If you work agency-side, you’ve likely had to navigate the hoops required to advertise tricky content categories like firearms, Cannabis, Housing, or Politics. The latter of which has been ticking-up for many of us, as you’d expect, given where we are in the election cycle.

Some of these categories are flat-out rejected by large ad platforms, Google Ads for example, won’t let you advertise firearms or booze. Housing, politics, and employment are “limited” or “restricted”, but can get approval in many cases, the ad targeting options might just be lacking. The best bet is to hunt down specific ad networks that have pre-approved publishers pooled together to advertise an otherwise restricted or prohibited type of business. Think of it as a library of solutions, just to keep on hand. While you’re at it, find a digital out of home source, or maybe a niche native platform.

The trick is that research takes time, as everything does. It’s difficult to stay on top of, without feeling like you’re wasteful with half of a day, but it’s normally worth a small, consistent effort.