The problem with contextual advertising is that computers don’t really understand context, they just look like they do.

The most common way this shows up is in ads that match keywords, but not the intent of the page.

For example, amazon.com’s page for

Alfie Cohen’s “Punished By Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A’s, Praise, and Other Bribes” offers these contextual ads (served by Google):

Incentive Toolkit

The Tools You Need For Your Next Incentive

www.incentivetoolkit.com

Incentive Plans

Find Solutions for Your Business Free Reports, Info. & Registration

www.KnowledgeStorm.com

Award Programs

Personalized awards & incentives sold with our Price Guarantee.

www.custom-promotional-logo.com

Oh dear. These folks won’t get a very good response selling ads for incentive programs on a page for a book that is explicitly AGAINST incentives.