Facebook blocks Google+ ads • Hacker News Board

Re: Facebook blocks Google+ ads

#11

Post by j79 » Sat, Jul 16, 2011, 9:15 AM UTC

scrrr wrote: post #4

erikb wrote: post #2

You would never expect to find Mercedes ads on BMW's website. Also everybody knows that u don't need to look for Windows advertisments on apple.com. So I think it is also quite normal, that Facebook doesn't want to advertise G+ on their website.

Indeed. But on the other hand I don't think Google would disallow or block ads for Facebook. Their strategies differ. Google thrives with an open web, Facebook is a walled garden. But yeah, no scandal here.

Considering their primary source of revenue[1] is from advertising, I wouldn't think Google would disallow or block ads from Facebook (or anyone with a competing product, to be honest...)

[1] AdWords - Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdWords

Re: Facebook blocks Google+ ads

#12

Post by albertzeyer » Sat, Jul 16, 2011, 9:26 AM UTC

erikb wrote: post #2

You would never expect to find Mercedes ads on BMW's website. Also everybody knows that u don't need to look for Windows advertisments on apple.com. So I think it is also quite normal, that Facebook doesn't want to advertise G+ on their website.

Well, you have these:

http://www.facebook.com/Microsoft

http://www.facebook.com/Google

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Apple-Inc/105596369475033

Etc. This is quite common for many companies to have some sort of representation on FaceBook. And they try to advertise themselves there. And people can FB-like them etc.

Re: Facebook blocks Google+ ads

#13

Post by amitagrawal » Sat, Jul 16, 2011, 9:55 AM UTC

j79 wrote: post #11

scrrr wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed. But on the other hand I don't think Google would disallow or block ads for Facebook. Their strategies differ. Google thrives with an open web, Facebook is a walled garden. But yeah, no scandal here.

Considering their primary source of revenue[1] is from advertising, I wouldn't think Google would disallow or block ads from Facebook (or anyone with a competing product, to be honest...) [1] AdWords - Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdWords

I think Facebook's primary source of revenue is advertising too.

Facebook is taking the stance what Microsoft took a few years ago - getting in the way of it's users and making choices on behalf of them.

On the other hand by being open, Google has made a ton of money from it's competitors like Groupon which spends a big chunk advertising on Google.

I don't know if Facebook has made an official comment on this but from here on I think things might get interesting.

Re: Facebook blocks Google+ ads

#14

Post by muuh-gnu » Sat, Jul 16, 2011, 10:05 AM UTC

j79 wrote: post #11

scrrr wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Indeed. But on the other hand I don't think Google would disallow or block ads for Facebook. Their strategies differ. Google thrives with an open web, Facebook is a walled garden. But yeah, no scandal here.

Considering their primary source of revenue[1] is from advertising, I wouldn't think Google would disallow or block ads from Facebook (or anyone with a competing product, to be honest...) [1] AdWords - Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdWords

Facebooks primary revenue source also is advertizing. And they generally do not seem opposed to other sites (competing with them for users) linking to them (they've littered half the net with their like buttons), only vice versa.

Re: Facebook blocks Google+ ads

#15

Post by philjackson » Sat, Jul 16, 2011, 10:33 AM UTC

erikb wrote: post #2

You would never expect to find Mercedes ads on BMW's website. Also everybody knows that u don't need to look for Windows advertisments on apple.com. So I think it is also quite normal, that Facebook doesn't want to advertise G+ on their website.

BMW don't have an advertising network, nor any third-party adverts on their site. Not sure your comparison is a good one...

Re: Facebook blocks Google+ ads

#16

Post by pyre » Sat, Jul 16, 2011, 10:40 AM UTC

Xlythe wrote: post #5

pyre wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those comparisons aren't quite the same. BMW and Apple don't sell generic ad space on their sites.

No, but even sites that do sell generic ad space have ads they don't want shown (Porn, competitors, things that would reduce the brand name).

Things that you don't want and things that you'll allow are separate sets, not guaranteed to have full intersection.

Re: Facebook blocks Google+ ads

#17

Post by Helianthus » Sat, Jul 16, 2011, 11:11 AM UTC

ugh wrote: post #10

erikb wrote: post #2

You would never expect to find Mercedes ads on BMW's website. Also everybody knows that u don't need to look for Windows advertisments on apple.com. So I think it is also quite normal, that Facebook doesn't want to advertise G+ on their website.

I know quite a few newspapers that have no problem selling ad space to their competitors and have done just that. Your comparison to companies that don’t even sell ad space doesn’t make any sense. This is an astonishing display of cowardice on Facebook’s part (if it is indeed true).

I think that hits the nail on the head. If Facebook were brazenly advertising Google+ as if they had no fear, I'd think that a proper bit of cheek.

Of course, they're probably looking at actual click-through rates and realizing that's not worth it...

Re: Facebook blocks Google+ ads

#18

Post by chopsueyar » Sat, Jul 16, 2011, 11:26 AM UTC

erikb wrote: post #2

You would never expect to find Mercedes ads on BMW's website. Also everybody knows that u don't need to look for Windows advertisments on apple.com. So I think it is also quite normal, that Facebook doesn't want to advertise G+ on their website.

You can advertise on BMW's website using CPC or CPM? Where is the signup form?

Re: Facebook blocks Google+ ads

#19

Post by law » Sat, Jul 16, 2011, 11:45 AM UTC

If Facebook were confident that they make a better product, they'd embrace competition as a sort of self-check in the system. They'd spend a day or two to adapt their already-developed you-can-download-your-whole-account feature to allow customers to switch to Google+, if they desire.

But they won't do this. Their reluctance underscores their belief that they don't make a product superior to Google's; if they did, they'd have no problem with these advertisements.

Re: Facebook blocks Google+ ads

#20

Post by nhebb » Sat, Jul 16, 2011, 11:46 AM UTC

ugh wrote: post #10

erikb wrote: post #2

You would never expect to find Mercedes ads on BMW's website. Also everybody knows that u don't need to look for Windows advertisments on apple.com. So I think it is also quite normal, that Facebook doesn't want to advertise G+ on their website.

I know quite a few newspapers that have no problem selling ad space to their competitors and have done just that. Your comparison to companies that don’t even sell ad space doesn’t make any sense. This is an astonishing display of cowardice on Facebook’s part (if it is indeed true).

If I google "facebook games" I see a few AdWords listed. If a Google user clicks those ads, it's not like that will drive the user away from Google search. But if someone on Facebook has an ad that reads "Julio Fernandez moved to Google+ ...", then that is driving users away from Facebook. I don't see why a company should facilitate a mass exodus toward a competing service. I don't use Facebook and think they're kind of creepy, but I can't fault them for this.