ad Account was disabled and shared options to reduce our chances of future issues. We have a better understand of how the algorithm works and know exactly what to do and say if our account gets disabled again.”
Want to see how I can help you? Schedule a free discovery call here. Or, if you’re in a rush, prepay for your consulting call and skip the line.
What are Facebook ad policies?
The latest Facebook advertising policies in 2023
If you googled new facebook ad policies 2023 you’ll see my blog as the 1st organic result (even Facebook had to advertise to get above my blog on google).
And, you can see beginning in February 2023, advertisers will only be able to use age and location to reach teens. Facebook is removing gender as a targeting option – thats another update to the Facebook advertising guidelines.
One of the newest changes to facebook policy is the CBD rules for advertising CBD on Facebook. Read my expose on these changes here: Facebook’s New CBD Ad Policy
Already completely banned?
If you are running ads and spending $100K a year or more on ads, I can help with that.
Also check out: Top Reasons Why Facebook Disables Ad Accounts
The ad review process Facebook Policy
Typically what happens is after you submit an ad for review Facebook has up to 24 hours to reject or approve the ad. But, if you have some weird Facebook policy block it can take longer.
One of the newest glitches is if you are adding a payment method it can block your card and disable your Facebook ad account. Make sure your bank doesn’t block Facebook’s preauth charge of $1.
Facebook ad rejected, now what?
Really the 1st thing you should do when a Facebook ad is rejected, is look carefully at each part of the ad:
1. The ad copy above the creative
2. The creative.
3. The headline beneath the ad creative
4 The landing page
5. The privacy policy.
It’s real easy to go from 1 rejected ad to a disabled Facebook business manager if you can’t diagnose fast why your ad was rejected.
Facebook account restricted from advertising?
If you have an ad account that has been disabled for Facebook policy violations this means the next ad asset on the chopping block is your Facebook Business Manager. You don’t want that banned right?
So you’ll want to expand your audit of the ads you’ve run. Just like in the last section I mentioned breaking down each part of the ad and reviewing it for ad policy violations, now do the same thing for the ads you’ve run in the last month.
Don’t know what to look for? Just hire me to audit your funnel and get real answers when Facebook goes silent. Book your call here.
Facebook Policy Reviews and disputes
Most ad agencies make the rookie mistake of blindly appealing an ad reject or ad account getting disabled without understanding why it was shut down.
That’s a fast way to get your BM banned because if you have that same flag, that got you shut down, in more than one ad, it will all count against you.
It is much safer to audit your funnel first before appealing. Otherwise you are just rolling the dice. And when rent time comes around you don’t want to be rolling the dice with your landlord.
Facebook Policy Key takeaways
‣ Facebook creates new ad policies for good PR
‣ These ad policies are run by automations
‣ These new Facebook policy automations break when integrating with existing Facebook policies
‣ Beware of trademark infringements, don’t use the FB logo on your lander
‣ Audit your funnel before appealing an ad rejection
Even if you spent a week reading Facebook’s Ad Policies you’d still be at risk of a shut down for Personal Attributes simply because there are ways Facebook’s bots flag you that Facebook isn’t open about.
Don’t miss out on an opportunity to never have to get flagged again:
New Solution to Facebook Ad Policy Violations
After years of working at Facebook, I understand exactly what ad copy in your funnel is triggering the automations and how to get compliant.
Schedule a call with me and I can easily tell you why the automations flag you and how to become compliant. Don’t take my word for it, let my clients tell you what it was like working with me.
You’ll be swapping out walking in a minefield of ad flags, to have a sure path to having your Facebook ad accounts protected from being disabled.
My clients have included the social media marketing agencies of Tony Robbins, Harv Eker, and Dean Graziosi. How much is it costing you to not know why Facebook is shutting you down? Talk today.
I’m featured on the Queen of Facebook Mari Smith’s Marketing Essentials Course.
If you want to skip the line before this offer ends, immediately secure an expert-level Facebook consulting call from someone at Facebook. Book a call with me now!
If you’re ok with waiting a bit longer, and entering the waitlist to see if you’re eligible – Schedule a call or contact me via email.
Free eBook: Top 5 Reasons Agencies Fail at Facebook
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