Bail bond ads on Google and Facebook

What Google decided

On May 7, 2018, Google announced that it would stop allowing ads for bail bond services everywhere it runs ads, with enforcement starting in July 2018.

Its ads policy still lists bail bond services as not allowed, naming bail bond agents and bail bond financing among them. Ads for legal services were left out of the change.

Sources: Google: Google bans ads for bail bonds services (May 7, 2018); Google Ads policy change: other restricted businesses, bail bonds (May 2018); Google Ads policy: bail bond services

What Facebook decided

On August 9, 2018, Facebook said it would prohibit any ads promoting bail bonds. Meta's advertising standards still list bail bonds among the financial products and services that ads may not promote.

Sources: Facebook for Business: restricting ads for addiction treatment centers and bail bonds (August 9, 2018); Meta Transparency Center: prohibited financial products and services

Where bail companies reach callers instead

Without those ads, bail companies rely on what people see and remember: signs where local rules allow them, vehicles, directory listings, their own website, referrals from past clients and attorneys, and local radio and print.

Most of those leave the caller to remember the number later. A number that spells BAIL or BONDS is easier to carry from a passing sign to a phone than seven digits.

Advertising rules for bail agents

Search results you don't pay for

Those policies cover paid ads. Your Business Profile, your website and your directory listings can still appear in ordinary search results, so keep them accurate and give the same number everywhere.

Getting found in local search

Source: Google Ads policy: bail bond services