Display Ads: A Witty Guide to the Different Types for Niche Sites

by Joost Nusselder | Updated on:  11/12/2022

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Display ads? You’ve probably heard of them, but do you really know what they are and how to use them for maximum impact?

Display ads come in many forms: vignette, sticky sidebar, floating video, anchor and in content. Each type has unique characteristics that can help your niche site earn more from each pageview.

In this blog post we’ll explore the different types of display ads so you can make an informed decision about which one is right for your needs!

What are display ads

What Is Display Advertising?

Display advertising is a form of online marketing that uses visuals to attract the attention of potential customers.

It involves placing ads on websites, social media platforms, or other digital mediums to generate clicks and conversions.

Display ads can be text-based, image or video advertisements that encourage users to take action (e.g. make a purchase).

Most display and online advertising campaigns are charged on a cost-per-click (CPC) basis, meaning every time someone clicks the ad, you’ll get an amount based on the amount of bidding done for your ad placement.

This type of advertising is also used for retargeting campaigns, which involve serving ads to people who have already visited a specific website to “retarget” them and encourage them back into the funnel at different stages.

So display adds could be targeted towards your topic, the sort of person that is visiting your site, or the sites they have previously visited.

When it comes to creating effective display ad campaigns there are several factors that need consideration such as developing engaging creative content, targeting the right audience and optimizing ad placements for maximum results.

Also read: how I increased display ad revenue by 90% with this Adsense alternative

Types of display ads for your niche site

Vignette Ads

Vignette ads are a type of display ad that appears on the edge of a website or page, usually in the form of an image.

They can be used to promote products and services, as well as draw attention to specific content.

Vignettes are typically placed in between page loads and often include animation or interactive elements.

Benefits of Vignette Ads

Vignette ads can provide a lot of additional revenue for a site because there’s no way for a visitor not to view them. They are a complete takeover of the page in between loading pages.

They work especially well on sites where users have a lot of pageviews, like on my site about cat names.

They are very obtrusive though and are not a very good user experience.

Sticky Sidebar Ads

Sticky sidebar ads are display ads that “stick” to the side of a web page, even when users scroll down.

This allows for maximum visibility and exposure for the advertisement.

These types of ads can only be used on desktop devices because they work best on larger screens such as desktops or perhaps tablets.

Benefits of Sticky Sidebar Ads

The main benefit of sticky sidebar ads is their increased visibility.

Because these ads remain in view regardless of how far down the user scrolls, they have more potential to be seen than other display ads, which may not always stay in view.

Additionally, sticky sidebar ads can help increase click-through rates since users don’t have to search around for them; they are right there in plain sight!

Key Takeaway: Sticky sidebar ads are an effective way to increase visibility and click-through rates for display ads. The main benefits of this type of ad placement include increased visibility, higher potential for clicks, and earnings.

Floating Video Ads

Floating video ads are display ads that appear as an overlay on top of the content. These ads appear as a small, rectangular window with a video playing inside it.

The floating video ad will remain visible even when the user scrolls down or away from the page, allowing for more visibility and engagement than traditional banner ads.

Benefits of Floating Video Ads

Floating video ads offer several advantages over other types of display advertising.

They have higher click-through rates due to their larger size and eye-catching visuals, they can be used to target specific audiences based on their interests or demographics and usually provide revenue for the view alone, not only when someone clicks on it.

Anchor Ads

Anchor Ads are a type of display ad that is placed at the bottom of an article or page.

They are typically used to promote products, services, and other content related to the topic being discussed on the page but ad networks offer them as well.

Anchor Ads are designed to be unobtrusive yet effective in driving clicks and conversions.

They can be static images, GIFs, videos, text-based ads, or any combination thereof.

The purpose of anchor ads is to draw attention without disrupting user experience by appearing as part of the natural flow of content on a webpage or article.

Benefits Of Anchor Ads

The main benefit of anchor ads is their ability to drive clicks and conversions without interrupting the user experience.

Since they appear at the bottom of an article or page, users can still easily read the content.

They also work on mobile devices, unlike sticky sidebar ads.

In Content Ads

In content ads are a type of display ad that appears within the body of an article or blog post.

They’re typically placed in between paragraphs, images, and other pieces of content to ensure they don’t disrupt the user experience (too much).

These ads can be static images, videos, GIFs, or even interactive elements like polls and quizzes.

Benefits of In Content Ads

In content ads offer marketers several advantages over traditional banner placements on webpages.

For one thing, they blend seamlessly into the page design without disrupting the flow of content for readers.

Additionally, since these ads appear within relevant articles and posts related to the offerings.

They can be obtrusive though, especially if too many ads are present on a page.

What Are the Benefits and Downsides to Display Advertising?

Display advertising is a great way to earn passive income from your niche site. They can be displayed on your site and are refreshed with new offers and advertisements automatically.

They require no upkeep, unlike affiliate links where products go out of stock and you have to manually replace them with new offers.

They also allow you to monetize pages that are completely informational in nature. Pages where an affiliate product would not make sense.

They can be obtrusive though and no matter how few you put on your page, they have an effect on user experience.

They also slow down your page a lot causing it to take longer to load, also negatively affecting user experience.

And they offer a way for users to click away from your site and brand. Clicks from display ads do provide revenue, but that could be a lot lower than from selling your own products or services.

Display Ads Versus Native Ads

Display ads and native ads are two popular strategies for online marketing.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to understand the differences between them before deciding which one is right for your business.

Display Ads are traditional banner-style advertisements that appear on websites or in apps. They usually feature a company logo, product image, headline text, and a call-to-action button.

Display ads can be used to drive traffic to your website or app, generate leads, increase brand awareness, or promote special offers.

The main advantage of display advertising is its wide reach; you can target users across multiple platforms with just one ad campaign.

However, they can also be expensive and intrusive if not done correctly.

Native Ads are designed to blend in with the other content on a page rather than stand out like display ads do.

They often look like regular user posts but will include the word “sponsored” somewhere to minimize deception.

Native advertising has become increasingly popular as people respond better when an advertisement isn’t an ad – plus it’s harder for users with ad blocking software enabled to detect them!

On the downside though, native advertisers risk hiding their brand logo too well which could lead readers forgetting who posted it after reading the message – making all that effort pointless.

FAQs in Relation to What Are Display Ads?

What are display ads examples?

Display ads are advertisements that appear on websites, typically in the form of banners or boxes. They can be static images, GIFs, videos, and more. Examples include banner ads at the top or bottom of a webpage; pop-up ads that appear when you visit a website; interstitial ads that take up the entire screen before allowing access to content; and native advertising which is designed to blend in with website content. Display ads can also be used for retargeting campaigns where users who have already visited your site are served targeted display adverts as they browse other sites online.

What does display ads mean?

Display ads are advertisements that appear on websites, apps, and other digital media. They can come in many forms such as text, images, videos, audio or even interactive elements. Display ads are typically used to promote a product or service and drive traffic to a website or landing page. They are usually targeted towards specific audiences based on factors like demographics and interests. Display ads offer marketers the opportunity to reach potential customers with highly relevant messages at scale.

What are the 4 types of display ads?

1. Banner Ads: These are the most common type of display ads, and they appear as rectangular or square graphics at the top, bottom, or sides of a webpage. They can be static images or animated GIFs that link to a website when clicked on.

2. Video Ads: These are typically short videos that play automatically when a user visits a website. They often feature sound and motion graphics to capture attention and drive engagement with the brand’s message.

3. Rich Media Ads: This type of ad is more interactive than other forms of display advertising, allowing users to interact with elements like audio clips, video players, games, polls and surveys within an ad unit itself without leaving the page they’re viewing it on.

4. Native Ads: Native ads blend in seamlessly with content surrounding them by matching its look and feel so that users don’t recognize them as advertisements right away – making them less intrusive than traditional banner ads while still driving clicks to desired destinations for marketers

What are display ads on social media?

Display ads on social media are digital advertisements that appear within the content of a website or app. They typically feature visuals, such as images and videos, along with text and other interactive elements. Display ads can be used to promote products or services, drive traffic to websites, build brand awareness, and generate leads for businesses. They’re an effective way for marketers to reach their target audience in an engaging manner across multiple platforms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, display ads are an effective way to reach your target audience and boost your online presence.

With the right ad placements like vignette, sticky sidebar, floating video, anchor or in content ads you can make sure that you earn enough from your niche site.

Also read: this is my income report with how much I earn from Ezoic display ads and affiliate revenue

Joost Nusselder is The Content Decoder, a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new tools en tactics. He's been working on a portfolio of niche sites since 2010. Now since 2016 he creates in-depth blog articles together with his team to help loyal readers earn from their own succesful sites.