Hey there, digital friends! Today, we’re going to talk about display ads – those colorful, eye-catching banners that seem to be everywhere on the internet. You know the ones I’m talking about – they’re like the pop stars of online advertising. But what are they, and why should you care? Let’s dive in and find out!
First things first:
What the heck are display ads, anyway?
Basically, display ads are graphical ads that appear on websites, mobile apps, and other digital platforms. They can come in a variety of sizes and formats, from small banner ads to full-page takeovers. The goal is to capture the viewer’s attention and entice them to click through to your website or landing page.
“There are many ad formats. These ads can be static with an image or animated with multiple images, video, or changing text (also called rich media ads). An ad campaign can have different goals, and some display ads educate about the product while others are designed to entertain and engage through simple games or puzzles. Banner ads are a common form of display ads that are frequently used for awareness campaigns.” Thanks, Mailchimp!
They can look like this:
Or this:
Or even this:
So why should you consider using display ads in your marketing strategy? For starters, they’re a great way to reach a wider audience and increase brand awareness. Display ads can be targeted to specific demographics, interests, and behaviors, so you can make sure your message is reaching the right people. Plus, they’re a cost-effective way to drive traffic to your website and generate leads.
But like any marketing tool, there are best practices to keep in mind when creating and running display ad campaigns. Here are three tips to help you make the most of your display ads:
Keep it simple
When it comes to display ads, less is often more. Keep your messaging clear and concise, and avoid cluttering the ad with too much text or too many images. Use eye-catching visuals and bold colors to grab attention, and make sure your call-to-action is clear and prominent.
Target strategically
As I mentioned earlier, display ads can be targeted to specific audiences based on factors like demographics, interests, and behaviors. Take advantage of this by carefully selecting your targeting criteria to make sure your ad is reaching the right people. And don’t forget to retarget – that is, show your ads to people who have already visited your website or engaged with your brand in some way.
Test and optimize
Like any marketing campaign, it’s important to track your results and make adjustments as needed. Test different ad formats, images, and messaging to see what resonates best with your audience. And don’t forget to track your click-through rate, conversion rate, and other key metrics to make sure you’re getting the best return on your investment.
So there you have it – display ads 101, with a side of sass. They may not be the most glamorous marketing tool out there, but when done right, they can be an effective way to boost your brand’s online presence and drive traffic to your website. Happy marketing, folks!
*Disclaimer: We’ve had several clients ask us about AI tools and so we decided to learn the quickest (and possibly hardest) way we could think of – we recruited an AI chatbot/tool to create the web content you just read as well as the corresponding graphic (although we don’t want the bot getting ALLLLL the credit, we did do the hard work of…um… copying and pasting). We named her Bitsy and her work is… interesting… but surprisingly adequate. For training purposes we would love your feedback – and don’t worry, Bitsy will get a glowing performance review, just not a raise. (Sorry, machines – don’t come for us!)
