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What? How are they controlling what articles the target sees via a cookie? What am I missing here?

cestith 7y ago
My guess they're setting ad preferences cookies for certain ad networks that are then used by various sites as pay-per-click revenue for the hosting sites. So when you'd see an ad served from Google's* ad network or Outbrain* or someone, it's as if the target had told those ad networks what kind of advertising interests them more than others. * These are named as examples of ad networks and I don't mean to imply they are used in this scheme and definitely not that they would be complicit or cooperative with it.
jefftk 7y ago
It's based on remarketing technology. Just like Amazon can drop a cookie on your browser so they can later show you ads to convince you to come back and complete the blender purchase you have sitting in your cart, this site is offering to drop a cookie on the target and then show them ads for whatever message you would like to show.
eternalny1 7y ago
No, I imagine this is more like you tell them your target's screename and then they just use regular ad analytics to target that person specifically.
ipsa 7y ago
After paying, you can select 3 popular articles, or create your own URL to link to. The service creates a shortened link (goo.gl) which, when clicked, drops the tracking cookie, and redirects to the article/own URL. Then they give you an important notice: the person you targeted with that link (which you are responsible for sending!) should also be referred to the terms of service of the Spinner. Sneaky loophole, where nobody will do that ("Hey honey, click this link and then visit this manipulation website to agree with the TOS!"), but they seemingly covered their asses, targeting people who never agreed to a TOS.
dillondoyle 7y ago
Yes. the website says they spam a link to sms, and if user clicks drop a cookie. I'm skeptical it will work on iOS especially since most of these spam-y 'native' networks use 3rd party still it seems. I've done similar 'hyper target decision makers' and I think they'd have more success using emails to match, @twitter handles, idfa etc, and or dropping FB's remarking code. You might need to fake/expand minimum sized group to get spend but the value in reaching your top 10 decision makers outweighs also reaching another 490 or whatever needed to hit minimum match sizes.
w_t_payne 7y ago
You can do hyper-local advertising to target someone in a particular zip code...

My guess they're setting ad preferences cookies for certain ad networks that are then used by various sites as pay-per-click revenue for the hosting sites. So when you'd see an ad served from Google's* ad network or Outbrain* or someone, it's as if the target had told those ad networks what kind of advertising interests them more than others. * These are named as examples of ad networks and I don't mean to imply they are used in this scheme and definitely not that they would be complicit or cooperative with it.

jefftk 7y ago

It's based on remarketing technology. Just like Amazon can drop a cookie on your browser so they can later show you ads to convince you to come back and complete the blender purchase you have sitting in your cart, this site is offering to drop a cookie on the target and then show them ads for whatever message you would like to show.

eternalny1 7y ago

No, I imagine this is more like you tell them your target's screename and then they just use regular ad analytics to target that person specifically.

ipsa 7y ago

After paying, you can select 3 popular articles, or create your own URL to link to. The service creates a shortened link (goo.gl) which, when clicked, drops the tracking cookie, and redirects to the article/own URL. Then they give you an important notice: the person you targeted with that link (which you are responsible for sending!) should also be referred to the terms of service of the Spinner. Sneaky loophole, where nobody will do that ("Hey honey, click this link and then visit this manipulation website to agree with the TOS!"), but they seemingly covered their asses, targeting people who never agreed to a TOS.

dillondoyle 7y ago

Yes. the website says they spam a link to sms, and if user clicks drop a cookie. I'm skeptical it will work on iOS especially since most of these spam-y 'native' networks use 3rd party still it seems. I've done similar 'hyper target decision makers' and I think they'd have more success using emails to match, @twitter handles, idfa etc, and or dropping FB's remarking code. You might need to fake/expand minimum sized group to get spend but the value in reaching your top 10 decision makers outweighs also reaching another 490 or whatever needed to hit minimum match sizes.

w_t_payne 7y ago

You can do hyper-local advertising to target someone in a particular zip code...