Feedback on brand
Hello,
I am a happy user of your websites. I subscribe because I value your content and services. Thank you for the work you do to keep society informed and communicating.
In the interest of your reputation, and of your readers and viewers' experiences, I have sent the following message to Outbrain and AdChoices, the companies that supply advertisements posing as articles on your website and/or app. These types of ads are similar to sensationalist magazines, and bring down the tone of your own excellent site. The perception of your brand and services will improve if the quality of your advertisements improves.
Following is the scathing, yet good-intentioned, message that I sent using the "Contact Us" forms at Outbrain and AdChoices.
Message:
I am a consumer who sees ads on a variety of websites, including yahoo.com and other media sites. In other words, I am one one the sets of eyes that you sell to your customers.
I am often disgusted and repulsed by the images and wording in the ads. Human bowels, cleansing your liver, and wet piles of eggs come to mind. I do not like seeing these.
Other ads may have intriguing headlines with curious, sensational pictures. When I have clicked or tapped on those, the image that grabbed my attention is not there, and the story does not match. In order to continue reading such an "article", the user has to keep clicking to read on. These ads are misleading and do not fulfill the expectations you instill in the reader.
I now understand that they are set up this way to keep people clicking, therefore producing more "eyeball" views for your advertisers. It creates intense emotions in the viewers and does not deliver on the implied promises. I think it's despicable. I also believe that it falls under false advertising laws.
Can you remove these types of images and tactics? Are there more respectable advertisers in your client base?
Whenever I see those same ads on a website, my respect for the owner of that website and brand decreases. I assume they cannot afford anything more tasteful.
Please speak with your clients about this, as will I.
I appreciate that you are working to keep the internet economy going. Let's do it in a more appealing way.
Thank you for your consideration.