Ugly Ads

1. 92

   davidlivermoreposted 10 years ago

   
   
   This ugly ad was on one of my hubs.  I was so disgusted I clicked off of my hub because I couldn't stare at it any longer.
   
   Really?  For one, this ad had zero to do with my hub.  And I don't see this keeping people in my hub.
   
   I know HP may not have control over this, but geez, yuck.

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   1. 88

      Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You can turn that particular add off by clicking the "x" at the top right hand corner.

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      1. 92

         davidlivermoreposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Saw that, but how many users would do that if that showed up?

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         1. 88

            Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I guarantee you, that ad will only show if the user is searching for fungus or if your hub is directly related. Adsense doesn't much care what they show to publishers, but their ads are pretty precise when it comes to visitors.
            
            As Writer Fox mentioned, your visitors don't see the same ads as you do. You may not have been searching for foot fungus but you may have been searching for something medically related.
            
            When you mute the ad I think it's muted for that particular page as well, so will not show up again on that page.

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   2. 31

      Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That ad was presented based upon the personal search history of your IP address.  You're right that it is not matched to the content of your article.  The Google AdSense program has concluded, through its statistics, that there are more conversions (= more $) from personalized ads than from purely contextual ads.  If that ad offended you, just know that other visitors are seeing different ads.

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      1. 92

         davidlivermoreposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         So you are saying I am looking up problems with my nail fungus?  The closest thing I have looked up was bronchitis!

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         1. 31

            Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Well, Google thinks you have a stinky nail fungus and would like to help you get rid of it. 
            
            Tell me the title of the Hub and I'll tell you what ad is showing when I look at it.

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            1. 92

               davidlivermoreposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Collect- … xtra-Money
               
               Oddly enough, I go back to that same hub, and it offers a relevant ad for that particular hub.

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               1. 88

                  Cardisaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  You are not guaranteed to see the same set of ads every time you visit a hub. Most of these ads are just placer-ads. The real ads show up for visitors. Just ignore your ads while logged in because those ads don't matter.

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               2. 31

                  Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Which ad is shown depends on which advertiser placed the highest bid: the one wanting an ad matched to content or the one who wanted the ad matched to personal searches.  When the highest bidder has reached his requested limit for the day, the position is given to the next bidder, and so forth.
                  
                  When I viewed your Hub from a browser where Google knows me, this is the ad I was shown:
                  
                  
                  That is an ad (in Hebrew) for a website development/SEO/PPC company – exactly the kind of stuff I look at all day.
                  
                  When I searched from another browser where I only use Bing, this is the ad I am shown on your Hub:
                  
                  
                  That is an advertisement to buy land in Costa Rico (can't imagine that too many Israelis are interested in doing that). But, one of the firms I do SEO work for is an international real estate firm, so I do a lot of searches for real estate.
                  
                  When I look at your Hub with a browser which carries no memory of my personal searches, I am shown this ad:
                  
                  
                  
                  That ad is for a dating site and the image switches from a man to a woman because it doesn't have a clue. It only knows the location of my IP address. 
                  
                  So, fess up.  You really do have a stinky toenail, don't you?

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   3. 82

      bethperryposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Advertisers should realize that very often "less is more". I'd think few cash-ready-to-spend consumers are going to click on an ad involving an oozing pimple or somebody's inflamed hemorrhoid, and images of gross fungi aren't any different.

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      1. 31

         Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         You'd be surprised just how well those types of ads work.  People love to look at freaky stuff and they'll click just out of curiosity.  If they really have that medical condition, they will recognize it from the ad and click-through to find the cure. Advertisers wouldn't continue to pay for those giant display ads if they weren't profitable for them.

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2. 61

   tirelesstravelerposted 10 years ago

   Gross.  There are a couple of other unpleasant ads too.  I must admit I was wondering if it was only me.

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3. 87

   innerspinposted 10 years ago

   It's pretty yucky. We're not supposed to use unpleasant medical pictures in hubs, so how come advertisers can show them here?

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   1. 85

      DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree, innerspin--there is a huge contradiction in standards.  Advertisers are allowed ads with photos on topics we are not even allowed to write about.
      How about a hub article comparing different styles of condoms and the relative sensations with each?  I doubt that would fly with staff standards, yet contraceptive ads are allowed. 
      Few things annoy me more than double standards!  If this is supposed to be a "G-rated" site, then the ads should be as well.  (Not that the ad initially complained about was "R" rated, but I have seen ads for contraceptives, and believe you me, I am well past the age to be searching for any such things...so it was not an ad 'targeted' based on my browsing history.. )

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4. 85

   DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years ago

   OK--this is not a gripe, but a funny story.
   
   On my news feed page, there was just an ad for Arthur Murray Dance Studios.  My first reaction was, "They're still around??!!"
   
   My second reaction was the memory of my grandfather's story.  At the time, he was an older, retired gentleman, a bit slowed down in his activities.  He received a telephone call one day, excitedly claiming that he'd "...won a series of dance lessons with Arthur Murray!"  Naturally, as with most such beginnings, it was a disguised sales pitch, which Grandpa immediately recognized.
   He decided to play the guy, and said,
   
   "I think you have the wrong number." 
   "Oh, no, I don't think so.  Is this Mr. Reed?"
   "Yes."
   "Well, then, at xxx address?"
   "Yes."
   "Then, there's no mistake!  You've won!"
   "I still think you have the wrong Mr. Reed.  You see, I've just gotten out of the hospital, and only have one leg!"
   
   The fellow fell all over himself apologizing and hung up all flustered.  Grandpa laughed himself silly, and went about his day on both perfectly good legs.

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