People see hundreds of banners every day, and they ignore most of them. So how do you make yours stand out? You need fresh banner advertisement ideas and a few proven design rules. In this article we share ten creative ideas that work for small and large brands. In addition, you get a short checklist to use before you launch.
A good banner does three things. First, it catches the eye. Second, it says one clear thing. Third, it tells the viewer what to do next. Everything else is decoration. Therefore keep every banner simple.
1. Use one bold message
Pick a single benefit and write it in a few words. For example, “Free delivery today” works better than a long list of features.
The call to action is the most important part. So give it a strong color and clear words such as “Shop now” or “Try it free”.
3. Add a little motion
Simple animation attracts attention. For instance, let the text appear in two or three steps. However, avoid flashing effects, because they annoy people.
4. Show the product in use
A photo of a person using the product tells a story faster than text. As a result, viewers understand the offer in a second.
5. Create urgency
Countdown timers and limited offers push people to act. Still, be honest. A fake deadline hurts trust.
6. Let people interact
Interactive banners invite the viewer to do something. For example, they can swipe through products, answer a quick poll or play a mini game.
Numbers are easy to read. “Trusted by 10,000 customers” or “Rated 4.8 stars” builds trust quickly, as long as the number is true.
8. Go seasonal
Holidays and local events give you a reason to refresh the design. Moreover, a timely banner feels more relevant.
9. Personalize with dynamic creatives
Dynamic banners change their content for each viewer. For example, they show the products that a person looked at before. This technique is called retargeting.
10. Try humor
A smart joke makes a brand easy to remember. However, keep it friendly and make sure it fits your audience.
- Contrast. Use colors that stand out from the website background.
- Readable text. Choose large fonts and no more than two font styles.
- Logo. Place it in a corner, so the brand is visible but not loud.
- File weight. Keep files light, because slow banners are often not seen at all.
- Frame. Add a thin border if the banner has a white background.
Even the best of these banner advertisement ideas fails in a size that few websites use. Therefore start with the most common formats. On desktop these are 300×250, 728×90 and 300×600. On mobile, 320×50 and 300×250 are the most popular.
You can find more details in our lists of the best desktop ad sizes and the best mobile banner sizes. Also follow the Better Ads Standards, so browsers do not block your ads.
Nobody knows in advance which banner will win. Because of this, testing is a must.
- First, create two versions with one difference, for example the button color.
- Next, run both with the same budget and audience.
- Then compare the click through rate. Our guide on how to calculate CTR helps here.
- Finally, keep the winner and test a new idea against it.
Results also differ between countries. See our data on click through rates by ad size and country.
Conclusion
Great banners are simple, clear and tested. Start with one message and a strong button. Then add motion, urgency or personal content step by step. Above all, measure every change. This way your banner advertisement ideas turn into real clicks and sales.
