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Longstanding investor in Looksmart (and a 68 yr old ex-tradesman), who has a passionate interest in the problems of newspapers along with their success in all their monetisation attempts made, on the web. For the "times are indeed, a changin", I feel. [17th of Aug, 2011 - Print media... More
  • A Web-Wide Ad Network? Pull Your Finger Out, Mark? 0 comments
    Feb 4, 2013 7:58 PM

    .........."As Web giants like Facebook and Google get better at harvesting user activity, using Web searches for advertising is becoming increasingly popular"

    Is the last line within a post-script I had added to THIS blog-post.

    This post is pretty special to me in view of my stated feeling that Facebook and it's 'Graph Search' ultimately become such an important (a 'central') player in Looksmart's global intent based (PLA type ads) marketplace.

    An independent Open (global-end to end) market involvement where advertisers can target individual users, that contains many/all reputable players, coming in from both ends.

    The post contains a couple of examples of Ads (being) 'tested', at the time - including a Google targeted Ad (to me) on Yahoo! Finance.

    Google, Amazon-Alexa-test (As shown)

    It's clear from the targeted Google Ad / Amazon property / Alexa address string, that an Australian SEO Co was involved in this testing.

    Pull your finger out, Mark?

    For mine (& Looksmart's 'treading of water'), it appears that Facebook's own personal (perhaps, even over sensitive- bordering on 'what's best for Facebook'?) pedantics has long been the 'hold-up'? Mr Zuckerberg may need reminding of the fact, that time waits for no-one!

    (**cough** Publishers Cool on Facebook | Digiday)

    Good News?

    The advice today of this Facebook move may just help to speed-up that above (a Looksmart' intent-based' marketplace) scenario, possibly?

    .."Facebook to Make Targeted Ads More Transparent For Users"

    AdAge.com ‎- 10 hours ago

    Facebook is about to get more transparent in the way it targets advertising at its users. The social network has agreed to start displaying the....

    Move Is Another Step Toward Web-Wide Ad Network
    Published: February 04, 2013

    "The social network has agreed to start displaying the little blue "AdChoices" icon on its display ads served through its FBX ad exchange."

    ..."Implementing the icon, which brands and agencies use for big online display campaigns, could be seen as another step toward Facebook's third-party ad network. Some advertisers won't buy behavioral campaigns across the web without it."

    [Yet] There may STILL be minor complications?

    As ...... "Facebook's manner of implementing the icon--seen only when a user mouses over the ad--raises questions as to whether it complies with Federal Trade Commission guidelines calling for "clear and prominent notice" when an ad is behaviorally targeted."

    In a previous excellent (related) article by Kate Kaye (Jan. 08, 2013-with a link to it from on that above AdAge page), had suggested:

    "Facebook, of course, always publicly stresses its commitment to consumer privacy.

    Insiders say Facebook has been in discussions with advertisers, agencies & self-regulators regarding adoption of the standard icon.

    Behind closed doors, as much as some are willing to pounce on Facebook for ignoring privacy, other agency execs salivate at the thought of a Facebook network that pairs its robust data with the expansive inventory of the internet."

    Always, only an opinion.

    LOOK: $0.89 Down 0.01 (-1.12%) 1:49PM EST (200 shares!)

    LC

    Disclosure: Long LOOK

    .

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