Wanida picked up the NTU advertisement post and posted it on Sg_ljers, which got quite a conversation.
Keen eyes noticed that if you try to search for it right now, the NTU ad is no longer there. Here’s the screenshot taken at 11:13pm (click for bigger picture).
So I’m calling out NTU to respond either here or at Sg_ljers or anywhere on the internet: What happened to your ad? Did you read about this and remove it? Did it run out of budget? (Nods to Amelia).
Whatever the reason, why was it done in the first place? Clearly the corporate communications department is new media savvy enough to use AdWords, now use that same ability to respond to the conversation! I think the blogosphere should know what’s going on.
Tags: adwords, Google, ntu corporate communications, ntu fake advertisement, nus, Search, sg_ljers, sim, singapore universities, SMU
Unique-Frequency 
March 19, 2008 at 11:19 pm |
Wow! word spreads fast.
March 19, 2008 at 11:36 pm |
It sure spread fast. My friend just msged me about it at like 9pm. And now it’s gone.
March 19, 2008 at 11:46 pm |
Hey D, it might just be that NTU’s budget for the CPC ran out, so the daily ad wouldn’t show today anymore. It might show up tomorrow again…
March 19, 2008 at 11:46 pm |
There is a diff when u google it on google.com and google.com.sg. The latter has the ad, but not the former.
Just tried only.
March 20, 2008 at 3:27 am |
gosh.. this is sooo stupid… We spoke to NTU Corp Comms 2 weeks ago and they said they didnt have the budget to do bus ads like NTU. so this is what they are doing (!?)
anyhows – we did a brand audit on NTU for our SBM presentation 2 weeks ago. find out more on my site 😉
p/s: i just checked at 1.38am. the ad’s UP!
March 20, 2008 at 3:28 am |
gosh.. this is sooo stupid… We spoke to NTU Corp Comms 2 weeks ago and they said they didnt have the budget to do bus ads like NUS. so this is what they are doing (!?)
anyhows – we did a brand audit on NTU for our SBM presentation 2 weeks ago. find out more on my site 😉
p/s: i just checked at 1.38am. the ad’s UP!
March 20, 2008 at 8:48 am |
Hmm I checked google.com this morning (8:46am) and the ad is still there… 🙂 Maybe it was just a moment glitch in their advertising. Btw thanks Daryl for popping by my blog. *Entrecard rocks :p
March 20, 2008 at 11:25 am |
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March 20, 2008 at 3:32 pm |
The ad is back again. SMU probably have to start bidding a higher price if they want to get to the top of the sponsored links list.
March 20, 2008 at 5:20 pm |
I think NTU is wasting their money. If everyone SMU click at the ad, it will disappear very quickly.
March 20, 2008 at 5:21 pm |
I think NTU is wasting their money. If everyone in SMU click at the ad once, it will disappear very quickly.
March 20, 2008 at 9:11 pm |
Both google.com and google.com.sg have the ad on the sidebar.
However, searching for it several times gave me both a result with the title Smu Singapore leading to the NTU website, and (more rarely), one titled Nanyang Technological University, also leading to the same website. Odd.
I’m not familiar with the application process, but perhaps someone made a mistake when filling out the application and left it as the keywords instead of the proper link title?
March 20, 2008 at 10:42 pm |
Yes Lianna, I agree… I noticed that as well. I think they are using something called the dynamic ad copy. So it will take on the copy of the user’s searched keyword. Pretty smart! Think will try to read up more on google ads tonight. I hope SMU is buying into Google as well to compete with them!
March 21, 2008 at 1:00 am |
@Andre, @Yuhui: it sure does! Singapore Daily got it posted by the next day! Can’t say the same for NTU’s response speed though.
@Amsie: thanks! I’ve updated the post to reflect that possibility
@Vic, @Lianne, @Tristenelle @Jasmine, @Joanna: You’re all right. Variations of the ad depends on what you Google for and where. Friends have been trying all day and letting me know the differences.
@Alaskie: Omg that is really terrible. I’ll link to that in my next post.
@Lianne: Yup I think the possibility that it’s a mistake is definitely there. But what is NTU doing to explain to the public? Nothing.
@TIMMGuru: And believe me, that is exactly what some SMU students have been doing!
March 21, 2008 at 5:18 am |
Does Google recognise IP addresses when we access their sponsored links? If not, set up a Facebook group so everyone can join in the daily clicks? US$0.40 is not cheap, we can make them lose thousands everyday! 😀
March 21, 2008 at 11:49 am |
[…] Unique-Frequency Eyes & Ears on Media – Are You Tuned In? « Where Did SMU = NTU Ad Go?? […]
March 22, 2008 at 9:48 pm |
Hi gaston, Google has its unrevealed mechanism to check for IP address and even IP address that change on one computer – so it’s best we don’t over-click! 😛