Advertising

These style policies will help you properly use ad titles and content, as well as explain what types of formatting and content are disallowed. Here you'll find guidance on grammar, punctuation and how to craft clear and concise language for the most effectively targeted ads.

General advertisement content policies

Write clear, factual ads that accurately describe what is offered on your property. When writing ad titles and content descriptions, keep in mind the following policies:

  • Always write a short description that accurately describes what users will find at your site. Concisely written ads are more interesting and attractive to leads and give them a better experience and generally better results.
  • Clearly explain how the ad you have provided specifically relates to the keywords you have chosen. To potentially improve your click-through rates, include the keyword in your title and content wherever possible.
  • Use correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.
  • Do not include unproven claims or endorsements in your ads or on your landing pages.
  • Do not repeat words or phrases (for example, "Sale, sale, sale…").
  • Do not use offensive or inappropriate language.
  • Do not include unnecessary symbols to draw attention to ad copy (for example: Ca$h, “¤” or word art). All characters and symbols should be relevant to the ad's message.
  • Do not include text reference to a group of Microsoft or Yahoo customers to mislead them into viewing the ad as specially made for them, such as by saying "Attention Yahoo Users".
  • Ensure that your ads and landing pages comply with all Microsoft Advertising Policies.
  • If your ad contains competitive claims, make sure that your site, ad title and ad content all comply with our Intellectual Property Policies.

Approved exampleApproved

Best Hawaii Vacations
www.contoso.com.tw
Get the best deals today!
On Sale Now!

Disapproved exampleDisapproved

Bestest Hawaii Vacations
www.contoso.com.tw
Git da best dealios today!
On Saaaaaaale Now!

Policy

Use correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Best Hawaii
www.contoso.com.tw
Hawaii Today!
On Sale Now!
Best Best Best Hawaii
www.contoso.com.tw
Hawaii Today Today Today!
On Sale! Sale! Sale!
Do not repeat words or phrases.
Best Hawaii Vacations
www.contoso.com.tw
Hawaii Deal Today!
On Sale Now!
BE$T Hawaii Vacation
www.contoso.com.tw
Hawaii Deal$ Today!
On $sale Now!
Do not include unnecessary symbols to draw attention to ad copy.
Hawaii Deals Today
www.contoso.com.tw
Best buys today
Travel tomorrow!
ppHawaiippDeals
www.contoso.com.tw
uBestu lBUYSl
todaylTRAVELl tomorrow!!!
All characters and symbols should contribute to the ad’s message.
Hawaii Deals!
www.contoso.com.tw
Get the best deals today!
On Sale Now!
Hey YAHOO! Hawaii Deals!
www.contoso.com.tw
Hawaii Deals Today
On Sale Now!
Do not include text reference to a group of Microsoft or Yahoo customers to entice them to view the ad as special for them.

Capitalization

  • Ads may not use excessive or random capitalization (such as BIG SALE or AmAzinG).
  • Capitalization must be consistent. For example, use title case, sentence case, or capitalize the first letter of every word.
  • Legally-defined acronyms and advertiser brand names that are registered in all capital letters are allowed.
    Proper nouns should be capitalized where appropriate. For example, "Purchase cheddar cheese imported from England".

Approved exampleApproved

Big Sale Amazing Deals!
www.contoso.com.tw
Super Sale Vacation!
Hawaii vacation specials on now!

Disapproved exampleDisapproved

BiG SALE AmAzing DealS!
www.contoso.com.tw
SUPER SALE vAcation!
HawaII VacAtion SpEcialS!

Policy

Ads may not use excessive or random capitalization.

Grammar and punctuation

  • Grammar in the ad title and ad text must be correct, unless the incorrect grammar is part of the corporate or product branding.
  • Make sure that dynamic text, such as that used for {keyword}, {param2} and {param3}, does not cause incorrect grammar in your ad title or ad content.
  • One exclamation point or question mark is allowed per sentence in ad content.

Approved exampleApproved

Honest loan company
www.contoso.com
Get in touch with an honest loan company now!
All the best interest rates!

Disapproved exampleDisapproved

{KW}!
www.contoso.com
Immediate {KW}!
All the best interest rates!

Policy

Insertion of {KW} and {Param} causes incorrect grammar.
Honest loan company!
www.contoso.com
Get in touch with an honest loan company now!
All the best interest rates!
Find us for the best loans!!!!!
www.contoso.com
Immediate Approval!!!!!!!
All the best interest rates!!!!!!!
One exclamation point is allowed in the ad title and per sentence in the ad copy.

Telephone numbers

The use of phone numbers in ad copy or call extensions must comply with our policies. You can only use call extensions or local extensions to add a phone number to your ad copy in the following markets: US, CA, UK, HK, TW. For more detailed information, refer to the Telephone Number and Ad Call Extensions Policies.

Approved exampleApproved

Summer Cruise Rates
www.contoso.com
Great Anniversary Gift!
Book Today!

Disapproved exampleDisapproved

Summer Cruise Rates
www.contoso.com
Great Anniv. Gift!
Book Today!

Policy

Only use abbreviations that reflect common usage.
Summer Cruise Rates
www.contoso.com
Great Anniversary Gift!
Book Today!
Summer Cruise Rates
www.contoso.com
Best rates @ Contoso
Book Today!
Do not use unnecessary or disallowed symbols.
Summer Cruise Rates
www.contoso.com
Great Anniversary Gift!
Book Today!
Summer Cruise Rates
www.contoso.com
>>best rates<<
Book Today!
Do not use unnecessary or disallowed symbols.

Word count and character limits

Search ads

  • Minimum word count. A combined total of at least 3 words is required in your title and descriptive text.
  • Character limitations. If your ad title, ad text or destination URL exceeds certain character limitations, you will receive an error message. Character limits are calculated with dynamic text included in the calculation. The limitations:
    • Titles: 30 characters per title, including spaces. (The two titles combined must be less than 77 characters if dynamic text is used.)
    • Ad text: 90 characters, including spaces. (300 characters if dynamic text is used.)
    • Paths: 15 characters each. (50 characters if dynamic text is used.)
    • Final URL: 2048 characters.
    • Mobile URL: 2048 characters.
    • Tracking template: 2048 characters.
    • Custom parameter name: 16 characters, for example: {_coupon} is 6 chars long "coupon".
    • Custom parameter value: 200 characters.

Telephone number for mobile ads

Do you wish to be more effective? Try the following methods.

To ensure that your ad and keywords can be approved quickly, please abide by the policies listed below. Telephone numbers in mobile ads may not be used under the following circumstances:

Invalid telephone number: The telephone number must be in the correct format for the ad serving market, including the correct area code. For example, (02)12345678 is the correct telephone number format applicable to Taiwan.

  • No numerals in the telephone numbers: Telephone numbers must include numerals.
  • Disallowed characters in the telephone number: Telephone numbers may not include special characters other than brackets and dashes.
  • Disallowed content in the telephone number: Telephone numbers may not contain unauthorized content. For more information, please refer to our Disallowed Content Policies

Mobile Advertising

Minimum word count: A combined total of at least three words is required in the ad title and ad content. Ads with two or fewer words are not allowed.