As much as 92% of online ads aren’t even noticed. With numbers like that, it’s clear that creating effective website ads requires some skill.
Fortunately, you don’t need to know it all before you begin. In fact, you’ll never know it all. Instead, your goal should be to learn the basics, experiment, and stay inspired.
Keep reading for nine great website banner ideas to get you started—and to keep you stocked with fresh ideas.
Informative Website Banner Ideas
When it comes to online banner ideas, it pays to showcase your product or service. That could be as simple as a high-resolution image of your product. Add a call-to-action (CTA) like “read more” or “next” to keep your users engaged and moving forward.
Stylistic Banner Fonts
When learning how to design a banner, you’ll hear strong opinions about fonts. Some people have strict rules about font usage. Others say those rules were meant to be broken.
As a general guideline, it’s good to start conservatively. Look at the most common fonts in your industry. Pick one or two to use in your banner ideas, play with size and emphasis, and then start to branch out when you’re comfortable with the fundamentals.
Word Art
Text design can go further than just font choice. Some design ideas leave out graphics entirely. Instead, they treat the words themselves as primary visual components. Some of the most recognizable company logos leverage this principle to the max.
Iconography in Banners
Banner ideas can also combine the clarity of words with the visual impact of images. This can even be done without using words or images. Instead, you can use icons—or even emoji—to illustrate the main ideas of your banner. This approach can get across the key ideas without requiring your users to read much.
Bright Colors
In website design, bright colors can be great—or they can be an eyesore. To avoid driving your users away, keep bright colors to a minimum. But that doesn’t mean you should avoid them entirely. A little splash of color can add character and emphasis without sacrificing esthetics.
Animated Banners
In the world of banner ideas, animated banners can be controversial. Users sometimes find animations distracting—but others respond positively to them. Often, it depends on the context and other factors.
If you’re curious about animated banners, mix it up. For example, try animations that repeat on a loop and animations that happen only once.
Simple and Timeless Website Design
Banner ads don’t have to be complex or highly informative. In all kinds of design—including website design—simple is often best. A simple design can avoid overwhelming users, and as a bonus, it’s easy to maintain. Simple designs are easier to update, and they also require less-frequent updates to keep up with design trends.
Reference Common Experiences
If you’re trying to get a user’s attention, it helps to remind them of something they already know. For example, let’s say you’re selling running shoes. Rather than explaining the benefits of your brand, you can use an appealing image of running shoes. Then use your text space to bring out the positive emotions your users already have about health.
Contrast
There are different ways to create visual contrast. You could start with a black-and-white image, then add a large and colorful CTA button. This way, users won’t be distracted or confused about what they’re supposed to focus on.
Keep Experimenting
These website banner ideas are plenty to get you started. Ultimately, what works and what doesn’t may require some testing. You could also find that a banner that previously worked just doesn’t work anymore. Once again, testing is your best friend.
Do you have a banner idea to share? Leave it below in the comments! Also, remember to look around the site for articles on travel, product reviews, and more.
