The Quick Guide to Digital Ad Design

 If your ads aren’t capturing attention within those first few seconds, you're unlikely to drive the results you want. Great design can make all the difference, and that’s exactly what we’re here to talk about today.

We’ve all been there—spending money on Google display ads, hoping for big returns, but not seeing the results you expected in your marketing campaign. 

The truth is, paid advertising costs are climbing, with projections showing an 11.76% annual increase by 2026. With rising costs and more competition, getting a positive return on your online advertisements can feel like a tough uphill battle.

What’s the kicker here? One major issue is that many ads miss the mark regarding design. Without eye-catching, user-centered visuals, even the best target audience and marketing strategy can fall flat.

So, what makes a good ad design? And are there any digital ad design services out there to help you elevate your brand? Let’s dive in.

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Digital Ad Design Examples and Dimensions

Digital ad design is exactly what it sounds like. Adding a little bit of flare to the otherwise boring medium we call advertising via graphics, colors, and various elements that make the pop.

Of course, there are A LOT of different ad formats out there, but for the sake of design, we’re talking about a display ad. These are ads that appear on the webpage when scrolling websites, articles, social media platforms, and things of that nature.

Let’s paint the picture here and go over some different types of ads, their recommended ad sizes, some digital ad design best practices, and some killer examples for you to draw inspiration from.

Leaderboard display ad examples

Leaderboard ads, also known as banner ads, are some of the most popular display advertising formats, perfect for squeezing in a variety of places on a landing page. 

Typically 728x90, these long framers work well at the top, bottom, or even right in the middle of the content on-page. 

1. Apple TV

Apple has probably one of the most recognizable product designs in all of tech. But how are their ads? In all honesty, just as simple and effective as the rest of their digital marketing efforts.

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This particular ad showcases one of the biggest digital ad design best practices: simplicity. It offers just the right amount of color to grab your eye while scrolling. At the same time, it doesn’t go over the top, which is right up the brand awareness alley for the tech giant. 

2. MailChimp

Another industry leader, MailChimp is known for utilizing leaderboard ads, which are perfect frames for their brand colors.

As you can see, this thing won’t easily go unnoticed. It may seem simple, but the entire display is super well-balanced from left to right, with pleasing proportions for the logo, text, and CTA.

Skyscraper display ad examples

Just as the name suggests, and especially compared to other examples, skyscraper ads are relatively big. Sitting around the 160x600 mark, they’re meant to fill in the dead space that most web pages have to the left and right of the main content.

1. Geico

Geico is very well known for its car insurance commercials, but they have been working tirelessly for years to get its name associated with home insurance, too. Those efforts spread far and wide and include strategically placed ads.

This particular example utilizes some very bright colors to grab your attention and a very catchy CTA that gets people wondering how they could be saving some money.

2. Fixit Mobile

Next time you’re out, try to pay attention to how many people have cracked or shattered phone screens. It’s more common than you think, which means that pretty much anywhere a screen repair service advertises, someone in need of said service will be able to see it.

Here’s a digital ad design example from Fixit. This ad simplifies the repair process with 3 simple offers, making it extremely persuasive for those who have been looking for a solution or maybe putting off the repair and growing used to subtle ear jabs.

Medium rectangle ad examples

You can almost think of medium rectangle display ads as a halfway point between leaderboard and skyscraper ads. Sitting around 300x250, they’re meant to serve as a balanced frame for your ad at the bottom or side of a web page.

1. Polo Ralph Lauren

One of the things that high-tier clothing brands have going for them as far as ads go is that they have no shortage of creative material. Take this ad from Polo, for example.

Another one of the digital ad design best practices is to highlight your products in a visually enticing way. The bright colors of the clothes, the Instagram-worthy beach views, and the simple text all come together to make a great example.

2. Best Buy

Sometimes, all it really takes is a clever hook and some branding. Best Buy, one of the biggest tech retailers in North America understood this assignment.

Gift cards are life savers when you can’t think of a gift around the holidays. Best Buy uses the medium rectangle display ad almost as a reminder of this, in a festive fashion, of course.

Other types of display ads

Now, don’t get me wrong, there are other ways to display a digital ad design on a webpage aside from the sides, top, and bottom. What we’ve mentioned above is only the most common. Here is a super quick list of some other, less common ad types:

• Interstitial Ads - Full-page ads that are displayed between content transitions. 
• Rich Media Ads  - Responsive display ads that often include animation, audio, video, or other multimedia elements.
• Pop-up Ads - Ads that open in a new window or tab above the main browser window, typically used for promotions or lead generation.
• Pop-under Ads - Ads that open in a new window behind the main browser window and are less intrusive but still visible to the user once they minimize or close the primary window.
• Expandable Ads - Ads that initially appear as a small banner but expand into a larger format when a user hovers over or clicks on the ad.
• Native Display Ads - These ads ensure a seamless user experience, as they blend in with the website's content and look like part of the editorial. 
• Carousel Ads - These ads allow users to swipe or scroll through multiple images or products within a single display unit.
• Floating Ads - Ads that hover over the content of a webpage. 
• Sticky Ads - These ads remain in view as the user scrolls down the page.

Depending on the brand, the webpage, and the content of the ad, the specs will be different and are not usually standardized. 

Why is Digital Ad Design Important?

Great digital ad design isn’t just about looking good—it’s about making an impact. Here’s why it’s essential:

• Build Brand Awareness
  Studies show that 80% of people remember a brand’s color scheme and logo more than its name. Custom, consistent designs ensure your ads strengthen brand recognition every time they’re seen.
  
  
• Stand Out from Competitors
  One of the best examples of standing out from competitors comes from Apple’s iPhone. Their “Shot with iPhone” ad campaign stuns users every year by simply showcasing the camera on their latest creation. It’s a simple approach, which makes it stand out like a sore thumb in the world of tech.

• Delivers a Clear Message
  Unlike print materials, digital ads are often the bridge between curiosity and conversion. A good, on-brand ad can make this transition almost seamless. Let's think about Spotify’s Premium ads. 

They present a solution to some major pain points and invite users to try it out for free. Effective and clear messaging at its finest.

By leveraging thoughtful design, your digital ads can do more than catch the eye—they can build trust, engage potential customers, and boost conversion rates. 

Tailored Digital Ad Design for Your Business

If you’re not a designer, then creating a high-quality ad that also captures your brand's essence is difficult. There’s no sugarcoating it: designing ads is tough because you’re working in a relatively small space. Even the slightest discrepancy in proportions could kill the ad altogether.

But don’t panic! This is exactly what advertising design agencies like ManyPixels were made for. 

ManyPixels is a subscription-based, on-demand graphic design agency that offers unparalleled digital ad design services to help you nail your ads from the get-go. Starting at just $549 per month, you get access to unlimited design requests and revisions with daily outputs. 

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Want to know more about how they can help your brand? Book a call today, and get your digital display ads in no time.