In doing business, marketing one’s products and services is very important. This helps in raising awareness of what you do and what you’re offering to consumers. And this applies to all types of businesses whether online or offline.
One of the most vital forms of marketing is the banner advertising. In fact, the online version is an offshoot of the traditional form which uses real banners bearing information including images and logos of a business or company. The traditional ones including the pvc banners is still very much alive today anywhere in the world and most often utilized as promotional materials during events.
Online, banner advertising is also very much present and are used on websites and blogs. Most often, they are seen on top of a web page although they are also used in the middle part or in the bottom of the page.
Benefits to be Gained
Banner advertising provides several benefits to businesses foremost of which is its low cost. Whether a company opts for the pay per click or flat rate payment, it only has to spend a few dollars on a monthly basis to get the company banner out on hundreds of websites or pay a minimal amount for every visitor that clicks through the banner.
The ability to get an internet user’s attention is another advantage. As banners usually have appealing graphics, there is a possibility of attracting a great volume of visitors.
Finding targeted audiences is also a benefit. Unlike using link exchange or article submission on websites, banner ads enable companies to choose the kind of websites on which they want to appear. This means, there is a greater chance of attracting your preferred target audience through websites that cater to them.
Being able to establish brand recognition is another plus. With this type of marketing tool, businesses can still promote their brands even if internet users don’t click on the banner. Marketing experts point out that banner ads are effective in transforming potential customers from “unawareness of a product or service to top-of-mind awareness which means the brand comes first in a buyer’s mind.”
History of Online Banners
Banner ads online date back to more than two decades ago. It was in October 1994 when the first banner went live on hotwired.com and for the four following months, 44 percent of people who saw it clicked on the ad.
Compared today, the banners of the past had more clicks with 10 impressions. Experts have noted that the first banners had more edge than the modern digital ads these days in terms of being an integrated marketing campaign, providing a great experience and created with good intentions for consumers.