What text do the TextAds use?

April 2, 2003 11:54 AM

Right...so we've got Google TextAds on MeFi, and that's great and all, really it is...but what, exactly, are they related to?

I mean, aren't TextAds directed advertising? I.e. I search for learning styles and on the right are some text ads related to learning styles.

What's the "search term" (for lack of a better phrase) used on MeFi, or, for that matter, the comments?
posted by taumeson to MetaFilter-Related at 11:54 AM (6 comments total)

Looks to me like most of them are pegged off the word weblog.
posted by me3dia at 12:21 PM on April 2, 2003

The ads are based on the words used on the page by members. Here's an article about it.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 12:21 PM on April 2, 2003

Heard in the future; as you are driving/walking home & you cruise by a store, a sign out front will specifically advertise to you: Thom you need milk at home your out, on sale here {your favorite brand}. We also have those new cookies you wanted to try 1/2 off, Welcome.. Now things would have to be set up so your distiguishable and the data entered by you. The idea behind it, the better buys would come to you. Guess it's almost here.
posted by thomcatspike at 2:26 PM on April 2, 2003

So how come this thread about cartoons merits three ads for weblogging software?
posted by feelinglistless at 3:16 PM on April 2, 2003

Here's the scoop on how Google's new content-targeted advertising works.

The ads surface based on keywords identified by advertisers that occur in posts and in comments. I am currently running some Google ad words for a business service client, and I have played with terms here on MeFi to see how this works. If I enter the exact keywords that we have chosen, then the ads occur on any pages with those keywords.

To me, it looks like weblog and public service ads are "defaults" that occur if no other key words surface. Look at the cartoon thread feelinglistless refers to: there simply aren't that many keywords that advertisers would be likely to buy on that post or discussion page; look at this one on origami, this one on cuisine or even my tampon post - concrete key words generate related ads.

The content ads have just recently kicked in for my client and I am watching with some interest - it was fun to have MeFi emerge as a content partner right in the middle of our test. Our ads have only been running for a few weeks, but doing well, particularly for the cost. On Google searches, our click-through rate ranges from 2.5 to 6.3% depending on keyword; on the content targeted ads, it is too early to say - we haven't even hit 400 exposures yet, but thus far our click thru rate is considerably lower at .3%.

You have to keep a minimum click-through rate of one click per one-thousand exposures or Google bumps your ads; at this point, they do not count your content distributed ads against you if they don't achieve this minimum CTR which tells me they are still testing this. I have faith that Google will get it right over time.
posted by madamjujujive at 3:37 PM on April 2, 2003

Say one thing, they are really sloooow. Hitting the stop button has suddenly become essential. I hope they bring in bags of cash because they are lame and a pain.
posted by grahamwell at 6:46 AM on April 3, 2003