3 ms·

I'm guessing you've never tried to start an Internet-based business. Being able to target ads is often your lifeblood of your company. Or have you tried and som

I'm guessing you've never tried to start an Internet-based business. Being able to target ads is often your lifeblood of your company. Or have you tried and somehow found a different method?

ROFISH 5y ago
I run a company where about 70% of my audience (in 2018 no less, so likely a lot higher now) use adblockers. To me, any amount of search ad spend or similar is pissing money down the drain. For reference, our marketing strategy is opt-in email newsletters, organic social media, the occasional sponsorship of events, and natural word-of-mouth (no incentive). And we've been in business for 12+ years.
- somedude895 5y ago
  Search ads are very effective and are paid on a per-click basis, so you really can't go wrong with them.
- dwild 5y ago
  >opt-in email newsletters, Opt-in, or "kinda opt-in"? Or you just don't know and trust whoever publish that newsletters? Seriously newsletters are the most annoying ads I get and by far. So many are not really opt-in, but instead use dark patterns to make you sign up.
  - ROFISH 5y ago
    Fully informed and "Have to click the checkbox" opt-in.
alkonaut 5y ago
I absolutely have not. But I don’t think the possibility of buying tracking ads is somehow excused because e.g “you couldn’t start internet businesses otherwise” or even “most of the free content online would disappear”. Targeting doesn’t have to imply tracking or trading in my info. Facebook knows my age and gender, and some of my interests (from groups etc). That should be plenty. That means a company that sells kitchens can’t target people “interested in kitchens” in the sense they have recently searches for it or visited a site of a kitchen manufacturer that told Facebook. They can target people in country X of a certain age. If that doesn’t sell enough kitchens then just close down me kitchen business or buy a bus stop ad but don’t follow me around the internet.

I'm guessing you've never tried to start an Internet-based business. Being able to target ads is often your lifeblood of your company. Or have you tried and somehow found a different method?

ROFISH 5y ago

I run a company where about 70% of my audience (in 2018 no less, so likely a lot higher now) use adblockers. To me, any amount of search ad spend or similar is pissing money down the drain. For reference, our marketing strategy is opt-in email newsletters, organic social media, the occasional sponsorship of events, and natural word-of-mouth (no incentive). And we've been in business for 12+ years.

somedude895 5y ago
Search ads are very effective and are paid on a per-click basis, so you really can't go wrong with them.
dwild 5y ago
>opt-in email newsletters, Opt-in, or "kinda opt-in"? Or you just don't know and trust whoever publish that newsletters? Seriously newsletters are the most annoying ads I get and by far. So many are not really opt-in, but instead use dark patterns to make you sign up.
- ROFISH 5y ago
  Fully informed and "Have to click the checkbox" opt-in.

alkonaut 5y ago

I absolutely have not. But I don’t think the possibility of buying tracking ads is somehow excused because e.g “you couldn’t start internet businesses otherwise” or even “most of the free content online would disappear”. Targeting doesn’t have to imply tracking or trading in my info. Facebook knows my age and gender, and some of my interests (from groups etc). That should be plenty. That means a company that sells kitchens can’t target people “interested in kitchens” in the sense they have recently searches for it or visited a site of a kitchen manufacturer that told Facebook. They can target people in country X of a certain age. If that doesn’t sell enough kitchens then just close down me kitchen business or buy a bus stop ad but don’t follow me around the internet.