Author Topic: iS Google ads (Read 9355 times)

danhowl · « **on:** September 12, 2011, 21:27 »

Has anyone noticed the iS ads that appear on web pages that you are reading? I get that google can look thru your bookmarks or browser history and pull up ads that are more targeted to you. However, I just saw some iS ads while reading something on a web page that featured one of my images. Does google pull that kind of information out of my history to customize the ad to that degree? It's a bit ridiculous if they do. It's not like I'm going to pay to download one of my own images...

ShadySue · « **Reply #1 on:** September 13, 2011, 05:23 »

{double post, sorry}

fotografer · « **Reply #2 on:** September 13, 2011, 09:01 »

I've not seen it with IS but DT google ads pop up all the time on sites like cheezburger.com.

ShadySue · « **Reply #3 on:** September 13, 2011, 09:10 »

Quote from: danhowl on September 12, 2011, 21:27

Has anyone noticed the iS ads that appear on web pages that you are reading? I get that google can look thru your bookmarks or browser history and pull up ads that are more targeted to you. However, I just saw some iS ads while reading something on a web page that featured one of my images. Does google pull that kind of information out of my history to customize the ad to that degree? It's a bit ridiculous if they do. It's not like I'm going to pay to download one of my own images...

I think they must be doing that, or something like that, as I see whichever of mine which I've looked at recently in iStock ads I see. I guess they haven't got it as fine tuned as to see that you were a contributor looking at your own image. A lot of ads for different products seem to feature something I looked at, even if I bought it.
I seem to get adverts for an organisation I support persuading me to join for about a week after I visit their site, but I don't think I've ever indicated when I'm on the site that I'm already a member.

Larry · « **Reply #4 on:** September 13, 2011, 09:36 »

I have seen these ads, they usually but not always have one of my images in them, which I happened to be recently looking at. There is a help button you can push. It identifies the outfit that posted the ads, which is not google but somebody else whos name I cannot remember. It tells you how you can stop them from appearing, (until anyway you happen to revisit iStock). It seems to me I've also seen similar ads representing other stock sites, but might not be the same advertising network.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #5 on:** September 13, 2011, 11:31 »

Tracking cookies are amazing things. Here's the latest IS thread about it:
http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=334384&page=1

Elenathewise · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2011, 14:40 »

Yup seen these ads with my own images in them... So if they serve me my own images based on the cookies, what do they serve Istock buyers who often have small ports on Istock - also their own images? (that's be silly...) How would it work if I don't have a portfolio on Istock?

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #7 on:** September 13, 2011, 15:16 »

We think it just shows stuff from whatever you've been browsing, yours or any other.

johngriffin · « **Reply #8 on:** September 13, 2011, 16:25 »

Yeah it could be some kind of browser sniffing that they are doing using javascript maybe but they definitely know more about you than you thought after you see the ads they serve. I get the same feeling when I browse around and see the same ads you probably do.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #9 on:** September 13, 2011, 16:38 »

Quote from: johngriffin on September 13, 2011, 16:25

I get the same feeling when I browse around and see the same ads you probably do.

You see American Girl Doll store ads too? Lol...

johngriffin · « **Reply #10 on:** September 13, 2011, 16:49 »

LOL. I see some really strange ones but what they are doing in terms of targeting is pretty crazy.

Artemis · « **Reply #11 on:** September 13, 2011, 17:05 »

Sorry if this isn't entirely relevant, but for the technology impaired ones like me this is maybe nice to know.
This week i was going through my google settings and found an opt-out option for googles targetted ads (default is opted in).
Here's some more info on how google's targeted ads work:
http://lifehacker.com/5171050/opt-out-of-googles-targeted-ads (on that page there's a link explaining how it works in detail but i cant link to it directly because i get it localized in dutch)
They mention ads are displayed also based on your interactions on a site... it all creeps me out somewhat.

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #12 on:** September 13, 2011, 17:10 »

This thread reminds me of the 'Gmail Man'. I didn't post the video here as I'm veering off subject but here's a link.

<a href="http://youtu.be/OrkAuwaoFGg" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://youtu.be/OrkAuwaoFGg</a>

RacePhoto · « **Reply #13 on:** September 13, 2011, 22:02 »

Google and many other sites will track through your cookies and browser cache, what you have searched for, or viewed recently.

Want to prove it for yourself, search for Diesel Power Generator, or something else you wouldn't normally look at. (Products not general subjects) Then as you surf various sites you will see ads for the same, not just Google.

For some reason the searches on Pricefinder or that kind of site are really sticky.

So if someone is on IS searching for images, especially people who search their own for rank and where they come up in searches, will start seeing their own images because it's registering and saved as favorite searches.

cathyslife · « **Reply #14 on:** September 14, 2011, 06:11 »

Quote from: Artemis on September 13, 2011, 17:05

Sorry if this isn't entirely relevant, but for the technology impaired ones like me this is maybe nice to know.
This week i was going through my google settings and found an opt-out option for googles targetted ads (default is opted in).
Here's some more info on how google's targeted ads work:
http://lifehacker.com/5171050/opt-out-of-googles-targeted-ads (on that page there's a link explaining how it works in detail but i cant link to it directly because i get it localized in dutch)
They mention ads are displayed also based on your interactions on a site... it all creeps me out somewhat.

Yeah, me too. As was discussed in another thread, I don't want stuff that some other so-called "expert" thinks I want to see. If I wanted to see that, I would search for it. In fact, if it's now showing as a google ad, that means I've already searched for it and read about it and have moved on to something else.

It all seems to be going just a little bit too far. $:-\$

jen · « **Reply #15 on:** September 14, 2011, 15:54 »

Quote from: cclapper on September 14, 2011, 06:11

In fact, if it's now showing as a google ad, that means I've already searched for it and read about it and have moved on to something else.

That's my problem with the ads.
For example, I looked up GoPro cameras in July because my dad told me my brother wanted one for his birthday. I'm still getting ads for them on every single website. I also get ads for stuff I already bought, it seems counter-intuitive.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #16 on:** September 14, 2011, 21:05 »

Quote from: jen on September 14, 2011, 15:54

Quote from: cclapper on September 14, 2011, 06:11
In fact, if it's now showing as a google ad, that means I've already searched for it and read about it and have moved on to something else.

That's my problem with the ads.
For example, I looked up GoPro cameras in July because my dad told me my brother wanted one for his birthday. I'm still getting ads for them on every single website. I also get ads for stuff I already bought, it seems counter-intuitive.

I agree, especially when I searched for something dumb that I wouldn't buy and it keeps hammering me with ads for that kind of thing.

I think the idea is, you showed interest, maybe a day later you'll follow a link and look some more. But I agree with both of you. I'm done, I've moved on, I don't want to see more.

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Author Topic: iS Google ads (Read 9355 times)

danhowl

ShadySue

fotografer

ShadySue

Larry

Sean Locke Photography

Elenathewise

Sean Locke Photography

johngriffin

Sean Locke Photography

johngriffin

Artemis

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RacePhoto

cathyslife

jen

RacePhoto

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