Goodreads believes in empowering readers and creating a quality user experience, and this philosophy
is embedded in the Goodreads design and all our features. We believe advertising on Goodreads
should conform to this philosophy, and be a quality experience for our users.
The following guidelines are provided to help you construct quality ads to better engage with the Goodreads community. All advertising on Goodreads must meet
Amazon Ad Guidelines
and adhere to the guidelines below, and Goodreads reserves the right to reject anything that in our opinion does not adhere to our terms and philosophy.
- Advertisers are not permitted to manage multiple online advertising accounts.
- Advertisers must not programmatically automate the creation of accounts or ads.
- Free Offers must include simple access to all information pertaining to the method of qualifying for the Free Offer within the creative itself.
- Advertiser messaging must not promote false dietary claims or mislead consumers as noted by the Federal Trade Commission.
- All offers must comply with FTC guidelines and policies, and must not be deceptive, unfair, or contain deceptive pricing.
- Not Allowed: Advertising that constitutes bait and switch advertising pursuant to FTC guidelines.
- Not Allowed: Images without borders.
- Users must be informed as to exactly what is being offered for download.
- Not Allowed: Automatic Downloads or Download Command Boxes.
- Not Allowed: Hidden or harmful functionality as bundled components of a user approved download. Eg: software classified as AdWare/Spyware.
- Not Allowed: Ads that spawn Active X controls.
- Bathing wear and undergarment advertising must be reviewed prior to acceptance.
- Pharmaceutical advertising promoting adult-oriented drugs must be approved prior to acceptance.
- Not Allowed: Nudity & sexually explicit images or content.
- Not Allowed: Provocative.
- Religious content or advertising must be approved prior to acceptance.
- Political content or advertising must be approved prior to acceptance.
- Distracting or suggestive content must be approved prior to acceptance.
- Not Allowed: Advertising that promotes illegal activities or offers.
- Not Allowed: Advertising directed to children 13 years of age or younger.
- Not Allowed: Advertising that promotes discrimination, violence, or displays defamatory, profane, hateful, or libelous material.
- Not Allowed: Advertising that misrepresents, ridicules, or attacks an individual or group on the basis of age, color, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or disability.
- Not Allowed: Anything that might trigger a serious phobia – eg. realistic spiders, cockroaches, snakes.
- Animation with standard advertising placements is limited to 15 seconds.
- Advertising creative that employs flashing, shaking, rolling, pulsing (etc.) must be approved prior to acceptance.
- Not Allowed: Blocking or impeding browser functionality from working as intended. "Back" button must work.
- Not Allowed: Advertising that features false system messaging, error messaging, dialog boxes, etc.
- Not Allowed: False application, system update, or diagnostic messaging.
- Not Allowed: False "Close", "Minimize", "Maximize", or other window functionality.
- Not Allowed: Advertising that mimics website design, functionality, navigation, service, or messaging.
- User-initiated audio that contains questionable language (swearing/sexual oriented).
- Not Allowed: Any Pops.
