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When Ad Targeting Goes Wrong

When ad targeting goes wrong

One side effect of our digital age is dealing with poorly targeted ads. You know what we mean—that moment when you’re scrolling through your phone or browsing a shopping site online and you see the most bizarre ad.

To illustrate, here’s a roundup of the most bizarre ads that members of our team have actually gotten:

bath mat/storage basket combo ad
A combo baby bathmat and storage basket, targeted to a team member without a child. Wait, you want to know why anyone would need this product combination? We may never know.

model 1886 motor car
A model 1886 Motor Car targeted to a 26-year-old woman. Who exactly is the target demographic for this product? We’re not sure.

elf shoes ad
Elf shoes. Do we need to say more?

Lord Raffles lion throne fabric arm chair ad
This product is charmingly called “The Lord Raffles Lion throne Fabric Arm Chair.” Keep this in mind the next time you’re redecorating your medieval castle.

bone saw ad
You never know when you might need a handy bone saw around the home.

nap alarm ad
Commuting can be tough, but we’re not sure a mom-of-three is the ideal audience for this product.

electric unicycle ad
Is an adult woman living in the suburbs the best demographic for the “Swagtron SwagRoller Electric Unicycle?

bird harness/leash ad
Before you ask—no one in our office has pet birds. But someone did receive this very specific ad for a bird harness.

foot tambourine ad
Regular shoes not cutting it? Try this foot tambourine! (Don’t worry—it comes with a 2-year warranty.)

With so many ways a good ad could go bad, how do you ensure your ad reaches your target demographic and converts?

Consider these factors when developing your target audience:

Once you’ve determined your ideal audience, build a strong ad by considering where a digital ad will best reach your audience. Don’t forget to include a strong call to action! 

Want help reaching the right demographics with your digital ads? Talk to us.