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I spent $220 on Google app ads and 60% of the installs were robots

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Re: I spent $220 on Google app ads and 60% of the installs were robots

#121

Post by mitxela »

econ wrote: post #58
rybosworld wrote: post #48

I've suspected that google has been turning a blind eye to ad fraud for a few years now. In the early-mid 2010's, ad fraud wasn't nearly as common. And it's absolutely not the case that google can't detect ad fraud - in fact they are VERY good at detecting it when they want to.

You had huge click farms back in the days. Today the fraud is perhaps more obvious. YT has served me the same 20 min ad 200+ times over the last few weeks. I let the entire thing play 10 times and 50 times didn't press skip for the first minute (or the view doesn't count) It's so annoying Ive reduced video watching by 80-90% The idea they have someone pay for this in the hope I will buy the product? Or do people real…

Those work. You'll remember that brand if you ever need that product.

Re: I spent $220 on Google app ads and 60% of the installs were robots

#124

Post by mitxela »

rybosworld wrote: post #50
carlosjobim wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends on what you're selling. If you do it right, Google will give you plenty of organic customers who want to buy your product - no ads needed. You can market as much as you want on Meta also without having to pay for ads. But if you need stronger marketing than that, there will always be willing affiliates.

SEO is not nearly as effective as it used to be. Organic click through rates have been trending way down since AI responses were added to the top of the search results. So this really isn't just a case of "you're holding it wrong".

How's GEO?

Re: I spent $220 on Google app ads and 60% of the installs were robots

#126

Post by emdash »

cube00 wrote: post #106
dave_sid wrote: post #28

Google ads are a con. Meta ads are a con. If someone tells you you’re just not doing it right yet, they’re probably trying to sell you something.

Add Reddit Ads to that, all the alleged clicks not one comment or conversion. I get my app is probably bad but you'd expect at least one comment out of 100 "clicks" to say something.

I have a theory that there are far fewer genuine users on Reddit at this point than you'd expect.

Re: I spent $220 on Google app ads and 60% of the installs were robots

#127

Post by gruez »

mitxela wrote: post #120
gruez wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>the reported CPI of 2.4%, which of course is nowhere near the actual increase in life's necessities but does show that you can get TVs cheap I went through the CPI basket[1] and vaguely looked for categories "life's necessities" and came up with "Food and beverages", "Shelter", "Fuels and utilities", "Transportation", "Medical care", "Education and communication". Those categories alone make up 85.3% of the basket,…

What did gas cost a year ago and what does it cost now?

And...? The CPI is a weighted basket. Gas costing 2x (or whatever) doesn't mean CPI is 2x. Is that hard of a concept to grasp?

Re: I spent $220 on Google app ads and 60% of the installs were robots

#128

Post by miohtama »

dave_sid wrote: post #28

Google ads are a con. Meta ads are a con. If someone tells you you’re just not doing it right yet, they’re probably trying to sell you something.

Guess why we are getting “age verification” everywhere, lobbied by Meta.

It is not to protect the children.

Re: I spent $220 on Google app ads and 60% of the installs were robots

#129

Post by xp84 »

ForHackernews wrote: post #76
nekusar wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep. And the pay for these things is "access to 500+ TB Jellyfin-like movie services for free" Of course, it's all pirated out of country. And the pay is being a residential proxy. And piracy being the only way to actually own, I'm not imaging this will stop anytime soon.

Wait, so I can have free movies and subvert the adtech business model at the same time? What's the catch?

ehh, subvert is a stretch. But yes, you too can be a minor accessory to scams run by thieves to rob advertisers, with enriching the world's largest ad company as a side-effect. Not exactly a Robin Hood situation given that tons of the advertisers being robbed are just normal small developers trying to get their apps out there.

Re: I spent $220 on Google app ads and 60% of the installs were robots

#130

Post by gerdesj »

phenomen wrote: post #8

If you have their IP addresses in your dashboard, go to Google Ads > Admin > Account Settings > IP Exclusions. Then, add the entire network/data center range there (i.e. 123.4.5.*). In 99% of cases, these bot networks are not run from residential providers. You can confirm IPs at https://ipgeolocation.io/ After running Google Ads for a couple of years, our current exclusion list has over 4000 networks just in the US.

I suggest that Google should be doing that job for you.

It is absolutely ridiculous that you have been either victim shamed, blamed or simply neglected by Google into doing it yourself.

In a mall, you expect to see mall cops ... where are they?

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