How to Make Interactive Banner Ads?

Are your digital ads underperforming in a crowded online space? Interactive banner ads might just be the solution you are looking for. Unlike static traditional ads, interactive banner ads ask users to be part of an experience, increasing interaction and, therefore, delivering better click-through rates. 

In this blog, we will explore the strategic benefits of interactive banner ads, the essential tools required for creating them, and best practices for design. We will also discuss some of the dos and don’ts on how to design an interactive banner ad and make your campaign as effective as possible.

Understanding Interactive Banner Ads

Interactive banner ads redefine user engagement by transforming passive viewers into active participants. Traditional banner ads are usually static images or animations with embedded hypertext links aimed at directing the user to the advertiser’s landing page. However, interactive banner ads have built-in features that enable the user to interact with the ad itself. This may take the form of something simple like hovering for details or mini-gaming to a product customization tool in interactions.

For example, a car manufacturing company can afford to place an interactive ad where individuals can change the color of the vehicle and observe it from different angles. Therefore, it creates an exciting and personal view of the product. 

Tools and Technologies for Creating Interactive Banner Ads

Creating interactive banner ads requires tools that enable designers to incorporate dynamic elements and animation.

Here’s an overview of the leading software and platforms used for crafting engaging interactive ads, along with brief tutorials on how to utilize them effectively.

1. Predis.ai

Predis.ai is an all-in-one digital advertising solution as users can access a fully comprehensive suite of tools needed for creating interactive banner ads. On the platform, there is a powerful banner maker with drag-and-drop and other useful features, such as text-to-speech for dynamic audio and scheduling of content to reach viewers at just the right time.

The platform also has a hashtag generator for better reach and an ad copy generator to generate compelling text. It will integrate design with strategic marketing tools so that your ads will be optimized for better engagement and effectiveness. The platform also offers a handy scheduling tool, allowing you to ideate, design, and publish your ads from a single platform.

Tutorial Tip: Explore Predis.AI’s intuitive design platform to create interactive ads with real-time feedback on performance metrics. Utilize the drag-and-drop functionality to easily incorporate interactive elements like quizzes and sliders that can be customized to match your campaign’s objectives. 

2. Adobe Animate

Adobe Animate is a powerful tool for designing interactive animations for the web. Known for its versatility, it supports multiple outputs including HTML5 Canvas, WebGL, and even custom platforms like Snap SVG.

Tutorial Tip: Start by using Adobe Animate to create vector graphics and animations. You can add interactivity by writing JavaScript directly within the Animate environment to respond to user interactions such as clicks, hovers, and touches. Export your creations as HTML5 to ensure compatibility across all modern web browsers.

3. HTML5

HTML5 is the backbone of today’s web interactivity. It allows designers to build rich and interactive experiences within the browser without the need for plug-ins.

Tutorial Tip: Use the <canvas> element in HTML5 to draw your graphics right on the fly, using user interaction; combine with CSS3 for animations and JavaScript for event handling.

4. Google Web Designer

Google Web Designer is free software for developing interactive HTML5 advertisements and other web content. It is very effective in developing interactive banner ads, mainly because of the simplicity of its user interface and, more so, because it is integrated with Google Ads.

Tutorial Tip: Objects in Google Web Designer can be animated to be interactive by using Timeline. For example, they can move or appear on user interaction. You can directly publish your ads to Google Drive or any DoubleClick campaign.

Designing Interactive Banner Ads: Best Practices

Creating interactive banner ads that capture attention and engage users requires a thoughtful approach to design and interactivity. Here are some of the best practices to ensure that your ads look visually appealing and deliver the optimal user experience:

1. Color and Visual Harmony

Use attention-driven colors. Use bold, contrasting colors that bring out interactivity, but stick to your brand’s palette to remain consistent. The University of Toronto showed that people tend to prefer simple color schemes using only two to three colors. 

2. Typography

Typography should be clear and easy to read while effectively conveying the ad’s message. Use fonts that stand out against the background but are not so fancy that they dominate the legibility of the message. Dynamic text effects can be good attention-grabbers, but keep use to a minimum so the message won’t get too busy or over the top.

3. Imagery and Composition

Use high-quality images that relate directly to your message. Positioning images strategically around interactive elements can guide users’ eyes toward the interactive actions you want them to take.

4. Integrating Interactivity

When adding interactive features, ensure they enhance the ad’s message rather than overwhelm the user. For instance, hover effects, sliders, or interactive games should be intuitive and contribute to the narrative of the ad.

It’s important to keep interactive elements accessible, ensuring they function seamlessly across all devices and screen sizes.

5. User Experience

Maintain a balance between interactivity and simplicity. Overloading an ad with complex interactions can frustrate users. A study by Exponential, as discussed in AdNews, found that interactive video ads significantly enhance user experience, leading to improved brand recall and likelihood of purchase. 

Examples of Successful Interactive Banner Ads

Here are two case studies that illustrate how brands have effectively used interactive banner ads to drive significant engagement and conversions.

1. Nike’s Reactland

Nike created an interactive banner ad that incorporated a video game-like experience called Reactland. This game allowed users to test Nike’s React shoes in a virtual world. Users could control a digital avatar that ran through various landscapes, mimicking the feel of wearing React shoes.

Outcome: This campaign led to a significant increase in user engagement and time spent on the ad, which translated to higher interest in the product.

2. Burger King’s Burn That Ad

Burger King has come up with an exciting use of augmented reality in Brazil, which enables users to ‘burn’ competitors’ advertising right from their smartphone cameras. In a very engaging augmented reality experience, users could point their cameras at billboards, magazine ads.

Once detected by the app, these rival advertisements would visually burn on the user’s screen, exposing a Burger King advertisement underneath, which rewarded them with a free Whopper for their efforts.

Outcome: The campaign was highly successful in diverting attention from competitors’ ads to Burger King, boosting app downloads in-app sales by 54.6%.

What Made These Ads Successful: Both campaigns succeeded due to their ability to integrate interactive elements that were fun and provided value to the user. Want to see similar results?

Use Predis.AI's banner maker to design your own interactive banner ads that capture attention and drive engagement. 

Benefits of Interactive Banner Ads

Interactive banners have taken digital marketing in a new direction. Indeed, the level of activity and conversion has increased quite impressively owing to these ads.

The ads are not static but direct the user to interact with their content, which means more interaction and, therefore, more memorable experiences.

• Increased Engagement: Interactive elements such as games, quizzes, or sliders require some form of interaction and, in this way, inherently increase engagement.
• Higher Click-Through Rates (CTR): Because of the user’s interest, interactivity in an ad soars concerning the likelihood that a consumer will click on it. Interactive ads generate better involvement and increase CTR by more than five times compared to ordinary banner ads.
• Enhanced User Experience and Conversion Rates: Interactivity will add more to the user’s experience, making ads less bothering and more fun. This positive interaction increases the likelihood of conversion. 

Conclusion

Interactive banner ads are a significant leap in digital advertising, somewhere between an engaging idea and apparent effectiveness. As we have seen through this blog, interactive display ads increase user interaction and clicks, eventually improving conversion rates. In times when the digital landscape has sky-rocketed, there is no doubt that the call for those ads that capture and retain consumer attention will rise.

Interactive banner ads are well on their way to becoming the foundation of groundbreaking digital marketing strategies because of their potential and proven engagement capabilities.

Are you ready to future-proof your advertising strategy? Up your campaign game with interactivity in banner ads made on Predis.ai. Sign up today and start creating ads for your audience that attract and genuinely engage.