Driving monetization with ads that reach the right audience

site's privacy policies are up-to-date and make any necessary changes by Ap

[srivathsavan]

see google adsense blog - [adsense.blogspot.com...] anybody let me know what to write in privacy policy? please anyone give me some tips

[nomis5]

This will be interesting. If I have a site about widgets and a user visits it who has only a passing interest in widgets, will they get a widget related ad or an ad based on their interest (e.g scuba diving)?

I don't want scuba diving ads on my widget site. And even if the user has only a passing interest in widgets, he's on my widget site, clearly looking for widget information.

Maybe the plan is that if there are not enough widget ads to go round then scuba diving ones can "reasonably" be served?

I do hope Google get this right but I have doubts. Time will tell. But I'm not sure that I like the idea of "interest" based ads being served on my pages. I will no longer have any idea what ads are being served. Imagine if the user has an interest in latex clothing!

[tonyvf]

There is another similar topic today about this beta test.
I couldn't help but think... what if more than one person uses the same computer, login and browser? That's more usual than you think. Imagine wives looking at sports ads while reading a recipe, or men looking at feminine underwear ads while in a trucks review page. I do know some women like sports and some men like woman's clothes, but you get the point.
Anyway, I wouldn't click on ads about what I was interested yesterday, only on what I'm interested now.

[icedowl]

I frequently have to look up something for my hubby who is completely computer illiterate. Stuff which I have no interest in whatsoever (football, motorcycles and so on). I certainly don't want ads for his interests following me around or to appear on my sites. I think this is going to go over like the proverbial lead balloon.

[tonyvf]

Oops. Sorry, srivathsavan. I bypassed your question. You can take a look at G's privacy policy and reword it as needed:

"Most browsers are initially set up to accept cookies, but you can reset your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, some Google features and services may not function properly if your cookies are disabled.

Google uses the DoubleClick advertising cookie on AdSense partner sites and certain Google services to help advertisers and publishers serve and manage ads across the web. You can view, edit, and manage your ads preferences associated with this cookie by accessing the Ads Preferences Manager. In addition, you may choose to opt out of the DoubleClick cookie at any time by using DoubleClick’s opt-out cookie.

You can decline to submit personal information to any of our services, in which case Google may not be able to provide those services to you."

[google.com...]

[thinker]

According to a "Google spokesman" as reported by bbc news, sensitive interest ads will not be served, (such as health, sexual orientation, race, religion, or sensitive financial categories).

What if my website displays "behavior triggered - cheap ads" and my website normally offers "content related - expensive ads", both of which are of interest to the user... Could that damage Adsense income?

[srivathsavan]

thanks tonyvf

[tonyvf]

You are welcome, srivathsavan.

sensitive interest ads will not be served

Yes, that's what G's "privacy policy for google ads" says:

"Google will not associate sensitive interest categories with the DoubleClick cookie (such as those based on race, religion, sexual orientation, health, or sensitive financial categories) and will not use these categories when showing you interest-based ads."
[google.com...]

[AdSenseAdvisor]

I'm around to answer questions, but if you're looking for more information, you should first check out the resources we've put out to educate folks from all angles. In addition to the AdSense Blog post, there are posts on the Official Google Blog, the AdWords Blog, and the Google Public Policy Blog.

The Google-wide team working on this has put a lot of hard work into this launch, and I personally think it's great news for publishers, advertisers, and users.

ASA

[AdSenseAdvisor]

I'll post more general stuff on this thread [webmasterworld.com] (unless you have questions about privacy policies specifically).

ASA

[farmboy]

I'll post more general stuff on this thread (unless you have questions about privacy policies specifically).

Can you advise on specific wording for the updated privacy policy that is needed on a publisher's site?

FarmBoy

[nomis5]

We'll be lucky if we get that Farmboy! The previous ASA never gave out any wording before. It's absurd - they say you must have an appropriate Privacy Policy statement but point blank refuse to say what words should be used.

[Jean]

It's absurd - they say you must have an appropriate Privacy Policy statement but point blank refuse to say what words should be used.

How are we supposed to comply then? On the pittance that I am earning from AdSense this days there is no way that I'll get a lawyer to write it for me.

[AdSenseAdvisor]

I'm happy to talk to you more about privacy policies, but I can't tell you the exact language to use because it varies by country. The Help Center article here [google.com] is your best resource. Here's the part that addresses your question:

Your posted privacy policy should include the following information about Google and the DoubleClick DART cookie [doubleclick.com]:

* Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on your site.
* Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to your users based on their visit to your sites and other sites on the Internet.
* Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy [google.com].

Because publisher sites and laws across countries vary, we're unable to suggest specific privacy policy language. However, you may wish to review resources such as the Network Advertising Initiative [networkadvertising.org], or NAI, which suggests the following language for data collection of non-personally identifying information:

We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.

You can find additional information in Appendix A of the NAI Self-Regulatory principles for publishers [networkadvertising.org] (PDF). Please note that the NAI may change this sample language at any time.

ASA

[thinker]

Due to the legal implications of privacy policies, I'd be surprised if any one would recommend specific wording.

I recently did a privacy policy for a small site (couldn't afford a lawyer for that one either), so I inspired my privacy policy content from well-known sites that do hire lawyers.

Naturally, there are very good reasons why publishers should not do that. As for the behaviorally targeted Adsense Ads, why not just inform the visitor of how it works?

Thankx ASA - you beat me to it, with a much better solution.