Free training · Dave & Roxanne Obiso

YouTube Ads Approval Playbook

How we went from a full inbox of "Ads disapproved" emails to "You don't have any policy issues." Real screens from our own Google Ads account, step by step.

Real case · 3 short videos

Watch us diagnose and fix a disapproved ad

Our new YouTube ad was approved, then disapproved the next day. Here's exactly how we found the problem, fixed it, and got it approved again in under 20 minutes, without an appeal.

1. The diagnosis

Policy manager, the status popup, "automated checks", and finding the exact asset.

2. The fix

Turning off AI images, why we didn't appeal, and making a clean ad version of the video.

3. The after

Eligible. No issues found. What to remember.

The method

Find it. Fix it. Save it.

Find the policyGoogle tells you exactly what's wrong. Write down the policy name.
Tools›Troubleshooting›Policy manager
Find who decidedHover the ad's status, then click "Show more detail". "Automated checks" means the AI flagged it. "Google Investigation" without that line means a person reviewed it.
Find the exact assetClick "View asset details" under the ad and check every page. Often the text is fine and only one video or image is flagged.
Fix the real problemLanding page first (disclaimers, contact info, policy pages). Then the creative: remove income, lifestyle and "quit your job" claims from text, images and video.
Save, then appeal only if neededSaving a real change sends the ad for review automatically. If you appeal, choose "Made changes to comply with policy". Disputing ads you haven't fixed can limit your appeals.

Google Ads menu: Tools, Troubleshooting, Policy manager circled

Know what you're fixing

Kinds of disapproval

Page or ad text

Misleading content: Unreliable claims

Google thinks you promise a result you can't prove: income, time freedom, a life change.

Fix
Remove income, hours and "quit your job" wording, including in testimonials and videos. Add an earnings disclaimer and "results not typical."

Image

Misleading Ad Design

An image that looks like a button or form you can click. Google AI can create these from your landing page.

Fix
Edit ad › Asset optimization › turn off "Landing page previews". Remove the image.

YouTube video

Unavailable video

The video is private, deleted, or restricted.

Fix
Set it to Public or Unlisted in YouTube Studio, then save the ad.

Landing page

Insufficient original content

The page is mostly a form with little information.

Fix
Add who you are, what the training covers, FAQs, contact details and policy pages.

Landing page link

Destination not working

Google couldn't load your page or a link is broken.

Fix
Test on phone and laptop, fix it, then hover the status and click Appeal.

Ad text

Capitalization & clickbait

ALL CAPS, "!!!", or text that suggests you know the viewer's situation ("Drowning in debt?").

Fix
Normal sentence case. Talk about the training, not the viewer's problems.

Whole account

Past Violation

Old problems holding the whole account back.

Fix
Fix everything else first, then appeal for all campaigns with "Made changes to comply with policy".

Whole account

Financial Services Verification

Google thinks you sell financial products.

Fix
If you only offer education, dispute for all campaigns and keep your page clearly educational.

Our real account

Before and after

A long list of Ads disapproved emails — "Ads disapproved" emails almost every few days.

Policy manager: You don't have any policy issues — "You don't have any policy issues."

Appeal history: Dispute decision appeals, mostly failed — Our first appeals: "Dispute decision" without fixing anything. Mostly failed.

Appeal history: Made changes to comply with policy, successful — After fixing: "Made changes to comply with policy." Successful.

Testimonial with 12-16 hour days boxed in red — A testimonial line like "12–16 hour days" reads as a before-and-after life claim.

New testimonials about learning and growing with a not-typical note — Stories about learning and growing, with "not typical" underneath.

Timeline: keep stories, cut claims, keep next steps and disclaimer — Keep the full testimonial video on your channel. Make a short, claim-free cut for ads.

Copy and paste

Words to swap

Avoid	Use instead
"I was working 12–16 hour days and now…"	"I started learning how to build an online business from home."
"Quit your job" / "Fire your boss"	"Learn a new skill at a pace that fits family life."
"Make $10K a month"	"Learn the steps we found most important."
"Build your freedom lifestyle. Work from anywhere."	"Learn at your own pace with step-by-step training."
"World-class proprietary system"	"Training, tools and support."
"Drowning in debt?"	"A free training for parents curious about online business."
"FREE TRAINING!!!"	"Free training"
"One decision away from changing your life forever"	"Watch the free session and decide what's right for your family."

Cut and paste

What to say to Google

Replace the [brackets]. Only say what you actually changed.

Appeal: Unreliable claims

Reason: Made changes to comply with policy

I have updated my landing page and ads to comply with the Misleading content (Unreliable claims) policy. Changes made:
- Removed wording about income, hours worked and life changes, including in testimonials
- Added "These experiences are not typical" under all testimonials
- Added an earnings disclaimer to the page and footer
- Replaced the video with a version that describes the free training only
Landing page: [your page link]
Please re-review the ads in campaign [campaign name]. Thank you.

Appeal: Destination not working