Locked out of Google Ads? Facebook keeps rejecting your campaigns?
I get it. The frustration is real.
You’re not broken. The system is.
Here’s the thing: Some of the most legitimate, profitable businesses in America can’t use the advertising channels that everyone else takes for granted. And nobody’s talking about how to actually solve this problem.
I’ve spent years helping businesses navigate these restrictions. CBD companies. Firearms retailers. Vape shops. Adult wellness brands. Companies making real money, serving real customers, operating completely legally.
But Google and Facebook treat them like criminals.
If that’s you, this guide will show you exactly how to advertise banned products and build a customer engine that doesn’t depend on platforms eager to shut you down.
The restricted list nobody warns you about
Most businesses discover they’re in a restricted industry the hard way.
They set up their Google Ads account, create their first campaign, and… instant rejection.
Here’s who’s actually on the chopping block:
The obvious ones:
- Cannabis and CBD (even in legal states)
- Firearms and ammunition
- Vaping and e-cigarettes
- Adult content and products
- Gambling and online casinos
The surprising ones:
- Certain supplements and health products
- Alcohol (heavy restrictions, not outright bans)
- Pharmaceutical products
- Financial services (depending on the product)
- Political advertising
- Addiction treatment centers
- Some beauty procedures
The “it depends” category:
- Subscription boxes (if contents include restricted items)
- Marketplace platforms (if users can sell restricted items)
- Content sites (if topics cover restricted areas)
- Event venues (if they host restricted activities)
BTW – the rules change constantly.
What’s allowed today might be banned tomorrow.
I’ve seen clients get approved, run successfully for months, then wake up to find their entire account suspended because Facebook changed their mind about something.
Why traditional agencies can’t help you
Here’s what kills me: Most marketing agencies have no idea how to handle restricted industries.
They’ll take your money, try the same playbook they use for their software clients, and act surprised when everything gets rejected. Then they’ll shrug and say, “Sorry, nothing we can do.”
That’s not expertise. That’s expensive guessing.
I know because these businesses come to me after wasting months and thousands of dollars with agencies that didn’t understand the landscape.
Traditional agencies are built around Google and Facebook ads. Take those away, and they’re lost. They don’t know the alternative platforms. They’ve never had to get creative with traffic sources. They’ve never had to build organic reach because paid ads weren’t an option.
You need strategies built specifically for businesses that can’t use the easy buttons everyone else relies on.
That’s exactly what I’m about to show you.
The channels that actually work (and how to use them)
Forget Google and Facebook.
Here’s where restricted industries are finding customers and scaling to millions:
Native advertising networks
Native ads are those “recommended content” blocks you see on news sites. Platforms like Taboola, Outbrain, and RevContent will run campaigns that Google won’t touch.
Why they work: Less restrictive policies, massive reach, users are in content-consumption mode
The catch: You need killer headlines and strong landing pages. The traffic quality varies wildly between placements.
Pro strategy: Start with Taboola or Outbrain on premium news sites only. Yes, the CPCs are higher, but the traffic actually converts. Create content that educates rather than sells directly – “What Happens to Your Body When You Take CBD” beats “Buy CBD Oil Now.
Programmatic display advertising
While Google’s display network is off-limits, independent programmatic platforms like StackAdapt, Amazon DSP, and The Trade Desk often have more flexible policies.
Why they work: Massive inventory, sophisticated targeting, lookalike audiences without Facebook
The catch: Higher minimum spends, steeper learning curve
What actually works: Focus on contextual targeting rather than behavioral. If you sell CBD for athletes, target sports content. The context matters more than the user data.
SEO (but not how you think)
When paid traffic isn’t an option, organic becomes everything.
But SEO for restricted industries requires a different approach.
The opportunity: Your competitors are also locked out of paid ads, so organic rankings are everything.
The challenge: Google is less likely to rank restricted industry sites for commercial terms.
The workaround: Build authority with informational content first. Create the most comprehensive educational resources in your industry. Once you have topical authority, the commercial rankings follow.
I’ve seen CBD brands go from zero to 100,000 monthly organic visitors using this approach.
But it takes patience and serious content investment.
Email marketing (the right way)
Email might seem old school, but it’s gold for restricted industries.
You own the list.
No platform can shut you down.
Building your list without ads:
- Content upgrades on your educational articles
- Giveaways and contests (check local laws)
- Partnerships with complementary brands
- Trade show and event capture
- Referral programs with incentives
🛡 Compliance note:Regular providers like Mailchimp will boot you. Use specialized ESPs that work with restricted industries like Klaviyo, Omnisend, or industry-specific providers.
📈 Growth tip: Focus on segmentation from day one. Different customer types need different messages, and personalization drives 3x better engagement.
Influencer marketing that doesn’t suck
When platforms won’t take your ads, go direct to the audiences.
But here’s what most people get wrong: They go after the biggest names with millions of followers.
That’s expensive and often ineffective.
What works: Micro-influencers (10K-100K followers) in your specific niche. They have engaged audiences and reasonable rates.
The approach that converts:
- Long-term partnerships, not one-off posts
- Educational content, not just product placement
- Trackable discount codes for each influencer
- Content rights so you can repurpose their assets
Affiliate programs (the secret weapon)
This is where restricted brands can really scale.
Turn your customers and partners into an army of promoters.
Why affiliates work for banned products:
- Individuals can promote where brands can’t advertise
- Performance-based means lower risk
- Builds authentic word-of-mouth at scale
- Creates content you can repurpose
🛡 Compliance note: Use platforms built for compliance like ShareASale, Refersion, or LeadDyno. They understand restricted industries and help you stay legal.
📈 Growth tip: Your best affiliates are often your customers. Create a VIP tier with higher commissions for proven performers. One good affiliate can be worth 50 mediocre ones.
Podcast advertising
Podcasts have become the underground railroad for restricted industries.
Most podcast networks will run ads that Facebook would never approve.
Why it’s powerful: Highly engaged audiences, host endorsements carry weight, less saturated than traditional channels
How to do it right:
- Target niche shows in your industry
- Negotiate for host-read ads, not programmatic insertion
- Start with shorter test campaigns before committing to long runs
- Create custom landing pages for each show to track performance
SMS marketing
Text messaging has insane open rates and engagement.
Plus, carriers are less restrictive than social platforms.
🛡 Compliance note: You MUST have explicit opt-in consent. No gray areas. No buying lists. One violation can blacklist your business.
📈 Growth tip: Use SMS for flash sales and VIP access. “48-hour exclusive: 30% off for SMS subscribers only” drives urgency and sales.
What converts:
- Exclusive drops and early access
- Time-limited offers with real urgency
- Educational content series
- VIP customer programs
Use platforms like Postscript, Attentive, or SMSBump that specialize in e-commerce compliance.
How to advertise banned products without risking your business
Building organic reach isn’t optional when paid ads are off the table.
You need systems that work 24/7 without platform dependence.
Three-layer content strategy for restricted industries
Stop creating content for content’s sake.
Every piece needs to serve a purpose in your funnel.
The three-layer content strategy:
Layer 1: Top of funnel education
- “What is [your product category]?”
- “Benefits of [your solution]”
- “[Your product] vs [alternatives]”
- State-specific guides for regulated industries
Layer 2: Middle funnel comparison
- Best [product] for [specific use case]
- [Your brand] vs [competitor] honest review
- How to choose [your product type]
- Dosage guides and usage instructions
Layer 3: Bottom funnel conversion
- Product-specific landing pages
- Customer success stories
- Detailed FAQs addressing objections
- Trust-building content (lab results, certifications)
Link building when you’re “controversial”
Traditional link building is harder for restricted industries.
Many sites won’t link to you out of policy concerns.
What actually works:
Digital PR with a twist: Create newsworthy content that doesn’t focus on your products. Industry reports, surveys, charitable initiatives. Journalists will cover the story without focusing on what you sell.
Resource page targeting: Educational institutions, industry organizations, and niche directories still link to quality resources.
Partnership content: Collaborate with complementary but non-restricted businesses. A CBD brand partnering with a yoga studio for content makes sense and opens linking opportunities.
HARO and expert positioning: Become the go-to expert for reporters covering your industry. Focus on educational angles, not promotional.
Social media without ads
Just because you can’t advertise doesn’t mean you should abandon social platforms.
The organic social playbook:
Education-first approach: Share knowledge, not products. Become the trusted source for information in your industry.
Community building: Create groups or communities around the problem you solve, not your product. A CBD brand might create a chronic pain support group.
User-generated content: Your customers can say things you can’t. Encourage and reshare their stories.
Platform workarounds:
- Instagram: Focus on lifestyle content, stories, and reels
- Twitter/X: Share industry news and educational threads
- LinkedIn: B2B restricted industries can thrive here with thought leadership
- TikTok: Educational content performs well if you avoid direct selling
- YouTube: Long-form educational content rarely gets flagged
The compliance tightrope
One wrong move and you’re not just rejected – you’re banned.
Here’s how to stay on the right side of the line:
Website compliance essentials
Age gates: If required by law, implement them properly. No half-measures.
Disclaimers: Clear, visible, and legally compliant. Work with a lawyer who knows your industry.
Terms and privacy policies: Especially critical for restricted industries. Cookie-cutter templates won’t cut it.
Payment processing: Many processors won’t work with restricted industries. Have backups. Stripe and PayPal will drop you eventually. Look into high-risk processors from day one.
Marketing message do’s and don’ts
Never claim to:
- Cure diseases (even if customers say you did)
- Make unsubstantiated health claims
- Use before/after photos for health products
- Target minors in any way
- Use fear-based marketing
Always:
- Focus on general wellness and quality of life
- Use customer testimonials carefully
- Include required disclaimers
- Keep claims modest and supportable
- Maintain records of all marketing materials
State-by-state considerations
If you ship nationwide, you need to know the laws everywhere.
What’s legal in California might be banned in Idaho.
Critical considerations:
- Shipping restrictions by state
- Age verification requirements
- Licensing needs
- Tax obligations
- Advertising restrictions beyond platforms
Don’t guess.
Work with legal counsel who specializes in your industry.
Measuring success without pixel data
Traditional attribution dies without Facebook pixels and Google Analytics enhanced e-commerce.
Here’s how to track what matters:
Alternative attribution methods
Unique landing pages: Create specific pages for each traffic source. Simple but effective.
Discount codes: Old school but it works. Unique codes for each channel, influencer, or campaign.
Post-purchase surveys: Ask customers how they heard about you. Incentivize responses for better data.
Call tracking: Different phone numbers for different channels. Services like CallRail make this easy.
UTM parameters on steroids: Go beyond basic source/medium. Track specific placements, creatives, and campaigns.
KPIs that actually matter
Forget vanity metrics.
Focus on:
Customer acquisition cost (CAC) by channel: Without pixel data, you need meticulous tracking to know what’s working.
Lifetime value (LTV) by acquisition source: Some channels bring bargain hunters. Others bring loyal customers. Know the difference.
Email list growth rate: In restricted industries, your email list is your most valuable asset.
Organic traffic share: What percentage of revenue comes from non-paid sources? This should grow over time.
Word-of-mouth coefficient: How many customers come from referrals? Track and optimize this religiously.
Real success stories (with numbers)
Let me show you what’s actually possible when you stop fighting policies and start building real marketing systems:
CBD brand: $0 to $2M in 18 months
Strategy: Heavy investment in SEO content (150+ articles in year one), influencer partnerships with fitness enthusiasts, SMS marketing to captured emails
Results: 100K organic visitors/month, 15K SMS subscribers, 25% of revenue from referrals
Key insight: They became the education source for CBD in athletics. Sales followed authority.
Vape shop: Local to national through content
Strategy: City-specific landing pages for every major market, YouTube education channel, native ads on lifestyle sites
Results: Ranking #1 for “[city] vape shop” in 200+ cities, 50K YouTube subscribers, 300% revenue growth
Key insight: Local SEO at scale + education content created a moat competitors couldn’t cross.
Firearm accessories: Email drives 60% of revenue
Strategy: Aggressive email capture through content upgrades, 5x/week email schedule, segmentation by interest
Results: 200K email list, 45% open rates, $3M annual revenue from email alone
Key insight: When you can’t advertise, you better be amazing at email.
Your 90-day launch plan
Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
Start executing.
Here’s exactly what to do:
Days 1-30: Foundation
- Week 1: Audit your current compliance. Fix any issues immediately.
- Week 2: Set up proper analytics and attribution tracking.
- Week 3: Choose your primary and secondary channels from the list above.
- Week 4: Create your content calendar and influencer hit list.
Days 31-60: Execute
- Launch your content engine (minimum 2 pieces/week)
- Start your email capture campaigns
- Begin influencer outreach
- Test native ads with small budgets
- Set up SMS with proper compliance
Days 61-90: Optimize and scale
- Double down on what’s working
- Cut what isn’t
- Scale content production
- Expand to additional channels
- Build referral programs
The mindset shift that changes everything
Here’s the thing most people miss: Being in a restricted industry is actually an advantage.
Your competitors are just as locked out as you are.
The playing field is level.
The lazy marketers who rely on Facebook’s algorithm can’t compete with you.
You’re forced to build real relationships with customers. To create content that actually helps people. To build sustainable traffic sources that platforms can’t take away.
I’ve seen restricted industry brands build stronger businesses than their unrestricted competitors.
Why?
Because they had to. They couldn’t take shortcuts. They couldn’t just throw money at ads and hope for the best.
Being restricted forces you to be better.
The bottom line
You can cry about platform policies, or you can build a business that doesn’t need them.
The channels exist.
The strategies work.
The only question is whether you’ll execute or keep waiting for platforms to change their minds.
Stop hoping for policy changes.
They won’t come.
Start building traffic sources you actually control.
Because here’s what I know after years in this space: The businesses that thrive despite restrictions end up stronger than the ones that never faced them.
You’ve got two choices. Keep waiting. Or start building.
(I know which one works.)
Need help navigating advertising restrictions? I’ve helped dozens of restricted industry brands build sustainable traffic sources that convert. Let’s talk about your specific situation.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Consult with an attorney experienced in your specific industry before launching any campaign.
