Too Frightening for Facebook?

Well, that was kind of irritating.

I have an ad campaign running right now on Facebook for my horror reading.  I know, I know, you hate Facebook, all the cool kids hate Facebook these days — I don't like it any more than you do, but they still have the best, most targeted advertising platform I've ever seen.  The ad I'm running right now is only shown to people who live within 25 miles of Seattle, who are 21 and older who like "horror fiction, books, halloween, horror, reading, readings, short stories or stories," and who haven't already RSVP'ed to the reading.  That's pretty cool, and I think it's the best bang for the buck.

But yesterday morning, I woke up to an email from them saying that my ad had been "un-approved" because the image I was using was against their advertising guidelines.  Wha — ?  Then how did it get approved in the first place, and why were they suddenly changing their minds about it?

So I went and read their advertising image guidelines and all I can figure is that the problem was this part:  "Images may not use shock or scare tactics."  

Here, for your reference, is a screen-capture of the ad as I originally had it:

Wait, what?  Seriously?  I can't have anything scary — for Halloween? Now, if it had, like, dripping blood or gore I could see it as being maybe offensive, but, come on.  What should I have instead — Casper, the Friendly Ghost?

I was momentarily stumped, but ended up changing it to a Jack-o-Lantern face — glowy orange features on a black background.  Slightly lame, but still hopefully eye-catching.

Okay, good to go?  Apparently not, because it took them thirteen hours to finally approve the new image and get the ad running again.  Four days until Halloween and I lose an entire day's worth of advertising.  Terrific.

I know, I know, First World problems.  Heh.  Thanks for listening to me rant.  And if you live within 25 miles of Seattle, are 21 and older and like "horror fiction, books, halloween, horror, reading, readings, short stories or stories," I hope I see you Monday night at 8:00 at The Reading Room.