Free Internet Marketing Lessons

By Julie Frost Copyright 1999

Everyone with a web site should have at least one banner - for banner exchange programs, advertising on other sites, and targeted reciprocal banner exchanges. So, what do you do if you have no experience in creating an eye catching banner? Read on...

Banners are a mini advertisement with ONE purpose - To get the viewer to click on it! (Of course, you may use banners to brand your name or other such uses, but ALL banner creators want the viewers to click their creations!)

Animated banners have proven to be clicked more often, but you have to be careful they don't drag a pages load time down too much, or surfers may be resentful. And we've all seen some animation that was downright ugly, so be careful not to go overboard.

So, how to get people to click your banner, animated or not? Remember some of these key factors:

A quick load time is imperative. People won't wait to see what you banner says, so make sure they don't have too. You can do this by limiting the colors you use in your banner, and by the size of the banner. ("Average" banners are either 400x40 pixels or 468x60 pixels.) Be sure to save your banner as a .gif file (as opposed to a .jpg.)

As mentioned earlier, you want the viewer to CLICK the banner, not read your sales pitch, mission statement, etc. A short one liner with a great incentive for them to click may work best. Don't write: "FREE MONEY - Click Here!" if you're advertising your secretarial service, because such trickery usually only backfires. On the other hand, if you're promoting your expertise in finding lost money, that may not be a bad line.

Some people are turned off if your business name or product name is not in the banner, and will not click through. But I think the majority of people click on banner that grabs their curiosity, so you may or may not want to include this information.

One thing you should include is your URL - IF you own one that is short and memorable! You will be branding your web site address.

Contrasting colors will help your banner stand out. I'm a firm believer in having all of your marketing materials work together, so try to choose colors, and a 'look', that match your web sites own colors and look (as well as your offline marketing materials.).

Writing "Click Here" somewhere on the banner has helped countless banners be clicked on more times then those without. By reminding readers that Yes!, this is a clickable graphic leading to something you're interested in, you'll get that many more hits to your site.

A newer trend is to use things that look like the things we click on our computers everyday - windows to type in, drop-down screens, etc.

Having a nicely designed banner is very important - just as having nicely designed business cards, brochures, flyers, and web sites are of utmost importance. Remember, the key is to get them to click, and look good doing it.

All Contents Copyright © 1999 By Julie Frost.

_________________________________________________
Julie Frost, author of the online booklet, "Start Your Own Home Based Web Design Business", works from home with her two young daughters at her side. You can purchase her online booklet for just $19.95 by sending a blank email to: <mailto:webdesign@yourhomebiz.com> Or visit her site at ht tp://www.your homebiz.com/infomarket/webdesignbiz.html for more information. Email Julie.