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9 Display Ad Examples to Help Shape Your Ad Campaigns

If you are looking to boost your business with a bang, online advertising is a great way to do it. Compared to traditional forms of marketing, such as billboards and commercials, it is also one of the most affordable options. All you need is a great spin, an eye for design, and a marketing message that is going to blow the socks off your target audience.

If you are looking for some inspiration on what kind of ads work and what kinds of ads you can make, then we have the article for you! Check out our display ad examples to get inspired today!

What kind of display ads are there?

Display advertisements can be divided into different format types. Depending on where you’ve chosen to advertise, they are usually displayed on different channels, such as social media platforms or websites within the Google Display Network.

Find out more about Google Display Network Basics in this article!

Here are some common formats you’ll see across channels:

Banner ads

These are usually rectangular-shaped advertisements that can be displayed at the top, bottom, or middle of a website. They are either horizontal rectangles or vertical ones (also known as skyscrapers). Banner ads are usually static, although sometimes you can use a GIF-style graphic to give it a little movement.

Rich media ads

Rich media ads contain some type of engagement, so users can interact with them. There are video and audio options or other advanced features, such as a simple game or a form for the user to fill in.

Video ads

Ads show when a person is watching a video. They either play at the beginning, end, or at some key point. There is another type of video ad, known as an out-stream. They are standalone advertisements and are placed within the text of a webpage.

Native ads

Ads created to look and feel like the media format they are in are called native ads. For example, when a company sponsors the content, or it is in-feed when you are scrolling in your social media.

9 Display ad examples you’ll want to copy

When you’re trying to grasp what to do and what not to do with your display ads, it can become confusing to really know what is effective for your campaign. To help you create effective ads, let’s take a look at three examples of Google Display ads that follow best practices.

1. Visible

Visible is a cell phone provider that gives customers service through an app. They aim to keep costs low, offering cell phone plans for $40 a month with unlimited everything. Their biggest selling point is that you don’t need an annual contract, which most cell phone companies require. They created a display ad to entice their audience to take up their services. Let’s take a look at what makes this Google Display ad powerful and effective. visible display ad example

Why it works:

  • It has style. The style of the ad reflects Visible’s style. The colors align with their brand, which is great for building brand recognition. The text also aligns with their “no contract or commitment” ideology.
  • The call to action (CTA) stands out on the page. CTAs are a crucial element of display ads. On this ad, the CTA is clearly defined in a block. It is also clear to the user that if they click on the ad, they will learn more about Visible’s service.
  • It has minimal text. Visible says what they need to say in two sentences. You get all the information you need to entice you to click on the ad.
  • It has an interesting visual. Since Visible prides themselves on no contracts, they decided to use a visual of an annual contract being shredded and turning into confetti. This is a great visual that shows that people will be celebrating by cutting ties with their contracted phone company and moving towards no contracts or commitments.

Visible’s ad is a great example of what to do with your Google Display ad. It’s visually appealing, gets to the point, and highlights the positives of their brand.

2. Allstate

Allstate is an insurance company that is known for the different types of insurance they offer, such as renters, home, and auto insurance.  Their slogan is “are you in good hands?” which commonly appears in their advertisements in some form. Let’s take a look at a banner ad they did for their accident forgiveness program. all state display ad example

Why it works:

  • It’s simplistic. One of the best things about Allstate’s ad is that it’s simplistic. It simply states, “Accident forgiveness from Allstate.” This ad is easy for the user to understand and gets the point across quickly.
  • It aligns with their brand: Allstate’s color palette is blue and white. This Google Display ad reflects that brand color scheme, which reinforces their brand. They also use their logo, which reinforces their brand further.
  • The CTA pops on the page. Allstate made their CTA stand out on this ad. Your eye is immediately drawn to the orange button that allows you to learn more about their accident forgiveness program. Color contrast is important for emphasizing important parts of your display ad.

Overall, Allstate has a very simplistic but effective ad. It’s one of the best examples of Google Display ads that will inspire your future designs.

3. Fidelity Investments

Fidelity Investments is a multinational financial services corporation. They specialize in financial planning and advice, wealth management, and retirement plans. Here’s a glimpse at a Google Display ad they ran recently. fidelity display ad example

Why it works:

  • It’s eye-catching. This Google Display ad example is a motion display ad that starts off with a phone buzzing and transitions into rolling over your 401k from your old job. The motion of this ad makes it interesting and engaging for viewers.
  • The CTA stands out. The CTA for this ad is very obvious. It stands out on the page compared to the green and black text, which draws people to take action.
  • It has strong selling points. Fidelity chose to focus on important selling points and highlight them in the ad. This makes it an effective visual display that entices people to take advantage of the offer.

Fidelity’s Google Display ad is an example that you can learn and take helpful tips from.

4. LinkedIn

LinkedIn was launched in 2003 as a social media channel for professionals. Individuals can create profiles with all their previous work experience and network with like-minded professionals.

It has also become a hub for recruiters, who now have access to an unlimited number of experts in their fields. Often, individuals can also check out companies’ profiles and vice versa. To further encourage this, LinkedIn created a job section on their site, which enhances the professional experience.
They then advertised that through a banner ad.

Linkedin display ads

Why it works:

  • Powerful message: It answers all the questions you want it to. What does the user want? To find people. What do you want them to do? Be interviewed faster. It’s a simple power message that speaks to the reader.
  • Focused image: The thin white lines within the image encircle the reader’s focus. The image resembles a target, further reinforcing the text of finding people.
  • Logo pop: Green and blue are harmonious colors that work well together. But with the background being a pea-green and the LinkedIn logo being navy blue, your eye is pulled to it. The button below, of “Post a free job” just ties it all together.

5. Adobe

It is not surprising that a company that makes creative, design software would have creative, beautifully designed display ads. Most of Adobe’s products have moved over to a subscription service, which offers users a collection of Adobe software for graphic design, video editing, web development and photography.

Their display ads showcase all they have to offer.

Adobe Creative Examples

Why it works:

  • Bright colors: Adobe’s logo, by default, is red. But, for their display ads, they often invert it, making the ad red and their logo white. Having such a strong color palette ensures users can’t miss it.
  • Eye-catching graphics: As a design company of image manipulating software, you can be sure that we are looking closely at the images used in their ads. They don’t disappoint. Each one pushes the boundary of what is possible with their software.
  • Action-packed: All of their advertising has powerful wording that inspires the user into action. You’ll see words like Soar, Go, Make, Learn and Discover.

6. Airbnb

When you launch an innovative product, there are often features and benefits that are a bit unexpected. That is the case with Airbnb. The obvious benefit is that people staying in homes rather than hotels have more privacy and personalization. A person can also stay in another home while renting theirs.

However, there is an unexpected benefit, which is what Airbnb has focused on in its ad campaign.

AirBnB display ads

Why it works:

  • Focused on USP: Airbnb’s unique selling point (USP) is that, unlike hotels, many people don’t mind if you bring pets into their homes. Airbnb has decided to focus on that one key aspect that separates it from its competitors.
  • Logo use: While others hide the logo in the corner of an ad, Airbnb has incorporated it in the imagery and made it part of their message.
  • Overlay: This ad’s use of an overlay makes it bold and pop on websites that are usually white. They use it to contrast with their text and logo, which are also in white, to make it stand out.

7. Atlassian

Atlassian creates project management software that encourages team productivity and collaboration. Their most popular product is Trello, but they also have BitBucket, Bamboo, and Statuspage, among others. Each one is targeted at different types of users, such as marketing teams or developers

These display ad examples show how they effectively market to these different audiences.

Atlassian display ads

Why it works:

  • Strong branding: Their display ads show a beautiful, strong brand throughout. Their use of brand colors is consistent, ensuring that if you see them anywhere, from a website to a video, you will instantly recognize them.
  • Contemporary: Their designs are always contemporary, using clean and precise single images. Whether it’s an illustration, icon, or photo, it is always a single image with one focus.
  • Little text: Except for one or two ads, you often see Atlassian with very little text. They rely on the fact that users know who they are already, so their ads focus on a new feature or benefit rather than informing the user of what they do.

8. Canva

Canva launched an online platform that made it easy for anybody to create visual content. They have an easy drag-and-drop interface, loads of free resources, and a portfolio of templates for users. It filled a gap where businesses and individuals just wanted to create something nice without needing advanced design skills.

Their display ads are simple and straightforward. They rely on the benefit of being an easy-to-use graphic platform where you can whip up a design in a matter of minutes.

canva advert example

Why it works:

  • Industry knowledge: Their use of the square select tool is something that almost everyone is familiar with. It is used most often in the design industry, and incorporating it in their design makes it feel professional. Even though their users are not professionals, they have access to professional tools.
  • Simplicity: One question entices the user in. It also emphasizes the point that anyone can design on their platform.
  • Images: The use of images around gives the illusion of resources and trends without being a focused part of the ad. They want you to know they are there, but what they are is insignificant for the purpose of their marketing message. The focus is on you and what you want to design.

9. Samsung

Samsung advertising has always aimed to make an impression. Technology advancements and crisp imaging have always been a focus, whether in their monitors, televisions, tablets, or other devices. They always try to convey that their screens and cameras are the best. Their display ads are no exception.

Interestingly, their ads often don’t have a button, as everyone gets their phones and devices from a third party. They are more aimed at spreading the news about the perks of their products.

samsung display ads

Why it works:

  • Brand awareness: Their display ads have always been about brand awareness. Often, there is no CTA —it is more of an educational angle. It is more focused on being aware that its new product is out and what features it offers.
  • Crisp images: If your product is all about taking the best picture or showing the best picture, then a lot of thought has to be on what images you want to show. Samsung often goes with high vibrancy and breathtaking photos that you are inspired to take yourself with their product.
  • Minimal text: With the focus on the beauty of the image, Samsung tends not to use very much text. The text is always secondary and purely exists to support the logo and image.

6 common Google Display Ad mistakes to avoid

When you’re creating your own Google Display ads, it’s important to know what not to do. Let’s take a look at six mistakes to avoid when creating your Google Display ads.

1. Boring ad design

Many companies make the mistake of making their ads too plain. If you want to engage and interest your audience, you need to add a compelling design to your Google Display ads. This doesn’t mean your design has to be outlandish or over the top.

You want a design that looks clean and modern, but it shouldn’t be too one-note. An ad that is all red with white text is very one-note. There is no variety to the ad, and it’s not interesting or engaging for your audience. An ad like this will blend into the page and won’t stand out to your audience.

When you design your ad, you want to create an ad that is intriguing and engaging for your audience. Make it visually appealing, but also ensure it aligns with your brand. You want an ad that reflects your business to help build brand recognition.

2. No visual elements

Not only should your ad have color, but it should also include visual elements. Visual elements make your ad more appealing to your audience. It’s the best way to keep them engaged and interested in your business.

Visual elements add another dimension to your ad. They draw your audience in and get them to look at your ad. Visual elements attract your audience to look at your ad because you have something interesting to look at.

A simple picture or logo can draw your audience into your ad. If you want to have a successful Google Display ad, don’t forget to use visual elements!

3. Vague CTAs

Your CTA is one of the most important elements of your ad. It can make or break whether your audience clicks on your ad or keeps scrolling. It’s essential that you create an interesting and engaging CTA to get your audience to click on your ad.

Don’t stick to generic CTAs like “Click here.” This doesn’t tell your audience what happens if they click on your CTA. You want to keep your audience informed and tell them exactly what happens if they click on your ad. Use CTAs like “learn more” and “sign up today.”

These CTAs tell your audience that if they click on your ad, they’ll learn more about your product or service, or they’ll be taken to a sign-up page to input their information. Your audience will be more likely to engage with these CTAs because they know what will happen when they click on them.

4. Disorganized ads

When you create a Google Display ad, you must have a flow to your design. You want to guide your audience through your ad and ensure they get all the information they need. Many companies make the mistake of creating ads that are disorganized and lack flow.

A disorganized ad is difficult to follow. Your audience won’t know what to look at or what your ad is trying to convey. They may not even take a look at it because it is disorganized and hard to read. If you want to see success with your Google Display ad, keep it organized.

5. Weak content

Your ad content is what gets your audience to click on your ad. If your content is weak and doesn’t entice your audience to click, you won’t generate results with your campaign. You need to fill your ads with information that makes someone want to click on it.

Tell your audience exactly what you’re advertising. Define if it’s a product or service and include your biggest selling point that will resonate with your audience. You want to show your audience why they should click on your ad. It’s important that you focus on what’s important about your product or service.

You don’t want to overload your display ad with text, but you also want to ensure that you get a selling point across. It may take some practice to create an ad that’s well-designed and enticing. If you want to avoid common Google display ad mistakes, focus on creating quality ad content. For some ideas on how to accomplish this goal, check out these ad copy examples!

6. Lack of A/B testing

If you want to put out the best ads for your business, you must test your ads. Many businesses make the mistake of not testing their ads to see what their audience likes. You may think your audience will like a version of your ad, but testing may help you find that it doesn’t resonate well with your audience.

Testing gives you more insight into your audience and what they like or don’t like. You can test a variety of elements on your ad. Test your visuals, color choices, text, CTA, and more.

When you conduct testing, you’ll want to change one element at a time to ensure that you get pure results and know how that specific change affects your ad. By testing your designs, you’ll put out the best version of your Google Display ad.

Start creating effective Google Display ads today

By looking at different examples of Google Display ads, you can get an idea of what you should and should not do. You can learn how to make a more visually appealing and engaging ad.

This will help you create Google Display ads that are more effective for your business. At WebFX, we offer numerous PPC packages that you can use to help your business grow.

You can customize your plan to help your business achieve valuable results and improve return on ad spend (ROAS). If you’re ready to start creating effective display ads on Google, contact us online to see how we can help you create display ads that drive results.

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