What is a banner ad?
A banner ad is an image advertisement shown in a fixed-size space on a website, such as across the top of a page or in the sidebar. When a visitor clicks it, they go to a page you choose: your shop, an offer, a sign-up form. Banner ads are one of the simplest forms of online display advertising, and they work well for building awareness and sending visitors to a specific page.
Buying a banner ad in seven steps
Decide what the ad should achieve
Pick one goal: sales of a product, sign-ups, bookings or simply getting your name known. A single goal makes every other choice easier, from the image to the page people land on.
Choose the landing page
Send clicks to the page that matches the ad, not your home page. If the banner advertises a spring sale, link to the sale. People who land exactly where they expected are far more likely to act.
Pick an ad size
The 300×250 medium rectangle is the safest first choice because it fits every screen. Add a 728×90 leaderboard for desktop reach or a 320×50 mobile banner for phones. Our banner ad size guide compares all eight sizes.
Design the banner
Use one short headline, your logo and a clear button such as "Book now". Export it at the exact pixel size as a PNG, JPEG, GIF or WebP, and keep the file small so it loads instantly. The size guide has more design tips.
Add tracking to your link
Add UTM tags to the address you enter, for example
?utm_source=bannerpromote&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=spring-sale. Tools such as Google Analytics then show exactly how many visits and sales the banner brought in.Order and pay
On the order page, choose your placement, upload the banner and enter your link. You will see a preview on a sample page, then pay by card or PayPal: $10 for 30 days.
Go live and measure
Our team reviews your banner, usually within one business day, and your 30-day run starts the moment it is approved. Check your analytics each week; if one message or size performs better, use it for your next run.
How to advertise on other websites
You have three main options. You can contact a website owner directly and negotiate a deal, which takes time and usually has a minimum. You can use a large ad network, which reaches many sites but involves bidding, targeting settings and ongoing management. Or you can use a self-serve service like BannerPromote, where you choose a placement, pay a flat price and upload your banner. For most small businesses starting out, self-serve banner advertising is the quickest way to get an ad live on relevant websites.
Common banner ad mistakes to avoid
- Too much text. If it takes more than a glance to read, most people won't.
- No call to action. Tell visitors what to do: "Shop now", "Get a quote", "Try it free".
- Wrong dimensions. A banner that is not the exact size of the ad space can't be used.
- A slow or mismatched landing page. Check the link on your phone before you order.
- Judging too early. Give a banner its full run before deciding whether it works.
Is banner advertising worth it for a small business?
Banner ads are a low-cost way to be seen by people who don't know you yet, and flat-rate pricing makes the cost predictable: you can test an idea for the price of a lunch and keep only what works. They are most effective with a clear offer, a matching landing page and a way to measure results, exactly the steps above. See banner ad pricing or the FAQ for details.