Types of Google Ads Policy Violations

Google Ads keeps things fair and trustworthy for everyone by enforcing clear guidelines for advertisers. These guidelines make sure ads are legal, relevant, and provide a positive experience for users.

Google uses both automated and manual checks to enforce ads policy violations. Familiarize yourself with these policies to avoid having your ads blocked or your account suspended.

  1. Misleading Ads:
  • Making unrealistic claims: Don't say you're the #1 company in the world unless you can prove it.
  • Bait and switch: Don't promise something in your ad and then deliver something different on your website.
  • Hidden information: Don't make people jump through hoops to find out key details like price or terms.
  1. Suspicious Activity:
  • Fake clicks: Google doesn't like it if you try to inflate the number of clicks your ad gets by clicking on it yourself or using bots.
  • Shady software: Ads that promote programs that could harm users, like spyware or malware, are a no-go.
  • Deceptive practices: Don't try to trick people into clicking on your ad with misleading content.
  1. Harmful Content:
  • Offensive material: Ads that promote violence, hate speech, or discrimination are against the rules.
  • Unsafe products: Google won't let you advertise things that could be dangerous, like illegal drugs or weapons.
  • Adult content: If your ad is too racy, it won't be approved.
  1. Technical Issues:
  • Bad formatting: There are rules about things like font size, caps lock, and how many exclamation points you can use.
  • Wrong landing page: Make sure your ad takes people to a web page that actually matches what's advertised.
  • Auto-redirects: Don't send people on a wild goose chase by automatically redirecting them from your landing page to somewhere else.
  1. Misrepresentation and Deception:
  • Making misleading claims: Don't exaggerate benefits or use false information to make your product seem better.
  • Hidden fees or terms: Don't trick users with surprise charges or complicated terms they can't easily find.
  • Bait and switch: Don't advertise one thing and deliver something else on your landing page.
  • Guaranteed results: Avoid promises you can't keep, like guaranteeing weight loss or income levels.
  • Comparative claims: Be truthful and accurate in comparisons with competitors.
  1. Prohibited Content:
  • Dangerous or harmful products: Don't advertise weapons, illegal drugs, or anything that could cause physical harm.
  • Discriminatory or offensive content: Ads promoting hate speech, violence, or discrimination are strictly prohibited.
  • Adult content: Google Ads has restrictions on sexually suggestive material.
  • Copyrighted content: Don't use trademarks or copyrighted material without permission.
  • Regulated products or services: There are limitations on advertising certain products like tobacco or gambling (restrictions vary by location).
  1. Technical Issues:
  • Incorrect information: Make sure your ad accurately reflects the product or service you're offering.
  • Misspellings and grammatical errors: Keep your ad copy professional and free of typos.
  • Spammy content: Avoid excessive use of punctuation, caps lock, or irrelevant keywords.
  • Auto-redirects and pop-ups: Landing pages with unexpected redirects or intrusive pop-ups violate Google's policies.
  • Broken landing pages: Ensure your landing page functions correctly and delivers what your ad promises.
  1. Business Practices:
  • Making unrealistic claims of superiority: Avoid boasting about being the "best" without clear evidence to back it up.
  • Affiliate marketing disclosures: Be transparent about affiliate marketing practices.
  • Multi-level marketing (MLM) promotions: There are specific guidelines for promoting MLM businesses.
  • Unrealistic earning potential: Don't mislead people about how much money they can make with your product or opportunity.
  • Unwanted software downloads: Don't trick users into downloading software they don't want.
  1. Account-Level Issues:
  • Suspicious activity: Google frowns upon attempts to inflate clicks or impressions artificially.
  • Multiple accounts for the same business: Generally, one account per business is allowed.
  • Policy violations on multiple ads: A history of policy violations can put your account at risk.
  1. Restricted Content:
  • Healthcare and medications: Advertising some healthcare products or services require special approval.
  • Financial products and services: There are regulations around advertising financial products like loans or investments.
  • Alcohol: Restrictions on alcohol advertising vary by location.
  • Political advertising: Special rules apply to political campaign ads.

This is just a brief overview, and there are many other specific policies that Google Ads enforces. You can find the complete list of articles in this link https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/6008942?hl=enopen in new window.

We have also curated a couple of playlists from the Google Ads Policy Channel, Google Transparency Centeropen in new window: These playlists offer video explanations of Google Ads policies.

We hope you find this article helpful!