Google Ads Better Ads Standards

Google Ads is implementing a new policy requiring landing pages to meet the “better ads standards,” as the Coalition for Better Ads laid out.

A change to Google’s destination requirements policy states if an ad leads to a page that doesn’t comply with the better ad standards, Google will disapprove the ad.

Google is sending emails to advertisers informing them of the policy change, which leaves roughly a month to make necessary updates.

The email reads:

“In October 2022, the Destination requirements policy will be updated to include a new policy requiring ad experiences on destinations to conform to the Coalition for Better Ads’ Better Ads Standards. Destinations containing ad experiences that do not conform to the Better Ads Standards will be informed via the Ad Experience Report, and any ads that lead to such destinations will be disapproved.”

If you’re running Google Ads, this new policy means you must be extra careful about the pages people land on. Google doesn’t want advertisers sending people to pages that contain intrusive or annoying ad experiences.

Search Engine Journal reports that your landing pages may be complying with the better ad’s standards already, especially if they’re optimized for Google’s page experience update.

If you’re unsure whether your landing pages meet the standards, Google will inform you in the Ad Experience Report.

Ads that do not comply with the better ad’s standards are as follows:

• Pop-up ads
• Auto playing video ads with sound
• Ads that block visitors from seeing the main content
• Prestitial and postitial ads with countdowns
• Large sticky ads that stay on a page as the visitor scrolls
• Ad density greater than 30%
• Flashing animated ads

A good rule of thumb — if an ad interrupts a visitor’s browsing experience, it’s almost certainly against the better ad’s standards.