Is this all Facebook can do?
Posted by Esme Vos | Posted in Advertising, Business models, Consumer Internet, Web 2.0 | Posted on 11-11-2007
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Here is a screenshot of my Facebook newsfeed dated 10 November 2007. Pay attention to the California Car Insurance sponsored ad in my feed. Is this all Facebook can do – insert stupid irrelevant sponsored ads about California car insurance to a person who lives in Amsterdam?
Facebook is purportedly worth $15 billion. If my company were worth even $1 billion, I would spend at least $100M working on a super-targeted advertising solution and with that kind of money, $100M, I could do it. First, I would definitely ask the person to whom I am showing the ads what he or she is interested in.
Clearly, I don’t live in California. Even without asking me, Facebook would have known NOT to show the ad. Who gets ripped off? The advertiser. Who gets annoyed? Me.
If this is all Facebook can muster, what can I expect next in my feed? Dog and cat food ads, even though I own no pets? Weight-loss diet ads even though I weigh 100 lbs (five feet four inches in height)?
Wouldn’t surprise me. Sloppy, unprofessional work from a company worth bucket loads of money. I am not impressed.
UPDATE: Several hours later, I see on the left hand side of my Facebook feeds, two ads delivered one after the other: (1) Botox and (2) Tired of Dating?
First, I do NOT need Botox. I may be 46 years old but I don’t have hideous wrinkles and the thought of getting large needle next to my head to inject poison sounds gruesome to me. Second, I don’t give a damn about dating or being tired of dating. Where the hell does Facebook get this idea that I need wrinkle-reducing treatments or help in my romantic life? Is my photo THAT bad?
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Esme,
You might find the following discussion interesting: http://evertb.jaiku.com/presence/18417328?flash=Comment+added.&_flash=102bad6dba