The Endless Loop of Facebook Ads Limbo (and What I’ve Learned So Far)
Hi, it’s me, Elodie. Still here, still figuring things out, and still (very) annoyed about my Facebook ads account being restricted.
Now, before we dive in—this is not a transcript of my latest podcast episode. If you’d rather listen to me chat about this in real-time (complete with my lingering flu voice), you can find the full episode of A Self-Published Author’s Diary on your favorite podcast provider (like Spotify - Apple - Amazon Music or more). Or here on Substack… I added the audio.
But if you prefer reading—or just want the highlights—here’s the gist of what’s been happening.
The "Your Account is Restricted" Spiral
Let’s rewind. In early December, I received a notification from Facebook about my ads account. At first, I didn’t think much of it because I’d had small issues before—usually just a flagged ad that I could appeal. But this time, it was different. Suddenly, I couldn’t run any ads, couldn’t boost posts, and couldn’t get a straight answer from Meta.
I did what I assumed was the logical next step: I requested a review.
Big mistake.
Turns out, a bunch of Facebook ad experts (who I only found after I clicked that tempting “request review” button) actually advise not doing that right away. Instead, they suggest troubleshooting first—things like checking security settings, enabling two-factor authentication, and digging into past ad performance. Because once you request a review and it gets denied? Well… let’s just say you might end up in an endless email loop of vague responses and contradictory advice.
I even managed to speak to a human (gasp), and they told me the restriction would “probably” be lifted in 48–72 hours. That was on January 7th. It is now January 30th.
Narrator: It was not lifted.
What I Know (or, More Accurately, What I Don’t Know)
According to Meta, my account was restricted for behavior that “tries to find a way around our rules.” The examples they give?
✔️ Working with a group of accounts to break their rules.
✔️ Creating new accounts to bypass restrictions.
✔️ Trying to get around previous restrictions.
I did none of those things.
I even went back to my ads, thinking maybe one of them triggered the restriction. But nope, no flagged ads.
Why This Would Have Been Way Worse Last Year
While this is still frustrating (and time-consuming), I’ve been able to adapt in a way that I wouldn’t have last year. When Kindle Vella was a big part of my income, Facebook ads were the main way I found readers. Losing them back then would have been a nightmare. Now, I’ve pivoted to:
Kindle Unlimited – My former Vella stories are now in KU, and I was using Facebook ads to promote one of my most profitable books.
French-language marketing – I had an ad running for my French book, which was actually working really well on Kobo. (Seriously, if anyone has ideas for reaching French wide readers without Facebook ads, I am all ears.)
YouTube – I recently launched a YouTube channel that includes full audiobooks in English and French, and I would have liked to run ads to boost visibility. But, you know. Facebook ads say no.
What I’m Doing Next (Besides Screaming into the Void)
If your Facebook ads account ever gets restricted, do your research first. Unlike me.
Some common advice I’ve found:
✅ Enable two-factor authentication (I’ll be testing this next).
✅ Ask in author Facebook groups (like 20BooksTo50K and Wide for the Win).
✅ Use other ad platforms
✅ Consider email promos and organic strategies (which is why I did a free book promo that led to 49 pre-orders for my next release).
In the meantime, I’m still trying to get my account reinstated—despite being called Fiona in one of my support emails (not my name, Meta).
A Final Thought (and a Shameless Plug and Some Things I found Helpful)
If you have any insights on how to reach French-speaking readers without Facebook ads (in addition to the wonderful Kobo Promos), let me know. Seriously. I’d love to hear from you.
Also, if you’re into audiobooks, check out my YouTube channel (yes, I’m linking it, even though I cannot advertise it right now).
And here are a few things I’ve supported recently:
📖 Kickstarter: Page-Turner Pacing Learn To Write A Bingeworthy Novel by Ines Johnson – A course + workbook on writing binge-worthy books and more…
📖 The Author Ecosystems: Your Unique Path to Writing Success – A Kickstarter on building a sustainable writing career.
And things I’m going to read/listen and also podcast episodes that have been helpful.
📖 Patreon: Becca Syme’s Archetypes – Learning more about how different writing archetypes approach marketing.
📖 Podcast: Claire Taylor’s Episode 35: What if my ads stop working? : In this episode of What If? For Authors, Claire dives into a common fear among authors: what to do when your ads stop working. Whether you're an indie author relying on ads to sell your books or just starting to explore ad platforms like Amazon or Facebook, Claire offers practical advice and mindset strategies to help you navigate this challenge.
And I also mention on the podcast/audio an episode from 2021 (!) Feature Friday on the podcast: Talking with Ines Johnson about her success in self-publishing, how writing screenplays has influenced her writing, pen names, going “wide” and advertising…
If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading. And if you’re dealing with the Facebook ads abyss, I’m with you. Fingers crossed we all get out of this loop soon.
🎙 Want the full breakdown? Listen to the latest episode of A Self-Published Author’s Diary here on Substack or on your favorite podcast provider.
Happy writing, and happy reading! ✨
Share this post