5 Reasons Amazon Advertising Rejects Your Book Ads

About this video

Dale L. Roberts explains five reasons Amazon Marketing Services (AMS) may reject book ads, prompted by a viewer noting display ads are not allowed for some categories. He stresses this is Amazon’s platform and its rules apply. One, vulgar or obscene language is rejected even if implied, for example replacing a letter in an expletive with an asterisk, which he says he tested and was rejected immediately. Two, pornography: publishers blurring erotica and pornography or using pornographic photography should not submit AMS ads, and doing so may flag the KDP account for closer scrutiny. Three, excessive violence or implied abuse, which he calls a gray area judged from title, subtitle or cover rather than the interior, requiring the author’s best judgment. Four, overtly provocative imagery, such as half-naked men and women on erotica covers, which Amazon does not want to advertise even if some sellers get away with it. Five, content that advocates discrimination, another gray area where extreme views obvious from title, subtitle, cover or description will not be accepted. He notes there are many more rules and links to Amazon’s full list.

Key takeaways

• Vulgar or obscene language, even implied with an asterisk, will cause an AMS ad to be rejected.
• Pornographic books or photography should not be submitted for AMS ads and may draw extra scrutiny to a KDP account.
• Excessive violence or implied abuse is judged largely from title, subtitle and cover and requires author judgment.
• Overtly provocative imagery, such as half-naked erotica covers, is not wanted in AMS advertising.
• Content advocating discrimination will not be accepted for AMS ads, especially when obvious from the book’s presentation.

Episode details: published October 14, 2017 · 4:30 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Dale L. Roberts’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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