Digital Marketing Agency | Portland PPC SEO Services | Anvil Media -
  • Services
    • Paid Media
    • SEO
    • Social Media
    • Content Marketing Services
    • Website Development
  • Outcomes
    • Clients
    • Portfolio
    • Case Studies
    • Testimonials
    • Awards
    • Industry Expertise
  • Insights
    • Blog
    • Articles
    • Cheat Sheets
    • White Papers
    • eBooks
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
  • About
    • Our Philosophy
    • Our Culture
    • Executive Team
    • News & Events
    • Careers
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Anvil Newsletter
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in

Beware of Facebook Advertising Demographic Targeting

by Anvil on March 14, 2011Online Public RelationsOnline Reputation ManagementUncategorized

Beware of Facebook Advertising Demographic Targeting

by Anvil on March 14, 2011Online Public Relations

So over my lunchbreak I’m perusing Facebook, watching footage of the awful, horrifying, mind-boggling Japanese tsunami.  Now we all know that, thanks to our own usage of it, Facebook knows pretty much everything about our likes and dislikes.  But check out the ads to the right: “Click ‘Like’ if you love Sea Kayaking!”  Ouch.

tsunami footage on facebook

Unfortunate ad targeting on Facebook

If your an advertiser, it’s always a good idea to think about if your ads could be serving in the wrong places after such tragic events.  In keyword-targeted AdWords, it seems a little easier to foresee and avoid such unfortunate placements — take a few minutes to look at your keyword list and scan for any possible connections, and add a quick Negative Keyword List including “tsunami,” “earthquake,” etc. across your campaigns.

But, with Facebook, what would you do?  Pause anything water-related?  They don’t have any sort of exclusion mechanism that I’m aware of, a la negative keywords.  Does Facebook have some responsibility to try to disable ads on any content relating to natural disasters, wars, etc?

I don’t know.  But I do know that this particular example would test the limits of even the darkest sense of humor…

  • Contact Us
    Contact Us
  • Search
  • Recent Posts
    • What Happens When Strategy Leads: How Digital Strategy Consulting Can Transform Your BusinessMay 16, 2025
    • Behavior Is the AlgorithmApril 16, 2025
    • Think of Automation Like an Employee—Because It Works Like OneMarch 31, 2025
    • Targeting on Facebook Ads for BeginnersJuly 14, 2022
  • Categories

Related Posts

  • Targeting on Facebook Ads for Beginners
  • Universal Analytics is Going Away – 3 Need to Know Tips to Prepare for the Switch to GA4
  • Clutch Awards Anvil Media Among The Leading Yahoo PPC Agencies For 2022
Ready to get started?

Take the next step toward growing your business. Tell us a little more about your goals and schedule an appointment.

Talk to Us

Blog

  • What Happens When Strategy Leads: How Digital Strategy Consulting Can Transform Your Business by Anvil Media on May 16, 2025
  • Behavior Is the Algorithm by Anvil Media on April 16, 2025

Twitter

Anvil Media, Inc. @anvilmedia

Testimonials

Anvil Media’s expertise in the PPC and SEO industry is unparalleled.Oregon State University

©Anvil Media, Inc. 2025
310 NE Failing St. Portland, OR 97212

  • Digital Marketing Services
  • Outcomes
  • Insights
  • About
  • Contact
  • Legal
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linked in
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest