Google Ads Policy: 5 Products and Services Which You Can’t Promote

With Google Ads, businesses can reach their desired target both through search engines and display networks. Despite its being a big catch area, Google Ads still has restrictions on some types of products and services that could be advertised through it. Such restrictions are rooted in many reasons: a legal prohibition on advertising, safety concerns, or simply Google’s internal policy. Knowing what does fall under those restrictions is paramount, if you plan to advertise any product or service. Here are five products and services you cannot advertise on Google – yet.

1. Recreational Drugs and Related Products

• Why It’s Banned: This is one of the most restricted sectors of advertisement on Google Ads. This refers to recreational drugs such as marijuana, including by-products, even where their use is allowed for medical or recreational purposes.

The main reason this is so is the conflictive legal landscape of these substances. While cannabis is legal in most states and even countries, it remains illegal at the federal level and in most parts of the world, including but not exclusive to the United States, making digital advertising a gray area.

• Implications for advertisers: Indeed, even products that are only affiliated with recreational drugs, like paraphernalia, pipes, or vaporizers, have a lot of restrictions in place. In the cannabis business space, business dispensaries would often rely on organic search, influencer marketing, and other third-party ad platforms. This, in essence, brings creativity into digital strategies to brands much more often than not, and how they can build their audience.

• Future: The idea is, with this spread of legalization, Google will finally soften up its rules regarding cannabis advertising. Most likely, this will come from taking a cue from whatever the federal major countries, like the U.S., are making on regulations concerning ongoing social acceptance.

2. Cryptocurrency and Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs)

Why It’s Banned: These online types of cash, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, have gone up in values many times over the course of the last couple of years. Yet, Google Ads is prohibited from advertising cryptocurrency exchanges, wallets, or initial coin offerings due to fraud, for the most part, but also because of protection for the investor. With the volatility of this market, lots of people have been scammed, and Google has had to be very careful.

• IMPLICATIONS FOR ADVERTISERS: This is, without a doubt, disappointing news for crypto and blockchain businesses. In fact, most crypto-related financial services and investment advice have also been banned. Only a few regulated crypto businesses can run ads by going through an approval process first.

• Future: The other reason, which is quite reasonable, is that Google might ease up on its policies as the cryptocurrency market matures and a broader adoption of the field emerges. For now, many are consigned to grassroots marketing, PR, and direct outreach strategies.

3. Unauthorized Pharmaceuticals and Supplements

• Why It’s Banned: Google is very strict about the marketing of pharmaceuticals or health products, approved or not. Everything starting from unapproved drugs to supplements, weight loss pills, and performance enhancers right down to experimental treatments not approved by the relevant regulatory authorities such as the FDA are high priorities. Most importantly, it ensures user safety and refrains from making any kind of false or misleading claims in regard to health.

•Implications for Advertisers: For example, if you are selling any kind of health products, make sure it comes under the advertising policy of Google. Even some dietary supplements come under scrutiny, especially making unsubstantiated or exaggerated claims. Ads for unapproved pharmaceuticals will get disapproved, and sometimes an entire account may be suspended.

• Future: Where the pharmaceutical industry is highly regulated, Google might, in their policy, make gradual changes as more treatments get approved by health authorities. Until then, businesses within this industry would have to seek other ways of marketing than on the site. One example could be direct-to-consumer outreach or through healthcare professionals.

4. Adult Content and Services

• Why It’s Banned: Google Adwords is restricted from advertising any form of adult content and services, including pornography, adult entertainment, or escort services. This would provide the family-friendly atmosphere that should be expected on the Google platform. Most search engines and websites that have results in the list actually encourage such advertisements. However, Google chose to refrain from this since it would definitely not maintain the status as a family-friendly search engine.

• Implications for Advertisers: Major players such as Google and social media sites have blocked businesses in the adult industry due to various heavy restrictions. They would need to look for alternatives or use other advertising networks or take advantage of SEO and content marketing strategies that will attract their target market.

• Future: So, from the very nature of the way it works and promises placed by Google to make it a safe community for all, an open door for adult content advertisers would be highly unlikely. Other than that, other avenues and niche platforms inside the digital world should be considered to reach a higher market share.

5. Firearms and Related Products

• Why It’s Banned: Google will not allow the advertising of any content which involves “firearms, ammunition, or any firearm parts or silencers”. This policy reflects the safety stand of the corporation so as not to let any related reputation for endorsement of any form of violence take place. It may be legal in some places to promote or sale guns, but Google remains rigid and prohibits such advertisement altogether always erring on the side of caution.

• Implications for Advertisers: The key disadvantages to any gun retailer, manufacturer, or enthusiast marketing products online are that, while they have access to content marketing, organic SEO, and social media-with some limitations-sans access to Google Ads, they are missing an opportunity to reach a lot of potential customers. In addition, among the related products that could be marketed, there are knives, pepper sprays, and tasers—all these and possibly more are restricted in certain instances.

• Future: Similar to the marijuana industry, changes in local and national firearm regulations may very well affect how Google approaches the advertisement of firearms. Because of the sensitive nature of the topic, though, Google will more than likely not relax these restrictions anytime soon.

Alternatives to restricted products for Google Ads

As shown above, the above restrictions narrow the doors of advertisement for certain products and services, businesses belonging to those industries are not left with no options. Here are some alternative ways for promoting restricted items:-

1.Social Media Platforms (With Caution): While there are similar restrictions to Google on various social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, there are some anomalies or niches out there for industries like cannabis and crypto. Brands can reach their audience via organic posts, influencer marketing, or building community.

2. Native Advertising Networks: Content discovery networks such as Taboola and Outbrain are supposedly more lenient with the rules of advertising, depending on what type of content is being promoted.

3. SEO and Content Marketing: Allow more emphasis on organic building by content value, blog posts, and video. This way, businesses effortlessly make their way up to the top of SERPs without depending on paid advertising.

4. Affiliate Marketing: Engage with influencers, bloggers, or third-party websites that will post affiliate links and give commissions for each referred click.

 5. Email Marketing: Building a good email list is worth much and allows reaching directly to the target audience without depending on third-party advertising channels.

 Conclusion

 Google Ads boast colossal potentials for any business; there are always restrictions on various products and services allowed to show up on the search engine. Herein, this article covers all it takes to understand the restrictions of recreational drugs, cryptocurrency, unapproved pharmaceuticals, adult content, and firearms. While it is unlikely that Google would wake up one day and implement any of these policies, understanding this ever-changing landscape and ways to adhere to the terms of service does become challenging.