Confessions of a Six Figure Professional Blogger

Google Announces Interest Based Advertising

March 13, 2009 | Search Engines

A lot of bloggers use Google Adsense, so this is an announcement from Google which is likely relevant to you. I got an email last night which stated:

We’re writing to let you know about the upcoming launch of interest-based advertising, which will require you to review and make any necessary changes to your site’s privacy policies. You’ll also see some new options on your Account Settings page.

In short, Google is going to track users across websites which run Google ads. By seeing what kinds of sites the user typically visits, they will change the ads visible on your site to suit their interest. Advertisers who use the Adwords system will be able to choose demographics based on interest.

Adsense users will not have to change any code on their sites. However, it may be necessary to made an edit to your site’s privacy policy to include the fact that ads may be interest based.

If you don’t wish to be involved in interest-based ads, you can opt out. In your Adsense account settings, you’ll see preferences for internet-based ads. Choose “Do Not Show Ads Based on user interest categories”.

Privacy buffs may raise an eyebrow to this, however this is not new technology. It is just using a cookie to track anonymously and nothing is personally identifiable. Plus, Google has the Ads Preferences Manager so that you can control which interest categories you fall into.

More on Google’s official blog announcement.

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  • Kind of Big Brother-ish, isn't it?

    I don't have a privacy policy right now, where can I get the text?
  • I think it's a good idea. After reading the email I recieved from AdSense and the links contained within, I can't really find anything that indicates that any personally identifuable information would be collected.

    I would also prefer that it was an opt-in program instead of an opt-out program as it stands now.

    If Google takes any heat, they may just do that anyways.

    we'll just have to see how it works out.
  • Competing ads on the same site is a good thing: They give the reader more choice of product option, and at the same time deliver you more clicks.
  • While I don't have adsense on many of my sites the ones that do... I have to agree with Alan above I'm worried it would prove to be more competition then ads.

    However I do have 1 site I can't wait to try this out on.
  • Alan
    My concern is there will occasionally be ads for competeing products on my page.
  • I thought this was pretty cool when I got the email from google. Seems it would generate more clicks. Of course it is still scary how much google knows about you sometimes. lol
  • I'd profer (as an Adsense publisher) to have a opt-in to the new programs, not opt-out from it.

    The visitor should have a right to see what the data is collected about him and that he can manage this information by himself (review/delete/disable).

    It's just sick move by Google.
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