What are the different ad types? And when should I use them?

In today’s digital age, advertising is one of the most important tools businesses have to promote their products or services. With so many different ad types available, it can be overwhelming to decide which one(s) to use for your business. In this post, we’ll be discussing the various types of ads available, what they’re best used for, and where to set them up. As a disruptive and strategic marketing agency, we’ve worked with a variety of businesses across different industries and have experience in implementing successful ad advertising campaigns which deliver results. So, whether you’re new to advertising or looking to expand your current ad strategy, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s an overview of the different ad types commonly used in digital marketing, along with what they are best used for:

Search ads

Search ads are the most common type of online advertising. They are text ads that appear at the top or bottom of search engine results pages (SERPs) when a user types in a relevant keyword. These ads are best used for driving traffic to your website from people who are organically searching for your product or service.

To set up search ads, you’ll need to create a Google Ads accountand set up a search campaign. From there, you’ll select your targeting options, write your ad copy, and set your bidding strategy. Your ads will then appear on search engine results pages when users search for your chosen keywords.

Display ads

Display ads are visual ads that appear on websites within Google’s Display Network. They can be images, videos, or interactive ads. Display ads are best used for building brand awareness, reaching a wide audience, and retargeting users who have already visited your website.

To set up display ads, you can also use Google Ads and create a display campaign. You’ll need to select your targeting options, create your ad creative, and set your bidding strategy. Your ads will then appear on websites within the Google Display Network.

Video ads

Video ads are short video clips that play before or during YouTubevideos, or on other video platforms. They can be skippable or non-skippable, and can be used for building brand awareness, showcasing your product or service, or driving conversions.

To set up video ads, you can use Google Ads or YouTube Ads. You’ll need to select your targeting options, create your video ad creative, and set your bidding strategy. Your ads will then appear before or during videos on YouTube or other video platforms.

Social media ads

Social media ads are ads that appear on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTokand LinkedIn. These ads can be text, image, or video-based, and can be used for a variety of objectives, such as building brand awareness, driving website traffic, or generating leads.

To set up social media ads, you’ll need to create an account on the platform(s) you want to advertise on (such as Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn). From there, you can create an ad campaign, select your targeting options, create your ad creative, and set your bidding strategy.

Native ads

Native ads are ads that blend in with the content on a website, making them less disruptive to the user experience. They can appear as sponsored content on social media or as recommended articles on news websites. Native ads are best used for building brand awareness and reaching a specific target audience.

To set up native ads, you can use a native advertising platform such as Outbrainor Taboola. You’ll need to create your ad creative and choose your targeting options. Your ads will then appear on publisher websites alongside other content.

Shopping ads

Shopping ads are product-based ads that appear on Google’s search engine results pages and Google Shopping. They include an image, product title, price, and other product details, and are used to promote and sell products online. Shopping ads are best used for e-commerce businesses that want to drive sales and promote their products directly to interested users.

To set up shopping ads, you’ll need to create a Google Merchant Centeraccount and upload your product feed. From there, you can create a shopping campaign in Google Ads, select your targeting options, and set your bidding strategy.

Retargeting ads

Retargeting adsare ads that target users who have already interacted with your website or products. They can be displayed on various platforms, including search engines, social media, and other websites. Retargeting ads are best used for driving conversions and re-engaging users who have already shown interest in your brand.

To set up retargeting ads, you’ll need to create a retargeting audience by adding a tracking code to your website. From there, you can create a retargeting campaign on platforms such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads, select your targeting options, create your ad creative, and set your bidding strategy.

Interstitial ads

Interstitial ads are full-screen ads that appear between content, such as between levels of a mobile game or before accessing a website’s content. They can be image or video-based and are best used for promoting new products or services, building brand awareness, or driving conversions.

To set up interstitial ads, you can use a mobile ad network such as AdMob. You’ll need to create your ad creative and set your targeting options. Your ads will then appear within mobile apps or websites.

Audio ads

Audio ads are ads that play during a podcast or music streaming service, such as Spotify. They can be in the form of pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll ads and are best used for building brand awareness or promoting a specific product or service.

To set up audio ads, you can use a platform such as Spotify Ad Studio. You’ll need to create your ad creative, select your targeting options, and set your bidding strategy. Your ads will then play during podcast or music streaming services.

Choosing the right ad type for your business depends on your marketing objectives, target audience, and budget. It’s essential to consider these factors when deciding on an ad type and to test and optimise your ads for maximum performance. If you want more expert advertising advicefrom a leading PPC agency, get in touch with Next Chapter and let’s start a projecttogether.