BIG NEWS for graphic designers and Facebook advertisers. Earlier in late 2020, Facebook released a significant update that removes restrictions in Facebook Ads Images. 

No More Text Percentage Restrictions

According to a trusted source, Matt Navarra, Facebook announced directly to advertisers to inform them of the update as follows:

At Facebook, we are constantly improving and refining the best ways to improve the quality of ads on our platform. One of the ways is revisiting the effectiveness and impact of existing ad quality checks.

As part of this review, we will no longer penalize ads with higher amounts of image text in auctions and delivery.

As of Sept. 7th, we will begin gradually removing external material and sources that indicate that we enforce high levels of text in images.

Please note, Advertisers will still need to abide by our ad policies regarding the content of the text. Advertisers are still encouraged to reduce the amount of text with images, as we have found that images with less than 20% text generally perform better.

Why Was This Restriction a Thing?

For quite some time, Facebook has repeatedly noted that users dislike ads with too much text in the image, so it has restricted such images to improve the general user experience. As stated in its Help Page:

Facebook's ads system is designed to maximize value for people and businesses. That’s why we conduct research and analyze feedback from our community to understand how different attributes of an ad affect the ad’s performance. 

We've found that images with less than 20% text perform better. With this in mind, we recommend keeping your text short, clear and concise in order to get your message across effectively.

However, Facebook changed its ad text regulations back in 2018, which enabled advertisers to include more text in their ads, but their ad reach would be restricted as a result, relative to how much you exceeded the limit.

This new update removes any reach restriction for this, meaning that ads with more than 20% text in the main image will be displayed as usual, and will reach the same amount of people as any other Facebook ads. 

Still, on the Facebook Help Page about Best Practices For Image Ads recommends using images with less text to perform better, but no restriction of any kind is mentioned:

“Avoid too much text on the image itself. We've found that images with less than 20% text perform better, though there is no limit on the amount of text that can exist in your ad image.”

Goodbye Text Overlay Tool

Facebook's long-held text restrictions in ad images have caused major headaches for many advertisers, requiring significant, specific reformatting of ad images in order to align with Facebook's ad rules.

Until recently, designers had to make sure that the ad complies with the text percentage restriction. They had to use the Text Overlay Tool to see whether the image has more than 20% text to image percentage, as it was considered one criterion of approval. That tool is also no longer available, as Facebook looks to ease back its text in ad image restrictions. From now on, images with any amount of text content can be freely boosted.

At times, Facebook's enforcement process in this respect has also been flawed, so it'll be a relief to many to see those limits taken away.

Frequently Asked Question

What is facebook text overlay?

A Facebook text overlay provides the ability to superimpose one or more text elements over a video stream. The resulting video stream contains both the overlay elements and the original video stream. Overlay elements can be of varying sizes, and in the case of text elements, also of varying fonts and colors.

What words get you banned on Facebook?

Facebook will remove content where the user posts a 'degrading physical description' including someone 'disgusting and repulsive', secret documents reveal. Moderators are told to remove 'calling an individual's appearance ugly, disgusting, repulsive, etc', according to documents seen by The Wall Street Journal.

What size is a Facebook ads image?

Facebook ads images have a recommended resolution of 1,200 x 1,200 pixels for News Feed, Right Column, Instant Articles, Marketplace, Native Ads, and Sponsored Messages. The minimum image size is 476 x 249 px. Ads dimensions vary for Facebook Stories. See more in detail at Facebook Size Guide For Cover & Photo Posts.

How much does a Facebook ads cost?

Your Facebook advertising costs will depend a lot on your industry, campaign objective, and many other factors. However, typically your Facebook ads can cost you between $0.50 and $2.00 per click. According to Wordstream, the average cost per click (CPC) in Facebook ads across all industries is $1.72.

What makes a good Facebook ads design?

You should optimize your Facebook ads design for its format, for example, video, static image, carousel, etc. ... Image ads are a single image with no moving effects. This is a great way to quickly create a simple and powerful ad that will drive people to your site and raise awareness of your brand and products.

Are Facebook ads worth it?

So if you want to use Facebook to reach a wider audience, generate new leads and convert more customers - Facebook ads are 100% worth it. In fact, Some companies need to invest in highly organised campaigns with well-produced creatives to stand out from their competition.

Need Help With Facebook Ads For Your Brand?

Don’t want to go through all this text percentage and placement yourself? Our team at Sphere Agency is here to help you manage your Facebook business account with creative and compelling content. See our Facebook Advertising Services and Contact Us today!