How can it be that ads are such a big thing on the Internet?

You have never met my mom. She is 58 and clicks on everything. And she buys tons of crap from those ads.

I would wager that as the youth grow up the advertising model will have to change since most of the young people I know have grown up with the Internet. They hate ads and know how to block them.

You could say the same thing about advertising on network television.

Most people think that seeing an ad won’t alter their behavior, but advertisers wouldn’t buy them if they didn’t work.

“For sure, I do understand the potential for great revenue, when it comes to ads that are neatly presented, less obtrusive, sometimes temporarily tied to a specific event, and most importantly, targeted towards an audience that would actually feel they have a need for the products advertised.”

…and yet, Facebook ads are not exactly successful

A lot of people do click and even if you don’t, you’ll recognize the product or brand next time you’re shopping and whether you want it to or not it will quite possibly affect your choice. So the ad was worth it.
From and advertising point of view, you couldn’t get a more dynamic media for it and it reaches a much wider demographic than any other.

Because people live on the ‘net. It’s the means of all communication and research…so where there is information and people, there are demographics and precise marketing, hence the ads. Big $$$!

But aren’t there more sophisticated ways rather than put your brand name on a parked domain, among any other random companies who did the same? Isn’t that equal to saying, hey we’re a sloppy, sleazy, whatever you might say in english-type of company.

Wherever did you get the idea people don’t click? If they didn’t, the advertising would not continue. The Internet is like any other medium. Marketing, sadly, works!