Comments on: 66% Americans Don’t Want Ad Tracking…or “2 for 1″ on Coke 12-Packs

By: Terry Howard

Terry Howard — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:50:09 +0000

It’s all just mis-characterizations based on terminology. WE know what “tracking” and “targeting” mean, it means giving people what they most likely want. It’s a waste of time and money for advertisers to shotgun blast ads at people where 60% have zero chance of buying. It’s all done anonymously, we have no need to know that John Smith at 32 Cherry Tree Lane likes frosted cereal, but rather that cookieID 3245fsdfhj had been looking at our Frosted Flakes coupon page and is now over at Cereal Reviews website where we have some ad space running, and that user likely would respond to an even better deal on Frosted Flakes.

But Joe Public, and even more annoyingly, Joe Senator, see the words “tracking” and “targeting” and they envision marketers digging through their garbage and peeping through windows. If we would have called the tactics “customized offers” or “value matching” we likely wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
.-= Terry Howard´s last blog ..Commissioner Infantini Wrong on Parking Meters =-.

By: BWI

BWI — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:07:06 +0000

Before that survey was given I also wonder if the participants were fully aware of what ad tracking is. I guarantee my Dad..who is probably online right now, has no clue what it is or how it works. .-= BWI´s last blog ..Is Your Browser an Add-on Machine? =-.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:04:44 +0000

‘web users are explicitly told, “look, you delete this ad tracking info and you’ll be bashing animated monkeys each time you come to our site!”‘

This consumer simply goes to else. No website is indispensable.

By: Andy Beal

Andy Beal — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:39:32 +0000

I’d imagine that’s one of the least scary reports you’ll see.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:03:26 +0000

For me, it’s all about disclosure and choice. Privacy online is a technology problem that needs a technology solution so that people can stay in their own comfort zone. We haven’t seen good, usable privacy technologies develop because the companies who make browsers also own or are supported by ad networks. Hmmm.

Just for fun, take a look at the network privacy profile for marketingpilgrim.com — who collects information on this site and what they do with it:

http://www.privacychoice.net/marketingpilgrim.com

Any surprises? Is that scary?

By: Social Media Commando

Social Media Commando — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:42:02 +0000

Agreed.

So long as it’s an easy to use opt-out, I’d be game for that. Like you said, without the marketing data, a lot of those ‘freebies’ could magically disappear. That wouldn’t be too popular.
.-= Social Media Commando´s last blog ..Tearing Down the Social Silos of Search =-.

By: Andy Beal

Andy Beal — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:21:30 +0000

Hah! Maybe we can have a compromise. Amazon lets me remove things from my profile that aren’t relevant to the products I want it to recommend. Maybe ads could work the same way?

By: Andy Beal

Andy Beal — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:20:03 +0000

I totally agree with you.

By: Social Media Commando

Social Media Commando — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:13:11 +0000

Relevant Ads Rock! Go ahead, marketers. Track my breakfast cereal habits and beer preferences, my shampoo of choice, even my "I went to the gym four times this week I need candy" craving. Just don't tell my Mom I still eat Froot Loops from time to time. That's an invasion of my privacy. .-= Social Media Commando´s last blog ..Tearing Down the Social Silos of Search =-.

By: Hershel Miller

Hershel Miller — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:14:10 +0000

How about, would you rather visit a website with blanket ads that you will unlikely be interested in, or would you rather see ads that may spark your interest from time to time?

Since I don’t own a dog, I don’t need to see dog food ads. Dog food ads aren’t helpin me, the publisher/network or the advertiser. Now serve up some ads with some intelligence and I might just take ya up on that timely offer.

ps: nice ad zone right above the comments!
.-= Hershel Miller´s last blog ..Wisconsin Real Estate Update =-.