MSN using Google to Attack AOL?

Simple Link... Shows Adwords in Use... Hilarious

[Eric_Lander]

Perhaps this is just me... But I was amazed to see this Adwords campaign running.

Google Search for "aol" [google.com] ... be sure to look all the way to the right, so see MSN's new AdWords in action.

Cheers,
~ Eric

[amoore]

I would be very surpirsed if MSN put up that adword. It looks like someone in an affiliuate program. Commision-junction.com and stuff about affiliate in the URL.

[Eric_Lander]

Perhaps so...

But, with all of the legal situations flying around, can this possibly continue to exist? Something tells me Gates and Case are totally unaware of something like this... But would LOVE to take it up over a friendly conversation.

I DO feel badly for the individual responsible for it... Because if word ever got back to AOL or MSN... I think someone may get a bit heated...

~ Eric

[starec]

The ad has probabl some geo-restrictions, I don't see it. Can you guys explain what it's all about?

[agerhart]

Title: * MSN ROCKS, AOL SUCKS *

[TomWaits]

It's a Commission Junction qksrv.net link. Just some affiliate pushing the envelope.

[JonB]

i could not see this either.is thereany way to overcome this "geo-restrictions" ?

[angiolo]

You can use:

[anonymizer.com...]

Be sure to select google in English.

I think it is an affiliate.

[Brett_Tabke]

Wow, looks like the fun of unregulated open advertising system. This sort of thing is going to be the norm. Let's be on the lookout for more such fun ;)

Lets see who can find the funiest one!

[circuitjump]

Search with the keywords :

aol rocks

and see what you get.

[added]
Also try searching with :

aol is great

see what that one gives you.
[/added]

hehe

[mayor]

I think that one violates a couple of Google's TOS. What do you say, GoogleGuy?

[Slud]

Why aren't there more ads running for search term "AOL"?

Aren't "yahoo", "hotmail", "yahoo.com" etc. some of the most common search queries?

[Brett_Tabke]

Remember, the AdsWords program is based on Google Cloaking and targeting. IP addresses, browser make/model, cookies, ISP, and country of origin, all go into the targeted ad delivery. You can see the effect by pressing reload on a ad page a few times and watch it disappear.

[diddlydazz]

I can't see it :( has anyone got a screenshot ?

I like things like this :)

Thanks

Dazz

[agerhart]

MSN Adwords [topsitelistings.com]

[Eric_Lander]

I feel badly for them if they love to watch their clickthrough rates! I can't imagine what would happen when/if this were discovered by MSN or AOL...

GoogleGuy... Perhaps you could shed some light on how these things work?

Andrew, thatnks for the screengrab.

:)
~ Eric

[diddlydazz]

Great thanks agerhart

Much appreciated.

someone might be in trouble :)

Dazz

[Brett_Tabke]

>discovered by MSN or AOL...

What, you don't think it was MSN who did the advertising?

[JonB]

unbelivable!LOL

but even more, this is not jsut one site. I got SEVERAL different webaite liek aolreallysucks.com and few others. This is not jsut regular affiliate unless this guy owns all thsoe sites.

I think Bill is playing little :)

[Eric_Lander]

> What, you don't think it was MSN who did the advertising?

...No, I don't...
Though, I wouldn't put it past them! I've worked on affiliate programs and all, and I bet man of us have. However frusturating they may become, I don't think I would ever resort to something like that - even on an obscure site - nevermind google!

Can you honestly imagine the legal ramifications that would arise based on this individual being found? I think Gates would hire his firing squad, and wait until after the lawsuit was cleared before taking action...

Just my $0.02... And that poor sole's financial future if found! ;)

~ Eric

[seth_wilde]

Looks like either google or the advertiser read this thread... That ads have now changed and no longer say anything negative about AOL..

[Brett_Tabke]

I don't think it was part-and-parcel a Microsoft operation, but the urls went straight to msn sites. No affiliate links that I could see. Could have been a stolen cc too.

<added>
It does go through a commission junction url - or is that part of adwords itself?
</added>

[Eric_Lander]

Hmmm... funny!

Too bad we all know about it, and have the screenshot thanks to Andrew! ;)

...Now...
Who says forums aren't powerful?

Good job BT on keeping this forum so popular and lively. Obviously, the readership extends beyond those who participate.

~ Eric

[Brett_Tabke]

trace: [webmasterworld.com...]

It went too: http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/affiliate.asp

[stcrim]

Guess I was too late - it's gone

-s-

[Jill]

I assume, as I haven't read the info too deeply on Google yet, that if they are adding them withing 5 minutes of verifying your cc info they can't be humanly checking them very close, if at all. That could get a tad crazy!

[crash]

Before it went away - I went to show my dad (we run the company together).. it said "MSN RULES" LOL and had a url something like someisphere.com that redirected to msn.com

[Eric_Lander]

Hmmm...

Maybe, Google never caught on to this at all. Maybe, just maybe... That affiliate in question lurks these forums as well.

It's no secret, many of the most successful optimization people make some side $$ on affiliation programs like that.

Thankfully, the TOS here prohibits the linking to them!

I still think that it could be a possibility... No?

~ Eric