Chronotope’s avatarChronotope’s Twitter Archive—№ 91,356

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Well this is new, 300x250 units from ad exchanges designed to look like Taboola/Outbrain units CC: robleathern
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        So it turns out this image, which I've been seeing all over goes to a link that has nothing to do with MIT graduates or those pictured.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Fun trick, want to see how pervasive a Taboola/Outbrain ad is? It gets indexed! google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1413&bih=710&tbs=sbi:AMhZZisr_1KdppaVEJrcpH_1PG0gFqa2iSAJbZSJVoVFSBNcpJN1MAxRg4FhPUyKBxwMbNaWn_12DRERHfbOm6knmue53lY2k6GtsS-8YXTqIwJJ30VIiYcmxLd_1riitnIDZdvtcSWIpNXq_1ixMrksELU6IfspfaR8Z4VG5Z6uVGtpWcUZrm1hW3BJmG4XeoKZ5fcUW6dvDBq6jLBrMlN4IYvFnTo9XT7OK0KOZbtOrf1ZyAbPCtEZm8EcFUoG5lfwxSmBae9OlR30ILipeTTQjW3eLsuy6U5s_1sxMUgD1EbL81MDcqJqxZcUFl8qP6u-lt4qfasM0P4riousUba7wKvjqwsIrC2Cc8lLHocpac6XBFBmITrgaraNyle-aGAEA546wOQXQqSVSD6dtKosuUESiTxEJSpvUpfGqf0sGHaoeq0hTBrgg2dWpPcJor5c-BdvsDTJMMeh32Z480oIGfZIhNBFVB3TihQVo2RrUNad2WOBN4h3rrPROyDOWx0xZv5--z5VGgLOx8-dKHS7JFsyyqNLBhFU475IrcIw4WtJRykHYEjGr9oTCSnLhdiu0E0wE8mSkTGGJdYyRcmr6OM3RjF2SEEsZBIz6gTYgEO9HKVIMNP4u8qvV8-zKjBYXBF1xgDVzdCBZhj7obSRpR1S0gN6uq2HkThCle31O3444i8a2RSg6PNkaUZ-0gHok0LzjZGRab3tygUSNCwmne_1qJOoImRxbRma-vvuCAj6NnMhOYyjQzu3sxuWsOxIra0BjLo56yajJZHiTMp47RnbGv34I8RxJcJbJshwefV5g7DabJrekjEfdRi64kXTikrzG0ePKNjOMb_14fF2K_1sYMR2KvTtMGqlDXftHFxBfUvzPywz328HmGJEzymjl30CC_1rGQ3V-oDrmj54gYg7enyUtKvaOwkHqr1Lc-4NrXfLUFATVp9XcKjRtzgvY3ckN14608B-8x4YyF39YuxbYzG0LL2PZRBJVnSQmJfd9logkBdcFStjKXYr4u5m-cOhwDYaJi5hcvF5pkJFgL_1RoG_19Hy6U08VrWLkWk--HZnmNAUZND2DqzGoMMQE1cYPqrkIwQqnC8Ypf6VEyejWguqHx2a-YH_1EhLUcP6UIfiKNhcO8M_1PUGyB2k16o0yUsGjjFpasY2J9jHi6jesZ8VI8RON-wGVZgGx2_1sgoG081sCgn62L2Z_180GAIbjl5Y3laPD1LByAKKK1P3qOMMAABr-cEw9YQZ13gCOCrXh9BYIHZUcuqu-LLIsx7_1TWJmRkK14AXN-4Lv-S3kjbBZv79voWrJRu7RclkfrGGQ-5wz1Lh7wX5jilmkfXE7Zo4TQSzlODDSlSEeCO5KXxCb5Cy1b0TRAeXARkEEGMi2QntQdOcFf65NHW6UHJj5siXXNfNzzLZqBc9AWUvArtVBpKGQJDIt2rYG2vOqDgejFTnToqC_1jQAH1jwnFoZn2NUjt_1UywNh6vOU-3RjJaqURh6Y-rIiyBSGJMba1S0Eco8qMrySzJvMYF3XnZQZJX6Aq3FD5qiqY5_1gRXWQpLf6Kq9sLLpxmjqa1uVPDh3sfONP9e5LUKhPhTPBObMBX5mimO7GXjJ2z-xNQREtXQ5EHMOm_1mSTqFIda5R99LuAw2TI5QpItE4OhM97AeerjUlY-47msbBZwa3DPbTMRORC1jnmSFVWkirmdy0AZAwSnZ04-PS-G0ZMxUslGMac&ei=VZESWL-qO4WsjwTYl5-ICw&start=0&sa=N
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      OpenGraph image for google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1413&bih=710&tbs=sbi:AMhZZisr_1KdppaVEJrcpH_1PG0gFqa2iSAJbZSJVoVFSBNcpJN1MAxRg4FhPUyKBxwMbNaWn_12DRERHfbOm6knmue53lY2k6GtsS-8YXTqIwJJ30VIiYcmxLd_1riitnIDZdvtcSWIpNXq_1ixMrksELU6IfspfaR8Z4VG5Z6uVGtpWcUZrm1hW3BJmG4XeoKZ5fcUW6dvDBq6jLBrMlN4IYvFnTo9XT7OK0KOZbtOrf1ZyAbPCtEZm8EcFUoG5lfwxSmBae9OlR30ILipeTTQjW3eLsuy6U5s_1sxMUgD1EbL81MDcqJqxZcUFl8qP6u-lt4qfasM0P4riousUba7wKvjqwsIrC2Cc8lLHocpac6XBFBmITrgaraNyle-aGAEA546wOQXQqSVSD6dtKosuUESiTxEJSpvUpfGqf0sGHaoeq0hTBrgg2dWpPcJor5c-BdvsDTJMMeh32Z480oIGfZIhNBFVB3TihQVo2RrUNad2WOBN4h3rrPROyDOWx0xZv5--z5VGgLOx8-dKHS7JFsyyqNLBhFU475IrcIw4WtJRykHYEjGr9oTCSnLhdiu0E0wE8mSkTGGJdYyRcmr6OM3RjF2SEEsZBIz6gTYgEO9HKVIMNP4u8qvV8-zKjBYXBF1xgDVzdCBZhj7obSRpR1S0gN6uq2HkThCle31O3444i8a2RSg6PNkaUZ-0gHok0LzjZGRab3tygUSNCwmne_1qJOoImRxbRma-vvuCAj6NnMhOYyjQzu3sxuWsOxIra0BjLo56yajJZHiTMp47RnbGv34I8RxJcJbJshwefV5g7DabJrekjEfdRi64kXTikrzG0ePKNjOMb_14fF2K_1sYMR2KvTtMGqlDXftHFxBfUvzPywz328HmGJEzymjl30CC_1rGQ3V-oDrmj54gYg7enyUtKvaOwkHqr1Lc-4NrXfLUFATVp9XcKjRtzgvY3ckN14608B-8x4YyF39YuxbYzG0LL2PZRBJVnSQmJfd9logkBdcFStjKXYr4u5m-cOhwDYaJi5hcvF5pkJFgL_1RoG_19Hy6U08VrWLkWk--HZnmNAUZND2DqzGoMMQE1cYPqrkIwQqnC8Ypf6VEyejWguqHx2a-YH_1EhLUcP6UIfiKNhcO8M_1PUGyB2k16o0yUsGjjFpasY2J9jHi6jesZ8VI8RON-wGVZgGx2_1sgoG081sCgn62L2Z_180GAIbjl5Y3laPD1LByAKKK1P3qOMMAABr-cEw9YQZ13gCOCrXh9BYIHZUcuqu-LLIsx7_1TWJmRkK14AXN-4Lv-S3kjbBZv79voWrJRu7RclkfrGGQ-5wz1Lh7wX5jilmkfXE7Zo4TQSzlODDSlSEeCO5KXxCb5Cy1b0TRAeXARkEEGMi2QntQdOcFf65NHW6UHJj5siXXNfNzzLZqBc9AWUvArtVBpKGQJDIt2rYG2vOqDgejFTnToqC_1jQAH1jwnFoZn2NUjt_1UywNh6vOU-3RjJaqURh6Y-rIiyBSGJMba1S0Eco8qMrySzJvMYF3XnZQZJX6Aq3FD5qiqY5_1gRXWQpLf6Kq9sLLpxmjqa1uVPDh3sfONP9e5LUKhPhTPBObMBX5mimO7GXjJ2z-xNQREtXQ5EHMOm_1mSTqFIda5R99LuAw2TI5QpItE4OhM97AeerjUlY-47msbBZwa3DPbTMRORC1jnmSFVWkirmdy0AZAwSnZ04-PS-G0ZMxUslGMac&ei=VZESWL-qO4WsjwTYl5-ICw&start=0&sa=N
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Hmmm, selling US car insurance through tons of India economics and tech sites? Seems like a bad investment.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  In case you were wondering, despite the logos on their shirts those two women aren't the MIT grads disrupting the car insurance industry...
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The two MIT grads are Seth Birnbaum ( crunchbase.com/person/seth-birnbaum-2#/entity ) and Tomas Revesz ( crunchbase.com/person/tomas-revesz#/entity )
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                OpenGraph image for crunchbase.com/person/seth-birnbaum-2#/entityOpenGraph image for crunchbase.com/person/tomas-revesz#/entity
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Surely the sudden barrage of Outbrain & ad exchange spots w/this ad isn't some crass strategy to juice the numbers before raising capital?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Gee, I hope Stratim Capital, Oceanic Partners and T Capital Partners didn't base any their investments off web traffic numbers in any way.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Because it sure looks like the ad buy wasn't particularly targeted and therefore is pulling in a lot of likely BS traffic.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      And the ad placement itself encourages traffic to come in with no knowledge of what they are clicking to.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Which means EverQuote seems to be driving a pull of a lot of traffic unlikely to create sales leads. *shrugz*
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Havvvvve fun selling car insurance to millennials who are decreasingly buying cars. ttfn dudes.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                I don't own a car and I cannot escape this ad.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              I like that they are A/B testing smiling ladies vs frowny ladies. The frowny ladies showed up on an article about harassment, so good call?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            This is irritating me, so let's keep digging!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          These links go to a site called LiveSmarterDaily. Which despite being "daily" is really only the one article designed to look like a blog.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        You'll note none of the things mentioned in the ad prompt are actually here except auto insurance. So this is right on edge of #contentfraud
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      I think the best part of this terrible fake site is that it has ads *INSIDE* the ad to make it look more real.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    At the bottom is a nice notice so they don't break the law.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Well, it's really the previously mentioned EverQuote!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              EverQuote is an "auto insurance marketplace was named to this year's Inc. 5000" that raised $23M in their B round 7 days ago.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            EverQuote sure sounds like some sort of insurance company, but it is an insurance marketplace. What that means is unclear.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          I know what it looks like... an affiliate links and data collection shop.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        If I click on that link, it doesn't seem to pass much of the fake info I gave it along. I basically start new.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Also, their privacy policy makes it *very* clear that they are going to pass on your information in all sorts of ways.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Everquote was launched out of a startup accelerator in Cambridge according to their about page, Cogo Labs
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  But before they were EverQuote, they were AdHarmonics, a generic leadgen/affiliate company
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                So yeah affiliate links, generated off a fake news site, through badly targeted Taboola/Outbrain ads. Oh and an app! everquote.com/everdrive/
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                OpenGraph image for everquote.com/everdrive/
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              And now I leave you with this wonderfully descriptive comment by one of their customers
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Oh one other thing! Their dubious app, with 73 review and 5-10k installs on Android and dropping downloads - appannie.com/apps/ios/app/1079104334/ ...
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            OpenGraph image for appannie.com/apps/ios/app/1079104334/
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          They took their data collection, authored a study off of dubious samples and unclear users & got it in HuffPost! huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-most-dangerous-interstates_us_5811ef68e4b0390e69ce51d2
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        And I guess that's how we make money on the internet these days.
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                      "Disruption" in action eh?
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                    This time in CNN, I cannot escape this ad.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
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                                                                                                                                                                                                                So we can now confirm that they started running this ad *right* before they started to raise capital for their B round.
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                                                                                                                                                                                                              Now, the question is, was it only for that? Is this literally to just juice those numbers? Will it be running next month? Time will tell.
                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                            I gotta wonder, theoretically, what happens if VC invests on fraudulent numbers? Is there even a way to withdraw?
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                          So Everquote ad campaign has escalated. It's now marketing a BS service that likely resells user data in a huge ad at the top of a news site
                                                                                                                                                                                                          oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                        I guess MIT was too elitist so now it is 'Boston grads' as noted. aexm/801098888149106688
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                                                                                                                                                                                                      To reiterate, this is a shit company & ad is a lie in at least 3 ways: 1. They aren't disrupting shit. 2. Those two women aren't the grads
                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                    3. It isn't turning upside down. Yet note the ad design, white background that blends into the site, aping news site style, plain font...
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                                                                                                                                                                                                  This ad is clearly trying to look like a news story on this site and the click-through brings you to a site that looks like a news site...
                                                                                                                                                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                                So this is basically fake news running on a real news site. The problem with reader trust isn't on FB, it is on shit like this.
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                              We are engaged in the active practice of trying to make it difficult for readers to distinguish truth from bullshit on our own sites.
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                            Bullshit fake news-style Everquote ad now showing above the fold in giant block on guardian's website.
                                                                                                                                                                                            oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                          BTW, now I'm sure the ad buy is not strongly targeted because it showed up in an incognito window on an article about UK education policy.
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                        This ad campaign, now on 4th month, specifically targets news websites & is designed to trick readers into clicking it, thinking it is news.
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                                                                                                                                                                                      It keeps running. No news sites shut it down, despite it being purely designed to trick readers. This is why journalists are losing trust.
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                    We invite them on to our pages and present them with a mix of well-designed advertising fakery and mix it in with our own content...
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                                                                                                                                                                                  And then we in the media have the gall to ask 'why can't readers distinguish fake news from real news?' Because we trained them not to.
                                                                                                                                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                                “Can you trust what’s put out in the digital news ecosystem when you have fake news mixed in?” shar.es/18T08K via lmoses
                                                                                                                                                                                OpenGraph image for shar.es/18T08K
                                                                                                                                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                              One more version of the Everquote ad for the books: lmoses/809411920306536452
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                                                                                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                          Still being targeted by EverQuote, but now the ad thinks I'm in Bayside (wrong) and the background of the image seems to have changed.
                                                                                                                                                                          oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                        Clearly someone at EverQuote looked at the previous image and yelled "More screens!"
                                                                                                                                                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                      Also props to the graphic designer who used drop shadow to hide the cut lines and then blended to try and make it look like they didn't.
                                                                                                                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                    For fun, here's all the versions of the ad thus far. Part 1
                                                                                                                                                                    oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                  Part 2:
                                                                                                                                                                  oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                                Part 3:
                                                                                                                                                                oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                              Holy shit. Look at all the fake websites EverQuote is building. bit.ly/2hqxyHJ webster/813817046039400448
                                                                                                                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                            At what point, warnings aside, does this become misrepresentation? Intent to deceive? False advertising?
                                                                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                          Fun stuff, here is EverQuote's Inc. 5000 page, which lists their 2015 revenue at $96.8M inc.com/profile/everquote
                                                                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                        In light of all these different websites it is worth noting an earlier ver of the ad mis-reported the ad's source Chronotope/791804583253307393
                                                                                                                                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                      You can see that, unlike the other versions of the ad which list EverQuote as the ad's source that ^ one lists "Provide Savings" as sponsor.
                                                                                                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                    You know what would be useful? A lawyer who specializes in business or advertising law. Could get some of these legality questions answered.
                                                                                                                                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                  Genuine question: is this someone else operating on behalf of EverQuote? These things do happen. dennishegstad/813862804205637633
                                                                                                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                                But, I don't think so, because guess what, the top four domains off that list are registered directly to EverQuote
                                                                                                                                                oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                              And so do the next 4!
                                                                                                                                              oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                            And low and behold, EverQuote acknowledges that they indeed have purchased and maintain multiple domains i/web/813865963363803136
                                                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                          This ad is persistent in following me around the internet, it still won't go away! Either their buy is enormous or targeting is awful.
                                                                                                                                          oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                        LOL, now other content marketing ads are stealing EverQuote's ad photo. gabedelahaye/814962011041886208
                                                                                                                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                      Honestly, do you think this ad is just targeting me now with the express purpose of driving me insane? Fresh from today:
                                                                                                                                      oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                    It keeps getting larger.
                                                                                                                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                  And then reporting happens, great work by sonyaellenmann digging deeper into this mattermark.com/everquote-deceptive-advertising/
                                                                                                                                  OpenGraph image for mattermark.com/everquote-deceptive-advertising/
                                                                                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                                God. Literally not a single ad on this website loads except the Everquote one.
                                                                                                                                oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                              Hey look, here is an EverQuote ad clearly lying about being created by EverQuote
                                                                                                                              oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                            Honest to god... have they actually increased their buy?
                                                                                                                            oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                          Turns out EverQuote has been scummy for quite some time hlauinfo/816444928914030594
                                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                        .TheAtlantic's article about media being careful what they publish has a huge link to EverQuote's fake news site in the center of it.
                                                                                                                        oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                      By the way, I just noticed another lie in this ad. The "small team of data scientists" is, according to LinkedIn, 200 people. So not small.
                                                                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                    Can't escape EverQuote! profcarroll/819047135723266048
                                                                                                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                  *sigh*
                                                                                                                  oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                                Latest Everquote ad still lands on fake news page, but now URL is less deceptive, clearly labeled w/company name...
                                                                                                                oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                              Perhaps this new-found semi-honesty is an after effect of sonyaellenmann's coverage of EverQuote's at-best-deceptive behavior?
                                                                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                            Looks like the EverQuote geo-targeting is vaguely working. quantumdotdot/821797429309833216
                                                                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                          Everquote ad arrives to split profits with white supremacists. OFH_John/828968149169090560
                                                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                        Never stop being shitty EverQuote hlauinfo/830426115823063040
                                                                                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                      Oh look... EverQuote has discovered Instagram aexm/833738376792645632
                                                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                    And hey, Everquote thinks it is "brilliant" now webster/833452256150315008
                                                                                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                  Things that never end
                                                                                                  oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                                Now linking to a fake news site on EverQuote's own domain.
                                                                                                oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                              The ever changing pitch and a new star "grad" for EverQuote's targeting. robleathern/842010241499766784
                                                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                            And yeah, EverQuote continues to call itself brilliant aexm/840941186043019264
                                                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                          Everquote's Math Grads at it again robleathern/846929669341437952
                                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                        EverQuote has these multicultural young people so you won't think about their founders being two old white guys robleathern/846932750313504768
                                                                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                      I think my favorite part of this EverQuote photoshoot is the EverQuote branding on the water bottles robleathern/846932801618272257
                                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                    So, fun times in EverQuote land, despite statements to sonyaellenmann that they were going to shrink their fake site footprint...
                                                                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                  EverQuote continues to run a number of fake news sites with the same content bit.ly/2hqxyHJ Around 98 of them:
                                                                                  oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                                Some of these sites don't mention they are another company on the front page anymore, but have it deeper into the site
                                                                                oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                              And while the privacy policy might state EverQuote's name, the copyright statement and the ToU don't
                                                                              oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                            And their remaining fake news site? No longer discloses that it is an ad.
                                                                            oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                          Many sites on that list provide a front end to access EverQuote. Besides a logo on a robot, they don't disclose who they are on front page.
                                                                          oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                        Is this illegal? I don't think so. Is this highly unethical? Yeah, yeah, it is.
                                                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                      I suppose we can at least be thankful that EverQuote has decreased the number of these sites that look like news sites, but still: yuck.
                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                    All new EverQuote ads! They seem to have dropped the misleading text about founders at least. aexm/882779603143716865
                                                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                  Worth noting how even more non-specific the copy is here. They're just looking for clicks, who cares if you want car insurance or not.
                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                Now I'm seeing those Everquote ads again. They have returned!
                                                                oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                              "My phone started ringing within minutes of filling out the EverQuote form, and it did not stop ringing for days." linkedin.com/pulse/other-side-quality-leads-avi-ben-hutta
                                                              OpenGraph image for linkedin.com/pulse/other-side-quality-leads-avi-ben-hutta
                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                            A tale of two bullshit crap lead gen companies disguised as insurance quote providers. EverQuote isn't alone in its misleading behavior.
                                                            oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                          And look QuoteWizard has been doing this crap for a year longer than EverQuote. I guess EverQuote isn't so "disruptive" after all?
                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                        More EverQuote ads for the endless set. shansquared/894645576071081985
                                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                      Apparently Massachusetts and Colorado both prefer clicking on dissatisfied-looking white dudes against a brick wall.
                                                      oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                    I guess only the northeast corridor gets the multi ethnic EverQuote ads?
                                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                  Also, looking at the copy, I guess this bunch aren't Harvard grads?
                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                Oh look, a new crew on the Everquote ad.
                                                oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                              lol, just noticed on bottom of the clickthru site: "If you do not agree to our terms and policies, then please leave this site immediately."
                                              oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                            Everyone is slowly seeing their EverQuote ads move to the all white people version, it seems. shansquared/920331182746820608
                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                          Also, no one is wearing EverQuote gear in the photo anymore, interesting. CC: shansquared
                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                        The inescapable EverQuote aexm/922925190476062722
                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                      Those EverQuote folks, such innovators. taylorbuley/925835928404238337
                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                    All new EverQuote *close up* in CNN's footer.
                                    oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                  Fun fact, if you ever want to make it so no one can reverse image search your face on the internet, star in an EverQuote ad.
                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                New stars from our favorite personal data sales/arbitrage company that presents itself as some sort of innovative insurance hack robleathern/937379734257676290
                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                              All new Everquote specimens! It looks like Everquote has made some new hires!
                              oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                            (2nd photo h/t SeanBlanda )
                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                          *sigh*
                          oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                        New EverQuote ad is INTENSE. Also they apparently have run out of brilliant founders or graduates, now it is just the company that's "brilliant".
                        oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                      Yeah, I'm pretty sure that EverQuote is just sticking its employees in front of the cameras to generate these photos. Guy in foreground looks like linkedin.com/in/richard-hughes-0b523812/. Do you get a bonus at EverQuote for having your photo plastered on millions of pages?
                      OpenGraph image for linkedin.com/in/richard-hughes-0b523812/
                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                  It looks like EverQuote is adding home owners to their lead gen targeting. And now those two math grads are also disrupting an entirely different industry. Also lol they're /Boston/ grads now.
                  oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                I'm pretty sure at least one of the people in those two photos isn't at EverQuote anymore. So... do they end up the face of EverQuote forever?
            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
              "The phone calls did not stop coming. I was getting 10-12 phone calls per day, if I was in a meeting and had to ignore them, they would call me back right away instead of leaving a message. I felt like I was getting harrassed" BrandonCaudill_/971128674757029888
          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
            Everquote seems to be running out of woman employees. Perhaps due to its insistence in using them for marketing campaigns? Also, they're a "tiny" company now?
            oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
          Oooo boy EverQuote has discovered Tumblr. They manage to pair uncomfortable with asshole for this photo.
          oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
        I think my favorite part of this EverQuote ad is that they've reduced their endless formulaic phrases to just a series of words strung together into a nonsense non sentence.
    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
      Looks like EverQuote has made some new hires! shansquared/989877031612637184?s=19
  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
    More new EverQuote hires!
    oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
      More new Everquote ads! shansquared/1008732962597294080
      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
        And a story about the faces in some of these ads that I totally missed! Nice work by melodyhahm - finance.yahoo.com/news/real-story-behind-those-two-math-grads-who-are-disrupting-auto-insurance-industry-192118360.html
        OpenGraph image for finance.yahoo.com/news/real-story-behind-those-two-math-grads-who-are-disrupting-auto-insurance-industry-192118360.html
        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
          Always glad to see friends when I travel.
          oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
            CT and NYC sure look similar
            oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
              Oooo. EverQuote's all data scientists now? rahulrangnekar/1047898882774945792?s=19
              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                My favorite company is eminently short-able right now. finance.yahoo.com/quote/ever/ $EVER I don't know what data they had to release to IPO, but I would *love* to read it at some point.
                OpenGraph image for finance.yahoo.com/quote/ever/
                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                  As KelseyLArendt points out it is now 2 years since I started talking about EverQuote in what is now a 149 item long thread. This includes 3 articles, new friends to talk about EverQuote with & EverQuote IPOing. Celebrate by reading their SEC disclosure: davisshaver/1051939607787515905
                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                    EverQuote got a conference room you guys
                    oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                      I can only assume 'crossed legs on table' succeed in their last deployment of new images, so time for some variations!
                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                        Someone should tell EverQuote the curiosity gap is dead.
                        oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                          EverQuote is apparently expanding into both scammy life insurance offers and intentionally confusing ad designs meant to trick you into clicking on them. aexm/1080900172236947456
                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                            ffffffffff
                            oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                              Though it has the wrong license plate for NY, I am amazed to note that according to TinEye I appear to be among the first to be served this particular ad image
                              oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                EverQuote, now '1 team of mathematicians' robleathern/1084339091691327488
                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                  Is the endless A/B testing of employees finally coming to an end? An EverQuote ad that not only doesn't star an employee, but uses a stock photo!
                                  oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                    Fun fact, when you Google Image Search the path to the EverQuote image hosting URL it eventually ends up just showing random math grads
                                    oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                      EverQuote didn't bring any of their photo stars to their IPO, apparently.
                                      oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                        OMG How have I never seen "Life at EverQuote" before now?!?!
                                        oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                          Oh or their GlassDoor office photos?!?!?!?! glassdoor.co.uk/Photos/EverQuote-Office-Photos-IMG309509.htm Complete with the requisite 'our startup has beer' photo!
                                          OpenGraph image for glassdoor.co.uk/Photos/EverQuote-Office-Photos-IMG309509.htmoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                            In case you were wondering, here's how much the leadership of EverQuote pay themselves! (According to Bloomberg bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=182093966 )
                                            OpenGraph image for bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=182093966oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                              Anyway the landing page is still the same thrilling BS
                                              oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                You know I'm on a long train ride when I randomly spend 2 hours digging deeper into EverQuote. You know what... I've spent so much time on this now I think it is officially a hobby.
                                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                  Look who is back and back using misleading false company names and URLs on Taboola after promising to stop doing that: EverQuote has made the mistake of targeting me again. This is a Taboola feed promotion on MSN dot com
                                                  oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                    Not only are they misrepresenting their company name in the context on an ad, something that I'm pretty sure is against Taboola's T&A? But also the fake EverQuote website is back with the fake company name.
                                                    oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                    1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                      Even after clicking on the misleading fake news site, they've reskinned the landing page to mislead consumers about who they are interacting with! Until you scroll down.
                                                      oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their APIoh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                      1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                        If you remember from a previous interview, EverQuote (now a publicly-traded company) had said it was going to remove it's misleadingly titled fake news sites from the web. mattermark.com/everquote-deceptive-advertising/
                                                        OpenGraph image for mattermark.com/everquote-deceptive-advertising/oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                        1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                          But the previous example and livesmarterdaily dot com are *back* and back to looking misleadingly like they are pages by companies other than EverQuote.
                                                          oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                          1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                            The fake news site pages from EverQuote aren't showing up in Google search. Why? Well they pulled a TurboTax and told Google not to index them, making it harder to see just how many misleading URLs they are running in their misleading lead generation campaign.
                                                            oh my god twitter doesn’t include alt text from images in their API
                                                            1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                              This is a change from back when we could just Google the address of their company and see many fake sites maintained by EverQuote's marketing team. Now we can't, an indication that they took the negative reporting and decided to hide what they were doing, not stop it.
                                                              1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                You can check out the sketchy site yourself at https://article.usautoinsurancenow dot com com/
                                                                1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                  Everquote is indeed BBB accredited, which means there is an impressive collection of 327 customer reviews, averaging less than 2 stars, on the BBB website. bbb.org/us/ma/cambridge/profile/internet-marketing-services/everquote-inc-0021-122911/customer-reviews
                                                                  OpenGraph image for bbb.org/us/ma/cambridge/profile/internet-marketing-services/everquote-inc-0021-122911/customer-reviews
                                                                  1. …in reply to @Chronotope
                                                                    Also, while the image is unique on TinEye for that particular ad... that individual does not appear, as far as I can see, in any of the photos published by EverQuote of their team.


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