Facebook Ad Bots (7 posts)

Topic tags: ad bots, facebook ads
  • There is some controversy this week over some claims made in several places about Facebook Ad bots clicking on ads to drive up marketing costs.  

    I wanted to make you aware of it:  http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/07/the-mysterious-case-of-the-facebook-ad-bots.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

    http://techcrunch.com/2012/07/30/startup-claims-80-of-its-facebook-ad-clicks-are-coming-from-bots/

    I think the important thing is that things are still being investigated and Facebook is looking into the claims.  What are your thoughts?  Have you seen the story circulating?

  • @andrea-vahl Interesting article, Andrea.

    I would love to see some stats around what the start-up actually found to be sure it is as they say.

    If it’s true, then it is a worry, for sure.

    Russ

  • Today I came across a business complaining about this as well https://www.facebook.com/limitedpressing/posts/209534972507958

  • @andrea-vahl I saw that claim yesterday. Interesting that bots could get into Facebook. If it is true, Facebook’s stocks might drop again. I was thinking of budgeting for a 1-2 ads promoting our conference next year so I definitely have a (minor) vested interest in the topic.

  • Are these bots or superusers? The Forbes article referenced bots but then discussed people who like thousands of pages. I think it’s a very different concern. 

    We do register conversions for clienton fbook ads, but have only had a lower CPL vs. search in one instance out of 100 or so.

  • This is a pretty serious issue IMHO. I saw this in a BBC news article where they set up a Facebook page for an imaginary company called ‘VirtualBagel’ and placed a bunch of Facebook ads asking for likes.

    Their findings: “Within 24 hours, VirtualBagel had acquired over 1,600 likes, despite the fact that the page offered no products and no interesting content.” (Full article here)

    They did a follow-up a couple days later where they talked extensively with a Facebook exec who does quite a good job explaining how this can happen and what it means to Facebook marketers, but clearly it is still something to keep a close eye on as Facebook continues to refine it’s platform.

  • I’m just about to launch a new FB page promoting a book I’ve just written.  A major part of my initial marketing was going to be using FB ads to encourage people to visit my page (for exposure).  But then I heard about this situation with the bots just today … and now the fake “likes” coming from certain countries. 

    So as I wrestle with what this means for me personally … I’d really like to know: 

    Has anyone here had actual success with Facebook ads and would say that we should not count them out?


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