Today, Google is rolling out a new AdSense Internet advertising feature, and this looks like its going to be an important one.
The new AdSense Internet advertising program will be partially based on users’ browsing habits and previous online behaviors. That means that if you’ve been shopping online for new sneakers, you can expect to see more ads for sneakers—even if you’re visiting a Website that’s not about sneakers at all.
The whole thing is done through a cookie that stores information on which sites you’ve visited. Google calls it interest-based Internet advertising.
While this feature is new to Google, Internet advertising programs similar to this have been used by several other major online advertisers already. But many may still worry about what personal information is being stored. Will users be able to opt out?
The good news for the privacy-minded is yes. Not only can users choose not to have their Internet usage tracked, but they can also view and even tweak the Internet advertising information that Google has about them. Google has also assured the public that it will not deliver ads based on one’s race, religion, sexual orientation, health or financial problems.
But Google (probably correctly) predicts that most users won’t be concerned enough to opt out of the AdSense’s interest-based advertising. And in addition, AdSense publishers can even choose to not be part of the new program. There was apparently some concern that the information appearing in the Internet advertising on AdSense publishers’ pages could potentially help their competitors. Don’t want to risk that? No problem—don’t opt in to the new program.
But if this interest-based Internet advertising turns out to be more profitable that the traditional AdSense, then there will probably won’t be many Website publishers too worried about giving their competitors too much information.
Tags: internet advertising, internet marketing resources, online marketing campaign