Archive for the ‘Contextual’ Category

2013 Bad Ads Survey

Thursday, April 11th, 2013

Had no idea there was a formal survey of opinions on bad ads, but the good folks at Mediapost did.

Check it out here.

Eighty-three percent say bad ads actually get in the way of their activities: Web surfing (51%), online shopping (37%), working (20%), having sex (19%) and sleeping (13%).

“While the results of the study may seem amusing, they point to a real concern in American life,” says Waqar Hasan, CEO of InsightsOne, in a release. “People are fed up with seeing ads and other communications that aren’t relevant to them as individuals.”

The survey also found the types of ads Americans find most annoying are pop-up ads (70%), lottery scams (70%), male enhancement ads (66%), emails from deceased African leaders who have left them money (64%), ads for products and services they do not need (58%) and female enhancement ads (54%).

Read more: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/197757/#ixzz2QA01qeo4

Horsemeat Ads

Friday, March 22nd, 2013

Horse Meat Ad

Horse meat scandal roles on…

Thanks for sending, Laurie & Glen!

All Inclusive Holidays — Good or Bad?

Friday, April 27th, 2012

Another unfortunately placed ad.

All Inclusive Good or Bad

Digiday’s Bad Ad Placement of the Week

Friday, June 17th, 2011

Trade pub Digiday started a new feature, highlighting the week’s most unfortunate ad placement. This week, Citibank and Groupon, along side one of Rep. Anthony Weiner’s more tame photos to come out this week.

Why Does EW Think I’m a Chick?

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Did one of my female co-workers borrow my laptop while I was out at lunch? That would be the only excuse for this sad display of ad targeting (or lack thereof).

I am not a female. Why does the interwebs think I am?

There’s zero chance I’d be watching Real Housewives of anything, and I certainly don’t need a tampon. More ads gone bad.

Cablevision Ad on Pirated OSCARS Webcast

Monday, March 8th, 2010

The web is a funny place. While Cablevision and ABC were sparring over carriage rates, Cablevision viewers were prevented from watching the OSCARS, or at least the first 20 mins until it was finally aired.

So while users flocked to the web for alternatives, I coudln’t help but laugh at the irony of this well placed ad. Justin.TV may have been streaming pirated content, but the ad definitely makes you chuckle.
Oscar Irony on Pirated Content

Erectile Ad Dysfunction

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Is this contextually targeted based on alternative spellings of “Cox”?

How else might you spell Cox?

CEO Needs a Wax?

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Spotted on ScribeMedia.org:

Either David Wadler, CEO of Twistage, has a sexy little secret, or Blip.TV needs to work on their contextual targeting. This should have been an easy, B2B layup for a contextual overlay. Doesn’t anyone want to reach the online video B2B market?

Time for Twistage's Dave Wadler to clean up for bikini season already?

Here’s the whole interview….

Another Bad Contextual Match for Aflac

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Wow. These guys can’t catch a break.

Aflac sponsorship of SNL's Digital Shorts

Screen shot courtesy of Jai Decker, CEO, DrivenTide

Fear of Ducks, Sponsored by AFLAC

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Bad contextual match here. But who has a fear of ducks anyway?

Fear of Ducks? Maybe I'll buy some insurance for that.