Ads Posted on Facebook Strike Some as Off-Key

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/technology/04facebook.html

by apowell • 16 years ago

9 6 16 years ago

nytimes.com

Groxx2• 16 years ago

* shock and awe * low quality ads on Facebook??? Say it ain't so!

FB has encouraged some of the worst ads I've seen on this side of my spam filter.

jgrahamc• 16 years ago

I agree. I frequently flag ads on Facebook as 'offensive'. It's a cesspool.

michael_dorfman• 16 years ago

So, higher quality ads should stand out, right?

I've been toying with the idea of running a PPC campaign on Facebook, to compare the ROI to Adwords.

Any advice on how to avoid the pitfall of "low quality ads" that you find to be endemic?

Groxx2• 16 years ago

Well, the Izzard / iPad connection is weak, illogical, and confusing. Avoid non sequitur connections, unless going for humor (and then beware that it's hard to do with small space).

Insulting / offensive is bad too. I've found a number like that.

tewks• 16 years ago

They've got a major issue.

Facebook is a site where users are highly unlikely to be in buy mode.

mschaecher• 16 years ago

Unfortunately these shady advertising campaigns aren't just limited to internet advertising networks anymore. I live in Nebraska and listen to a lot of radio (unfortunately) while on the road, in turns out these kind of ads are taking over the airwaves as well.

There are credit collectors running ads that sound like a PSA from the government regarding a 'bailout for consumers struggling from credit card debt. If your last name begins with A through M call today, or N - Z call tomorrow' There are no less than ten variations of this ad running on 3-4 radio stations in Nebraska.

I also hear a ton of shady commercials for weight loss supplements that end if with "WARNING: IF YOU LOSE 10 POUNDS IN 10 DAYS DISCONTINUE USE" Really?! That happens?! Doubt it, but for a lot of unsophisticated listeners that could be a value proposition rather than a warning. I heard 2-4 Acai Berry ads last night alone.

It's not like these radio commercials are being launched on some self ad network, where no body checks it before airing. Hell some of them are even read by the DJs at the radio station as part of the ad buy.

Ads Posted on Facebook Strike Some as Off-Key

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