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Search engines say "no" to fireworks ads

February 18, 2008 6:50 AM Dale Ford
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Both Google and Yahoo have now adapted a "no fireworks" policy in regards to advertisements for fireworks on their respective search engines.

Just recently, and without warning, ads that linked to fireworks related websites started disappearing from Yahoo’s search result pages.

Bryan Gilchrist, webmaster of PyroReview.com, acknowledged in a phone call “I received an email the other day stating that one of my ads had been pulled ‘due to editorial issues’. When I logged into Yahoo’s advertising portal to find out why, I noticed that many of the keywords that my ads had been linked to showed the status of ‘Removed’.”

Jennifer Leem, Customer Solutions Representative at Yahoo Search Marketing, confirmed via e-mail that “You are correct in your understanding that we have recently changed our editorial guidelines relating to fireworks. The new guideline states that we will not accept ads that offer or promote the sale of fireworks, firearms, or integral parts for these weapons.”

Google, Yahoo’s biggest competitor, made similar changes to their Google Adwords program in February of 2007, nearly to the day, one year prior to Yahoo’s adaptation of the policy, stating that they no longer “allow ads for fireworks or ‘pyrotechnic devices’”, or, according to Gilchrist “They don’t even allow websites that link to other websites that sell fireworks or pyrotechnics devices.”

What does this mean for fireworks advertisers? According to Leem, if the advertiser “has another website that focuses on something else we would love to continue working with them. If not, and we can no longer advertise their site, they can request a refund of their account balance, if any.”

Google representatives echoed Leem’s statement.

If you would like to view Yahoo’s current advertising guidelines, which include the new “no fireworks” policy, you can check it out at:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/ysm/sps/start/editorial/unacceptable_content.html

Google’s policy can be found at:
http://adwords.google.com/support/bin/static.py?page=guidelines.cs&topic=9271&subtopic=9279&hl=en

Comments (8 posted):

Mark on February 28, 2008 4:30 AM
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What i really don't understand is WHY! I mean i can understand firearms, but why fireworks?
Mike on February 28, 2008 5:34 AM
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Let's make sure it's clear that "search results" will still return websites about fireworks. It's just the "ads" displayed on those search engine sites that will be removed. There is a big difference between the two. I would also assume that all google adword feeds to other websites will not contain fireworks ads.
Jon David on February 28, 2008 6:17 AM
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This is the U.S.A. Firearms are regulated but legal and Fireworks are regulated but legal. why do they feel the need to silence these industries?
FireworkCrazy on February 28, 2008 12:04 PM
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I've never undersood the reasoning behind this. I don't see why, for legitimate companies that we can't advertise our services through paid adverts on google and now yahoo. I really do not see the logic behind it.
JTT on February 28, 2008 5:24 PM
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WHY?.....they're run by liberal idealists-they hate guns and associate fireworks w/them.Don't even think of separating from legal gun owners,were an easy target.Remember.."divided we fall"
tim lea on March 4, 2008 6:07 AM
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incredibly insane. This country is sucuming to the liberal governmental beauracracy that will one day condemn the possesion of a gun in your home and create legislation making you an outlaw and criminal if you are caught in violation. It's a sad sad comment that our world search engines can make that type of decision on legal products in commerce.
RipSUp on March 6, 2008 6:23 AM
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Um I think this is pretty simple to understand. In many states it's illegal to sell them and I wouldn't doubt that advetising your store there is likely illegal too. There is no simple way to where the person you are sending the ad is located at (with these search engines, not places like Facebook where they can do ads to specific people that they know the location of) and they don't want to run into legal issues with that.

And before the arguement comes up :) IP addresses are not tied to locations even though you can do a lookup on that. Places like AOL Proxy their connections through multiple places and even though I'm in Indiana may go out a proxy in IL.

Way easier for google to say no then deal with the headaches.

No conspiracy theories needed on this one.
Jon D on March 13, 2008 5:05 AM
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The Federal Government has passed an ok on consumer fireworks but the states and local Governments can set the terms of sale and use.For those of you who do not understand it's very dangerous for these companies to dabble in political statements. Do not be confused this is a liberal political statement and has nothing to do with potential laws suits. I find it nice to know that in spite of the laws and regulations that the pryo industry and community has become stronger and more focused and the product has become safer more powerful with better quality controls. I have a great fireworks vendor and will continue to purchase from them and will not allow a "search engine" to dictate that.

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