Comments on: Google To Take Choice Away From Humans, Er, Advertisers http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/ Startup and Technology News Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:09:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: TechNayak http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1835540 TechNayak Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:50:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1835540 <strong>Computers are better marketers than adsense publishers...</strong> The Algorithm is taking over and there is nothing we can do In what can be termed as a not so wise decision, Google has decided to rid its customers the privilege of choosing where to put their ads. You will not be seeing the advertise on this site l... Computers are better marketers than adsense publishers…

The Algorithm is taking over and there is nothing we can do
In what can be termed as a not so wise decision, Google has decided to rid its customers the privilege of choosing where to put their ads. You will not be seeing the advertise on this site l…

]]> By: Phoenix http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1813965 Phoenix Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:30:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1813965 I think Tech Crunch should stop resorting writing entire posts in Sarcasm. What the hell.. there are a lot of people out there who won't get it! Don't believe me? Read this:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4566319.stm I think Tech Crunch should stop resorting writing entire posts in Sarcasm. What the hell.. there are a lot of people out there who won’t get it!

Don’t believe me?
Read this:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4566319.stm

]]> By: Sneezy Melon http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1811589 Sneezy Melon Wed, 05 Dec 2007 15:08:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1811589 hmm...bad development. may result in losses for high earning blogs hmm…bad development. may result in losses for high earning blogs

]]> By: Rational Beaver http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1811471 Rational Beaver Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:27:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1811471 This is such a non-story. Nobody selects sites this way. The easiest/best way to select sites to target in the Adsense network is through the AdWords interface which allows you to search by keyword, category, and demographic. It also shows you what type of ads each site will allow (text, image, video, etc.) and an estimate of their traffic. This functionality is quite popular and is still alive and well. This is such a non-story. Nobody selects sites this way. The easiest/best way to select sites to target in the Adsense network is through the AdWords interface which allows you to search by keyword, category, and demographic. It also shows you what type of ads each site will allow (text, image, video, etc.) and an estimate of their traffic. This functionality is quite popular and is still alive and well.

]]> By: Marco http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810960 Marco Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:51:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810960 I wonder why the algorithm doesn't auto-click already on the ad he knows we want to click on ... They need to work harder! I wonder why the algorithm doesn’t auto-click already on the ad he knows we want to click on …

They need to work harder!

]]> By: Bob http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810803 Bob Wed, 05 Dec 2007 07:22:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810803 The post is incorrect. Advertisers can still choose exactly which sites to advertise on; the only thing changing is that "Advertise on this site" links will no longer appear on the ads themselves. The post is incorrect. Advertisers can still choose exactly which sites to advertise on; the only thing changing is that “Advertise on this site” links will no longer appear on the ads themselves.

]]> By: common sense http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810801 common sense Wed, 05 Dec 2007 07:21:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810801 that text ("advertise on this site") damages the performance of the ad unit. as a publisher, you should be happy. it is amazing it took this long for the change. as an advertiser, you can still site-target if you want. yes, google can be annoying but i'd prefer intelligent criticism. that text (”advertise on this site”) damages the performance of the ad unit. as a publisher, you should be happy. it is amazing it took this long for the change. as an advertiser, you can still site-target if you want.

yes, google can be annoying but i’d prefer intelligent criticism.

]]> By: Yair http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810662 Yair Wed, 05 Dec 2007 06:05:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810662 This is crazy, we advertise with Google and by fare the best result we get from site we choose specifically and that were identify by us as very relevant. The CPA in these sites is about 25% of the average cost of our CPA across Google. Google - please let us choose whats good for us!!! This is crazy, we advertise with Google and by fare the best result we get from site we choose specifically and that were identify by us as very relevant. The CPA in these sites is about 25% of the average cost of our CPA across Google.

Google - please let us choose whats good for us!!!

]]> By: Spandana http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810588 Spandana Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:27:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810588 good post, erick. the presumption is that the click count is the ultimate measure of both advertiser goals as well as the user intent. on the other hand, if an advertiser wants to force the ad to be on the site regardless of click-through rates, display ad is a better choice., where the user won't have an expectation of relevancy (yet). good post, erick. the presumption is that the click count is the ultimate measure of both advertiser goals as well as the user intent.

on the other hand, if an advertiser wants to force the ad to be on the site regardless of click-through rates, display ad is a better choice., where the user won’t have an expectation of relevancy (yet).

]]> By: Voices http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810579 Voices Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:21:11 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810579 Advertisers can still target specific websites within Google's content network. This article gave me the impression that website targeting was removed, which isn't the case. It's just a little more difficult than it used to be. Advertisers can still target specific websites within Google’s content network. This article gave me the impression that website targeting was removed, which isn’t the case. It’s just a little more difficult than it used to be.

]]> By: Michael Neel http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810542 Michael Neel Wed, 05 Dec 2007 04:58:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810542 Wow - when have advertisers ever "targeted" their ads? It's more like - this site has traffic and the user demographic we (think) we want, so let's get our ad there even if it's annoying and off topic. I.E. X number of people watch 24 so we want our commercial on feminine hygiene to air then. If google sees lower revenue when advertisers are allowed to pick sites then it should move to fix that. Advertisers can also contact the sites directly if placement on that site is so important. In the end, the site owner is getting more money for adsens and more from direct ads. Wow - when have advertisers ever “targeted” their ads? It’s more like - this site has traffic and the user demographic we (think) we want, so let’s get our ad there even if it’s annoying and off topic. I.E. X number of people watch 24 so we want our commercial on feminine hygiene to air then.

If google sees lower revenue when advertisers are allowed to pick sites then it should move to fix that. Advertisers can also contact the sites directly if placement on that site is so important. In the end, the site owner is getting more money for adsens and more from direct ads.

]]> By: 42mb.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810430 42mb.com Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:51:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810430 Will that work like sphere-it? Will that work like sphere-it?

]]> By: Mike Koss http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810399 Mike Koss Wed, 05 Dec 2007 03:38:07 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810399 I think you got this a little bit wrong. When an advertiser chooses to advertise on a particular site, they are bidding for CPM impressions, not pay-per-click (CPC). Google can just as well optimize total advertising revenue by only showing the CPM ads when they don't have better paying CPC ads. So it's always a GOOD THING, for Google to have more inventory of ads from which to select. So the only way I can make sense of Google's move is that the presence of the "Advertise on this Site" link, was distracting enough to the average user, that TOTAL AD REVENUE on the site would decline - just by virtue of the fact of having this extra distracting link within the ad block. Advertisers will still be able to purchase CPM ads and have them run on sites of their choosing - but they have to know how to initiate this purchase from their own AdWords account. I think you got this a little bit wrong. When an advertiser chooses to advertise on a particular site, they are bidding for CPM impressions, not pay-per-click (CPC). Google can just as well optimize total advertising revenue by only showing the CPM ads when they don’t have better paying CPC ads. So it’s always a GOOD THING, for Google to have more inventory of ads from which to select.

So the only way I can make sense of Google’s move is that the presence of the “Advertise on this Site” link, was distracting enough to the average user, that TOTAL AD REVENUE on the site would decline - just by virtue of the fact of having this extra distracting link within the ad block.

Advertisers will still be able to purchase CPM ads and have them run on sites of their choosing - but they have to know how to initiate this purchase from their own AdWords account.

]]> By: rfre http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810334 rfre Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:56:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810334 The average Adwords user knows that you can search and target any site you want. What's the big deal here? The average Adwords user knows that you can search and target any site you want. What’s the big deal here?

]]> By: Erick Schonfeld http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810286 Erick Schonfeld Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:27:21 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810286 @16, the answer is both. @5, your hope has been realized. @14, see sarcasm. @16, the answer is both.

@5, your hope has been realized.

@14, see sarcasm.

]]> By: Greg http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810261 Greg Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:16:47 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810261 "Who needs free will, when you’ve got the algorithm?" I say leave this kind of remark for the trolls, this is obviously not a human rights issue :) “Who needs free will, when you’ve got the algorithm?”

I say leave this kind of remark for the trolls, this is obviously not a human rights issue :)

]]> By: Michael Pinto http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810213 Michael Pinto Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:59:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810213 This is great news! As a publisher I've always turned this feature off, and I know many other site publishers that have done the same. Having that feature turned on allows Google to undercut your ability to sell ads directly yourself or with another partner who takes a smaller cut. In fact I notice that Techcrunch has this feature turned off, but offer sit for their FM ads... This is great news! As a publisher I’ve always turned this feature off, and I know many other site publishers that have done the same. Having that feature turned on allows Google to undercut your ability to sell ads directly yourself or with another partner who takes a smaller cut.

In fact I notice that Techcrunch has this feature turned off, but offer sit for their FM ads…

]]> By: stone http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810199 stone Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:55:01 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810199 Erik, There's little doubt that you have some aspect of this story wrong. The "advertise on this site" link gets very little play and is by no means the main way that advertisers choose which site to be on. They are either limiting choice for advertisers OR they are taking down this link because it depresses response rates of actual ads --- which is it? Erik,

There’s little doubt that you have some aspect of this story wrong. The “advertise on this site” link gets very little play and is by no means the main way that advertisers choose which site to be on. They are either limiting choice for advertisers OR they are taking down this link because it depresses response rates of actual ads — which is it?

]]> By: MS http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810147 MS Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:31:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810147 wow.. first of all didn't know this feature exists. I've google adsense account and always wanted to focus on some of the keywords that are important to us (for example excel sap) and always put highest bid on. If we knew that we could focus only of some of the sap fan discussion sites, it would be perfect. May be we are just little late.. will have to check if this feature has still some life left thanks TC for informing that something importing will be going away.. wow.. first of all didn’t know this feature exists. I’ve google adsense account and always wanted to focus on some of the keywords that are important to us (for example excel sap) and always put highest bid on. If we knew that we could focus only of some of the sap fan discussion sites, it would be perfect. May be we are just little late.. will have to check if this feature has still some life left

thanks TC for informing that something importing will be going away..

]]> By: StartupEarth http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810117 StartupEarth Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:22:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810117 "...apparently when an advertiser picks which sites to advertise on, those ads don’t get clicked on as much as ads picked by the AdSense computers. Humans rely too much on messy intuition. Computers measure response rates and tweak accordingly." "Who needs free will, when you’ve got the algorithm?" Did you add the 'free will' bit to encourage discussion or do you actually believe that? If google knows best, then this benefits both publisher and advertiser. I think it's a good thing, y'know? more clicks and more dosh etc.. Like Tim (12) says, "Google knows what the are doing. But it all has to deal with their bottom line." And for those who "hate google" (8), please.. get off the bandwagon. Every blogger and his dog hates google when it comes to writing a controversial post, or maybe because their splogs lost pagerank after the payperpost scam was punished (and rightly so), but hating google over this is silly. Let Google spend $$millions getting things down to a fine art, it leaves us bloggers time to blog, slap the adblock in and reap the benefits. “…apparently when an advertiser picks which sites to advertise on, those ads don’t get clicked on as much as ads picked by the AdSense computers. Humans rely too much on messy intuition. Computers measure response rates and tweak accordingly.”

“Who needs free will, when you’ve got the algorithm?”

Did you add the ‘free will’ bit to encourage discussion or do you actually believe that? If google knows best, then this benefits both publisher and advertiser. I think it’s a good thing, y’know? more clicks and more dosh etc..

Like Tim (12) says, “Google knows what the are doing. But it all has to deal with their bottom line.”

And for those who “hate google” (8), please.. get off the bandwagon. Every blogger and his dog hates google when it comes to writing a controversial post, or maybe because their splogs lost pagerank after the payperpost scam was punished (and rightly so), but hating google over this is silly.

Let Google spend $$millions getting things down to a fine art, it leaves us bloggers time to blog, slap the adblock in and reap the benefits.

]]> By: Jon http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810044 Jon Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:03:19 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810044 I always saw these as self promotion and am happy they have given the googlebots power over us punny hummans. Jon I always saw these as self promotion and am happy they have given the googlebots power over us punny hummans.

Jon

]]> By: Tim http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810021 Tim Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:52:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810021 Google knows what the are doing. But it all has to deal with their bottom line. It is a way to get higher clicks and more money out of advertisers. It is not necessarily a way to help you have a more effective campaign that meets your needs and the needs of your clients. Google knows what the are doing. But it all has to deal with their bottom line. It is a way to get higher clicks and more money out of advertisers. It is not necessarily a way to help you have a more effective campaign that meets your needs and the needs of your clients.

]]> By: Joe http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810009 Joe Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:47:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810009 Seems dumb if this is really true. An advertiser could have good reason for advertising on a particular site - even if click through rate is higher elsewhere. They may know very well that the click throughs from other sites rarely result in any useful action being taken. Seems dumb if this is really true.

An advertiser could have good reason for advertising on a particular site - even if click through rate is higher elsewhere. They may know very well that the click throughs from other sites rarely result in any useful action being taken.

]]> By: Al http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810006 Al Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:47:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810006 I think everyone is being a little critical, what if that feature was never used.. if that were the case, it is adding clutter to their advertising for no gain - to anyone. I think everyone is being a little critical, what if that feature was never used.. if that were the case, it is adding clutter to their advertising for no gain - to anyone.

]]> By: Ree Tanjuatco http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810004 Ree Tanjuatco Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:46:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/12/04/google-to-take-choice-away-from-humans-er-advertisers/#comment-1810004 @jeremy #4 Do you have insider information with whats going on in Adsense ? Google may have reasons why its being dropped. I can only hope that there is a better reason. @jeremy #4

Do you have insider information with whats going on in Adsense ? Google may have reasons why its being dropped. I can only hope that there is a better reason.

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