LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking platform with over 850 million users worldwide. As a popular social media site, LinkedIn provides a valuable opportunity for businesses to advertise their products and services. However, LinkedIn does have restrictions on the types of ads that can be run on their platform.
Why LinkedIn Has Advertising Restrictions
LinkedIn aims to provide a professional environment for users to network and grow their careers. Allowing any kind of advertising could clutter feeds and disrupt the intended user experience. LinkedIn’s ad policies are designed to maintain the professional nature of the site by prohibiting inappropriate, misleading, or low-quality ads.
Restrictions also help LinkedIn comply with regulations around certain products and services that cannot be advertised freely online. By limiting the scope of advertising, LinkedIn can avoid legal issues and provide a safe environment for its global user base.
Prohibited Content in LinkedIn Ads
LinkedIn’s full advertising policies prohibit over 20 categories of advertising content. Here are some of the key restrictions to be aware of:
1. Adult Content
Explicitly sexual or pornographic products, services, materials, and entertainment are strictly prohibited from advertising on LinkedIn. This includes but is not limited to:
- Pornography or adult entertainment
- Escort services
- Erotic dances or massages
- Nudity or lewd content
2. Offensive Content
Ads cannot contain content that promotes hatred or intolerance against protected groups. Offensive content related to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and other characteristics is prohibited. This includes:
- Hate speech
- Stereotypes or harmful assumptions
- Calls for exclusion or segregation
- Violent, graphic, or gory imagery
3. Misleading Claims
Ads cannot make deceptive, false, or exaggerated statements about products, services, or business opportunities. This includes unsubstantiated claims about:
- Health benefits or medical treatments
- Get-rich-quick schemes
- Investment returns
- Educational outcomes
- Business opportunities
- Employment opportunities
4. Dangerous Products
LinkedIn prohibits ads for products that may be unsafe, dangerous, or detrimental to one’s health and wellbeing. Banned products include but are not limited to:
- Weapons, firearms, ammunition
- Recreational drugs
- Tobacco
- Unsafe supplements or pharmaceuticals
5. Illegal Activity
Any advertising promoting illegal activity is strictly forbidden, including:
- Copyright piracy or illegal downloading
- Sales of illegal or controlled substances
- Evasion of lawful taxes or regulations
- False identity documents
Restricted Products and Services
In addition to completely prohibited content, LinkedIn also places restrictions on certain regulated products and services. These items may be advertised but have special rules and requirements, including:
Financial Products
- Credit and lending products – Must comply with lending laws and regulations
- Investment opportunities – Cannot promise unrealistic returns
- Insurance – Must adhere to all licensing and underwriting requirements
Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
- Over-the-counter medication – Must list active ingredients and side effects
- Prescription medication – Must adhere to any FDA requirements
- Medical devices – Must clearly state intended use and safety information
- Supplements and vitamins – Claims must be supported by clinical evidence
Political Advertising
- Must include proper disclaimers indicating who paid for the ad
- May be prohibited for certain political figures in sanctioned countries
Gambling and Contests
- Online gambling ads are prohibited globally
- Contest and sweepstakes rules must be clearly communicated
- No false claims of improved luck or chances of winning
Review Process for LinkedIn Ads
To uphold its advertising policies, LinkedIn has implemented the following processes:
- All ads go through an automated screening when they are created looking for policy violations
- Sample ad impressions are reviewed post-launch to check for non-compliant content
- Users can report concerning ads directly to LinkedIn
- LinkedIn’s trust and safety team manually reviews reported ads
- Violating ads are immediately taken down and may lead to account restrictions
Following these steps allows LinkedIn to scalably review billions of ad impressions while still providing human oversight on a case-by-case basis.
Appealing Advertising Policy Violations
If your LinkedIn ad account is restricted because an ad was found to violate policy, you can appeal the decision with the following steps:
- Review the specific policy that your ad violated
- Make the necessary changes to your ad content to comply with LinkedIn policies
- Appeal the restriction through LinkedIn’s ads support form
- Provide information on the changes made to the ad and why it no longer violates policy
- Wait for a response from the LinkedIn appeals team, typically within 72 hours
Some violations around dangerous and illegal products cannot be appealed. But for most other infractions, appealing with corrected ad content is the proper process.
Best Practices for Compliant LinkedIn Ads
The easiest way to avoid issues with advertising on LinkedIn is by proactively following best practices such as:
- Carefully read all LinkedIn ad policies and prohibited content lists
- Have Compliant ad copy – avoid unprofessional language and graphic content
- Fact check any product claims or business opportunity promises
- Use recent, authentic images that match the product/service
- Transparently display information like disclosures, terms, and conditions
- List any required health warnings for regulated products
Putting in the effort up front to craft compliant, high-quality ads will help your LinkedIn advertising run smoothly and effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I advertise e-cigarettes or vaping products on LinkedIn?
No, LinkedIn does not allow advertising of e-cigarettes, vaping products, or related accessories and paraphernalia. These items are prohibited under LinkedIn’s policies related to unsafe or regulated products.
Are multi-level marketing ads allowed on LinkedIn?
Multi-level marketing (MLM) ads may be permitted if they meet certain requirements around transparent disclosure of business model, earnings claims, and contact information. However, promoters must take care not to make exaggerated income claims that would violate LinkedIn’s prohibition on misleading content.
Can I promote guns, ammunition, or weapons on LinkedIn?
No, ads promoting the sale of weapons, firearms, ammunition, and related accessories are strictly prohibited across LinkedIn and its parent company Microsoft Advertising. This policy helps maintain LinkedIn’s professional environment.
Are cryptocurrency and blockchain business ads allowed?
Ads for cryptocurrency exchanges, blockchain tools, crypto companies, and related services are generally permitted. However, they must meet requirements around clear disclosures and cannot promise unrealistic investment returns. LinkedIn carefully monitors crypto ads for misleading earning guarantees.
Can I advertise CBD products on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn allows ads for topical CBD products like creams and oils, but prohibits oral CBD products including edibles and supplements. All permissible CBD ads must include required disclosures around CBD content, make no medical claims, and target only countries where those products are legal.
Conclusion
LinkedIn offers a unique opportunity to reach a global professional audience. But to maintain that valuable community, the platform must place certain restrictions around inappropriate or illegal advertising content. By avoiding prohibited products and services, and sticking to compliant ad creative, marketers can effectively and ethically advertise on LinkedIn.