ReferenceGoogle Ads disapproval
Promo codes in Promotion assets
Google disapproves a promotion asset when its promo code field holds anything other than a promo code, such as a product description, a phone number or a promotional statement. Put only the code in that field. Check that the offer is easy to find at the ad's destination and priced as the ad says, then edit and save the asset.
At a glance
- Where it shows
- The Status column on the Assets page, as Disapproved under this policy.
- What stops
- The promotion does not serve while it stands.
- How serious
- Low on its own. Repeated violations of any policy can lead to a suspension.
- How long
- Google says edited assets are reviewed, usually within 1 business day.
What it means
A promotion asset shows an offer under the ad, with a promo code field for the code. The field takes the code alone. Google's page lists a product description, a phone number and a promotional statement as text that is not allowed there, so an offer written out in full fails even when it is correct.
The offer itself has to be real at the destination. That is a separate rule from the code field, covered by the unavailable offers page.
What actually triggers it
An offer written out in the code field
A promotional statement typed into the field, instead of the code, is text the field does not allow.
A phone number in the field
A phone number is listed as not allowed in the promo code field.
A product description in the field
A product description is listed as not allowed in the promo code field.
An offer the destination does not show
Under the related unavailable offers rule, an offer must be priced accurately, easy to find at the ad's destination, and consistent with the headlines and descriptions.
Fix it in this order
- Open Assets and find the promotion asset marked Disapproved.
- In the promo code field, leave only the code.
- Check that the offer is easy to find at the ad's destination and priced as the ad states.
- Edit the asset on the Assets page, select the pencil icon, and select Save.
When to appeal
Appeal when the code field holds only the code, the offer is valid at the destination, and the asset is still flagged. An appeal does not change the field, so correct it first.
Often confused with
The offer rule. A promotion can be disapproved under it even with a clean code field, because the destination must show the offer.
An account suspension for selling Google Ads promotional codes, the ad credit offers, or using more than one on an account. The discount code in a promotion asset is a separate rule with a separate fix.