Greedy Yahoo - behavioral targeting
Am I the only one who is not excited about Yahoo’s new move: enhanced behavioral targeting for ads?
For instance, a person who searches for information on cars is likely to be sent an auto ad, Coleman said.
Traditionally, Yahoo’s advertising targeting have focused on customer demographics or geographic location instead of behavior.
Advertisers will pay more for placement of the right ad at the right time at the right place, said Coleman, who emphasized that the targeting would be done anonymously based on behavior.
I have some questions:
- Do I have to be logged in for this tracking to take place or is it done by a cookie?
- How do I opt out?
- Will users be informed this behavioral tracking is taking place?
This isn’t about giving the user a better browsing experience. This is about Yahoo charging more money for ad placement. What companies don’t seem to get is that users don’t care whether or not it is done anonymously or not…we don’t want it happening at all. WSJ reported that Yahoo has sold out their front page advertising for months in advance.
I detest greedy companies.
Related posts:
Daniel Madison Says:
What is the difference between this and spyware?
Posted on December 2nd, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Tyme Says:
Jeremy - that’s not what I meant. I’m serious - it could be that I have misinformation causing me to have a biased opinion on the issue. Or somewhere I have a biased opinion - and if I do I want to change that.
I think a podcast is an excellent idea…I’m on it.
Posted on December 2nd, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Jeremy Wright Says:
It’s okay, I’m *sure* I have a biased opinion. I figure if we’re all biased, but all willing to listen, we can all learn
Posted on December 2nd, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Martin Bell Says:
Tyme is right you do come up with a lot of ideas. Weren’t you the one that sold your services on eBay? Sold your website (but you still have it)? Auctioned copies of your book? It’s good to be creative and try new things.
The pixel based tracking is disturbing to me.
If advertisers want behavioral tracking and you don’t have a problem with it, why aren’t you using it?
Posted on December 2nd, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Alex Says:
I don’t understand why it is expensive? If you scroll up in these comments there is a link to a tag that Beta News is using (and I see it around a lot). Doesn’t that do the same thing?
You could put the code in your blogs and the advertisers would do the work. I thought that was how it worked LOL.
Posted on December 2nd, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Melvin W. Says:
I know Tyme personally I don’t think she thinks you think she’s ignorant. She might lack knowledge on the subject because she’s biased (in my opinion).
Women take a lot of crap online, like stalkers. They don’t want to harm her, they want to marry her LOL. Mention tracking I think she reverts back to that and goes into defensive mode.
Posted on December 2nd, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Charlotte Says:
I am disappointed in Yahoo. Instead of adding features we don’t give a damn about how about focusing on user feedback? I doubt tracking users was on the list.
Posted on December 2nd, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Simone Says:
i don’t believe i’m saying this but with google and yahoo tracking microsoft is the only biggie left. isn’t microsoft supposed to be the ultimate evil?
Posted on December 2nd, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Felix J Says:
No you aren’t the only one. I can’t stand the thought of being watched. I just don’t think it is any of their business. If Y! is making money, why push the envelope?
Posted on December 2nd, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Raymond Says:
Thankfully I don’t use Yahoo as much as I used to. I prefer gmail over Yahoo. Google over Yahoo’s search. The only thing I really use Yahoo for is news. And I am about to change that.
Posted on December 2nd, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Marcus Says:
This makes me mad. How many other companies are doing this?
Posted on December 2nd, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Juan Lopez Says:
Tyme - I’m with you. I manage my cookies now because any type of site can have it. For example BetaNews:
http://www.smarttargetting.net/system/SetURLCookie.asp?CBID=xxxx
But they do have an opt-out cookie:
http://www.networkadvertising.org/optout_nonppii.asp
So I kind of respect that. Yahoo does not have an opt-out that I could find. Glad they are not on my trusted list.
Posted on December 2nd, 2005 at 12:12 pm