Banner ads are the most commonly used advertising medium that attaches different kinds of media files to a web page. They can be placed anywhere on your website. They are mostly used for text links and images only, but they could also play videos or music if necessary. Different types of websites use banner ads in their design to generate revenue from advertisers. The standard size of a banner ad is 728×90 pixels.
And if you are looking at how to make a good banner ad, then, there are many companies that provide you with the opportunity to design your own banner ads for certain fees. Of course, the more money you invest the better your banner ad will be. But if you have enough knowledge and can manage to follow some simple rules for designing a banner ad, then you could design one on your own using tools like Photoshop or GIMP which are available at no cost.
In this blog, we will talk about the Dos and Don’ts of banner ad design. But before going to the details, you should know what a banner ad is and how it works for maximum effect.
What is a Banner Ad?
The banner ad is one of the most commonly used types of ads. People see them almost on every website they visit. They are mostly found at the top or bottom part of a web page, but they can also be placed elsewhere on some websites for promotional purposes.
Banner Ad – How Does It Work?
A banner advertisement has a specific size i.e. 728×90 pixels, although sizes vary from one website to another according to their design and purpose. The size is fixed, but you can resize your banner ad as per its position on the website. You can upload an image or a video with this banner ad to make it more attractive. This media file will then load separately for your banner ad.
Dos and Don’ts of Banner Ad Design
As far as banner ad design is concerned you should follow these Dos and Don’ts.
Dos:
- Use uncluttered designs – Your banner ad must be uncluttered so that the advertising message is clear to your target group. Focus on one main element and make it as catchy as possible. You can use one text line along with an eye-catching image or video to attract the attention of your target audience and make them read the advertising message. If you use more than one text line, make sure they are readable and complement each other. Hence, make a good banner ad.
- Use bright colours – Bright and attractive colour combinations work best on banner ads. You can use high contrast colours to make it look attractive. Also, the text must be legible and readable easily.
- Don’t load too many Flash elements – Avoid loading too many flash elements in your banner ad as not all users have a good internet speed which may result in poor performance of your website due to slow page loading.
- Use animation judiciously – Animation is also not advisable in banner ads because it loads slowly and may irritate users who are in a hurry to access the website where they have seen your banner ad. Also, animated images are difficult to resize so they can lead to misshaping of images if resized by the user using browser controls.
- Keep the file size as low as possible – The banner ad must be small in size with a big image to minimise download time and increase page load speed. This will also help users access your website easily as they won’t have to wait for long seconds or minutes before your website can load completely on their screen.
Don’ts
- Avoid using too many fonts – Using too many fonts and colours in your banner ad will make it look unprofessional and may irritate users who don’t like seeing too much of text or colour on a page when they access the internet. Also, avoid resizing large images as this may result in distortion of images.
- Don’t use copyrighted images – Using images that are not available for free commercial usage is against the rules of many banner ad companies. You can avoid copyright infringement by uploading royalty-free images to your banner ad company. Also, if you design your own image, don’t forget to keep its original size and form intact when resizing it.
- Don’t use spaces unnecessarily – Use of too many spaces in your banner ad will make it look cluttered and the advertising message may not be visible or legible to users who are in a hurry to access the website where they have seen your banner ad.
- Avoid using Flash files – As mentioned earlier, avoid using too many Flash elements in your banner ad because it will irritate users who are in a hurry to access the website where they have seen your banner ad. Also, animated images are difficult to resize so they can lead to misshaping of images if resized by the user using browser controls.
- Don’t use too many animations – Animation is also not advisable in banner ads because it loads slower and may irritate users who are in a hurry to access the website where they have seen your banner ad. Also, animated images are difficult to resize so they can lead to misshaping of images if resized by the user using browser controls.
Conclusion
Banner ads are an excellent medium for reaching out to your target audience. They are the most economical, creative and powerful means of advertising, which can help you make a big impact on your customers with minimum costs. All you need is to make an attractive and catchy ad banner design along with relevant information about your product or service, which leaves a lasting impression on users.
Advertisements are everywhere. They are on the television, radio, internet and in newspapers. Banner ads are like tiny billboards displayed on different websites that bring traffic to your website or business. When it comes to advertising online banner ads have a very effective return of investment as compared with other forms of online advertisement. In fact, if your banner ad is composed in an appropriate manner, it can be very useful in generating quality traffic to your site. If the question of how to make a good banner ad bothers you, then hire a designing company. However, Before designing or choosing a banner ad format you need to have a clear idea about the purpose of your online advertisement.