Google will use Your Face in Google Ads

Google has released a Terms of Service update (read more) that will take affect on November 11th 2013. Google will use your face in Google Ads to endorse products or services you have reviewed or interacted with.  Similar to Facebook recommending pages that your friends also like, Google will now be using any sharing, +1ing, or reviews you may have left for products, services, music, and movies that are advertised through Google.

So what is it going to look like?  Here are a few examples from Google…

How do I stop Google from using me in promotions?

If this sounds like it’s going to become a problem for you, especially if you’ve ever reviewed or shared a post or update that you may not want your name tied to, (for example my never dying love for Sam Adams Octoberfest) then you have a few options.

• Opt out of Google Endorsements – Link
• Go Anonymous! Change your google name and profile image so reviews can’t be easily linked back to you
• Stop interacting with posts or other ads on Google

Really the best option is to opt out.  With the social media age everyone understands you are giving up some sort of information in order to use an amazing free service networking service. I’ve heard this several times before and of course it bears repeating…

If you’re not the customer, you’re the product.

From a marketing standpoint, I think this is great.  How often do you scroll through Facebook and see a sponsored post that says “Mary, Billy, Joan, and 9 others like this page!”  That grabs your attention.  In todays day and age, word of mouth is still the most powerful driving factor to purchase.  If your friends trust it, you trust it!  Unless your friends are a bunch of liars!