Comments on: Google Maps: No Stone Unturned in Search of Ad Space

By: Google Maps Bubble Ads and The SMB State of Mind | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:17:07 +0000

[...] aggressive & annoying Bubble ads have been creeping into the SMBs field of vision since their introduction 10 days ago. Articles have been posted at a number of sites (here, here & here) questioning [...]

By: Mike Blumenthal

Mike Blumenthal — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:15:42 +0000

@Doug

Likely to be the case.

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:06:14 +0000

Mike,
I suspect Google will fine tune the system to avoid stepping outside “the norms set by the society in which they exist”.

Why?
Simply put it is in the best interests of their revenue model not to offend the user. Again, no users, no advertisers.

The examples of impropriety you describe will come to someones attention at Google and the algorithm will be rewritten once again.

Google is simply too big a money making machine for anything else to take place.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:24:29 +0000

@Doug
I do not feel a sense of entitlement to Google. I do however think that they need to behave consistently with societal norms.

I have mixed feelings about the ads showing on bricks and mortar locations. I do not however any mixed feelings at all about the impropriety of abortion ads appearing on Women’s homeless shelters or gay church ceremony ads appearing on the the place bubble for the Archediocese of NY.

While Google may have a right to use their property as they see fit, they also have an obligation to live with the norms set by the society in which they exist.

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:54:26 +0000

Although I dislike the changes as much as the next guy, I have to admit that I always find these discussions of interest.

In general people seem to have this feeling of entitlement to Google, like it was put on this Earth as a public service to the masses. The fact that it is a multi billion dollar business seems to be forgotten on many occasions.

Typically, individuals who have worked hard for organic placement and as such are receiving a free ride from Google are the ones that are most taken back when Google makes changes that will potentially increase its own bottom line and may at the same time impact the organic side.

The bottom line here is that Google is the “phone directory” of the internet. Advertisers on Google could be compared to “Yellow Page” advertisers of the past. They are the ones the Google will cater to. Unfortunately Google has NO obligation to ensure that those not paying get the same treatment as those that do. Up to this point, Google has been smart enough to realize that if their system does not benefit the user first and foremost, in turn advertising revenues will disappear. Unfortunately the user does not care that Google slips a paid advertisement into the “bubbles” as long as the bubble returns the response that they are searching for.

By: Rogue’s Gallery of Inappropriate Bubble Ads | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:00:42 +0000

[...] example of Google’s inability to target a specific ad against a specific place with their new Info Bubble Ads. It provides great fodder for my first installment of Rogue’s Gallery of Inappropriate [...]

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:51:54 +0000

Just out of curiosity I thought I would check out my village (Bilbrough, York) on google maps, and the only pop up was of a picture of tree… apparently the’ Ye Olde Oak Tree of Bilbrough’ nonetheless, plus various comments posted against it from various tree huggers… Don’t let anyone ever tell you that Bilbrough is dull !!

By: David Mihm

David Mihm — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:32:08 +0000

At least Yelp gives you the option to shut off ads if you’re an advertiser.

How about if Google offered a $25-year no-ads-on-your-Place-Page-plus-customer-service-for-Places product?

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 17:17:59 +0000

@Matt
A Minor league stadium with abortion ads.

@Doug
Not surprised per se, more disgusted.

@Laura
See my new posts for examples of LOL(COL?) examples of misguided bubble ads.

@Earl
Certainly the gain does not seem worth the scorn in this case. Google is making clear that is not just smbs that are “at risk” but every place in the US… churches, memorials, parks…

@Kathy
You are not horrified by what you have seen but would you be horrified for an abortion ad on a women’s shelter? an ad for a commercial tour of 9/11 site? They are here, they are real and they (in my experience) is that they are somewhat “horrifying”.

@Brandon
On my cheap LCD screen the pale yellow looks white at the the top of the serps and other than the very, very small Ads – Why these ads? you can’t tell at all.

By: The Foibles & Fallacies Of Place Based Bubble Ads | Understanding Google Maps & Local Search

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:44:11 +0000

[...] The Foibles & Fallacies Of Place Based Bubble Ads Category: Google Places (Maps & Local) – Mike – 11:25 am Should every place & business that exists in our everyday life be used to sell against? Should that specific, very real entity with its history of sentiment and purpose be leveraged to shill for something without their knowledge? And if so what is appropriate to sell against that place? I asked myself those questions as I explored some of the “bubble ads” that Google was showing in the info bubble for these Places. [...]