Banners
Banners, Banner Ads, Marketing and Advertisement from Top Web Designer, a Long Island, NY based Web Design and Hosting Internet Service Provider (ISP) offering web design, development, re-design, maintenance, custom graphics, logo, banner design services and web hosting with optional Data Backup, Urchin Stats, Online Virus-Free E-mail, Bulletin Boards and E-commerce Solutions:
Banner ads are those clickable gif files at the top of some websites. Banner advertising is currently the most popular form of advertising on the web. There is much debate on its effectiveness and appropriateness, but it's definitely here to stay. Here are some tips about banners:
- Put a blue border around the banner ad. This "reminds" the viewer that it's clickable. You can add a blue border within the gif file itself or have the html page create a blue border using an HTML tag code.
- Include the words "Click Here" or "Tap Here" somewhere in the banner ad itself. This increases the click rate significantly.
- Link the banner ad to a specific page, not just to the home page of a website. Make sure the page the surfer lands at after clicking on the banner ad is EXACTLY what they should be seeing. It helps to coordinate an HTML page for each banner ad. This so, the person is brought right to the "special offer" or feature/product/service that was advertised on the banner ad. Nobody wants to plow through a home page to get to what they want to see.
- Create 10-50 banner ads around a similar theme or look. Tout various features of the same product or use different ways to express the service, but use similar type faces, colors, images, etc. This provide continuity/familiarity, yet each ad is different enough to attract attention and make it's point.
- Change or cycle your banner ads every two weeks. The click rate on the same banner ad drops significantly after two weeks.
- Add a "click here for offer XYZ" below the ad itself. Using standard html/text, 'reinforce' the clickability of the banner ad, by adding a linked message in small text below the ad/gif itself.
- Use animated gifs in the banner ad. Motion attracts attention and may impress on the surfer that you've got something special. Animated gifs are becoming a standard on web pages.
- Use a deadline / last day / last chance approach in your banner ad. This prompts the surfer to take advantage of your special offer right now. (make sure it's legitimate of course...)
- Think of the banner ad as a mini billboard. It has to grab not just inform. Just like a billboard has to grab the attention of a driver whizzing by at 60 miles an hour, your ad needs to grab the web surfer's attention quickly. Be clever - anything to get them to notice your ad and click on it. Anything!
- Offer an inducement in your banner ad. Special contest, win a prize, take a profile, free offers, etc. grab attention and are worth offering. Remember, you are competing for the surfer's attention. No matter how good your product / service / link is, it won't get the surfer to tap on your ad unless you've piqued his / her curiosity.