Hi, I am having a hard time in regards with the Microsoft advertising policies.

Question

Can someone enlighten me with this policy? Exist only to redirect to other businesses without adding significant value as an intermediary, e.g., by providing enhanced pricing, product, or merchant information.

Answer 1

Hello Leah Ann Torres,

Thank you for using our Microsoft Advertising Community Forum! 

The policy you're referring to is aimed at ensuring that ads on Microsoft platforms provide genuine value to users rather than simply redirecting them to other businesses without adding any significant value.

Understanding the Policy:

1. No Added Value: This policy targets websites or services that act as intermediaries without offering anything of additional value. For instance, if a website merely collects and redirects users to another site without providing any new or helpful information—like enhanced pricing, detailed product reviews, or a unique merchant directory—it might be considered to violate this policy.
2. Purpose: The goal of this policy is to ensure that users have a meaningful experience when they click on ads. Microsoft wants to prevent scenarios where users are taken to pages that don’t offer anything beyond what could be found on the destination site directly.
3. Examples:
   • Allowed: A comparison site that offers in-depth analysis of products, detailed reviews, or aggregated price information that helps users make informed decisions.
   • Not Allowed: A site that simply lists links to other retailers without adding any new information or providing any value beyond being a gateway to those retailers.
4. Impact on Advertisers: If your ads are found to be directing users to such intermediary sites, they might be disapproved, or your account could face restrictions. Microsoft Advertising wants to ensure that the ads and landing pages provide clear, useful, and unique content to the end-user.

How to Comply:

• Enhance Content: Make sure that your website or landing page adds value beyond what users would find by visiting the final destination directly. This could be through offering unique insights, user reviews, or a better comparison of products/services.
• Transparency: Clearly state the purpose of your site and how it benefits users, ensuring that users understand what additional value they are receiving.
• Avoid Thin Content: Sites that only serve as a bridge to other sites without offering substantive content are likely to be in violation of this policy.

You can find more info about URLs and redirection here: Relevance and quality (microsoft.com)

Our support teams are happy to discuss your account in more detail via phone, chat or email to provide review assistance, please see our support page to reach out! 

I hope the information provided here answered your question.  If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our support. I have also sent you a private message asking for further details. You are more than welcome to respond to me if needed.

Kind regards, 

Dagmara | Microsoft Advertising Support Specialist | 800-518-5689

Answer 2

Hi Dagmara,

Could you explain this to me? Advertising that includes unproven claims or endorsements, including unauthorized celebrity endorsements, isn't allowed.

Thanks,
Leah Ann Torres

Answer 3

Hello Leah Ann Torres,

I understand your concern regarding the penalty strike on your account. This typically occurs when the website being advertised does not fully comply with our editorial policies and guidelines.

To help you better understand the situation, here are some common reasons for such violations:

• Privacy and Data Protection Policies
• General Ad Requirements
• Pharmacy and Healthcare Products and Services
• Information Integrity and Misleading Content

Please note that we have a dedicated team responsible for reviewing websites, and I am not directly involved in this process. I encourage you to review the policy pages linked above for more detailed information.

If you have any further questions kindly respond to my private message.

Kind regards, 

Dagmara | Microsoft Advertising Support Specialist | 800-518-5689

Answer 4

Hi Dagmara,

Thanks for your response. We don't know how or what should it looks like to match with this policy. I also contacted support about this, but they are just giving me vague answers. Like they just relying on the informations provided by editorial team as much as they want or give me the information I want. I would like to ask if you are open to review my website ordo you have capability and see what's on the website should I fix to match this policy?

Best regards,

Leah Ann Torres