Podcast Summary: Med Spa Success Strategies

Episode: Wednesday Thoughts: How to Run Google Ads for Botox (Approval Explained!)
Host: Ricky Shockley
Date: September 10, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Ricky Shockley addresses a common misconception among med spa owners: the belief that running Google Ads for Botox is impossible due to trademark restrictions and pharmaceutical regulations. Ricky explains the process for gaining Google Ads approval with Allergan’s support, discusses ongoing ad visibility quirks, and gives practical advice for optimizing ad strategy in the aesthetics industry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mythbusting: Can You Run Google Ads for Botox?

• Many med spa owners think they “can’t run ads for Botox on Google.”
• The reality: it is possible, but requires specific steps to meet Google’s and Allergan’s requirements.
  • Quote:

    “So many med spa owners think they can't run ads for Botox on Google. That's not true. Here's what you need to do.”
    — Ricky Shockley [00:00]

2. Why Ads for Botox Get Flagged

• Trademark Issue:

  • Botox is a trademarked term. Google blocks ads featuring it unless you’re authorized.
  • Allergan (the rights owner) restricts ads for the Botox brand name.

• Online Pharmacy Designation:

  • Google requires an “online pharmaceutical designation” for some drug-related ads.
  • Many assume this applies only to actual pharmacies, discouraging med spas from attempting ads.
  • Quote:

    “If you're not an actual online pharmacy selling the drug, they don't want you running ads for these products.”
    — Ricky [00:21]

3. How to Get Google Ads Approved for Botox

• Core Step:

  • Work directly with Allergan (via your reps) to:
    • Get permission to use the trademarked term in ads
    • Secure the required pharmaceutical approval
  • Allergan can push your Google Ads account through the necessary approval process.
    • Quote:

      “Your Allergan contacts and Allergan reps will push that through for you so that you can run ads unrestricted for Botox.”
      — Ricky [00:43]

• Actionable Tip:

  • If your marketing provider isn’t aware of this process, reconsider your support team.
    • “Working with a provider that's expert in your niche” makes a significant difference.

4. What to Expect After Approval

• Once approved, your ads may still appear limited or inactive when you log in.

• Behind the scenes, they’re running and active.

  • You might see “limited by policy” warnings, but this doesn’t actually block the ads if you have Allergan’s approval.
  • Quote:

    “You'll still see that the ads look like they're not approved, they're not running. But when you log in and look at the data, they are active, they are running.”
    — Ricky [01:44]

• Approval status is not always visible on the ad platform front-end, but your ads are live if Allergan has completed the process.

5. Strategic Advice: Where to Prioritize Ad Spend

• Facebook & Instagram ads are still the “priority 1A” for med spas promoting Botox and similar services.

  • Google Ads should be your “diversification step 1B.”
  • Quote:

    “If Botox is a core service ... Facebook and Instagram ads is still your best application of ad dollars.”
    — Ricky [02:16]

• Opportunity Cost:

  • Focus on platforms with best ROI, but using both social (Meta) and search (Google) advertising is the most robust strategy.

6. Handy Resources & Next Steps

• Ricky provides a link to request Allergan approval in the show notes/episode description (for listeners running into issues).
• Promise to keep resources updated as the process changes.

Notable Quotes

• Ricky Shockley [00:00]:

  “So many med spa owners think they can't run ads for Botox on Google. That's not true. Here's what you need to do.”

• Ricky Shockley [00:43]:

  “Your Allergan contacts and Allergan reps will push that through for you so that you can run ads unrestricted for Botox.”

• Ricky Shockley [01:44]:

  “You'll still see that the ads look like they're not approved, they're not running. But when you log in and look at the data, they are active, they are running.”

• Ricky Shockley [02:16]:

  “If Botox is a core service ... Facebook and Instagram ads is still your best application of ad dollars.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00] — Ricky debunks the myth about running Google Ads for Botox.
• [00:15-00:43] — Explanation of trademark and pharmacy-related restrictions.
• [00:43-01:10] — Step-by-step process for securing account approval via Allergan.
• [01:44-02:16] — What to expect after approval and how to interpret ad status in Google Ads.
• [02:16-02:40] — Strategic advice on Facebook/Instagram vs. Google Ad allocation.

Tone and Style

Ricky’s approach is direct, encouraging, and highly practical, offering step-by-step clarity while debunking common misconceptions. The tone is supportive, aiming to build confidence in med spa owners to take action and effectively navigate Google’s ad restrictions.

Takeaways

• Yes, you can run Google Ads for Botox—you just need Allergan’s direct approval.
• Don’t be discouraged by trademark or pharmaceutical flags; these are bureaucratic hurdles, not dead ends.
• Once approved, ads often appear restricted in Google Ads, but are running in the background.
• Prioritize Meta (Facebook/Instagram) ads, but diversify with Google for maximum marketing reach.
• Consult your Allergan reps and use provided resources for smooth approval.

Ideal for med spa owners, marketers in aesthetics, and anyone seeking a practical roadmap for advertising regulated medical services through digital channels.