How Facebook Sold You Krill Oil 114
An anonymous reader writes with this look at how Facebook tries to make and sell "thumbstopper" ads compelling enough to get people to stop scrolling through their news feeds. With its trove of knowledge about the likes, histories and social connections of its 1.3 billion users worldwide, Facebook executives argue, it can help advertisers reach exactly the right audience and measure the impact of their ads — while also, like TV, conveying a broad brand message. Facebook, which made $1.5 billion in profit on $7.9 billion in revenue last year, sees particular value in promoting its TV-like qualities, given that advertisers spend $200 billion a year on that medium. "We want to hold ourselves accountable for delivering results," said Carolyn Everson, Facebook's vice president for global marketing solutions, in a recent interview. "Not smoke and mirrors, maybe it works, maybe it doesn't."
Snake Oil (Score:2, Informative)
Anyone claims they know their readers / visitors to a 'T' and tries to tell you that they can help your ad home in to a chosen group of visitors / readers is selling snake oil
Facebook didn't sell me anything (Score:5, Informative)
When Facebook says they have 1.3 billion users worldwide, do they count inactive accounts such as mine, which I had to create to make sure nobody else could create a fake account about me and fill it with slander?
Two words (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Snake Oil (Score:5, Informative)
If you are using a credit card in a store like Target, they not only know your likes and dislikes, they know exactly what you buy. Sometimes they know more about you than your family.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ka... [forbes.com]
Re:Missing the bigger picture (Score:2, Informative)
Don't be ridiculous. That's called "conversion tracking", and it is neither new nor a Facebook invention. It's the very basis of affiliate marketing.
Re:Snake Oil (Score:4, Informative)