Facebook’s 20% Ad Image text overlay rule, changed.

By LS Digital

April 19, 2016,

As per a report in Social Media Today, the 20% Ad Image text overlay rule no longer applies post 22nd March’16. During the period when the rule was mandatory, Facebook had provided its users with a basic grid tool, which would allow them to keep a check on the text overlay.

Without any information or notification, the rules have been quietly dropped. However, the changes are not rolled out for everyone yet. Facebook will gradually roll it out, post its testing. Now that the grid is gone, Facebook has provided a simple guide that points out the level of reach the ad will have, based on the text over the ad Image. Hence, the users will have to make their own judgement based on Facebook’s feedback over the image reach.

As per the new basic tool, there are four categories of text overlay that will give its users a clear idea of the post’s performance:

Image text : OK
Image text : Low
Image text : High
Image text : Medium

Your image text is classed as OK, mostly if there are no text overlay, excluding the company logo. As shown in the image below.

(img. courtesy : socialmediatoday)

Similarly, if it is classified as low, the reach may be further limited. Facebook cites too much of text as a reason for this. Here is an example mentioned below:

(img. courtesy : socialmediatoday)

Same is the case with medium classification. Facebook suggests that the reach will be comparatively lesser than the images with no texts, as Facebook prefers limited or no next. It even urges the user to consider changing the image.

(img. courtesy : socialmediatoday)

If your image is loaded with too many texts, then, Facebook might not consider publishing it, and urge the user to keep the text level minimum to qualify for the ad.