Browsing through the Google AdWords Content Policy Guidelines, it is evident that Google doesn’t like advertisers advertising for illegal or unacceptable activity. The other major search engines have similar policies, but Google’s is really specific about what you cannot promote. Here’s a sampling from the list:
- You can’t promote how to pass drug tests
- While not explicitly forbidden, there are restrictions on advertising alcohol products
- Hate speech or violence is not permitted
- No copyrighted content without permission
- You can’t advertise counterfeit designer products (that knocks out much of the third world)
- You can’t promote drugs or drug paraphernalia
- Pyrotechnics are out
- Gambling promotion is also not allowed (I wonder if this is due to UIGEA)
- No promotion of hacking or cracking
- Oh, and don’t even think about advertising miracle cures (What? No snake oil?)
- You can engage in political advertising “regardless of the political views they represent” – in other words, you can’t promote drugs, but you can promote the political position that drugs should not be legal; hmmm ….
- You can’t promote firearms or prostitution
- No tobacco products advertising
- Finally, if Google considers a practice unacceptable webmastering then you can’t advertise it
Find out what else Google AdWords won’t allow.
