Reading the Policy Page Before Placing Your First Ad

I almost skipped the policy page my first time buying ads. The dashboard made it easy to upload creative and set a budget, so I treated the policy as fine print. That was a mistake. A few minutes of reading would have saved me a rejected ad and a day of guessing.

Now I read the policy before I build anything. I start with content restrictions. I check whether my product category is allowed, what claims I can make, and whether images need disclaimers. If I sell something regulated, I look for the specific section instead of assuming it is fine. I also check rules about health claims, financial promises, and before-and-after images. When a rule is vague, I ask support before spending.

The next thing I look at is accidental clicks. A placement can look cheap and still be a bad fit if people tap it by mistake. I avoid layouts that put ads too close to buttons, menus, or game controls. I also check how the network defines invalid clicks and what happens if my traffic quality looks off. I do not try to guess; I read the network’s own explanation and follow it.

Placement rules matter too. Some networks restrict where an ad can appear, how it can be labeled, or whether it can sit inside certain content. I keep a short list of what I verify:

• Allowed page categories and excluded content
• Required ad labels and disclosure text
• Rules for mobile placements and accidental taps
• Creative formats and file limits
• What triggers a warning or account review

I also read the enforcement section. A warning can come from a rejected creative, a policy violation, or unusual click patterns. I keep screenshots and notes so I can respond clearly. Before I compare options, I use an ad network comparison to narrow the field, then read each network’s current policy myself. The terms change, so I check the provider’s own page before I launch.

— Daniel Hayes