Forum Moderators: martinibuster
ASA
It truly is an extreme reversal of the original mission of the company and they have been spending liberally on projects that have gone nowhere instead of keeping their eye on what pays.
News about the coming year is worse than anyone had imagined.
Yep, this is along the lines of what I just wrote about use of resources.
1) In most cases, we're probably talking about different people with different skill sets. Complaining about parked-domain ads and poor ad targeting in the same breath is like saying "I wish my local newspaper would improve its Washington coverage instead of selling wraparound ad pages and declining ads for NC-17 movies."
2) Why should we assume that Google is taking this step without being aware of the potential consequences (and without a plan for dealing with those consequences)?
3) Poor ad targeting is the result of many factors, none of which is likely to have anything to do with whether ads can appear on parked domains. If explorador is getting pill ads on a travel site, the reason probably has to with supply and demand (e.g., the need to run generic placement-targeted ads because higher-bidding/higher-performing CPC ads for whale-watching tours in Elbonia or wellness spas in Widgetville aren't available). Unless the people at Google are extraordinarily stupid, they certainly aren't trying to serve pill ads on a travel site when better-paying contextual ads are available.
SIDE NOTE: I'm not enthusiastic about the the use of AdSense or any other ads on parked domains (give me a plain old 404 page any day), but the idea that they're unethical because they "monetize error" or that they should be restricted to large corporations doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If Google is going to offer such ads (which some advertisers are willing to pay for, apparently), then they might as well be available to small fry and not just to the big sharks.
(A) Why am I not allowed to do whatever I want with my own domain and traffic, so long as I am not breaking any laws?
(B) Again so long as I am within the "law", why would someone else be concerned with who visits my domain, why they visit, and what content is hosted there?
(C) Are domain names actually a part of some utopian socialist content development plan that I am unaware of?
(D) If someone calls my cell phone number, are there are also conduct guidelines prohibiting any sort of aggressive commercial conversation, again perhaps I'm unaware of these restrictions?
[edited by: BlueLeaf at 4:09 pm (utc) on Dec. 12, 2008]
If someone calls my cell phone number, are there are also conduct guidelines prohibiting any sort of commercial conversation, again perhaps I'm unaware of these restrictions?
I don't know, but I haven't heard of too many conversations like this:
"Hello? Bob?"
"This is Susie."
"Sorry, I must have dialed the wrong number."
"No problem. Say, are you wondering how to lose those extra pounds after the holidays? I've got a new product called Fat-Away that will melt belly fat like lard in a frying pan..."
I expected an outcry from the advertisers; didn't expect so many people going off in the AdSense forum.
Parked domains are not inherently evil.
Owning undeveloped domains / domain investment is not inherently evil.
Displaying advertising on domains is not inherently evil.
Parked domains DO in fact CONVERT. Not for everyone, but they do convert.
Advertisers CAN in fact easily opt out of having their ads display on Parked domains - it could be a little more obvious where to do it, but it can be done with a single click (per campaign)
Parked domains aren't what cheapens the AdSense network.
geezo frickin pete.
...but the idea that they're unethical because they "monetize error" or that they should be restricted to large corporations doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
A plain old 404 is an honest error message, a page full of ads that tries to mimic a website is a sleazy guy in a doorway whispering "hey dude, wanna buy a watch?"
The only thing that distinguishes Google from Microsoft is the public's trust. But unlike Microsoft Google's installed base is rather ephemeral. Monetizing error pages is a huge step in the direction of losing public trust, Google's most valuable asset.
Google could very easily become a verb in jest in a negative way, "I did a web search and got Googled!" Just let it happen to Leno or Letterman a few times. Public perception can drop off a cliff faster than the stock market did and will.
Parked domains DO in fact CONVERT.
So do sleazy guys in doorways.
edited for clarity
[edited by: OnlyToday at 4:28 pm (utc) on Dec. 12, 2008]
"Hello? Bob?"
"No this is Jim here at Shopping Express."
"Hi how are ya Jim, I've always wondered who would pick up the phone at 555-555-5555"
"It's a common occurrence, and not a problem. If you haven't shopped with us previously, do come on down to 100 Main Street."
"Ok will do, bye bye"
:)
[edited by: BlueLeaf at 4:32 pm (utc) on Dec. 12, 2008]
G now seems to be removing the middlemen between them and the small fries.
Nike, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Dell, Apple, The New York Times, MTV, and millions of other businesses around the globe would strongly disagree with you.
[edited by: BlueLeaf at 4:40 pm (utc) on Dec. 12, 2008]
[edited by: martinibuster at 3:01 am (utc) on Dec. 14, 2008]
[edit reason] Keeping things on topic. [/edit]
