Thread: Site Updates

Ummm...one observation....while I realize adverts have become a practical necessity, I do happen to notice that I get a lot of rather tasteless "Date sexy young asian girl" banner ads that I could most certainly do without. Any way you can control those, O benevolent site owner?

Yes.

I can exclude any advertisers so if you could send me detailed information (a screen shot would be most helpful) I will pull them.


Keep in mind that the ads are tailored to your web browsing habits.

Originally Posted by Pete

Keep in mind that the ads are tailored to your web browsing habits.

Which just blows my mind, because my predominant ad is for Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge and, although I drive one, I don't recall ever searching or browsing them.

Ads are displayed based on browser behavior AND user profile (Demographics).

You don't necessarily have to search for a particular brand of truck to see those ads. You may just fit a demographic profile. There are literally thousands of factors advanced ad networks use. Not all of them are "interest based" like you think of when you think of conducting a search.

However, ads like "hot Asian girls" or more offensive geared ads, usually are the result of some type of behavior, not merely demographics. Why? Simple. They are optimized so that when they "roll" an impression (an ad is visible on the page you are on) they want the ad you are most likely to click on. Offensive ads don't have a high click-through rate (CTR). Relatability, timing (how recent did you search for that thing), social (peer) values, have more affect on whether or not you see an ad. CTRs go down as these values become less relevant. Few people are going to waste money on ads you are not likely to click on. And ad networks aren't going to waste ad space when a more viable ad is queued up.

The ad showing for me right now is for an online urban planning degree. Which makes sense since I was looking for grad schools that offered online planning programs last week.

If you are curious to see just how many ad networks are tracking your behavior, just install a tracking extension(plugin) for your browser and see. A popular one on Chrome is Ghostery. It will show you on each site, which sites/networks are tracking you. On most sites, this is several at a time.


If you want to modify what Google Adsense is showing you (this site uses Google Adsense to serve ads), then you can adjust your settings.

A couple ways to get to the right page:

1) Hover over the ad itself. A small graphic will appear that says "Ad Choices". Click on that and then scroll down to "Ad preferences". From there you will be able to remove generic topics

2) Search for Google Ads Preference Manager


Also, Google uses the DoubleClick cookies. Which means you can opt-out pretty powerfully. DoubleClick is a Network Advertising Initiative company which can be opted out of by going here: Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies (BETA)

Just by visiting that link, you will immediately see how many companies actually are tracking your browser. Make sure you are sitting down.


If you are using Chrome, be sure to install this plugin to ensure sustained "opt-out" status as your browser is likely to change over time: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/d...fdgfjilccfpfoe

If you need help with any of that, just ask. Happy to help.

Originally Posted by Pete

Yes.

I can exclude any advertisers so if you could send me detailed information (a screen shot would be most helpful) I will pull them.


Keep in mind that the ads are tailored to your web browsing habits.

LOL! Yeah, right

Actually, I think its demographics, because there's an "age" overtone to the ad image. When it comes up again, I'll snag it and let you know..

Originally Posted by sidburgess

Ads are displayed based on browser behavior AND user profile (Demographics).

You don't necessarily have to search for a particular brand of truck to see those ads. You may just fit a demographic profile. There are literally thousands of factors advanced ad networks use. Not all of them are "interest based" like you think of when you think of conducting a search.

However, ads like "hot Asian girls" or more offensive geared ads, usually are the result of some type of behavior, not merely demographics. Why? Simple. They are optimized so that when they "roll" an impression (an ad is visible on the page you are on) they want the ad you are most likely to click on. Offensive ads don't have a high click-through rate (CTR). Relatability, timing (how recent did you search for that thing), social (peer) values, have more affect on whether or not you see an ad. CTRs go down as these values become less relevant. Few people are going to waste money on ads you are not likely to click on. And ad networks aren't going to waste ad space when a more viable ad is queued up.

The ad showing for me right now is for an online urban planning degree. Which makes sense since I was looking for grad schools that offered online planning programs last week.

If you are curious to see just how many ad networks are tracking your behavior, just install a tracking extension(plugin) for your browser and see. A popular one on Chrome is Ghostery. It will show you on each site, which sites/networks are tracking you. On most sites, this is several at a time.


If you want to modify what Google Adsense is showing you (this site uses Google Adsense to serve ads), then you can adjust your settings.

A couple ways to get to the right page:

1) Hover over the ad itself. A small graphic will appear that says "Ad Choices". Click on that and then scroll down to "Ad preferences". From there you will be able to remove generic topics

2) Search for Google Ads Preference Manager


Also, Google uses the DoubleClick cookies. Which means you can opt-out pretty powerfully. DoubleClick is a Network Advertising Initiative company which can be opted out of by going here: Opt Out From Online Behavioral Advertising By Participating Companies (BETA)

Just by visiting that link, you will immediately see how many companies actually are tracking your browser. Make sure you are sitting down.


If you are using Chrome, be sure to install this plugin to ensure sustained "opt-out" status as your browser is likely to change over time: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/d...fdgfjilccfpfoe

If you need help with any of that, just ask. Happy to help.

Well, just for a personal disclaimer, I've not been doing ANY such searching that I could remotely fathom would induce a formula to pop that kind of ad, so I'm hoping maybe it was an outlier. Today's ads are much more sensible, eg Staples, Solar Energy company, stuff like that.

Originally Posted by SoonerDave

Well, just for a personal disclaimer, I've not been doing ANY such searching that I could remotely fathom would induce a formula to pop that kind of ad, so I'm hoping maybe it was an outlier. Today's ads are much more sensible, eg Staples, Solar Energy company, stuff like that.

I over-emphasized that. While behavior is likely, it isn't the kind of behavior that always includes searches. Just visiting a completely legit singles website could trigger it. There is no way to know precisely and I didn't mean to imply you've been doing anything like that.

Originally Posted by sidburgess

I over-emphasized that. While behavior is likely, it isn't the kind of behavior that always includes searches. Just visiting a completely legit singles website could trigger it. There is no way to know precisely and I didn't mean to imply you've been doing anything like that.

Oh, heavens, I know that, Sid. It's all good.