Can you please elaborate? From what I understand, do you mean going directly to a certain advertiser if you see a direct deal happening, displayed in a "bad" position (UX-wise)?

I've occasionally tweeted at companies when I notice something wrong with their ad on my site or some other site but it's mostly things like the image was broken, or they're running an ad for an April event and it's July, but that's about it.

If I understand your question correctly, that's pretty much exactly what I'm asking.

If asking something else, please ask again. And thanks for responding.

FarmBoy

I've occasionally tweeted at companies when I notice something wrong with their ad on my site or some other site but it's mostly things like the image was broken, or they're running an ad for an April event and it's July, but that's about it.

Hmmm. I wonder if companies are aware where their ads are being seen?


FarmBoy

Hmmm. I wonder if companies are aware where their ads are being seen?

They are if they use placements. They can see specific websites, pages and ad units.

I'm always tempted to complain directly to the advertiser, wondering if they know where and how their ads appear.

I've been tempted to write to some webmasters when I see objectionable behaviour from ad placements on their sites.

I often wonder if they know the rubbish being served up.

I've been tempted to write to some webmasters

But the webmaster makes money anyway. The point of complaining to the advertiser directly is that you can say "Your ad reduces the chances of my ever paying for your product".

It might be difficult to get the advertiser involved in how an ad is displayed on a site. Most times they have no real say in that placement.

"Your ad reduces the chances of my ever paying for your product"

That's exactly my line of thought. Billy-bob the boss at the bob retail store might want to know how his advertising dollars are being spent, and concerned if he thinks that advertising dollar is resulting in a negative response.


FarmBoy

And I suspect that the advertiser will look at all the unhappy emails received (two, maybe three?) and go from there. A Negative Response is as good as a good response: It Means The Ad Was Seen.

If, however, a flood of negative hits which exceeds 10% of expectations, since most advertisers HOPE for a 10% on their investment, then something might get done... but not one website at a time.

Beware what you ask for.

If advertisers begin demanding how and where ads are placed, how are you, the publisher, going to react to that? Last thing I want is a third party telling me how I must do things on my own product (website). Many already complain at Google guidelines for ad placement... what if the advertisers get involved, too?

Beware what you ask for.

If advertisers begin demanding how and where ads are placed, how are you, the publisher, going to react to that? Last thing I want is a third party telling me how I must do things on my own product (website). Many already complain at Google guidelines for ad placement... what if the advertisers get involved, too?

I wouldn't DEMAND things from a publisher.

Let another business owner know how his ads are displaying, yes I would do that politely. Then if the advertiser wanted to do whatever to get that changed, that's OK.

I've let a business know things in the past, like my original material appearing on their site without asking me first, asking permission, etc. and it seemed like they didn't know and appreciated the tip. Things changed as soon as they were made aware.


FarmBoy

Let another business owner know how his ads are displaying, yes I would do that politely. Then if the advertiser wanted to do whatever to get that changed, that's OK.

Just to make sure we are not talking cross purposes.... you are talking about the advertiser, correct? And that ad advertiser might be worried that a single site is displaying (among many other ads not their own) the advertiser's ad in an obnoxious or inappropriate manner?

If so, what can the advertiser do or say (control) to the publisher? The advertiser is removed from the publisher by the ad network (whatever it might be). I will grant that sending a comment to an advertiser for a rude, all dancing, jittery ad (or video ad) might change their idea of how to advertise, but I just can't see the advertiser telling the webmaster/publisher how or where that ad is displayed, or how the publisher/webmaster would even allow that.

Hmmm. I wonder if companies are aware where their ads are being seen?

They are if they use placements. They can see specific websites, pages and ad units.

Ok, just to clear this up - every advertiser who advertises in the Display Network - whether or not they are targeting specific placements - has a report they can run that shows every single site where their ad appears. Just as they have reports that show every single search query (not keyword - search query) that triggers their ad to show on Google's search page.

It's possible some mom and pop small businesses don't know how to find and run these reports, but MOST experienced advertisers (and certainly anyone using an agency or consultant like me) will routinely run these reports to determine where their ads are running and where they're effective. And advertisers can exclude websites just like you can exclude ads.

Agree with Lucy and have done this a few times <= "Your ad reduces the chances of my ever paying for your product"