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How to create great banner ads – advice from our experts

Do you want to fine-tune your display advertising strategy?

The best banner ads are a combination of many different elements such as design principles, creativity and understanding your target audience. 

Great online advertising not only captures a viewer’s attention but fulfils a clear purpose. From brand awareness to a display advert which is part of a larger campaign.

Here are some tips to help you create great banner ads:

1.       Clear and concise messaging: Your banner ad should convey a clear and concise message. Focus on one main idea or call-to-action to avoid overwhelming the viewer.

2.       Eye-catching design: Use vibrant colours, appealing imagery, and bold typography to grab attention. Ensure that the design aligns with your brand's identity and resonates with your target audience.

3.       Brand logo and identity: Incorporate your brand's logo and visual identity elements to enhance brand recognition.

4.       Imagery that resonates with the target audience: Tailor your banner ad to the specific audience and context of the website or app where it will be displayed. Personalize the ad content whenever possible.

5.       Strategic use of negative space: Leaving some empty or "negative" space in your design can help emphasize your message and make the ad more visually appealing.

6.       Strong Call-to-Action (CTA): Incorporate a compelling CTA that tells viewers what action you want them to take. Make it stand out with contrasting colours and concise wording. Make sure to incorporate urgency and value propositions in your CTAs

7.       Simplicity: Keep the design clean and uncluttered. Avoid overcrowding the ad with too much text or visual elements that might confuse or overwhelm viewers.

Other things to consider:

A/B testing

A/B testing is crucial. Create multiple versions of your banner ads with slight variations (e.g., different colours, CTAs, images) and test them to see which performs better.

Landing page

Ensure that the landing page your ad leads to is consistent with the ad's message and design. This creates a seamless user experience and increases conversion.

Remember that the effectiveness of your banner ads can vary based on your specific goals, target audience and industry. Regularly analyse the performance of your ads and make adjustments based on the data you gather. 

Here to help you with your campaign planning

Having been in the business of helping maritime networking and communication for over 50 years, we’ve learned one or two things about event promotion. 

With a broad variety of marketing solutions designed specifically for the maritime industry, we can help you make the most of your participation and ROI.

A rundown of all the services provided here can be found in our Event Marketing Solutions package or reach out to us today.