When it comes to online advertising, companies need to strike a balance between being seen and being annoying. If you’re too subtle with your advertising, or if you’re not advertising enough, you risk being overlooked or being invisible to your customers. However, if you’re too brazen with your ads or if you use the power of advertising for evil, then you could end turning off your customers.
The key is finding the right type and frequency for your ads. Each target audience and demographic is different, and how to implement your online advertising campaigns will depend on what you’re selling and who you’re selling it to.
In any case though, there are few effective pointers that you should take into consideration:
Avoid being obtrusive – Steer clear of ads that disrupt user’s browsing experience as you might end up annoying or scaring off your audience. This is why flashy pop-up ads get such a bad rep—they show up unannounced and interrupt what the user is viewing. It’s best to run ads that naturally fit in the environment, without being invisible.
In-line text ads for instance, work great because they don’t disrupt the flow of the website’s content and only appear when users hover over them. Overlay ads are another great example because they show up on top of images or videos that are already on the page without having to appear as a different window. You can also try pre-roll ads that play before a video rolls, so your users’ browsing experience isn’t disrupted when they’re in the middle of watching an online clip.
Be cute, funny, or witty – Want to stand out without being a pain or an eyesore? Then be something that you audience actually wants to see. Distractions can sometimes be welcomed—as long as they’re the type of distraction that will amuse or entertain your target.
Be witty on your ads. Don’t be afraid to crack a joke or be a little crazy. Remember what Pringles did to keep users clicking on their ad? Or what about what Samsung and A&F did to spruce up their ads? Look into what’s hot in pop culture or find some industry jokes in your field and inject those elements into your ad campaign. Not only will you be able to entertain your target audience, but you can also be able increase the chances of the ad going viral. If it’s funny or memorable enough, people will share it and your brand can enjoy the great exposure.
Be relevant – Last but certainly not the least, is relevancy. No matter how fancy your ad is, it won’t matter if it isn’t relevant to your customer’s needs, what they’re reading, or what they’re searching for. It’s important that you select the websites and other advertising channels that your audience is into. What are the websites that your customers often visit? Make a list and see if you can advertise on those sites.
When it comes to search, do thorough keyword research before you start bidding. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes and find out what they’re searching for. Want a surefire way to be relevant to the needs and interests of your customers? Then try remarketing, which targets users who have already visited your website. Remarketing is especially effective because it zeroes in on people who have expressed their need or interest in what you have to offer which means that their chances of converting are exponentially higher.
Image credit: theogeo on Flickr
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