If you’re looking for inspiration from examples of successful display ads to drive awareness of your product or service, it’s important to have a solid understanding of what display ads are and how they can be used effectively so you can understand which of the 7 examples that I will list in this article are the most suitable for the product or service you intend to promote.
Google Display Network is one of the most popular options for display advertising, as it offers access to a wide range of Google sites, including YouTube, Gmail, Blogger, and Google Finance, as well as mobile sites and applications. By using this platform, you can reach a large number of users across different channels and devices, making it an ideal option for businesses looking to expand their reach.
One of the key benefits of display advertising is the ability to create visually appealing ads that capture users’ attention and encourage them to engage with your brand. There are a variety of different formats available, including static images, animated gifs, and video ads, each of which can be customized to suit your specific needs and goals.
To get started with display advertising, it can be helpful to look at examples of successful campaigns from other businesses and brands. This can give you a better sense of what works and what doesn’t, and help you to develop a more effective strategy for your own campaigns.
Some examples of display ads to promote awareness of a product or service include dynamic ads that showcase your products in action, interactive ads that encourage users to engage with your brand, and personalized ads that are tailored to individual users based on their browsing behavior and interests.
Ultimately, the key to success with display advertising is to be creative, strategic and focused on your target audience. By creating compelling, visually appealing ads that speak directly to the needs and interests of your target audience, you can build brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, and ultimately increase your bottom line.
7 Examples of Great Display Ads
Sometimes, when you have to develop a new project, you don’t know where to start. And what better help can you have than to analyze some of the best examples of display ads that some companies have used to promote awareness of their product or service? They will not only serve as a guide but also as inspiration.
Here are 7 very varied examples of this discipline to learn the basics. Starting from here, you can build your successful display ad campaigns.
1. Apple TV – Surprisingly Simple
You have probably heard the phrase “less is more” many times, and Apple TV knows how to apply this concept to its display campaign. By using little text, actually a sort of headline, it manages to capture users’ attention. But this is possible thanks to the use of emojis, elements that replace some letters and give life to the ad.
This is an ad for an Apple TV gift card, in which they highlight the colors and use four words in their copy. They seem like few words to get users’ attention. But the reality is that they have selected the right keywords to attract potential customers.
Also, adhering to the trend born in times of the pandemic, it invites its users to stay at home and watch movies, instead of going to the cinema. All of this is accompanied by a call-to-action with a basic call: “More information“. But what stands out about this button is its blue color which contrasts perfectly with the rest of the chosen colors.
Their ad focuses on the versatility of the gift card and how it can be used, whether it’s buying music, movies, or other entertainment on multiple devices. And it shows that by using emojis in the text, you can increase the CTR of your ads.
It’s a great way to stand out without being annoying.
2. Geico – Noticeable colors
Do you want to promote your products or services in an interesting way? Here’s what Geico, a brand that also values colors, did. In addition, it uses icons to represent the different insurance services, such as auto or home policies.
The company uses brand awareness in the display ad. It does so with the aim of promoting a better quality policy that is also more economical for both auto and home.
It not only uses contrasting colors and graphics but also a sentence that undoubtedly captures users’ attention: “Combine auto and home“. In their design, they match the creativity of the ad with its size. They undoubtedly use the right banner to spread their new product or service.
3. Lexus – Inspirational image
One of the best examples of display ads is from the prestigious automotive brand Lexus. This creativity immediately captures the user’s attention with a truly suggestive image, featuring a feminine look. Using a human face is an excellent technique if done correctly.
But what do eyes have to do with this car brand? Why use this indirect strategy to market your product? The reality is that they are promoting one of their innovations, which goes beyond the car itself. This is the new speaker system for your Lexus ES.
Perhaps in the ad, this aspect is not very clear, but the call to action invites you to unleash your curiosity by clicking on the button. So the user is redirected to a landing page with a video about human hearing and sound design.
It is likely that if the ad were directed to a static landing page, full of text with details about cars and engines, it would not be equally effective. In this way, advertising and video content work together to reinforce the image of Lexus as a brand that innovates.
4. Merrell – Experience it for yourself
Images can have a very positive effect on people if used correctly. An example of this is reflected in the advertising of the shoe brand Merrell, where they promote their new footwear. They use the phrase “ready for the road,” preceded by a photograph of the product.
What is striking is that it is not a photograph on a neutral background, but rather it corresponds to the words. Behind the shoes, you can see a kind of forest, and the article is on a felled trunk. This image produces emotions in the viewer to make them experience it firsthand.
Probably, this display ad promises the hiking experience, not so much the product itself. But for this activity, you will surely need special footwear, such as Ontario boots.
5. SEMrush – Creative and colorful images
SEMrush demonstrates that a professional photograph is not always necessary to launch a display ad. In this case, they chose to use a very suggestive image because of its colors, in which yellow and fuchsia stand out, matching the turquoise blue background.
You can see an hourglass with a chess piece inside and a person next to it. All of this is accompanied by the title “7 competitive insights you can get in 30 minutes.” This gives meaning to the graphics that appear in the ad.
It should be noted that in this banner ad, the company uses intelligent graphics to scale the SERP through a chain of links. That is, thanks to the animations, it is possible to use the text in a readable format and, in turn, capture the user’s attention with movement.
6. Workplace – Animations and benefits
Another example of display ads is Workplace, which uses animations, some transitions, and simple text. Take this opportunity to showcase the three most relevant advantages that managers and entrepreneurs can obtain.
When designing a banner like this, you have the opportunity to add different elements that complement the display ad. Whereas if you were to do it in a static format of the same size, it would not be the same because you would have very little space available for so much information.
Therefore, it is interesting to note that an animation is an option that can be very useful in conveying more information to potential customers. It is not just about catching attention but providing data that may interest the user.
7. Square – Applying the KISS principle
Have you ever heard of the KISS principle? It states that most systems work best if they are kept simple. Hence the term, which is an acronym for “Keep it simple, stupid.” Therefore, simplicity is believed to be a key design objective. In other words, it doesn’t need to be revolutionary to be effective.
Square shows that one of the keys to a successful campaign can be to keep things simple. It works with a minimalist and sober design, white background, and black letters with a call to action in blue. All are accompanied by a simple but suggestive image of the product it offers.
This creativity works with a very aesthetic and simple order that is divided as follows:
- Logo.
- Brand.
- Benefit.
- Followed by a call to action and a photo of the product.
With these seven examples of display ads, you can already have a clearer idea of how you can create your campaigns. It is about working with a design that fits your brand and what it represents. But at the same time, it helps when it comes to obtaining conversions.
