Do Banner Ads Really Suck?
13-Apr-2013
There’s lots of negative stuff about banner advertising. There is also a lot of positive information about banner advertising. It is all very confusing.
Particularly with one of the first banner advertisers saying they wished they had never done it. The question you have to ask yourself is why would the inventor of an ad media say such a thing?
There is plenty of evidence about the quality of banner advertising and its effectiveness. There are plenty of tests that show it can be very, very effective. Most of the people spouting against are the people who never got their banner advertising to work.
Online banner ads have a number of purposes, so the first step to making it work is knowing your purpose. Many of the billion dollar corporations use banner advertising for branding.
Yes, simply to put their name in front of you so you will recognize them. That is the purpose. Others are trying to make money. So if you are trying to generate leads for your funnel, then you have a different purpose.
Both purposes work. Ryan Deiss, who studies and tests mainly the lead generating potential, has plenty of data showing banners work. At the same time, there really is such a thing as banner blindness, so you must take action to limit the effects of the blindness. In an earlier article, I showed how you can vary your banners with free software.
This is one trick you can use to get the click-throughs on your banners. I use the free software script mentioned right here on this site.
Image via Flickr
My banner click throughs on each banner have nearly doubled doing so which has put more people on my list, and more profits in my funnel.
So it sounds funny, that reducing the number of times something is shown actually increases response.
I agree, but it does in the case of banners. Another major, significant step you can take is not make super, artsie-fartsie banners that blend into the site. You can be sure they won’t get clicked.
Be bold and make your banners stand out. Make them stand out from other banners, and from the websites they are displayed on.
Make them funny if you can. Use very ugly and bright borders. These things get your banner clicked. You banner is not there to be eye candy in the art gallery. It’s to attract attention, and get the click.
Below are more thoughts on banner advertising, from both sides of the fence. I personally think, when done correctly, banner advertising is good.
10 Surprising Facts About Banner Ads – IABlog
If you believe digital display advertising is dead, you’ve misunderstood the Internet. It is in fact, alive and well. It has evolved and consistently grown over time. Here are 10 facts about banner advertising that may surprise you: …
How the Banner Ad Was Born | Digiday
The idea arrived to create a dozen sections that would carry “banner” advertising. This wasn’t entirely original. Early Web service Prodigy had used similar methods, although it placed its banners at the bottom of the screen.
Banner ads suck, say guys who invented banner ads | Digital Trends
The four men responsible for creating the Web’s first banner ads admit their invention has ruined Internet marketing and the online experience.
How to make money with Banner Ads – 4 Best Ways
How to make money with advertising on your web site is a top question of new website owners. Click Millionaire Scott Fox shares the 4 best ways to make money…
International speaker, author, and entrepreneur. Retired navy officer, former commanding officer. Over 35 years of leading, coaching, mentoring, and speaking.