Reverbal Communications
  • Home
  • About
    • Portfolio
    • Upcoming Events
    • Press and Media
  • Services
    • Digital Strategy
    • Social Media Speaker
    • Social Media Training
    • Political Consultant
    • Social Media For Events
    • Writing and Editing
  • Content
    • Podcast – Step Up Your Social
    • Free Digital Tools – The Newsletter
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Menu Menu
Blog
Digital Ads, Facebook

Ever see a particular Facebook ad and ask yourself “WHY?!”

Why is Facebook targeting me with such weird ads?

Facebook runs using an amazing algorithm. It analyzes all of the information is how about you (where you live, what kinds of posts you like, where you check in and literally thousands of other pieces of information) and then it works hard to show you content that it thinks you will like.

Even when it comes to paid content, Facebook is working hard to show you things it thinks you’ll like.

Before you call BS on this, think about. It makes sense for two reasons. The first is that if you are constantly seeing spam on your page, you are going to spend less time on the platform. That’s bad for Facebook. The second is that Facebook genuinely wants businesses and brands using their ads to be successful. If they are successful, they’ll spend more money on Facebook ads. So Facebook will be more successful. Pretty simple formula.

But how does Facebook decide what kind of content (especially ads!) it is going to show you?

Interesting, Facebook will actually share the list of keywords they have associated with you, for the purpose of ad targeting.

Want to see your list? Click here.

Warning: some of these might seem spot on. Others might seem ridiculous. No joke, here are just a few of the words associated with my account: Tattoos (I have none), Beauty Salons (never been to one), Cosmetics (never use them), Golf (never played), Gardening (maybe one day, but not yet!). And so on.

Buzzfeed reporters, who did quite a bit of digging into this, had some particularly interesting topics emerge:

  • Hans Zimmer
  • Broccoli
  • Cucumber
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Egg
  • Adventure
  • Try
  • Panic
  • Away from family
  • Away from hometown
  • Planking (fad)
  • Nonsense
  • Types of Business entity
  • Dundee United F.C. *(a small Scottish soccer team)
  • Gray wolf
  • Mammal
  • Frog
  • Miracle
  • Man
  • birth without fear
  • White
  • Tins and shades
  • Black culture
  • System of a Down discography
  • Bark (sound)
  • Bee
  • Vulture (animal)
  • Technology late adopters
  • First baseman
  • Professional wrestling holds
  • Gratitude
  • Oriental Orthodoxy
  • Crying
  • Time *(under the “Travel, Places, and Events” section)
  • Victory
  • Meme
  • Emotion
  • Housemate-based Households
  • Relationship status: single
  • Fun
  • Tunic
  • Lorry driver
  • Rings of Saturn
  • Human
  • Toilet

Toilet!?!? Maybe that’s some poo reporter covering the plumbing beat. But I doubt it.

If you want to clean yours up, you can click the X next to any item you would rather not be targeted for. (Professional wrestling holds anyone?)

Quick note: you can delete all. But Facebook will just repopulate them. So you’re probably better off just editing and cultivating your list so that at least when you see ads, they will be somewhat relevant to you.

Want an easy way to shut down all ads on Facebook? It’s simple: Delete your account. 😉

Right, didn’t think so. In the meantime, sit back, relax and let those toilet ads come rolling in!

Share any of your absurd targeted keywords in the comments on online using the hashtag #NotMyKeywords. Be sure to tag Reverbal Communications on Facebook or Twitter. Can’t wait to see what Facebook thinks you are into!

December 9, 2015/0 Comments/by Josh Klemons
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/reverbal-logo-1.png 0 0 Josh Klemons /wp-content/uploads/2022/11/reverbal-logo-1.png Josh Klemons2015-12-09 10:43:292022-11-10 07:34:47Ever see a particular Facebook ad and ask yourself “WHY?!”
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories

  • Audience Outreach
  • Blogging
  • Brand Management
  • Digital Ads
  • Digital Tools
  • Editing
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Gmail
  • Instagram
  • iPhone Functionality
  • LinkedIn
  • Nonprofits
  • Organization
  • Politics
  • SEO
  • Social Media
  • Step Up Your Social
  • Telling Your Story
  • Training
  • Twitter
  • Wisconsin
  • Writing

Recent Posts

  • How This Congressman Elect Is Using Email To Flip the Script
  • Take Control of your Gmail Account with this Simple Hack
  • Don’t Let Bureaucrats Write Your Most Important Emails
  • Why Aren’t My Political Facebook Ads Running?
  • A Meme Masterclass From the Fetterman campaign

Archives

  • December 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • August 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • December 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • May 2015
  • September 2014
  • October 2013

I’m a digital marketing & social media speaker, trainer & presenter

See Upcoming Events

Ready to take your Facebook Live videos to the next level?

Download This FREE Checklist

Get social media tips, tricks, hacks & strategies delivered to your inbox

Sign Up Today
Contact

josh@reverbalcommunications.com

Privacy Policy

Social Media, Digital Marketing, Digital Strategy, Training, Consulting, ​Facebook Ads, Political Consulting, Keynote Speaker and Presenter, Podcast Host & More
Serving Madison, Wisconsin and beyond.

© 2022 All rights reserved. | 1 Day Website by Bizzy Bizzy
    An easy trick for navigating capital vs capitolWe’re almost at 1000 Twitter followers!
    Scroll to top

    This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

    OKLearn more×

    Cookie and Privacy Settings



    How we use cookies

    We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

    Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

    Essential Website Cookies

    These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

    Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

    We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

    We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

    Google Analytics Cookies

    These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

    If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

    Other external services

    We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

    Google Webfont Settings:

    Google Map Settings:

    Google reCaptcha Settings:

    Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

    Other cookies

    The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

    Privacy Policy

    You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.

    Terms and Conditions
    Accept settingsHide notification only