YouTube ads really annoy (the ones the community calls ads, that is)

This video (below)...



...was in the main featured slot on YouTube for the best part of 3 days - racking up over 300,000 views in that time. It's an advert. And judging from the comments it's really pissed off the YouTube Community. Maybe that's why it's not featured any more - or maybe they only paid for three days. Whatever the case the community is fearful this is the evil hand of google at work.

I really hate it, too. I regard it as disingenuous because in its design, style and call-to-action it is EXACTLY like all other (user generated and contributed) videos on YouTube.

Now that's not really on. In print if you run an ad feature you have to, at least, change the fonts and layout from the editorial norm and make a clear statement that this is an advertising feature (at least, you do in the UK).

Even on TV it's very clear what is advert and what is program content - the ad breaks are clearly signed.

I don't think it will take reglation to stop YouTube doing this stuff in the future - just concerted negative community response!

However, what's interesting is that certain kind of adverts don't FEEL like the one that's annoyed everyone (above). And they seem to elicit a positive response from the YouTube community.

I'm talking about trailers for movies and TV series. Perhaps because these are things people actively want to know about. eg...



Maybe this is a reflection of the fact that the consumer wants to make their decisions rather than have them thrust on them by an ad. (might be worth checking out this from Doc Searls - and particularly the Vendor Relationship Management link, or even this previous post of mine.

"If I want it it's fine - and you'd better find out what it is I want before you offer it!"

And to do that of course, you have to engage (see engagement marketing etc).