Today, almost everyone is familiar with the social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. However, people may be unfamiliar with these platforms' advertising capabilities and policies. Facebook has the same responsibility as Google to protect the interests and well-being of the users of their platform. For this reason, they have constructed a detailed list of guidelines that must be followed when choosing to advertise on their sites.

Facebook's Advertising Policies

Facebook divides their advertising policies into various subsections, similar to Google's policy setup. In total there are about 13 sections listed with topics ranging from prohibited content to data use restrictions. These policies may seem unimportant to most people, but for advertisers and marketers these policies need to be followed closely.

The following are just a few examples of what cannot be advertised on Facebook or Instagram:

Prohibited Content

Prohibited content refers to content that cannot be promoted in Facebook advertisements. This includes ads promoting:

Restricted Content

Restricted content refers to content that may be promoted in Facebook advertisements only if it complies with certain standards. This includes ads promoting or referencing:

Facebook ad users must also be very careful that they do not use targeting options to discriminate or harass users or engage in any type of predatory advertising practices. Also, when constructing ads, users must make sure that their text and images are relevant to the product or service and to their target audience.

The Ad Review Process

Once you have read through the numerous pages of guidelines, it is finally time to submit an ad that will be posted on Facebook or Instagram. Unfortunately, your ad will not instantly show up. Why? Because Facebook has a specific review process they use to review your ad before it is made public.

During this ad review process, Facebook checks to make sure that the ad's images, text, targeting, and positioning all fall within their guidelines. They will also check the content on the ad's landing page to make sure that it is functioning correctly. If the ad doesn't comply with their advertising policies, it will not be approved. If the ad is approved, Facebook will start running the ad and the results can be viewed in Ads Manager.

What If Your Ad Is Not Approved?

It is not the end of the world if an ad does not receive approval. Users still have the option to edit their ad for resubmission. If the ad was not approved, the user will receive an email stating exactly what was wrong with the ad that had been submitted. The user must then look over their ad, make the necessary changes, and resubmit it for review. If the user feels that there was a mistake or cannot edit their ad, they can appeal the decision by filling out a specific form.

"Following the guidelines provided by these platforms is a valuable way to learn how to create great ads."

Overall, as time goes on and we continue to understand digital advertising, Facebook's ad policies may change. However, it is very important to stay well informed about these policies and any changes that may occur. Advertising is not a perfect science and a "perfect" way does not exist. But following the guidelines provided by these platforms is a valuable way to learn how to create great ads.

Need Help with Facebook Advertising?

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