Advertising Botox and Prescription Drugs: Policy Guidelines for Med Spa Owners

Offering services like Botox can be an effective way to attract clients to your med spa, but it’s important to know that you can’t use Google Search Ads to bid on terms like botox or other substances in most countries (policy). In Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, certain advertisers are allowed to bid on drug-related terms after achieving certification with Google. This article outlines the key guidelines for running ads that mention Botox and other prescription drug terms, along with the steps you need to take to target these keywords.

Why Botox Ads Are Restricted

Under Google’s current Healthcare and Medicines Policy, the term ‘Botox’ is classified as a prescription drug and cannot be used freely in ad text or landing pages unless you meet specific certification requirements. This restriction helps maintain transparency and ensures adherence to healthcare advertising regulations.

Who Can Advertise Prescription Drug Terms?

For campaigns targeting Canada, New Zealand, or the United States, only specific types of businesses are eligible to advertise prescription drug terms. These include:

• Online pharmacies
• Pharmaceutical manufacturers
• Addiction treatment facilities

These businesses must be certified by Google to use prescription drug terms in ad text and landing pages. Without certification, ads containing these terms will not be approved.

What Does This Mean for Med Spas?

If your med spa offers services like Botox, you can advertise other treatments without needing certification. However, to specifically keyword-target terms like ‘Botox,’ you must complete Google’s healthcare-related certification process. If your med spa operates under a franchise model where each location is running independent Google ad accounts, each franchise location must apply for certification individually to target prescription drug-related keywords.

How to Apply for Certification

To gain the necessary certification for advertising prescription drug terms, follow these steps:

1. Review Google’s Healthcare and Medicines Policy here: Healthcare and Medicines Policy.
2. Apply for LegitScript certification
3. Apply for healthcare-related advertising certification via this link: Healthcare Certification Application.
4. Wait for Google’s approval before bidding on terms like ‘Botox’ or other prescription drugs

Staying compliant with Google’s policies not only protects your business but also ensures your ads reach the right audience effectively. For further guidance, visit Google’s support pages linked above or contact Google Ads Support.