Why Am I Seeing These Ads On Facebook?

June 7, 2016

I recently received the latest Kohl’s sales catalog with the special savings for Kohl’s credit customers in the mail. My coupon this time is 20% off. While I typically get 30% off the 20% will work just fine, as summer has started and my son needs some new shoes and t-shirts.

I promptly visited the Kohl’s website and began searching for some items for my son, and myself of course! The sale prices begin tomorrow, so I saved my shopping cart and returned to Facebook to see what is happening in the world and with my friends.

I quickly noticed that I was seeing ads for men’s clothing at Kohl’s. Additionally there were ads for some business services.

Have you ever wondered why you see the ads you see, how does Facebook know what ads to show you?

Did you know you can actually see why Facebook sends you the ads that it does?

As a Social Media Marketer I understand how ads work, so I already know why these ads show on my account. I use the same targeting preferences the companies showing me ads use.

However, you may be interested to see how ads make it to your Feed and you can also choose to see more ads of products/services you are interested in.

My Kohl’s ad used a tracking pixel in their website, the Retargeting Pixel. This pixel code is entered into their website so that when I visit it and return to Facebook their ads “know” that I was on their website and start to feed to me while on Facebook.

To verify this, I clicked on the “x” in the upper right corner of the ad and a drop down opened up – “Why am I seeing this ad?”

Clicking to see why I am seeing the ad a new window pops up and I can clearly see why I am seeing this Kohl’s ad.

It is clearly explained:

Why am I seeing this ad?

One of the reasons you’re seeing this ad is because Kohl’s wants to reach people who have visited their website or used one of their apps. This is based on customer information provided by Kohl’s.

There may be other reasons you saw this ad. For example, Facebook is always able to use information about your age, gender, location and the devices you use to access Facebook when deciding which ads to show you.

The other ad on my Facebook page is for a business service that would be a possible service I could use for my business. But I have never searched for this service and I have never visited this company’s website. So why am I seeing it?

The reason I am seeing this particular ad makes sense.

Why am I seeing this ad?

One of the reasons you’re seeing this ad is because platform.adstage.io wants to reach people interested in Facebook for Business.

There may be other reasons you saw this ad. For example, Facebook is always able to use information about your age, gender, location and the devices you use to access Facebook when deciding which ads to show you.

While it is great to see these ads, because Kohl’s reminds me I need to go back and grab the items in my cart now when the sales prices kick in and I have learned about a new service that could potentially benefit my business, maybe I want to see something else, other deals and offers.

Facebook allows you to enter in Ad Preferences in order to select topics that are of interest specifically to you.

Additionally, if the ads you are seeing are not something you want to view you have the option to hide these ads and help Facebook figure out what “not” to send you.

Just hover over the “x” and select “Hide Ad,” a new pop-up will ask you why you want to hide the ad and after selecting your reason you then have the opportunity to select topics for future ads that would be of more interest to you.

This is how businesses target you. All of the data you have entered into Facebook, the Pages you have liked are used to customize the ads you see while on the site. Though Facebook uses this information generally, you have the option to select topics that are of most interest to you. Either select Ad Preferences from “Why am I seeing this ad?” or “tell us what you like” when you select “Hide Ad.”

Business owners, to find your audience you will need to select a variety of interests and demographics. People do have the option to hide your ad, but if you provide quality information and special promotions they will likely keep your ad on their News Feed.

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