What is a Banner?

Have you ever noticed rectangular ads at the side or top while you’re surfing through a random web page? You probably also know that if you click on such an ad, it’s going to lead you to a pop-up or take you to another tab. Well, that’s a web banner, also known as a banner ad.

Web banners are digital advertisements usually displayed in the header, footer, or sidebars of websites. 

For the most part, they’re considered to be an affordable type of online advertising. 

Interestingly, the first banner ad ever deployed was on Wired Magazine’s website in 1994. The banner read, “Have you ever clicked your mouse right here? You will.” 

Clever, right?

But as amusing as that may sound, we now have banner ads nearly everywhere on the internet, vying for a sliver of our attention.

To stand out, you’ll have to come up with banner ads that are unique, appealing, and most importantly, not annoying for site visitors. 

For web banners to be effective, they need to be strategically designed to entice viewers into clicking on them or engaging with them in some other way.

Creating An Enticing Web Banner

Here are some ways you could create a web banner that will work.

1. Use the Most Effective Banner Sizes

In most cases, this means the standard rectangular banner size that we’re all used to seeing. According to Google Adsense, the most successful standard banner sizes are:

• 728 × 90px - Leaderboard
• 300 × 600px - Half Page
• 300 × 250px - Medium Rectangle
• 336 × 280px - Large Rectangle
  
  

2. Position Your Banner Ad Correctly

You should purchase space on a website (or multiple websites) that is visible to viewers and featured close to the site’s main content. 

Also, you should have your banner positioned in a way that it’s not too intrusive, conveying your message with a gentle yet persuasive tone.

3. Add a CTA (Call-to-Action)

To ensure that your banner ad works in getting viewers to click, try to add a CTA such as “Watch Now,” “Learn More,” or “Get Started.” These phrases are known as calls to action and are designed to prompt the reader to take action and click on your ad.

4. Keep it Simple

Again, the trick to great banner ads is simplicity. If you go overboard on the colors or graphics or even words, it’s likely to throw your viewers off. Keep ads sleek and straightforward and speak to potential customers in an engaging and understandable way.

5. Use Animation

Finally, using a little animation can go a long way in making your ads appear more appealing to the audience. People’s eyes are naturally more inclined to drift towards an ad that’s moving but also make sure that it doesn’t distract from your brand’s message.

The Purpose of Web Banners

Like other digital marketing forms, web banners can be an essential part of your campaign, albeit a simple and cheap one. Their affordability makes them one of the easiest ways to promote and advertise your business.

The purpose of web banners is to effectively convey your brand message to potential consumers in a quick and accessible way. These ads can be sprinkled everywhere, including near blog posts, news articles, and more. Banner ads are a great way to associate your products and services with highly regarded digital content from major brands and publications. 

Key Takeaway

Overall, banner ads are a pretty simple yet effective marketing solution and can go a long way if designed the right way. Just make sure not to overdo it and keep the right audience in mind while creating your ads. As long as you can convey your brand image and entice the viewers to want to see or get to know a little more, banner ads will work. And they will bring more traffic to your website.