Comments on: Behavioral Based Ads Bad For Publishers and Scary For Users

By: Linda Lee

Linda Lee — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:24:07 +0000

I hate this trend. I find it creepy and it really makes me mad.
I never click any ads online, ever.
I rarely use ads on my websites. I think there are much better ways to earn income online.

By: Tao - board games Canada

Tao - board games Canada — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:58:16 +0000

Thanks for writing about your experience as someone who is serving the content.

Strangely enough, on the opposite end, advertising using behavioral targeting has been pretty good – on a return rate for customers. Of course, we’re not pushing out content in a large, large volume so we don’t seem to be ‘stalking’ our customers either.

By: The Data Kraken: Google’s Deadly Sins - and What They Mean to You

The Data Kraken: Google’s Deadly Sins - and What They Mean to You — Wed, 06 May 2009 08:36:10 +0000

[...] Donna Fontenot aka DazzlinDonna (SEO Chicks): “Behavioral Based Ads Bad For Publishers and Scary For Users” [...]

By: Raj

Raj — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:51:41 +0000

Content based filtering of ads is good as per me. I fully agree with the above comments that has been mentioned above

Regards…

Raj

By: Julie Joyce

Julie Joyce — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:46:17 +0000

This is going to be just as strange as when I get onto Amazon and it’s recommending the latest in gun gleaning kits, bluegrass boxed sets, and things to help reduce your cord clutter. Then I remember that my husband shares the account…

By: Dana Lookadoo

Dana Lookadoo — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:24:27 +0000

Donna,

Thanks for the write-up. A few of us were testing this late last year by logging into and out of Gmail accounts, clearing cookies, etc. Some of the ads feel like someone broke into your mind.

Your example unfortunately shows how much worse it is getting, and obviously, this is not best for the users, which is supposed to be Google’s bottom line!

Suggest everyone opt-out of Google Ad’s preferences and download the FireFox plugin to stop the cookies from being set. I’m now looking at:
http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp

By: Simonne

Simonne — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:15:45 +0000

I can imagine the CTR is horrible. If I think how many hours a day I search on weight loss (or any other niche I work) topics, while being far from needing any kind of diet or fitness program, you can bet I won’t click on those weight loss ads that are presented to me while I check the weather reports.

I think that at least in my case, the personal interest searches are less than 30% of the total. How relevant can this be for me?

By: » Opting IN with Google, so you can Opt-out of Tracking - John Andrews - johnon.com

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:59:11 +0000

[...] Behavioral Based Ads Bad For Publishers and Scary For Users [...]

By: Garrett

Garrett — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:49:07 +0000

Behavioral targeting can produce some “interesting” results especially if the device that’s used to access the content is shared….like when your wife uses the Tivo to record The Sound of Music and The Wizard of Oz. Then you have your buddies over to watch a movie and they’re like, “hey why is your Tivo recording Boat Trip, Will & Grace, and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” Awkward.

By: simleon

simleon — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:07:09 +0000

Hi,

I confirm. I did a lot of Behavioral targeting advertising in UK and Italian markets, also with big budgets, but results where “bankruptcy”.

Bad results, low CTR and very high cost per conversion.