Anthony G Adams - Blog

I came across this post today for the first time:

http://tighthelluv.joehep.com/article/140/GODUMMYELSEWHERE/THC_-_The_Hangover_Cure

It was written in June; our website has changed drastically since then.  I had no idea it existed until today.

Finding articles like this is the best part of my work and is the best form of encouragement I could ask for.  Someone I have never met took the time out of their day to write something nice about something I made.  Specifically, my marketing.  They found it remarkable.  That is, worth remarking about.  This doesn't happen if you are vanilla and trying to be all things to all people.

Not to sound corny, but this means a lot to me.  Really.

Facebook allows businesses to target potential customers much like Google AdWords.  Define your customer based on the interests, movies, music, etc. listed on their profile.

We have all seen these small, text + pic ads to the right of your homepage.  You have probably even clicked on a few.  Admittedly, I invested money early on to test the effectiveness of Facebook advertising.

The problem is that Facebook is proactive while AdWords is reactive.  People go on Facebook looking for people, not stuff.

AdWords has the edge over any other form of advertising because people are telling you what they want.  You then have an opportunity to react by putting your product/service/whatever in front of them.  If done right, this can lead to a very good conversion rate.

Facebook advertising is still too passive and should be used with caution.  Just because you liked The Dark Knight doesn't mean you want to buy a Batman statue.  You have actually told us (marketers) very little about what you want to spend money on with your Facebook profile.  


Facebook is a great way to kill time at the office.  This boredom leads to click-happy Facebook users who might take a look at your site out of mild curiosity without having any interest in buying your product.  This is especially true with dating and 'singles' sites that use sex to entice you to click on their ad.

A few solutions:  Make your Facebook ad as unappealing as possible.  I'm serious.  Cut out the picture (Google doesn't need pictures) and display the price of your product in your ad.  Let people know they are expected to buy before they click on your ad.  

Even better, save your money for AdWords.

Google AdWords is the best medium of advertising on the planet.  I cannot claim this quote as my own.  The credit goes to the New York Times.  

AdWords puts you in touch with potential customers actively looking for your product.  They are literally telling you exactly what they want.

Amazing.

When Twitter decides to monetize, they will be wise to follow Google's AdWords model.  If you tweet about drinking coffee, a small text ad, possibly geo-targeted, for Starbucks will appear.  It's coming.

I get calls from traditional advertisers all the time asking for my business.  My answer is almost always the same.  

"No."

"But Mr. Adams, our magazine is read by thousands of college students every month.  Don't you want to put your product in front of college students?"

Once again, "No."  I want to put my product in front of people looking for a way to cure a hangover.  There is a big difference.  

Get out now.  The ship is sinking.  Advertising is dead.  Long live advertising.