Internet Banner Advertising

For years, Internet banner advertising was the rage in the marketing world. Advertisers commanded large sums for the creation and publishing of banners. Now, advertisers sell banners for pennies per view and some people may wonder if there is any use for this form of promotion. Yet upon closer examination of the situation, it is clear that banner ads can play a significant part in advertising campaigns. The low cost of Internet banner advertising make this a useful tool for helping to determine the appeal of a product or service within a specific market. The flexibility of this tool allows it to be adapted to the required situation quickly and easily, which is important in today's markets. Classified advertising has also changed as it made the transition to the Web. In its current state, Internet classified advertising has become a tool which allows the consumer to interact with the ad and access a clearer picture of the merchandise or service which is being sold. With both advertising methods, adapting to the changing needs and expectations of consumers has been the key to successful campaigns.

Banners can even be created by the seller, with the aid of free websites and software. After testing the results of Internet banner advertising, changes can easily be made to the banner itself or to the place it will be published. Successful runs might justify purchasing space for a larger banner, or expanding to a larger market. Advertisers may also choose to become part of a banner exchange program. These allow participants to receive additional traffic for their banner for little or no cost.

The concept behind Internet banner advertising is fairly straightforward. The banner ad may often be found in its traditional place -- unfurled along the top of the web page. The classic rectangular shape may be of several standard sizes, and ads can sometimes be found stacked along the side of web pages as well, or in other places on the web page. Animated versions are popular, although research suggests that contrasting colors and a simple yet interesting text message may actually command more attention than an annoying, strobe-like offering. When the reader clicks on the banner, they are directed to the website which is offering the product or service. While there, they can obtain further information or choose to purchase the item. Related products are also available, and the site may also contain articles with useful information about subjects which would be interesting to customers in that particular niche of the market.

In another area of the marketing spectrum, Internet classified advertising is one example of a marketing idea which started off line then easily transferred into the online arena. Three main advantages of this form of advertising stand out. One, there are many places online where an individual can place classified ads for free. Some care must be taken in order to ensure that the ad is placed where there is enough of the right kind of traffic. For example, placing an ad for books about the history of certain towns or people would find an audience within a genealogy website's readers, but might not produce customers if located within the pages of an automotive website.

One may choose to pay to place ads with listings which require payment to secure ad space. The owners of such sites should have contacts in the proper venues and are able to place ads where appropriate traffic can view them. This may result in a higher response rate, for viewers are already interested in the area that is being promoted. The second advantage of these types of ads is that Internet classified advertising is normally not as brief as print classifieds, because they are not typically priced per line. Therefore there is room for additional description, (and sometimes even pictures or videos) of the object that is being sold. Thirdly, classified ads placed on the Internet have a 'searchable' aspect that is not shared by print ads. With a single click on this type of advertising, an interested person may gain access to further information at the website which is selling the products. They may also become interested in purchasing additional items!

When purchasing items through Internet banner advertising or Internet classified advertising, consider that many state governments run websites advising about general safety tips to observe while shopping online. This is one situation where it is surely a good idea to follow the advice offered by Jesus to his disciples as he sent them out to preach: "...be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware..." (Matthew 10:16). With the popularity of online transactions, it is good to repeat some of these tips for crime prevention here: Try to deal locally, avoiding overseas transactions. Never wire funds, as this is often a strong indicator of a fraudulent transaction. In the same spirit of caution, do not give out any financial information, such as bank account, social security, or credit card numbers. Do not send funds to Post Office boxes, and beware of the possibility of counterfeit cashier's checks or money orders. (There are credible third party payment services online which can conduct transactions for buyers and sellers, if needed.)

Be aware that some criminals use Internet classified advertising to arrange meetings with people in order to rob them. Therefore, avoid meeting in person for exchange of money or goods. If it is necessary to meet in person, an individual should not direct the buyer or seller to a home or workplace. Meet in a public place where there are plenty of people, bring a few friends along, and do not agree to go to additional locations with that person. If something seems suspicious, break off the meeting. Additional tips and information about common schemes which criminals use to defraud unsuspecting 'customers' can be found with an Internet search.

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