If you thought having an adult Facebook page was hard to accomplish, try running an adult ad. It is almost impossible. Even running content that is considered family friendly can be really hard to maintain due to the strict rules set forth by Facebook.

To run a successful ad campaign on Facebook you have to start with the content of your page. Your content has to be deemed acceptable, and Facebook has some pretty strict guidelines. Many of these seem pretty simple and straightforward. But the reality is, when you are on the network and doing your thing, it can be pretty hard to color within the lines.

Facebook Rules for Advertising:

General Rules:

1. Ads must directly relate to the content on the landing page.
2. Ads must clearly represent the company, product or brand that is being advertised. Products or services promoted in the ad must be directly available on the landing page.
3. Ads cannot insult, harass or threaten a user.

Translation:

1. You cannot have an ad that is advertising something different than the page it is linked to.
2. You cannot pretend you are a different company or a different person than you actually are.
3. You cannot tease or taunt people in your ad to get them to click on the ad.

Landing Pages:

1. Ads that contain a URL or domain in the body must link to that same URL or domain.
2. Landing pages cannot generate a pop-up (including “pop-overs” and “pop-unders”) when a user enters or leaves the page.

Translation:

1. If you show a web address in your ad, the ad must link to that web address. So you cannot have a web address but have the link go somewhere else.
2. When you click on the ad it cannot take you to a page that has pop-up ads or pop-up pages.

Targeting:

1. Any targeting of ads based on a user attribute, such as age, gender, location or interest must be directly relevant to the offer, and cannot be done by a method inconsistent with privacy and data policies.
2. Ads with adult themes, including contraception, sex education and health conditions must be targeted to individuals at least 18 years old. Platform ads should do this via Demographic Restrictions, not by obtaining user data.

Translation:

1. When you target an ad to your audience, it has to be directly related to the content you are advertising. So if you are advertising a dating site, it has to be directed to singles.
2. Any ad with adult content can only be directed to people 18 and older.

Prohibited Content:

1. Adult content, including nudity, sexual terms and/or images of people in positions or activities that are excessively suggestive or sexual, or provocative images in violation of community standards;
2. Adult friend finders or dating sites with a sexual emphasis;
3. Adult toys, videos or other adult products;
4. Ads must not be false, misleading, fraudulent, or deceptive.
5. Ads will not be permitted in cases where a business model or practice is deemed unacceptable or contrary to Facebook’s overall advertising philosophy.

Translation:

1. Porn. Naked pictures. Sexual pictures. Naughty words. Violence…in a nut shell. Nope, probably no nut-shells either.
2. Dildos, vibrators, strap-ons, lube, and pretty much anything you would find in a sex shop.
3. You cannot lie in your ad.
4. You can’t go against the code of ethics in the Facebook Terms of Service.

Most people in the adult industry will find advertising on Facebook pretty difficult. Some of you will be able to do it, depending on what your website or content is, some might not. Learning the rules are the only way to know if you can.

Stay tuned for the next post on porn stars advertising on Facebook and learn some tips and trick on how to run a Facebook ad if you are in porn.