Overview
The Unacceptable Business Practices policy is one of the most serious Google Ads violations, resulting in immediate suspension of your account. To address this issue effectively, a thorough assessment of your business and online operations is essential. This policy may overlap with other violations under the broader ‘Misrepresentation’ policy.
Common Violations and How to Address Them
- Unacceptable Business Practices
Description:
This violation is flagged when Google Ads suspects that your business is misleading users by concealing or misrepresenting information about your products or services. This may also apply if your ad destination uses deceptive techniques, such as phishing, to gather user information.
Solution:
Carefully review your business information, website content, ad content, and product details. Prepare a detailed brief for Google Ads explaining how your business is legitimate and transparent.
Description:
This occurs when advertisers collaborate with other sites or accounts to hide or misrepresent their business identity, particularly concerning social issues, politics, or public concerns. It also applies if you misstate your origin or key details when targeting content in other countries.
Solution:
If your business is unrelated to these issues, make this clear in your appeal to Google Ads. Ensure your ad content adheres to any relevant country-specific policies.
- Misleading Representation
Description:
Google may flag businesses suspected of providing misleading information, omitting important details, or implying false affiliations. Examples include implying partnerships without proper consent or affiliate marketers advertising services they are not legally allowed to provide.
Solution:
Thoroughly check your business information, product data, privacy policy, and terms and conditions to ensure everything is accurate and truthful.
Description:
This violation involves failing to clearly disclose pricing or advertising items as free when they are not. Advertisers must be transparent about the complete expenses users might incur.
Solution:
Review and update your pricing information and business policies, including shipping, refunds, privacy, and terms and conditions, to ensure clarity and accuracy.
Description:
Ads that use sensational or misleading tactics to attract clicks, such as headlines promising secretive or shocking content, fall under this violation. Ads that evoke strong negative emotions to drive clicks, like fear or guilt, are also considered clickbait.
Solution:
Create ad copies that are engaging, truthful, and provide value. Avoid exaggerated or sensational language, and steer clear of referencing real-life negative events that could be seen as manipulative.
Description:
This refers to ads designed in a way that makes it hard for users to identify them as ads, leading to user confusion.
Solution:
Ensure that your ad copies are clear, concise, and distinguishable as advertisements. Double-check that images and links are straightforward and accurately represent the advertised content.
Description:
Using edited media to deceive, mislead, or defraud users can trigger this violation.
Solution:
Verify that all videos and images used in your ads are genuine and clearly represent your business without misleading elements.
- Unreliable Claims
Description:
Ads that make exaggerated claims or promises of improbable results can violate this policy. This includes claims related to health and weight loss, financial products, or political issues.
Solution:
Review your ad content and website copy to ensure all claims are factual and can be substantiated.
Description:
Promotions that are not directly relevant to the landing page's content can lead to account suspension.
Solution:
Check your ads for any outdated promotions and ensure that active promotions are clearly linked to their respective landing pages.
Description:
Promoting products, services, or offers that are unavailable or difficult to access from the landing page can lead to a policy violation.
Solution:
Ensure that any advertised products, services, or promotions are readily available and easily accessible to users from the landing page.
By addressing these violations methodically, advertisers can restore compliance and protect their Google Ads accounts from future suspensions.
