What Are Display Ads? And How To Create Them

You may have been seeing them everyday without knowing what they’re called. Display ads, with their catchy phrases and bold colors, remain a fundamental tool for businesses to reach their target audience. But, what exactly are display ads, and how can you create them effectively if you own a small-to-medium sized business? 

This blog will delve into the essentials of display ads, their benefits, and a simple, step-by-step guide to creating compelling display ad campaigns that can drive engagement and conversions.

What Are Display Ads?

Display ads are a type of digital marketing and online advertisement that combines text, images, and a URL that links to a website where potential customers can learn more or make a purchase. Unlike search ads, which appear on search engine results pages like Google, display ads appear on various websites across the internet. These ads can come in various formats, including banner ads, rich media ads, and video ads.

Types of Display Ads:

1. Banner Ads: The most common form of display ads, typically appearing at the top, bottom, or sides of web pages.
2. Rich Media Ads: These ads include interactive elements such as video, audio, or other engaging features.
3. Video Ads: Short clips that run before, during, or after video content on platforms like YouTube.
4. Interstitial Ads: Full-screen ads that appear at natural transition points in the flow of an app or website.

Benefits of Display Ads

Display ads offer numerous advantages for businesses looking to enhance their online presence and reach a broader audience. Here are some of them:

1. Wide Reach: Display ads can appear on a vast network of websites, reaching millions of users worldwide.
2. Brand Awareness: They are highly effective for building brand recognition and recall, thanks to their visual nature.
3. Targeting Options: Display ads offer advanced targeting options, including demographic, geographic, and behavioral targeting.
4. Retargeting Capabilities: They allow businesses to retarget users who have previously visited their website, increasing the chances of conversion.
5. Measurable Results: With tools like Google Analytics, advertisers can track the performance of their display ads in real-time.

How To Create Effective Display Ads

Creating effective display ads involves a combination of strategic planning, creative design, and data analysis. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Step 1: Define Your Goals

Before diving into the design and placement of your display ads, it's crucial to define what you aim to achieve with your campaign. Common goals include:

• Increasing brand awareness
• Driving website traffic
• Generating leads
• Boosting sales

Having clear objectives will guide your overall strategy and help measure the success of your campaign.

Step 2: Know Your Audience

Understanding your target audience is essential for creating display ads that resonate. Conduct market research to gather insights into your audience's demographics, interests, and online behavior. Relying on the local expertise of a digital marketing agency can be especially beneficial in helping you identify where customers in your region spend the most time. Use the information you gather to create buyer personas that will inform your ad design and messaging.

Step 3: Choose the Right Platform

There are several platforms where you can run display ads, each with its own strengths. Google Display Network (GDN) is one of the most popular options, reaching over 90% of internet users worldwide. Other platforms include:

• Facebook Ads
• LinkedIn Ads
• Twitter Ads
• Programmatic Advertising Networks

Select a platform that aligns with your target audience and campaign goals.

Step 4: Craft Compelling Ad Copy

Your ad copy should be concise, engaging, and aligned with your campaign goals. Here are some tips for writing effective ad copy:

• Use a strong headline: Capture attention with a headline that is clear and compelling.
• Highlight the benefits: Focus on what your audience will gain from your product or service.
• Include a call-to-action (CTA): Encourage users to take the desired action, whether it's clicking through to your website, signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase.

Step 5: Design Eye-Catching Visuals

The visual component of your display ad is critical for grabbing attention and conveying your message. Follow these best practices for designing effective display ads:

• Use high-quality images: Ensure your images are clear, relevant, and professional.
• Maintain brand consistency: Use colors, fonts, and styles that align with your brand identity.
• Keep it simple: Avoid clutter and focus on a single, clear message.
• Optimize for different sizes: Display ads come in various sizes, so create multiple versions of your ad to fit different placements.

Step 6: Set Your Budget

Determine how much you're willing to spend on your display ad campaign. Most platforms offer flexible budgeting options, allowing you to set daily or campaign budgets. Be sure to allocate your budget in a way that maximizes your reach and impact while staying within your financial limits.

Step 7: Implement Advanced Targeting

Leverage the advanced targeting options available on your chosen platform to reach the most relevant audience. Common targeting methods include:

• Demographic targeting: Target users based on age, gender, income, etc.
• Geographic targeting: Focus on users in specific locations.
• Behavioral targeting: Reach users based on their online behavior and interests.
• Contextual targeting: Place your ads on websites related to your product or service.

Step 8: Monitor and Optimize

Once your display ad campaign is live, it's essential to monitor its performance regularly. Use analytics tools to track key metrics such as impressions, clicks, conversions, and ROI. Based on the data, make adjustments to your ad copy, visuals, targeting, and budget to optimize performance.

Display ads are a powerful tool in the digital marketing arsenal, offering a wide reach, advanced targeting options, and measurable results. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create compelling display ad campaigns that drive engagement and conversions. Remember, the key to success lies in continuous monitoring and optimization, ensuring your ads remain relevant and effective in reaching your marketing goals.

Don’t have enough time to juggle running effective display ads while managing your business? We’ve seen it happen all too often. To maximize your results, lean on the help of an award-winning digital marketing agency like Fable Heart Media. Our results speak for themselves, with powerful trending content, transparent data analyzation and enhanced ROI. There’s only one way to go from here, and it’s up!

There’s more where that came from. Check out our blog page for more ad tips and hat tricks!