**SPOILER ALERT**This post is not going to be about how and why companies should embrace Facebook ads. It’s written from the perspective of the target audience (me).
I know that ads are a ‘necessary evil,’ especially on free websites. I hate ads! They are annoying, irrelevant and in my face. That’s why I use Firefox Adblocker Plus, which takes care of most ads.
That being said, I like the ads on Facebook. Here’s why.
1. They’re unobtrusive.
They are stuck on the far right side, which is the last place your eye goes. I only happen to notice them because I watch to see what friends are having birthdays, which appears right above these ads.
2. They advertise good value.
Or should I say, something for free or at a discount. Facebook ads are targeted by your Facebook information, e.g. age, sex, location, interests and likes. Mmmm, it is as though they know I’m very cheap frugal?
3. They are somewhat relevant.
I do like seeing the fitness ads. I can do without the baby clothes ads or the ads for high heeled shoes.
4. They are interactive.
By this I mean, I always click on the little ‘x’ next to the ad so that it disappears. A little pop-up screen then appears asking me why I didn’t like this ad. I have a field day with checking off:
uninteresting
irrelevant
offensive
spam.
Most of the time I just check off “uninteresting.” Although if I’m in a bad mood, I may check off offensive. I never click on the ‘x’ for exercise-related ads. Of course, I never click on the ads either. I just like seeing what new fitness stuff is out there.
I can just now imagine how I am described, “cranky, fussy person who doesn’t like anything.” Ah, maybe that means that Facebook will stop showing me ads.
What about you? How do you feel about Facebook ads? Have you ever clicked on one? Have you ever bought something because you saw a Facebook ad?
Photos are courtesy of Toodlepip’s Flickr Photostream, under Creative Commons Licensing.
Nancy Loderick's Blog 
nholt10
May 9, 2012
Interesting article Nancy. I did not know I was able to interact with the ads (e.g., hiding all FB ads from Ultimat Vodka)
I believe my problem with relevancy is that I have not updated my interests in at least 3 years–do people still do that?
I still have not clicked on a FB ad (on-purpose) to this day. Not even the new types of sponsored stories.
-Nick
@nholt
P.S. I need to start blogging..ugh…I want to create a blog combining international MKT, mobile, and social media…multiple blogs?
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Nancy Loderick
May 9, 2012
Hi Nick,
Thanks for your comment. If you move your mouse over to the ad, you’ll see a little ‘x’ in the upper right corner. If you click on the x, the ad will go away and you have the option of either never seeing that ad, or never seeing ads from that company. You’ll then be asked why you didn’t like the ad.
You are probably right that most people don’t update their interests. They probably don’t remember what interests they originally listed! I remember since all my interests have to do with fitness.
As for your blog, is there a theme that ties in international mkts, mobile and social media? If so, then you could have one blog with these 3 categories.
Good luck!
Nancy
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toodlepip
May 10, 2012
Thanks for the photo credit.
Nice to hear the user’s perspective on FB ads. Makes a change from the advertisers or “all ads are evil” camp.
For me, it’s the rubbish targeting by advertisers that let’s most of the campaigns down. That and over-use of customisation so they feel creepy.
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Nancy Loderick
May 11, 2012
Hi Toodlepip,
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I agree with you that the over-customization is creepy. It feels like cyper-stalking to me.
Nancy
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Ken Loderick
May 15, 2012
I don’t mind Facebook ads either. I barely notice they are there on the far right. But I have to wonder if things will change when Facebook goes public and there is more emphasis on making a profit. That said, I have NOT noticed any ads on my Facebook page for donuts although that would be the most relevant ad I could imagine. 🙂
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Nancy Loderick
May 15, 2012
Hi Ken,
I bet if you put donuts as one of your Facebook interests, you’d start seeing donut ads. I think even “liking” Dunkin Donuts would work too!
Nancy
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