Meta has introduced new restrictions for certain business categories in their advertising ecosystem, leaving many advertisers puzzled. If you’re using Meta Ads, here’s a clear guide to help you navigate these changes and monitor how your data source may be affected.
Meta now assigns a Data Source Category to your data sources (like Pixels). These categories may have specific data-sharing restrictions depending on your business type. Categories affected include:
- Health and Wellness
- Politics
- Financial services
- …and more.
You can find the full list of categories in Meta’s official documentation.
How to check if your data source is categorized
To determine if your data source has been categorized, follow these steps:
- Go to Meta Events Manager: Log in and select your data source (e.g., your Pixel).
- Navigate to Settings: Scroll down to the “Manage Data Source Categories” section.
- Review the assigned category:
- Click the “Manage” button.
- You’ll see the assigned category (if any).
- Confirm whether the category is accurate, or request a Review if you believe it’s incorrect.
What restrictions could apply?
Once a category is assigned, specific restrictions may apply. These can vary by region or country. Here’s what you might encounter:
1. Core setup restrictions
- Impact: Limited sharing of custom parameters and parts of URLs.
2. Restrictions on standard events
- Impact: Mid and lower-funnel events may be restricted.
- Solution: Focus on upper-funnel events for campaign optimization.
3. Full restrictions
- Impact: All events may be restricted to specific or all regions.
- Solution: Shift your campaign goals to awareness, engagement, or traffic-based objectives.
Takeaway: Stay ahead of the changes
Regularly monitor your data source in the Meta Events Manager and stay informed about any assigned restrictions. Adjust your campaign strategies to align with the restrictions and optimize for objectives that comply with Meta’s guidelines.
Bram Van der Hallen spotted these insights.
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