Small Business Owners and Ad Publishers Echo Statements of Concern, Fear Made During DOJ-Google Ads Trial

WASHINGTON (Sept. 26, 2024) — Three small business owners today echoed statements made during the United States v. Google LLC display-ads trial. A business owner testifying in the trial emphasized the value of Google’s integrated ad tech tools and described how a government-mandated breakup would hurt their business. Echoing the statements and concerns were LaKita Anderson, founder of recipe blog Simply LaKita; Cory Lee, founder of travel blog Curb Free with Cory Lee; and Jeff Taxdahl, founder of custom embroidery company Thread Logic.

“Like many content creators, I first made money through sponsorships with big companies, but found that I spent more time in meetings than creating and sharing recipes,” said Anderson, who is based in Panama City Beach, Fla. “When I started working with Google to sell ad space on my blog, it allowed me to make money while spending time doing what I love. If the DOJ succeeds in dismantling these ad products, it could hurt my bottom line so much I’d be forced to implement paywalls or find another source of revenue.”

“As a small ad publisher, revenue from display ads ensures that my travel blog is free for my readers,” said Lee, who is from Lafayette, Ga. “I know firsthand that wheelchair users often face unfair added costs when traveling, so I’d hate to make them pay for my blog as well. If the DOJ changes how Google’s display ads work, I’m worried that publishing ads will become more time-consuming for me, or force me to hire staff to manage my ad inventory.”

“There are more choices than ever in the online advertising world,” said Taxdahl, who is based in Jordan, Minn. “Google’s display ads are an important piece of our marketing strategy, and we use them because they are very effective, but we are constantly optimizing and changing our ads based on what performs best. Display ads provide great value for small businesses like mine, and changing the digital advertising landscape will have major consequences.”