Google buys newspaper ad to show that newspaper ads don’t work

Here’s a nice bit of multi-faceted irony for you: On Thursday, Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper ran a print ad for Google’s (directly competitive) search advertising business.

You know who needs a haircut? People searching for a haircut,” the ad reads. “Maybe that’s why ads on Google work.”

The ad was tweeted by media reporter Steve Ladurantaye with the caption, “An ad for Google ads in today’s Globe demonstrates the value of print ads, yes?”

Google’s ad ran in both the Globe‘s print and digital editions, as well as in the National Post, the Globe‘s main competitor, Ladurantaye tells us.

Impolite, funny, probably overdue.

3 thoughts on “Google buys newspaper ad to show that newspaper ads don’t work

    • moss says:

      I think you have it right in your 2nd sentence – “depends on the product/service or customers”.

      If adverts have to be local, I would have chosen print over anything else 10-15 years ago. GroupOn still depends on the medium – but, it’s the heavy discounts that bring those sales.

      Looking for quick service, Google rules. Hard to find product, Google rules. Though I’d probably search Amazon first. 🙂

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