At some point or another, you’ve likely seen an error message saying that the Facebook didn’t approve your ad because it didn’t follow the guidelines.

These messages can put you behind and cause a lot of hair-pulling and stress when you’re on a deadline!

The biggest question you’re probably asking (or screaming if we’re being realistic) is, “What does ‘doesn’t follow our guidelines’ even mean?!”

So before you put your heart and soul into a Facebook ad only to have it rejected by the powers that be, there are some things you’ll want to consider to stay within those guidelines.

We just picked the top 3 to ease you up on these.

Personal Attributes Policy

When you’re trying to get your ads out into the world, you’re probably trying to sell something. Some service, idea, product, something that will improve the lives of those who jump on board.

Facebook has a personal attributes policy that prohibits you and your ads, from making assumptions about people’s race, ethnicity, religion, beliefs, age, sexual orientation and practice, gender identity, disabilities, and more!

Anything that asks something along the lines of “YOU need to lose weight” or “you’re feeling stuck” violates this policy. Assuming someone’s weight or mental health goes against this personal attributes clause.

Whatever you’re trying to sell, be careful how you phrase it. Double-check that you’re not making assumptions about any category of personal attributes!

Discriminatory Practices

We don’t think about these types of discriminatory practices in our online ads very often. But this is one of the more common ways that your Facebook ads get caught in the net.

These characteristics are a little more specific than personal attributes and often deal with things your audience can’t change about themselves. Anything from race to color, national origin, age, sex, and family status fall under the discriminatory practices.

Targeted language that speaks to any of these practices will quickly get your ad denied and banned from the site.

Misleading Claims Policy

One of the easiest ways to make your point with an ad is to make a lot of claims, but Facebook almost immediately flags them as misleading or false! (Don’t do it.)

Whether it’s weight loss, hair color, or a faster way to make money, skip the claims and stick with persuasion. Any type of exaggeration you make in an ad will be caught and flagged.

The Takeaway?

Knowing more about Facebooks’ ad policies is the best first step you can take to ensure your ads get posted every time!

The essence of your Facebook ads is the wording, and you can get your ads posted to maximum effect if you’re careful with the copy. Avoid any persuasion that centers around personal attributes or discriminatory practices and keep your claims to a minimum.

By avoiding these few things, you’ll get your money’s worth in no time!