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Facebook is Starting To Test Search Ads in its Search Results and Marketplace (techcrunch.com)

Posted by msmash on from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.

It's an ad duopoly battle. From a report: Facebook is starting to test search ads in its search results and Marketplace, directly competing with Google's AdWords. Facebook first tried Sponsored Results back in 2012 but eventually shut down the product in 2013. Now it's going to let a small set of automotive, retail, and ecommerce industry advertisers show users ads on the search results page on mobile in the US and Canada.

They'll be repurposed News Feed ads featuring a headline, image, copy text, and a link in the static image or carousel format that can point users to external websites. Facebook declined to share screenshots as it says the exact design is still evolving. Facebook may expand search ads to more countries based on the test's performance.

10 of 20 comments (clear)

  1. Re: news for nerds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I saw one of these new ads. It was relevant. It was not clear at all on the offer date range and you couldnâ(TM)t click on it but at least it made a point

  2. What Purpose Does Facebook Serve? by dryriver · · Score: 2

    Its a seriously crappily designed social-media site where every mouse click, every keystroke, every like, every photo upload and probably even your live webcam image and what your (mobile) device's microphone picks up is sold to every advertiser, every crime organization and every government that wants your data. People use Facebook why again? Oh - because Mark Zuckerberg is a really nice guy. (He pointed out that my shoelaces are untied once - I have loved and respected him ever since! Without Mark, I surely would have gone flying on my face!)

    --
    Why did the chicken cross the road? Because Elon Musk put an AI chip in its head.
    1. Re:What Purpose Does Facebook Serve? by DickBreath · · Score: 1

      Facebook serves an important role in backing up your personal information to many redundant third parties so that it is safe. You benefit from this because these unnamed third parties are then able to track you across the internet as you visit pages which have Facebook buttons on them. It is as if these third parties are invisibly your co-pilot. Always sitting right over your shoulder, watching everything you do so that they can help you to know where to spend your money, or what kind of malware is most compatible with your system, or how to exfiltrate money from your bank accounts for safekeeping.

      --

      I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
    2. Re:What Purpose Does Facebook Serve? by dryriver · · Score: 1

      Excuse me, but isn't it YOUR political camp that promotes gender-bending nonsense for everyone starting from infancy?

      --
      Why did the chicken cross the road? Because Elon Musk put an AI chip in its head.
    3. Re:What Purpose Does Facebook Serve? by Bradac_55 · · Score: 1

      Your kidding yourself if you think that's just Facebook.

  3. Re:news for nerds? by DickBreath · · Score: 2

    advertisements for nerds. ads that matter.

    --

    I'll see your senator, and I'll raise you two judges.
  4. Re:news for nerds? by BringsApples · · Score: 1

    News for heards
    Stuff that flatters

    --
    Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
  5. Re:I wish someone would test by dryriver · · Score: 1

    Facebook employees are even MORE GENIUS than the geniuses employed at Apple stores. OF COURSE they get their QA right. Didn't you watch the amazing Hollywood film about the Social Network and all the GENIUS that went into creating it??? It takes a GENIUS to fool billions of people around the world into giving up their most personal data in exchange for - erm - nothing really.

    --
    Why did the chicken cross the road? Because Elon Musk put an AI chip in its head.
  6. Someone's getting desperate by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    I'm old... old enough to remember Facebook when it was just a student directory. It started small and it'll end small!

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  7. Not on my computer by p51d007 · · Score: 1

    There are NO ads, no "trending" crap on my Fakebook page. Of course it takes multiple blockers to accomplish that.