Actually, President Obama doesn’t know about this post (yet), but I was very curious about this advertising tactic I’ve been seeing in Facebook ads recently. So, I did a little research, and have come up with more questions than answers.
Lately, I’ve been seeing these ads in the right sidebar of my Facebook profile:
Obviously, with the popularity of Obama during the last election season among internet users, it’s easy to see why some advertising companies would be tempted to wring every last bit of social energy they can out of his name for as long as possible. These ads are appearing on Facebook feeds that talk about Obama, so they are apparently utilizing keywords, but obviously not semantic web techonology (as any reading of “tone” would detect that I am not exactly a fan of the current administration, and would not be likely to do ANYTHING simply because “Obama urged me to”).
Several companies have tried this, unsuccessfully. Here are some examples:
- Fried Chicken Places Slapped For Using Pres Obama’s Name
- Gun store catches heat over using Obamas name
- Russian ice cream ad using Obama’s image accused of being racist
- NBC rNBC rejects pro-life ad using Obama ejects pro-life ad using Obama
The problems encountered by the above companies have been carefully avoided in the ads appearing on Facebook. Obama’s name was not used as the name of the company in any of the ads, and the content of the ads was not controversial in nature.
Ok. But wait, there’s more…
A couple of days ago, I started clicking on these ads, and discovered that they are all being produced by the same company – Experian. Does that name sound familiar? Here’s a list of companies in what they call the “Experian Interactive Family”:
- PriceGrabber.com
- FreeCreditReport.com
- ClassesUSA.com
- Experian.com (one of the three major credit-reporting bureaus)
That’s right – a company that has access to ALL of your personal information – name, DOB, SS#, bank accounts, credit cards, etc., feels perfectly comfortable claiming that President Barack Obama endorses their products. Why is that?
I’d like to know what you think. Am I making something out of nothing, or is this something to be concerned about?
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September 23rd, 2009 - 5:19 pm
Each time you think you can take a breath Wham you get gut punched again. I am begining to think it is to late. We can keep trying, but I just don’t know.
September 23rd, 2009 - 6:07 pm
I thought that I was overreacting to those ads, maybe a little paranoid. Oh darn.
September 23rd, 2009 - 8:18 pm
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. WTF.
September 23rd, 2009 - 9:14 pm
The good news is that our government can’t beat anybody anymore. The Russians should take more credit for beating Germany, and we’ve lost everything since.
More good news was that it was a passionate few Americans who beat the global superpower before we got a constitution.
More good news is that we have no problems at all that you and your neighbors haven’t freely chosen with a 98% reelection rate.
We can fix it anytime we want to fix it.
The bad news is that we’re stupid and inert, and deserve a dictator good and hard.
But other than that, there’s lots of good news.
September 23rd, 2009 - 9:17 pm
I guess I will start hitting the offensive button again on those ads. Wondered who was behind it. Guess need to do some digging to see if there might be new silent shareholders
September 23rd, 2009 - 9:38 pm
I think the most likely explanation is that Experian’s market research shows that people to whom these ads would appeal to were also Obama supporters…people who are out of work, single moms out of work, people with bad credit or are worried about their credit, etc.
September 23rd, 2009 - 11:01 pm
Way to go. I had to check it out, because I figured if Obama wanted me to read it, I probably wouldn’t like it.
ha
September 24th, 2009 - 12:07 am
It’s a smart business move if the brand name Obama is selling, but the more America sees of him the less we like him. By Christmas, when unemployment is over 10 percent, every time you see Obama’s name it will be followed by an expletive.
Can’t sell much then…
September 24th, 2009 - 11:15 am
Obama’s marxist team are working full time to corrupt America. Their job is supposed to be to help American free enterprise. The effort to corrupt the NEA national endowment of the arts is down the line of this advertisement issue. Remember Axelrod was sending advertising emails about health care.
Great work. Thank you
September 26th, 2009 - 8:53 pm
Good sleuthing Jenn. Hope it soon backfires on them.
January 14th, 2010 - 5:57 pm
Why point fingers of blame at anybody but ourselves?
We choose our politicians (over and over and over again), we choose our media, we choose our purchases.
If we want better, we have to:
1. Want better. What, really, do we want? Say it.
2. Choose it. Demand it. Buy it.
That’s it. It’s that simple.
Politicians, with very few exceptions, don’t lead; they reflect. And right now, we Americans deserve an embarrassing reflection.