What to Do When Your Facebook Ad Account Is Restricted

If you find yourself in the boat of having your Facebook ad account restricted, take heart—you're in good company, just like countless Facebook advertisers before you.

In this article, we'll embark on a journey to uncover why your ad account set sail on the rocky shores of restriction, explore how to navigate these waters for resolution, and, with a sprinkle of wisdom, safeguard your ad voyage from future storms.

How to Identify If Your Account Is Restricted?

First things first – what are these Facebook ad restrictions, and why do they even exist? 

Think of them as the digital referees of the Facebook stadium, ensuring everyone plays by the rules. It's like trying to sneak backstage at a concert without a pass - you might try, but chances are you'll get caught!

Facebook, in its wisdom, can put restrictions on various assets, including:

• Your Ad Account: When this gets the 'restriction' label, it's like the 'No Entry' sign at a theme park, but for your ad campaigns. No new campaigns and your current ones hit pause.
• Your Personal Facebook Profile: It's like a digital timeout corner – no more ad creation or management, and you can forget about creating new ad accounts or assets. Facebook will even gently remind you: "Your Advertising Access is Restricted."
• Your Business Manager Account: When your Business Manager Account takes a hit, you can't manage anything – no new ad accounts, pixels, or custom audiences. It's like your digital toolbox is locked and taken away from you.
• Your Facebook Page: If your page gets the advertising boot, it can't be used for any ads. However, your ad account is still in the game.

Now that we've introduced you to this quirky Facebook asset universe, let's unravel the reasons behind these restrictions and, more importantly, how to turn the tide!

Common Reasons for Facebook Ad Account Restrictions

Hold onto your hats, folks, because here comes the drama! Facebook isn't just a party; it's a party with rules. There is nothing like Facebook ad account restricted for no reason. From misleading ads to suspicious payment methods, there are countless reasons Facebook might send you to the timeout corner. We'll take you through the most common infractions so you can avoid them like a pro.

Trying to count the ways Facebook can restrict your ad account is like trying to count stars in the night sky - nearly impossible! But fear not, for we're here to shed some light on the common culprits.

1. Your Ads failed to meet Facebook’s policies

Legalese is NOT everyone’s favorite thing to read. Trust me, I know a lot of friends who quit at half of the terms of use or even don’t bother to have a look at all!

But, this can cause a really big problem later on, which could be so much more than a couple of hours of reading. Your ads will possibly get rejected, or even worse, restricted! 

Facebook can be as finicky as a cat when it comes to its advertising policies, terms of use, and community standards. Here are some usual suspects: 

• Sexually explicit content: Anything related to intimacy is a no-go. Even innocent spa services can be flagged for body parts shown without any sexual suggestions.
• Prohibited categories: Say goodbye to ads for drugs, tobacco, weapons, and financial products like loans and auctions. Even though they could be legal, Facebook's exclusive guest list just doesn't include them.
• Misinformation: Truth matters, folks. No room for fake news here.
• Sensational content: Facebook prefers real excitement, not clickbait.
• Bad grammar or punctuation: Advertise with the eloquence of a scholar, not the sloppiness of a text message.
• Inflammatory content: Hate speech or abuse is strictly off-limits.
• Unacceptable business practices: Deceptive ads? Not on Facebook's watch.
• Low-quality or deceptive content: Be genuine, not gimmicky. Misleading clicks are a big no-no.
• Personal attributes: Avoid making assumptions about people's personal lives or characteristics. No Sherlock Holmes here!

2. Your ads received too many restrictions before

If you keep sending ads that Facebook rejects like a kid pushing their food around the plate, your advertising account will possibly get restricted. Then, there will be the most painful feeling ahead, you have no choice but to appeal and wait (for a while, maybe a LONG while) for Facebook’s decision.

3. Facebook ad account restricted for security reasons

Facebook is like your vigilant neighbour. If they sense something as “suspicious activities'' (eg. hacking attempts, overspending in a short period, or fake profiles), they might restrict your account, just to protect you!

Just in case, you should check again and if your account got hacked, you can get help fixing the problem HERE.

4. There are too many negative feedbacks on your ads

Please keep in mind that people can always leave comments about your ads, and not always in a good way. 

Every ad on Facebook has a three-dot button on the upper right. Click on it and then you will find the two options that can give negative feedback about that ad.

Sometimes Facebook will notify the user to ask how they feel about the brand.

One or two negative thoughts about your brand won’t cause much damage. But if your ads receive too many of them, Facebook might put your ad account in a restricted corner. 

So, it is crucial to keep your customers happy to avoid the bad impression!

Remember, dear fellow advertiser, while Facebook restrictions can be as perplexing as a Rubik's Cube, they're not insurmountable. Stay vigilant, follow the rules, and keep the digital vibes positive!

How to Appeal a Facebook Ad Account Restriction

So, your ads are in Facebook Ad Prison. What's next? 

If your page is restricted from advertising, there’s nothing much you can do. But don’t worry, we've got your great escape plan, complete with step-by-step instructions below:

No matter the unique twist in your account's tale, the first step remains the same: contact Facebook for help!!!

Facebook has your back with the Account Quality page. This page offers an overview of any issues within your account. If your Facebook profile, ad account, or Business Manager faces exile, look to the upper right-hand corner for the 'what you can do' box.

The instructions within that box may vary depending on the nature of your ban. Ad accounts and Business Manager bans offer an 'account review' button, while Facebook profile bans often require an identity verification quest.

Facebook suggests a quick resolution, often within 48 hours. But brace yourself for potential delays, which can feel like weeks.

After the wait, you'll receive one of two outcomes:

• Cheers! Your appeal is accepted, and celebration ensues.
• Back to square one: Your appeal is rejected, and you're left pondering.

If your appeal is rejected, in certain scenarios, you can give your request another shot using the same method. Alternatively, check if you can reach out to Facebook support directly via the Help Center.

If all you’ve tried fails, consider starting anew with a fresh ad account or Business Manager. But here's a nugget of wisdom: use a different credit card to avoid raising eyebrows at Facebook's watchtower. They have an uncanny knack for recognizing familiar faces (or cards) in the digital crowd.

A lot of people also ask their friends, family members, or even colleagues for their Facebook profile access to continue advertising. It is extremely risky since Facebook may flag this as fraud activity and also keep restricting that account as well.

Best Practices to Avoid Future Facebook Ad Restrictions

To ensure the long-term health and compliance of your Facebook ad account, it's crucial to implement preventive measures. This section will cover best practices that can help you avoid future restrictions, ensuring your advertising efforts remain smooth and uninterrupted.

Regular Policy Reviews

Facebook frequently updates its ad policies. Regularly reviewing these updates ensures you are always compliant. Subscribe to Facebook’s business blog, join relevant forums, and participate in webinars to stay updated on policy changes.

Thorough Ad Content Review

Develop a checklist to review each ad carefully for compliance before publishing. Always remember to Identify and avoid common issues such as misleading content, prohibited products, and inappropriate language.
Moreover, you can utilize ad review tools that can help identify potential compliance issues before ads go live.

Securing your ad account

Regularly monitor your ad account for unusual activity or performance dips, which could indicate potential issues. Regularly review your account’s audit log to track changes and identify any unauthorized activity.

• Enable Login Alerts and Login Approvals.
• Use Security Check to review and enhance the security of your account.
• Enable two-factor authentication to protect your account from unusual activity.

FAQs

How do I contact Facebook support about ad restrictions?

• Start a live-support chat from the Business Manager
• Start a live-support chat from the Help Center
• Start a live-support chat from Business Suite
• Meta Business Help Centre: The official help page of Facebook offers, besides the live chat, classic help pages in the style of FAQs. Here you will find a number of common topics and how to approach the solution to different problems. Often they will lead you to a form that you have to fill out & send in.

Are Facebook restrictions permanent?

Facebook's jail sentence can last anywhere between a few hours or it can go up to 21 days. There are two kinds of Facebook restrictions: Temporary and Permanent blocking

How do I request a review of a restricted ad account?

Request a review of the restricted Facebook ad account. First, jump into Ads Manager. Typically, you'll see a red bar informing you that your account has been restricted from advertising. Click “See Details” to submit your appeal and get your account back up and running.

Conclusion

In conclusion, dealing with a restricted Facebook ad account can be challenging, but understanding the common reasons for restrictions, knowing how to identify and respond immediately, and effectively communicating with Facebook support can streamline the resolution process.

By thoroughly reviewing and adhering to Facebook’s ad policies, appealing restrictions correctly, and implementing preventive measures, you can mitigate future risks and ensure your advertising efforts remain uninterrupted. For ongoing success, stay informed and proactive in managing your Facebook ad account.