Google Beta Tests Interest-Based Advertising

Google is launching a beta test of “interest-based” display advertising. What that means is that Google will use information from your browser to offer up relevant ads on their partner sites and YouTube. For advertisers, the obvious benefit is (hopefully) reaching a more targeted audience, better traffic and higher conversion rates. For Google, the obvious benefit is mo’ money.

Of course, the inevitable reaction to such news is “WHAT ABOUT MY PRIVACY?”

Personally, I like this type of advertising. If I’m researching cruises and an ad pops up with a deal better than the ones I’ve found, then that really helps me out as a consumer.

But I know there are those of you who are the opposite of me. It creeps you out that a big company like Google is checking into your browsing behavior and history. Here’s what Google has to say about that, verbatim from the Official Google blog:

• Transparency – We already clearly label most of the ads provided by Google on the AdSense partner network and on YouTube. You can click on the labels to get more information about how we serve ads, and the information we use to show you ads. This year we will expand the range of ad formats and publishers that display labels that provide a way to learn more and make choices about Google’s ad serving.
• Choice – We have built a tool called Ads Preferences Manager, which lets you view, delete, or add interest categories associated with your browser so that you can receive ads that are more interesting to you.
• Control – You can always opt out of the advertising cookie for the AdSense partner network here. To make sure that your opt-out decision is respected (and isn’t deleted if you clear the cookies from your browser), we have designed a plug-in for your browser that maintains your opt-out choice.

What are your thoughts? Do tell in the comments.

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