2 ms·

How valuable is "personalized ads"? I can see that there's not much point in serving me ads for e.g. women's clothing, because I'm not a woman. But even if you

How valuable is "personalized ads"? I can see that there's not much point in serving me ads for e.g. women's clothing, because I'm not a woman. But even if you knew everything I read online, I think you'd be hard-pressed to guess what I want to buy. So I don't believe that advertisers need to know all about me. They just need a few data points: am I a man or a woman, do I ever buy anything (do I have any money), and that's about it. Beyond that, I don't see how having more data makes it easier to get ad conversions. I've never worked in this area, and I drive with ads turned off, so I honestly don't know.

QuarterReptile 4y ago
On the other hand, outside of Proctor&Gamble-esque juggernauts of all things cheap and disposable in the grocery store, there's tons of stuff that appeals to small groups; this is a lot of what the internet and globalization has provided. For example, my total spending on video games in the last 5 years is between 0 and $100, so game publishers should probably save their ad spend (and not annoy me with noise). My TV is seldom out of the closet and plugged in, and I spend maybe $1-200/month on books. I'm pretty interested in buying a tennis stringing machine and more sheet music to play, but it's too much effort for me to seek those things out, so I don't. These are just a few of an infinite array of identifiers that could provide worthwhile targeted ads to me. As another example, most charities have a group of people who would be happy to give them money if they knew about the organizations, while most of the population is indifferent or, in some cases, opposed to their work. I don't like advertising much, either, and it doesn't reach me that often, but it's ridiculous to suggest that personalized ads have no value.
alkonaut 4y ago
Look at Facebooks bottom line per user. It’s insanely high. And it’s probably all down to precise as delivery. They make so much money per user from ads that if they charged a subscription for it, no one would sign up. That’s why they are so successful, and ironically also why I think they are doomed (because what’s the pivot once delivering precise ads is dead?)
YetAnotherNick 4y ago
I don’t know if this an real question. Just by knowing you opened HN, I could guess a lot about you. You are much more likely to be interested in tech, a man, work as software developer than an average person. I guess you have good computer or interested in one, you are interested in free cloud credits, you are interested in cool tech products if I could show you one etc.
- denton-scratch 4y ago
  Heh. So I'm on HN, so I'm some sort of nerd. That's fine; my career was in IT. But not really, you see; I have a few low-spec, low-power GP computers, but they are fine for my needs. If I need to replace one, I know where to go; I don't need signposts. I am deeply uninterested in "the cloud". And not everyone's idea of a "cool tech product" is the same. I have some halfway decent clothes; but I hardly ever wear them. The stuff I wear is old and faded, and often a bit tattered. I have as much clutter as I can cope with. I certainly don't have room for more cool gadgets. I do buy stuff; but not usually because I saw an ad.

QuarterReptile 4y ago

On the other hand, outside of Proctor&Gamble-esque juggernauts of all things cheap and disposable in the grocery store, there's tons of stuff that appeals to small groups; this is a lot of what the internet and globalization has provided. For example, my total spending on video games in the last 5 years is between 0 and $100, so game publishers should probably save their ad spend (and not annoy me with noise). My TV is seldom out of the closet and plugged in, and I spend maybe $1-200/month on books. I'm pretty interested in buying a tennis stringing machine and more sheet music to play, but it's too much effort for me to seek those things out, so I don't. These are just a few of an infinite array of identifiers that could provide worthwhile targeted ads to me. As another example, most charities have a group of people who would be happy to give them money if they knew about the organizations, while most of the population is indifferent or, in some cases, opposed to their work. I don't like advertising much, either, and it doesn't reach me that often, but it's ridiculous to suggest that personalized ads have no value.

alkonaut 4y ago

Look at Facebooks bottom line per user. It’s insanely high. And it’s probably all down to precise as delivery. They make so much money per user from ads that if they charged a subscription for it, no one would sign up. That’s why they are so successful, and ironically also why I think they are doomed (because what’s the pivot once delivering precise ads is dead?)

YetAnotherNick 4y ago

I don’t know if this an real question. Just by knowing you opened HN, I could guess a lot about you. You are much more likely to be interested in tech, a man, work as software developer than an average person. I guess you have good computer or interested in one, you are interested in free cloud credits, you are interested in cool tech products if I could show you one etc.

denton-scratch 4y ago
Heh. So I'm on HN, so I'm some sort of nerd. That's fine; my career was in IT. But not really, you see; I have a few low-spec, low-power GP computers, but they are fine for my needs. If I need to replace one, I know where to go; I don't need signposts. I am deeply uninterested in "the cloud". And not everyone's idea of a "cool tech product" is the same. I have some halfway decent clothes; but I hardly ever wear them. The stuff I wear is old and faded, and often a bit tattered. I have as much clutter as I can cope with. I certainly don't have room for more cool gadgets. I do buy stuff; but not usually because I saw an ad.