A wide variety of brands pop up over time so does the creativity with which they approach their customers. We live in an age of digital branding where ads appear on paper and on-screen and organisations are constantly on the grind to get their message across through effective marketing.
Banner advertisements are a cost-effective strategy adopted by companies to deliver a crisp and succinct idea across with as few words as possible.
That is the point behind banner ads. It is to convey the intent through images peppered with minimal relevant content to drive successful sales.
To formulate a perfect banner ad the ingredients are – to be eye-catching, have a CTA (Call-To-Action), relevant information without any cramming, and simple and interactive elements that are understandable to everyone.
Let’s look at nine creatively crafted banner advertisements examples that have succeeded in making an outstanding campaign.
Apple
When it comes to sleek yet on-point advertising, Apple is at the forefront. The face behind some of the most iconic campaigns emerging during the age of smartphones, Apple has not disappointed in the succeeding years.
Having been outrageously hyped since its inception and turning into a household name over time, Apple has given some top-notch banner ad examples to learn from.
Creators of the Emmy Winning ‘Think Different’ logo, Apple ads have always followed a subtle yet strong layout. Their ads follow a setup of pastel or neutral tones in the background paired with a concise and captivating copy to match.
The banner in the picture shows a pastel pink backdrop with the Apple music logo, paired with the right amount of info and the iTunes app booted on the phone.
Why It Works?
The elements and graphics behind this ad are to the point without any out-of-touch components, as the message reads to convey that there are millions of songs on Apple Music and they offer a demo period for users to try out thus providing a CTA.
This reels in interested people with the prospect of trying the application out before spending an extra dollar on a product they have no clue about. Furthermore, there’s also a nice additional product placement of Apple’s AirPods that peaks curiosities and earns a fast and easy CTR.
Spotify
For any music lover, Spotify has become the ideal platform to access a vast library of songs from artists across the world.
Interested users who wish to not see ads and pay an extra buck can upgrade to the premium version, while the free version runs ads that are quite creative. Spotify ads are known for their creative dialogue and banter that quickly grabs listeners’ attention.
Let’s look at some of Spotify’s banner ad examples.
Why It Works?
The ad uses a simple image with playful and vibrant colours to match the experience of subscribing to Spotify premium. Not to forget the CTA option, included as start trial, get started, get Spotify or get premium.
Relevant imagery is another factor to consider in this display ad as the banner is designed for different subscription options giving room to cater to a specific demographic audience.
For instance, the first advert focuses on the family plan with an image of the family to match, and the necessary elements. Similarly, student plan banners follow a similar suit with the added benefits and a noticeable get premium button to direct the customer.
Another thing to note is the colour contrast between the neon hues and primary colours for the text used to make it pop out.
Zara
The colour scheme is just as crucial as selecting the text or the call to action. Choosing the right colour scheme lies in the intent behind the project or campaign.
If your campaign is centred around being empowering then a palette of bright bold colours like yellow or red are some effective choices to set the tone right.
The purpose behind finding the colour that resonates well with your movement the most is to attract people. Bright colours have always had a positive impact while getting that quick CTR because it’s attractive at a glance.
People scroll through the web for hours on end every day, a bright splash of colour within their vicinity is a great way to not only catch their attention but to call them forward to take an action.
Why It Works?
In the following example, the usage of red colour is a fast way to catch the eye of the scroller. The ‘Open Now’ in white complements and blends the message well with the stark backdrop.
Additionally, the contrast of black against red is another fantastic way to get the user to click on the ‘plan your visit’ which ultimately redirects to Zara’s website where they can peruse or plan their visit to the local Zara store.
Bonus Read: If you wish to create a banner for your business then you can hop on to dive more into the pillars of effective graphic designing.
Samsung
Simplicity can speak volumes, and that is what Samsung achieves with its Samsung Tab S6. An elegant ad with a click-worthy CTA.
Appealing and on the dot with the visuals, Samsung does a fine job of creating value and hype for their product. A tech giant with competitors like Microsoft, Samsung ditches the traditional primary colours and settles for a neutral white that makes their product stand out.
Why It Works?
Boisterous colours can pull the onlookers in but neutral tones add a touch of elegance and chicness to the product on display, just the way Samsung does it for their Tab S6.
As discussed, a good banner ad cuts to chase with clear-cut design and limited text. This ad is an excellent example of an inspiring banner with a minimalist design.
Additionally, the CTA in this image is designed with an equally simplistic style in mind, as a small arrow inside the circle. This is a useful strategy to pique interest by providing required information on the utility and versatility as well as calling buyers to check out the product.
Squarespace
A platform for website hosting and building, Squarespace has been behind the reimagined Super Bowl ad starring Zendaya. The storyline is based on the century-old tongue twister she sells seashells.
What does this have to do with Squarespace? Well, through Squarespace Sally was able to sell her seashells and become a ‘seashell star’. Subsequently, the cut scene displays the tagline ‘everything to sell anything’, which portrays the essence of Squarespace, a place to build your website (everything) to sell anything.
In the same vein, Squarespace has also used some equally witty and charming ad creation strategies to create a simple banner ad that emphasises the purpose of their platform in a handful of words.
Why It Works?
Information is readily available on the internet, people are looking at blogs, news, or social media constantly. An occasional display ad alongside their content can get their attention, so to succeed in doing that a creative banner can get the job done.
In the ad, Squarespace does a fine job of presenting a sultry and serious situation with the main object in the picture resonating with the ad copy. As for the ad copy, it’s highly concise and to the point and gives the user all the information they require in a glance.
The CTA calls to try the service for free which is another lovely addition to generating a good CTR.
Vimeo
With the huge amount of advertisements surrounding every corner of the internet, people can start to ignore them at one point. This poses a challenge for advertisers to come up with marketing strategies that are user-friendly and will bring them to their website.
The answer to the question of effective banner design lies in its simplicity. Minimal ads can be fruitful in gaining that sweet CTR despite contrary beliefs.
No longer are bright colours the standard, because while they have their place in certain projects, minimal are in the same fashion relevant for different kinds of activity.
Why It Works?
The Vimeo ad in the picture is as simple in design as it is easy to understand. The calming pastel background is complemented well by the bold black letters of the ad copy. Going basic is not so bad, as the ad is still appealing because of the lack of an obnoxious or overtly glaring element.
That is the objective behind this ad, to keep it short and brisk by describing the aim behind their business in a single sentence. It informs users of the various feature Vimeo has to offer, such as editing, recording, quality live streaming and ample storage space etc. This clarity is what makes it an excellent banner ad example.
Bonus Read: To create ads for your business that says more without doing much you can check out our tips for creating a banner for your website.
Audible
Audible is an audiobook and podcast service having a massive collection of stories and audio content. In the fast-paced culture of today’s world, reading books isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. That’s the reason why auditory content has made an impressive turnover.
Content that is heard is easy to digest and can be accessed while multitasking, this flexibility is what makes it a popular choice.
To make a successful outreach program informing people about new features or other promotions or introducing your brand to your future customers you need a banner ad.
Why It Works?
Let’s look at a good banner ad example by Audible. A combination of light and vibrant blue for the background, topped with an effective ad copy makes this banner easy to understand with a glance.
The contrasting colour choice used for the CTA button pops it out and makes it look attractive. Another thing to note is the bolded save 66% discount which does a nice job of piquing the purchaser’s interest.
Ridge
The idea behind effective marketing lies in how well brands communicate their concept. Witty one-liner taglines or punchlines are a solid way to embed the brand into the consumer’s mind.
Another trick is to use tools as seen in Ridge’s banner ad.
Why It Works?
The ad focuses on killing two birds with one stone. How? By juxtaposing the problem of the old-fashion wallet and the solution, the Ridge wallet.
It calls on users to act to ditch their previous wallets and go for something with utility the same as the old one along with the bonus of looking slicker, compact and easy to fit anywhere.
The colour palette for the ad on the other hand is a classy choice that enhances the elegance and simplicity of the ad.
Adobe
When it comes to using top-quality visuals Adobe is first in line. This is why Adobe’s banner ads do a fantastic job at making their advertisements click-worthy.
Why It Works?
High-quality images paired with complementary text that fits beautifully with the pictorial description make any ad extremely attractive.
Adobe does great in showcasing the software’s editing features for photographers, editors or videographers by comparing the two images in an after and before fashion.
One image shows the original copy while the other shows the edited version after the artist is done working on it.
This is effective in describing how pre-footage or pictures can be worked on with great precision to look the best.
Bonus Read: A good ad is an amalgamation of all its elements, take a quick look at how to recognise the essential design elements for your business.
Verdict
To sum up, banner ads provide a route for customers to connect with your brand through creatively brief adverts catered to their interests.
Whether you just started or have dipped your toes in this scene previously there’s no denying that a well-articulated display advertisement can have an immense conversion rate and high click-through rate.
But not to forget, creating a good banner ad lies in connecting with your audience and bringing value to the experience they have with your product.