Google And Yahoo Allow Users To Opt Out Of Ads
All of a sudden, Yahoo and Google want to make it easy for you to opt out of their ad targeting on both their sites and across the Web. Yahoo announced
a new one-click opt-out policy today, and Google made it possible to opt out of both Google and Doubleclick ad targeting with one click yesterday.
At least Yahoo was honest enough to come out and say that the new policy was a direct response to Congressional scrutiny over the intrusiveness of online advertising and behavioral targeting. Google’s announcement was buried in a blog post about Doubleclick cookies.
The truth is that both Yahoo and Google would rather take symbolic action themselves than be forced to take a more draconian one later. Who’s going to bother to opt out of ad targeting? Some people will, but the vast majority of people probably won’t. What would really mess up Yahoo’s and Google’s advertising ROIs is if Congress mandated that ad-targeting (via cookies) be opt-in. They’d surely get even fewer people opting in for those cookies than they will now get opting out. I know I’m too lazy to do either.
But if you don’t want those cookies, you can decline Yahoo’s here and Google’s here
(Flickr photo by scubadive67).
This Article was originally published by our content partner Techcrunch and is being republished with full permission.
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Yahoo and Google links gives and errors :
1 - remove the space from the google link at the end
2- fix the yahoo link , its set as : http://www.shoemoney.com/2008/08/10/google-and-yahoo-allow-users-to-opt-out-of-ads/%20http://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/opt_out/targeting/details.html and gives a 404
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no offense or anything, but why are you linking stories from Techcrunch?
People, or I, come to this site for original content.
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I can’t see that is going to change anything too much. As usual, becuase its news about Google people will make it out to a bigger deal than it really is.
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Can’t see the problem with using stories from techcrunch, if you’ve already read it on techcrunch then just ignore it here? There’s plently of other original content. For me personally I like it becuase I’m not a regular reader of TC.
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Useless piece of legislation in my humble opinion.
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It will be interesting to see what effect it will have on earnings,on the long term.
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Jeremy, Did you make those cookies?
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he already answered that question go back to old post and read the answer
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read the last line of the post
(Flickr photo by scubadive67).
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Never really bothered me either way. Must agree - if I had to opt-in, I don’t think I would.
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I agree. I don’t read TC unless Shoe posts the story or links to it.
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wow, this one comes as a surprise to me.. intrestinh…
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Kinda goes to show you how the US gov’t works. When there are no lobbyist representing the businesses, the consumers get protected, in this case, from intrusive ads. But when there are lobbyist present, such as for oil and pharmas, the consumers are served like fish in a barrel. Perhaps, the affiiiate industry should form lobbying groups instead of rationalizing laws while losing more grounds.
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Weird. I think most people will opt out. Bad for income.
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I read about Yahoo doing this earlier this week from Search Engine Journal. However, I had no clue that Google was doing the same thing. Did this just come out of no where, or did Google have full intention of doing this. Almost seems like “monkey see monkey do”.
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If Jeremy reads something so interesting that he feels compelled to blog about it here, then you could probably count on it being a pretty good story. I knew about Yahoo but had no clue about Yahoo. If Jeremy hadn’t posted this I would have been days late on getting this news.
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Google….
lol… but I am sure others feel the same about Yahoo… lol
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Hey what will happen to all those referral cookies? Anyway not good for affiliates.
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i dont understand what it means :??:
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The only thing that would hurt them would be if ads were ever opt-in.
Otherwise, opting out isn’t any easier than it already is to block ads. Those that can’t figure out how to install a plugin (or simply don’t care to) probably aren’t going to be swarming towards the opt-out page.
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Opt-in or out I don’t think there should be an option for either, websites thrive on advertising revenue. Yes some sites are abtrusive, but if they are like that the user has the option of not returning.
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that’s why they (google and yahoo) took this step now…It’s more convenient to them for users to opt-out rather to opt-in.
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I don’t think that people will start rushing to the opt-out button, at least not regular internet users. How will they find that there is an opt-out option ? Google could have add this option into their toolbar or putting it somewhere much more visible if they would have really cared about it. Have they done it ? No. They are just complying with the government laws.
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I think this will hurt Google in the long term. I run a few high traffic websites and already have opted to go with a few high paying CPM companies and just use adsense text ads at the bottom of articles. When you niche’s average click has moved from .30 to .01 I think it is time to make a change. I think Google is just shooting themselves in the foot with this and opening up for other companies to take a piece of the action.
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I think Craig made an excellent point and I totally agree. The user is given the choice of what sites they visit, and many sites rely on advertisements in order to survive or make up a decent site. If the user doesn’t like the ads on a site, than simply don’t return to it!
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You know how it goes. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.
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dosent seem like its good for affiliates
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Well, opting out of ad targeting, not out of ads totally. Or am I reading this wrong?
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Don’t fret, I don’t think this will have much of an effect on affiliate marketing because most people don’t understand what a cookie is, let alone opting out of it even if it’s as easy as clicking on a button.
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this is crazy but I suppose a smart move. Anyone willing to opt out of ads probably is the one bringing your Ctr down anywho..
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Perhaps this will increase the CTR and lessen the cost to advertisers by eliminating the impressions to people who are definitely not interested in any advertised product.
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Exactly, they have the option of not returning to a site if they so choose, so I don’t know why they need to opt out of advertising.
If you buy a newspaper you are bombarded with advertisements and flyers (which the newspaper needs to make money from), but we don’t have an option to opt-out of those.
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Oh, may be I read this wrong originally.
So, this is just to opt out of AD-TARGETING or BEHAVIORAL TARGETING, right? and not opting out of ALL ADS. The ads are still going to show up, but the ads can’t be served as a result of stored information if a user opts-out. Am I correct or am I still reading this wrong?
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Personally I would prefer to be targeted by adverts with a set of criteria rathar than being bombarded with ads claiming I am the umpteenth visitor and have the opportunity of claiming my “special prize”.
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you have to do that on all computers you are using …
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I agree, I for one am so sick of Google, (god don’t let them see this ;-)), but really if I never hear the word Google again will be too soon!
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he gave a decent reason. and like mentioned below this is important/big news
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i very seriously doubt i would sign up either
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Hehe so you’re on the Google / Yahoo takedown team then Shoe? Not even your blog has enough views to do that…
Yeah, if ads were opt-in…. it would kill these companies overnight.
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I’m trying to figure out how this well help either company’s stock price?
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if it ever does help either companies stock price…
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how could it be good. its like taking the meat from the tigers mouth
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Does this help or hinder bloggers on the whole?
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I think this is really important news. I was interested to read it here.
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Google will soon become lord of the world. This will be fun. -)
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I think that Google did not lose a lot of money. He has great reserves. -)))
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So how can you “opt out” if they don’t know who you are?
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Why would congress ever mandate an opt-in to advertising cookies? That’s like saying you need to opt in to watch commercials targeted to the type of television show you’re watching.
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I really don’t think it has any impact on affiliates whatsoever, or at least any more than on any other type of advertiser!
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I think it has something to do with the behavioral targeting and them being able to store info about your internet viewing habits.
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They still display ads if you opt out, but they stop peeking into your cookie jar.
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Oh and my personal favorite - you get a cookie when you opt out, meaning when you clean your cookies you’re back in. Sneaky?
quote” If you delete this opt-out cookie, you will have to opt out again”
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Google results look much cleaner now. But to be honest, I had grown used to those adverts around the results. Didn’t find them intrusive either..
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That is interesting, i didnt know that.
-Cory
http://www.cashmakingblog.com
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Cory I have seen people get yelled at for adding their url in a post. These people have been called all kinds of names from douche bag to stupid a$$. Maybe not stupid a$$ but it does look spammy and makes your site look bad. Just trying to help
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I never knew you were able to do that. Thanks for telling us.
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hmmm delicious cookies
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Those cookies look like some monkey brain :p
And this was unexpected too
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I wish I could opt out of television ads.
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This is bs. Congress never has enough control for themselves do they? God forbid Google knows what websites a certain IP address visited. Congress is just jealous of Google. They themselves want to know what the citizens have been doing and have complete control over us, but when someone steps in with even more knowledge of citizen activities, they go crazy.
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This is great that google and yahoo are making it so easy to opt out. However I think the legislation is ridiculous. But, giving your users options and respecting their privacy can’t hurt anything.
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I don’t really understand the effect it will have on many?
Care to expand?
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I will never opt in and opt out. too lazy to do that…
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This is for the best.
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yummy that cookie looks good lol
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