The Internet created a whole new world of marketing for those with the need to get their message out there. In fact, it basically revolutionized the way marketing is done forever. It’s important to note, however, that social media sites have had just as much of a profound impact on the world of advertising. In fact, Twitter is rolling out new ways to help companies expand their customer base, but some people are feeling uneasy about this. Though some feel Twitter’s new ads are an invasion of privacy, it’s important to understand the process before making any judgments.
Automated Ads
There are an abundance of advertising methods that social media sites have rolled out over the years. Anyone who has a Facebook account has likely noticed that the ads at the side of their page, along with the “Suggested Pages” section of their timeline, look eerily familiar. That’s because Facebook looks at what a person has “Shared”, “Liked” and posted in their status updates.Twitter hasn’t always had these types of ads, but it seems as if they’ve finally rolled them out. Individuals will now see ads from companies’ Twitter accounts based on their actions within the “twittersphere.” So if a person tweets about how great their McChicken and fries were, they shouldn’t be surprised to see an ad for the return of the McRib sometime soon. This feature, however, is where people start to question privacy laws.
Is Privacy being Violated?
The answer as to whether Twitter is violating privacy rights is an easy one to answer, but several individuals, especially those who believe in an absolute right to privacy regardless of the situation, will not like it. Twitter is a company that provides a service to its users. It doesn’t charge for these services, and individuals should know that their information may be used for targeted ads. Sadly, they often don’t realize this, but in reality, this cannot be blamed on Twitter.
Twitter has a privacy policy, and within that policy, the website lets users know everything that their information may be used for. As we know, however, most of us simply scroll by this seemingly endless wave of pages to simply click “Accept.” The fact is that no one is forced to use Twitter. It’s not a necessity of daily life and it’s not a right, so if an individual is worried that they’ll see targeted ads, they have the right to not use the website.
How Businesses Benefit
Businesses have various ways of marketing, but targeted marketing, like the newer ads on Twitter, are amongst the best. According to marketing-based SEO agencies like Everspark Interactive, “Social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter have become essential…” With traditional marketing, business owners place an ad for the masses to see and simply cross their fingers that the right individuals will take notice. With targeted ads, however, social media sites like Twitter and Facebook can utilize user data to ensure that a company’s ads get to the right audience.
Sadly, many business owners simply don’t have the time to learn all of the technical knowledge necessary to handle these types of marketing strategies. Luckily, search engine optimization (SEO) companies can help set up Twitter targeted ad campaigns in much the same way that they handle other types of online marketing. This will allow a business to focus on their day-to-day activities while having professionals handle their advertising for them.
People live in a world where just about everything they do can be cataloged, categorized and pulled up in a moment’s notice. The important thing to remember, however, is that Twitter is a public site that has always provided ads. The only difference is that now, people are going to see ads that actually pertain to them rather than ones that they’ll simply overlook.
Ladyblogger
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