The new Facebook text overlay rule
Not long ago, Facebook Product Marketing Manager, Afsheen Ali, reached out to Jon Loomer to officially address the rumors regarding the 20% text rule:
Our research has shown that people demonstrate a preference for ads with less text. Previously, if 20% of an ad image’s area was text, it was not approved to run on Facebook, Instagram or the Audience Network. We’ve heard from some advertisers that this can be confusing, as it’s not always clear that an ad does not meet the policy requirements until after creative has been submitted. We are shifting to a new solution to improve this experience which allows advertisers more flexibility while still allowing us to maintain an enjoyable experience for people.
More flexibility for advertisers and an enjoyable user experience? It looks like a win-win at first glance. But, in reality, the 20% rule hasn’t changed that much at all.
Under Facebook’s new guidelines, an ad won’t be outright rejected if it contains more than 20% text, but it will have its reach limited — in some cases significantly. Instead of using a “run or reject” system, Facebook will now categorize your ad according to the following ratings:
![](https://i0.wp.com/adregion.com.hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Facebook-20-text-rule-ratings-2.png?resize=333%2C280&ssl=1)
With Facebook’s new text overlay tool, you can upload an image to see what the chances are it will have its reach restricted. We put an example of our own image to the test…
Before using the overlay tool, you should login your facebook account first, and then go to text overylay tool page
![](https://i0.wp.com/adregion.com.hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/facebook-textcheck1-2.jpg?resize=800%2C589&ssl=1)
you may want to know how to get through the text check before we sent to check by this tools.
![](https://i0.wp.com/adregion.com.hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/facebook-textcheck2-2.jpg?resize=577%2C423&ssl=1)
In our sample, we first make a grid to show 50 squares. That means in facebook’s 20% rule, your wording should not exceed 10 squares. It is so easy to prevent rejected by facebook rule.
Tips:
How can i do if want to place over 20% text on Ad?
There are some ways to trick on facebook checking tools:
- Add some picture and make it like watermark layer to overlay the text/wording.
- Add some effect on text/wording, eg. Outer Glow, transparent your text…etc
- Choose your text color similar to the background.
- Add some texture to your text.
All we have to do is to let facebook checking tools can not recognize your text and do not count it as a text. You may have to try different ways but it is worth to.