CNN reports that Google is developing email ad service.
January 19, 2004 12:27 PM   Subscribe

CNN reports that Google is developing email ad service. As if I don't get enough spam in my inbox! Google, please don't turn evil... please.
posted by crankydoodle (11 comments total)
 
The article is about offering its own branded email, along with advertising within just like how hotmail and yahoo already do.

Maybe you should actually read the articles you post.
posted by angry modem at 12:31 PM on January 19, 2004


oh, SNAP!
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 12:35 PM on January 19, 2004


I just an email from a friend using yahoo's free email. She attached her resume and was looking for leads. As is happened the ad at the footer of the email was for hotjobs. I'm hoping this is what Google has in mind versus the "ad opens when you open your email as some of the people in the article hinted at.
posted by birdherder at 12:35 PM on January 19, 2004


I really need to actually read the post on preview. I just "got" an email from...
posted by birdherder at 12:37 PM on January 19, 2004


I hope they adopt a parallel to adsense in blogs, wherein you could add their email ads to your announcement mailing list. Lots o' eyeballs.
posted by machaus at 12:47 PM on January 19, 2004


It sounds like they will offer their own email, as well as expand the amount of email newsletters that contain AdWords. It's a good idea, text ads in email newsletters have one of the highest click-through rates of any form of internet advertising, and since Google is on a pay-per-click system, it is natural that they would move into this market.

Targeted, opt-in email newsletters actually reduce spam and make it easier to control, as they weed out legitmate advertisers. When was the last time a legit email newsletter opt-in had text ads for generic viagra?
posted by cell divide at 12:52 PM on January 19, 2004


Straight from the horses mouth this one. Oh wait; "people familiar with the matter", "analysts" and "people close to the company".

Content aside, the source of this article is speculation from a few interested parties. Is this news?
posted by Kiell at 1:20 PM on January 19, 2004


"Maybe you should actually read the articles you post."

I did, but perhaps the problem was that I wasn't 100% clear when I was writing about the story. I see the potential for evil... sorry for the confusion.

I more than understand the benefits of targeted advertising, especially for a company that is allegedly planning an IPO and wants as much financial growth as possible to spur investors to buy when they to go public. I also know that when a business wants to increase the bottom line they will sometimes stray from the friendly path and step on toes. This is the "evil" I was talking about.

I don't know about anyone else, but I like my internet as ad-free as possible... I don't care it it's an email services tag line, a pop-up, or a full-fledged email campaign. It's all the same to me.
posted by crankydoodle at 1:44 PM on January 19, 2004


Speaking of over-reactions.
posted by scarabic at 2:39 PM on January 19, 2004


I bet we see AdSense for RSS feeds in a matter of weeks. It can't be that hard to program, and everyone complains about RSS bandwidth cost, so this would likely be used by everyone.
posted by mathowie at 4:34 PM on January 19, 2004


im SOOO getting a google e-mail address.
posted by Tryptophan-5ht at 7:27 PM on January 19, 2004


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