DISQUS

Jonathan Brazil · 2 years ago

That's a good musing Paul; something that asks a real question. However, I would guess, and only guess, that the targeted advertisers aim to keep products and brands in your mind even if they are no use to you. Since you maintain certain personal attributes such as camera enthusiast, etc you are likely to belong to a collective of others with such interests or become the focal point for questions on such material and from the advertiser's perspective, referrals. So while you rightly point out that the ads will not appeal to you, there is a chance that the products, if good enough, will play on your conscious recollection and resurface as a recommendation to others or somebody starting out in one of the categories that you have been placed within by the advertisers. Then again perhaps I am totally wrong, I have been known to be so. :)

Chris Gallagher · 2 years ago

To be honest I cant remember the last time that an ad that I saw on the web actually had any effect on me at all. I think thats the case with most people working in the area of IT, in that after a while you just block them out and start viewing the web with proverbial "blinkers". When I Google something, I automatically block out the sponsored links and look at what I know to be the real results. My younger sister on the other hand will always click these links, believing them to be the best results that the search has returned. I know its not the exact same thing but its a factor.

I also think that people in IT are much wiser than those on the rest of the planet ;)

Paul Watson · 2 years ago

Good point Jon though from what I can tell most of my "brand awareness" comes not from direct adverts but from sponsorships and reviews of a brand's products e.g. dpreview reviews of Canon.

Some brands do a lot of, too much, brand advertising and end up just giving me a negative view of them.

I hardly ever see Apple adverts but I am very aware of their products through word of mouth, reviews etc. How can Apple take advantage of "targeted" advertising when I want everything they make? ;)

Paul Watson · 2 years ago

Interesting, Chris. I see most of the adverts when I surf, I just find them completely misdirected.

As for wise, yes we are but not in a "we are smarter" way, just that we are more aware of how the system works and through experience what not to pay attention too.

Does your sister ever buy anything from those ads?

Chris Gallagher · 2 years ago

Hmmm I'm not sure if she has ever bought anything from the ad's to be honest. I was more making a case for why targeted marketing may be more geared towards those who, as you put it, don't 'know how the system works'.