Comments on: Facebook makes it official — an external advertising network is coming soon

By: Len Holehouse

Len Holehouse — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:00:55 +0000

Some good ideas on here but when starting up in business the last thing you can afford is paid advertising try down the free ad route.Please view my blog for a few tips and tricks http://wp.me/p2LCig-j

By: Kevin Foley

Kevin Foley — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 10:15:51 +0000

Forget about the ads for a min….its the data that is valuable to overlay across what is essentially a dumb pipe. If Facebook layer their data across the WWW you can target against it which to be honest is pretty impressive data. Only other guys who can do this is the telco’s who have privacy issues that will be a nightmare to manage. Only way facebook can do this is because of the size of their base. If they just charged a small percentage for added targeting based on user profiles I think it would be very big business!

By: labraou

labraou — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:56:23 +0000

I was expecting this for a long time now. FB’s database is worth 000′s more than it will ever get from in-house banner ads!

By: Alexis Favis

Alexis Favis — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:54:10 +0000

Good for marketers and businesses, and probably good for user experiences in the long run too. I think social media users tend to forget that these networks are all optional, and that there are other ways to be social with other human beings, that do not require a computer or mobile phone. No sense in getting into a huff about it.

By: Tema Frank

Tema Frank — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:55:15 +0000

Google ads work because they are based on your search queries, so they know you have a genuine and immediate interest. Facebook is not used as a search engine (except maybe for people), so I don’t see it having much hope of serving ads (especially off-Facebook ones) that will be as effective as Google’s.

By: media guy

media guy — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:54:38 +0000

people, why is everyone upseat that FB will be following you around. You think, every network, exchange, single publisher on the web doesnt already? Its about user experience too. Yes advertisers want your data, you will be sold at the highest bidder, BUT that bidder will be a relavant advertiser trying to reach you in the best fit environment.. If not, then M18-34 would be getting Playtex ads on ESPN and W18-34 would be getting Gillette Razor ads on iVillage. Is that the type of experience you want? Is there anyone out there that thinks US Census data or Polk Auto data or Equifax data hasnt been sold to advertisers for years in the direct marketing space? If so you’re just fooling yourself into thinking that FB is the first company to use your behavioral patterns and “likes” to reach a consumer.

By: Anjana Prabath

Anjana Prabath — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 05:50:02 +0000

My site is a facebook cover designer and library. free
called http://whippity.com/

By: Quaffworthy

Quaffworthy — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 01:28:24 +0000

Hilarious! I rarely see “relevant” ads with Google, so if I “like” those various angry cat posters on FB, I presume I’ll see all sorts of ads for cat products….despite not owning a cat nor knowing anyone who does. My favourite “relevant” ads are the ones in Spanish…for feminine products… despite the fact I’m an English speaking guy. WTF?

By: rebeccalynnphelps

rebeccalynnphelps — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:02:42 +0000

As a FB end user this news makes me happy. Like most FB users, I’ve gotten used to the advertisements on FB that offer deals and promotions. Before that, I was used to the banner ads on the side of the FB screen. But what I cannot seem to get used to is their new mobile ad campaign that “seamlessly integrates” the sponsored stories and banner ads into my newsfeed. What bugs me so much is that I feel like the ratio of ads to ACTUAL newsfeed stories from my friends is way to high. It seems like I get about 3 or so ads for every 3 or 4 stories. It is completely intrusive in the FB user experience.

What’s worse, as this article points out, the sponsored stories campaign is not even that effective b/c users tend to just click through these ads for the most part.

I think this plan to create an external advertising network could be a win-win for FB AND the user. I get tailored ads when I’m web surfing based on my FB data (which FB and advertisers are already using anyway, so no apparent change to the risk in my “privacy”). And, hopefully…. HOPEFULLY…. this new strategy will result in movement away from the frustrating (and apparently fruitless) sponsored stories that are clogging up my newsfeed.

By: David M

David M — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 08:08:36 +0000

This may be true, but if their attempt at ‘profiling’ my likes is any indication, then they are way off the mark. None of their ads have come even close to why I like the things that I truly like. Instead, they have been focusing on ads from interest likes I made years ago when I first signed up or what people that are connected to me like. – The ads don’t even fit those likes very well. Then they changed their rhythm with the promote button, which statistically changed what they allow me to see from my connections, which only irritates me, and their profile/ad campaign has gotten worse. Then there are the cat pictures, and the recent political campaigning that will drastically change the statistics in so many random ways. So I am not sure google should be too worried – concerned, but not worried.