When Keyword Ads go terribly wrong….

Keyword-targeted ads based on the content of a webpage can sometimes go wrong. It must be frightening for a New Media advertiser to realize that their product or brand is being advertised on a page that details allegations of its shortcomings. Gives new meaning to the term "negative advertising".

JOE CHILDS and THOMAS C. TOBIN, staff writers of the St. Petersburg TImes, are writing a scathing expose of the "church" of Scientology. Based on extensive interviews with high ranking defectors of the faith, their story is broken down in chapters and includes video interviews, and anecdotes describing all kinds of weird cultish behavior. What else would you call playing "Musical Chairs" to prove your devotion?

But that is not really the point of this post.

Can you spot the point in this picture?

_{Click to see full size image.}

Unless this is some Advanced SEO Tactic I haven't heard about, the scientology banner ad won't get the desired results. I am going to assume that it was a keyword targeted ad based on the perceived subject matter of the page.

In this world of unintended consequences,. I can only imagine that their click-thru rate will be thru the roof from uninterested -if not hostile- visitors to this page.

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