About the Google Ads

[CavySpirit]

I get a number of complaints about various inappropriate ads on the google ads.

First of all, maybe you don't know that I've spent over $150,000 of my own money on rescue and supporting all the sites on the internet. I will not EVER be able to recoup my lost savings. But, my work is a lot different now (ie, making less money) and the ONLY way I can stay doing what I'm doing, that is, rescue and continuing to support and maintain these sites, is to get creative on some additional income.

I SPEND $150-200 a MONTH on Google Ads! That is, I ADVERTISE this site on other sites where the key words relating to guinea pigs are appropriate. Perhaps you've seen my ad?:

Awesome Guinea Pig Cages
Buy or Build--Cages, Toys & More!
Nice, Big, Easy-to-Clean & Low-Cost
www.GuineaPigCages.com

I buy the advertising to compete out there in general and to help bring new members into the site.

I can block advertisers on the site, but it's not unlimited. You only get so many. I choose to block the really heinously inappropriate sites. And I have very explicitly excluded any and all adult ads from this site.

Regarding the pet store cage ads: If someone clicks on a cage ad after seeing this site and being on this forum, then decides to buy one, well, then that's what they are going to do. Stupid is as stupid does--can't change that. Quite frankly, the cages are all cages that they have probably already seen in a pet store. If they decide they can't be bothered with a proper C&C cage and go with a bigger commercial one than they may have purchased in a pet store, well, it's a slight improvement. Some people are just too dang lazy no matter what they know.

In the meantime, from an advertising point of view, the advertisers of pet store and commercial cages are supporting my site. I say, "HA!" I have to be careful about what I say about google advertising because I do not want to violate their terms of service. Google decides what ads to present based on the relevant content of the page.

There aren't THAT many guinea pig advertisers, so I don't want to block a ton of ads. I feel this site and forum can and does stand up to the competition.

On the next release of the software, I'll probably add more ads for guests (unregistered members).

If you find an ad that sells live guinea pigs, please note the URL of the ad and PM it to me. You MUST provide that information otherwise, I've no clue what site to block.

[Maisiepaisie]

You're doing a great job CavySpirit. I'd rather see cash spent helping guinea pigs than blocking ads. The ads don't bother me; I don't really notice them most of the time.

[Alusdra]

There's nothing you can do about the Google ads. They target audiences by what else is on the page and seeing how this is one of a very few if not only sites with such great care it is impossible to not have ads for pet store cages. It's like when people were reading e-mails from loved ones saying who had survived and who had died in 9/11. Some people were getting ads for visiting the twin towers on the sides of their gmails. So really, there's nothing that can be done about it. Once C&C caging has taken over the guinea pig pet industry due to this site- then there will be no such ads period, and thus none on this site. Eh? Well, there's always hoping...

Originally Posted by CavySpirit

advertisers of pet store and commercial cages are supporting my site

I really like that way of looking at it!

[pigsforlife]

You are doing a fantastic job T. The amount of effort and your own money that you put into your rescue and this site and forum is sensational. You do not know how much I admire and look up to you.

Until it was brought up I had never seen the cage add before, so when it did come up, I was naturally curious. I am sorry.

[MCR_Rox]

Where are they? I don't see them .

[Astrantia]

Cavy Spirit, I am an Online Advertising Senior Optimiser Editor/Systems Analyst for a UK based holiday add-ons company. In other words I deal with Google Adwords/Adsense, MSN Ad Centre and Yahoo Panama everyday and have for over a year!

There's little I don't know about keyword optimisation, how the Google algorithm works. The best CPC (cost per click) to get the best return on investment, the best ways to write ads that draws customers in, lots of tricks and tips.

The company spends millions a year on advertising with Google alone, and there is only a team of 7 of us! We started as a trial team of 4 myself included.

We visited Google's European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland this year.

So I can imagine how much you are spending. If you would like any tips or tricks on anything concerning PPC (price per click) and Google ads I'd be pleased to offer advice. This is a wonderful site and I'd like to do anything to help.

[CavySpirit]

Great, I'll send you PM after the New Year!

Thanks!
Teresa

[Rachy1412]

Hope you don't think I am having a go! You say you've removed all adult ads but recently I have been seeing some. Just now I clicked on a link thinking it was a rabbit site turns out it was not! Being an adult it doesn't really bother me but I just wondered if you realized that some adult ads are appearing. I guess because it is not porn and most of these websites have 'rabbit' in their address you can't really sort them all out. I realize I might be being a bit naive for my age, clicking on strange links!

Once again I hope you don't think I am having a go, I just wanted to make you aware of these. As everyone says, you do a fantastic job on this website and we're all grateful for your contributions.

Edit: I realize I should have saved these address. If they appear again I'll let you know.

[CavySpirit]

Yes, please. I can do absolutely nothing about it with no other information. I can report the offending links to Google if I know what they are. If it's not porn, I'm not sure how offensive it is, either. I need to know the links. And if and when you find them, please email me at teresa@cavyspirit.com or private message, so we're not exposing anything here.

Thanks.