BANNER DESIGN
Who Invented Banners? Banner Design and More
Banners are one of the most common and effective forms of online advertising. They are graphical images that appear on websites, social media platforms, and mobile apps, and usually contain a message, a logo, or a call to action. Banners can be used to promote a brand, a product, a service, an event, or a cause. But who invented banners and how did they evolve over time?
The first banner ad was created in 1994 by a company called HotWired, which later became Wired Magazine. The banner was a simple rectangle with the text "Have you ever clicked your mouse right HERE? You will" and a link to an AT&T website. The banner had a click-through rate of 44%, which is much higher than the average rate today. The banner was designed by Joe McCambley, who is considered the father of banner advertising.
Since then, banner design has become more sophisticated and diverse. There are different sizes of banners, depending on the placement and the platform. Some of the most common sizes are:
- 300x250 pixels (medium rectangle)
- 728x90 pixels (leaderboard)
- 160x600 pixels (wide skyscraper)
- 300x600 pixels (half page)
- 320x50 pixels (mobile leaderboard)
Banners can also have different formats, such as static, animated, interactive, or video. Static banners are simple images that do not change or move. Animated banners use GIF or HTML5 to create motion or transitions. Interactive banners allow users to interact with them by clicking, hovering, or scrolling. Video banners play a short video clip or a live stream.
Banners can have different purposes and goals, depending on the advertiser's strategy and target audience. Some of the most common objectives are:
- Brand awareness: to increase the recognition and recall of a brand name or logo
- Lead generation: to collect contact information or sign-ups from potential customers
- Traffic generation: to drive visitors to a website or landing page
- Conversion: to persuade users to take a specific action, such as buying a product or downloading an app
- Retargeting: to remind users who have visited a website or shown interest in a product or service to come back and complete a purchase
To achieve these goals, banners need to have certain elements that make them attractive and effective. Some of the best practices for banner design are:
- Use clear and concise text that communicates the main message and value proposition
- Use high-quality images that are relevant and eye-catching
- Use contrasting colors that stand out from the background and match the brand identity
- Use a clear and visible call to action that tells users what to do next
- Use animation or interactivity sparingly and only if it adds value or enhances the user experience
- Test different versions of banners to see which ones perform better and optimize accordingly
One of the challenges of banner design is to comply with the technical specifications and limitations of different platforms and networks. Some of the factors that affect banner design are:
- File size: banners need to be lightweight and load fast, especially on mobile devices. The recommended file size for banners is usually between 40 KB and 150 KB, depending on the format and network.
- File format: banners need to be compatible with different browsers and devices. The most common file formats for banners are JPG, PNG, GIF, and HTML5.
- File name: banners need to have descriptive and unique file names that indicate the size, format, and content of the banner.
- Dimensions: banners need to fit the available space and aspect ratio of different placements and platforms. The dimensions of banners should match the standard sizes or be responsive to adapt to different screen sizes.
- Resolution: banners need to have high resolution and quality to avoid pixelation or blurriness. The resolution of banners should be at least 72 dpi for web use.
Another challenge of banner design is to avoid creating virus banners or malicious ads that can harm users' devices or data. Virus banners are banners that contain malware or spyware that can infect users' computers or phones when they click on them. Virus banners can also redirect users to phishing websites that can steal their personal or financial information. To prevent virus banners, advertisers and designers should:
- Use reputable and secure platforms and networks to create and distribute banners
- Scan banners for viruses before uploading them
- Avoid using suspicious or unknown sources for images or videos
- Avoid using misleading or deceptive text or images that can trick users into clicking on them
- Monitor banners' performance and traffic regularly and report any suspicious activity
Banners are an essential tool for online marketing and advertising. They can help advertisers reach their target audience, communicate their message, and achieve their goals. However, banner design requires creativity, skill, and knowledge of the best practices and technical specifications. If you need help with banner design, you can contact us today. We will develop a unique and effective banner for your project, according to your needs and preferences. We have a team of experienced and professional banner designers who can create banners of any size, format, and purpose. Whether you need banners for your online store, your blog, your social media, or your email campaign, we can help you. Contact us now and get a free quote.
Fill in the ready technical specifications and send them to us!