Online Advertising Standards- When it comes to advertising your business, you have a lot of options. With so many different platforms, it can take time to figure out where to start when it comes to advertising. So, where should you advertise your business? The answer is: It depends on who your target audience is and what type of marketing you want to do. If you’re starting online advertising, you may not know all the ins and outs yet. But you should still explore the world of advertising via the web. After all, sooner or later, you’ll probably encounter those dreaded ads for businesses that aren’t interested in having their services advertised. Let’s look at some of the basics of online advertising standards and how they affect advertisers and websites alike.
What are online advertising standards?
Online advertising standards are the rules and regulations that govern what can and cannot be put in an online ad. Whether you’re creating content for your website or using a third-party ad network, specific rules must be followed. You can’t run ads that are deceptive, inappropriate, don’t follow the correct format, or don’t follow the right length. All advertising platforms (be they Google, Facebook, or AdWords) have their standards. However, they all have common goals regarding how ads can be presented. For example, a misleading ad that promises to make everyone rich is not allowed. However, a legitimate ad that shares the advantages of investing can be allowed.
Why is it essential to follow online advertising standards?
Online Advertising Standards- As annoying as it is to see ads that don’t follow the rules, it’s also bad for business. Most online ads are usually associated with the advertiser’s website, which can seriously dent your reputation if you end up with an ad that needs to be compliant. If a user receives an advertisement on Facebook that is irrelevant to them, they may click on the ad and find your website, perhaps with dire consequences. In addition, you’re also more likely to get clicks if your ads follow the rules. A study by Brightroll found that 96% of users expect ads to follow the standards.
Which Online Advertising Standards Should You Follow?
The following are the most relevant online advertising standards to the online marketing world. If your ad follows these standards, it may get blocked by ad networks and result in higher clicks. Additionally, if your ads violate these standards, you may soon be blocked from Google advertisements. – Doesn’t mislead or deceive – One of the most common things advertisers get blocked for is misleading or deceptive ads. You can’t put up a misleading or false ad or claim to give a specific result when you don’t. – Doesn’t encourage illegal or harmful activities – This one probably surprises the most ad-dependent humans, but it’s genuine. Placing an ad where someone is encouraged to do illegal activities, or encourage others to do so, can get your ad banned. – Doesn’t break laws – This one can be tricky, but you want to avoid breaking any laws that may apply to your ad. For example, if you’re in the business of running ads that encourage people to gamble, don’t break any laws. It’s not worth getting your ads blocked because they may have been too risky. – Doesn’t have inappropriate or offensive content – We all know that you shouldn’t make people feel uncomfortable with your ads or post content that is inappropriate or offensive in any way.
Some ad formats that don’t meet advertising standards
The most common type of ad that doesn’t follow the rules is a pop-up or a pop-under ad. Also known as interstitial ads, these ads are a massive pain for users as they have to close the window to move on with their day. Interstitial ads can also get blocked if they’re not suitable for the platform. For example, they won’t be allowed if you’re on a website with a pop-under ad. And if you’re on a mobile platform, you will likely see a native ad. Native ads are served from the publisher’s site and look like content. Unlike interstitial ads, native ads can’t get blocked as they blend in with the content.
The three main types of advertising you should follow.
– Lead generation ads – These ads feature a special offer that leads you to receive a phone call from a salesperson who will try to upsell you on additional products. – Product placement ads – These ads feature products you may be interested in buying. For example, an advertisement for car insurance may feature a car. – Reward ads – These ads are similar to product placement ads, except that you earn points for completing tasks such as watching a video.
The pros of adhering to standards
– Better chances of getting more clicks on your ads. Click-through rates (CTRs) are typically much higher when ads follow the standards. – Better impressions on your ads mean you have a better chance of getting a user to your website. – Better brand image, as your ads will be more relevant to the website’s audience if they follow standards. – Better chance of getting banned from Google ads, which can cost you a lot of money.
The cons of adhering to standards
– Having to change your advertising strategy if your ads need to follow the standards. – Paying more for online advertising, as many ad networks charge fees for ads that follow standards. – Having to spend longer revising and editing your ads, as they may need to follow the standards. – Having to deal with more negative reviews, as many people block the ads that violate standards.
Conclusion
Advertising can be a great way to promote your product or service. But the problem is that many companies need to follow the proper guidelines when advertising. As a result, they end up with ads that violate online advertising standards. And as we all know, breaking these standards could mean that your ads get blocked. So what exactly are these standards, and how can you ensure you don’t violate them in your online ad campaigns? Let’s look at what measures are, why they’re essential, and how you can make sure you follow them.