Simple Steps to a Great Banner Ad

Everyone is using them now and if you're planning on creating your own banner ad then there are some things that you should know.

Standard Size

I'll admit I made this mistake. I was too caught up in creating a really nice looking design that I made something that was not the standard size. Now it wasn't much off the norm but when I found out I promptly changed the size. Keep to standards. I know that if your ad is slightly larger it may get more attention but if we all start doing this where will it stop? Creating an ad that is larger than standard is not the way to get attention. And in many places they will require you to keep to the industry standard.

Content

This must be short, simple, and very direct. You've really got to simplify this. I know that this is hard but there is not a lot of room on these banner ads and the more information that you try to cram on there the less likely that someone will read, or try to read it. Keep it to a few words, if you can't manage to say what you want in a few words enlist the help of friends and family, ask them to define what it is that you do, or sell in five words or less. You may get a really clever saying to use by doing this.

Color and Animation

Keep colors eye catching but easy to look at and make sure that they match your site. Maybe it's just me that prefers this but I've clicked on banner ads that looked really great and ended up on these hideous web pages. Try to match your ads to the look of your website.

Animation, please, please, please keep this simple and a short download. I don't know how many times I've clicked off a page before the banner ad animation even started. Please make sure that you run your ad several times. Have others watch it, make sure that the download is reasonable. Don't assume that everyone has DSL. Now you also don't have to make allowances for older computers or bad connections but most of the country now has enhanced or accelerated connections. Make sure that your ad downloads quickly on an accelerated connection and you're doing fine.

Call to Action

Apparently we're all still highly suggestible since studies show that call to action words still work. Things like: call now, click here, and buy now. Try to work some call to action words into your content if you can, it won't hurt.

Lastly for those of you working at home, or running your own business. Never underestimate the value of family and friends for critiques. They may not be able to tell you what is wrong with the way your ad looks but if they look at it and only say, "Eh, it's okay." Then don't use it. We all instinctively know what looks right or wrong. If you ask around and don't get positive feedback from family and friends who love you and want your business to succeed then what do you think that a total stranger is going to think? Also before you even start creating your own ad, look around at what everyone else is doing. Decide what you like and don't like about other ads that you see. And then don't make the same mistakes.

About The Author

Copyright 2004 Kelly Paal

Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Recently she started her own business Kelly Paal Photography (www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles to her web design.

---

Online Marketing Donts

There are over 200 million people worldwide connected to the... Read More

Quick Guide to Internet Marketing: 9 Tips for Success on the Net

To market successfully you must incorporate the Internet into your... Read More

Stepping Outside the WAHM Zone

Often times on message boards you'll see several reps from... Read More

Boost Your Sales Copy With One Simple Tweak

Do you want an amazingly simple trick to move far... Read More

Creating Functional Dialogue for Your Website

Opt in clicking promotes your business. By increasing link exchanges... Read More

Being Part Of Groups

There are many different ways to have fun and socialize... Read More

How to Build an Asset Out of Giving Stuff Away for Free

We all do it I guess: give something away for... Read More

How to Start a Successful Import Business Using the Internet

The Internet has opened up a whole new era of... Read More

Internet Marketing - A Leap Of Faith

Do you remember as a child having to do something... Read More

How To Make A Lot Of Money On The Internet Doing Nothing

"You can make a lot of money on the Internet... Read More

Three Key Steps to Invention Marketing

Ever see a new product and say to yourself, "Why... Read More

Avoid a Summer Sales Slump

Did you ever see the movie "Terminator 3" by Arnold... Read More

You Can Become A Successful Internet Entrepreneur!

Everyday people ask me if they will make money with... Read More

Niche Marketing: Broker Your Way To Profits

If you haven't started your own niche business yet because... Read More

Online Web Marketing Tips

Here is a list of a few of my favorite... Read More

Traffic, Money, How To Get There

Want more hits to your website or someone actually buying?... Read More

Sales Training: How To Succeed Online By Networking Your Business

The backbone of business success is communication.And networking is one... Read More

How to Tap the Profits Hidden in Your Internet Business!

I'd like to show you five secret strategies to extract... Read More

Make Internet Marketing Work for You Via RSS

RSS marketing is a tool used by many on the... Read More

You Attract Who You Are On The Internet!

Being online is not only about getting your piece of... Read More

Part Time Internet Marketing with A Full Time Approach

The deluge of people wanting to make money on the... Read More

Book Yourself Solid Key Number 2: Choose Your Ideal Clients

The Book Yourself Solid article series continues withKey Number 2:... Read More

Free Marketing = Effective Marketing

According to Google.com there are over three billion web pages... Read More

If you Sell a Product, Use Online Marketing, Part 1

When you offer your products via an email campaign to... Read More

Hocus Pocus? Its Just Focus!

How many times have you wondered what magic formula the... Read More

4 Ways In Which You Can Achieve Critical Mass

Critical Mass Website Promotion is the elite goal rarely attained... Read More

Increase Online Sales: 10 Extraordinary Strategies To Generate More Profits

Do you want to generate more profits from your online... Read More

Free Content -- or Forbidden Fruit?

Dear Cathy:I just found an interesting article on someone else's... Read More

The Secret Weapon of Successful Web Marketing Is

Impulse shopping in the checkout lane may be what drives... Read More

Are You Utilizing a 5-Point Prospecting System?

If not, you may be losing out on some very... Read More

Identifying Top- and Bottom-Line Growth Strategies for Your Web Business

Defining Top-Line versus Bottom-LineAn Internet business improves their "top line"... Read More

What Rich Internet Marketers Know That You Dont

Thirty years ago, I sold information via small classified ads... Read More

If It Sounds Too Good To Be True

You've heard that cliché over and over I'm sure, but... Read More