In marketing, image is everything, and it can make or break your success. While you may think about saving a few dollars by creating your own images, this could cost you far more in the long run. Why? In the real world, people judge books by their covers. Think about it: if you walk past a restaurant that looks dirty, you wouldn’t want to eat there, no matter how good the food might be. The same goes for your content—it won’t get seen if the image is wrong.
Why Invest in Professional Images?
Sure, you can go to Fiverr and get a decent banner for just five bucks. But if you’re too cheap to spend even that, then maybe you’re not in the right mindset to succeed in marketing. The same applies to other areas of business—cheap hosting or free autoresponders will cost you in the long run. In marketing, investing upfront in the right tools will prevent problems later.
Understanding Native Ads and Banner Placement
Banners are commonly placed inside content on blogs, newspapers, and other publications. They’re often used in native ads, which are designed to look like suggested articles or content on a page. You’ve probably seen this on big news websites like CNN or MSN. They catch your attention with a headline, but when you scroll down, you find articles that look like content but are actually ads—native ads. Platforms like Taboola and AdRoll specialize in this type of advertising, making it easy for advertisers to get their banners on major websites.
Strategic Banner Use on Blogs
On your blog, banner ads can be strategically placed to grab attention. For example, rotating banners keep things fresh by showing different banners each time someone visits. This technique is effective and helps avoid banner fatigue. Ad networks like Google AdSense can automatically rotate banners on your site, ensuring that the content stays dynamic and engaging.
Where to Place Banners
If you have a blog, especially a WordPress blog, you should be using images and banners strategically. A hero image at the top of your landing page and cover images for each blog post are essential. Additionally, use sidebar banners and place them at the top or bottom of your posts. But be careful—don’t overdo it. Too many flashy GIFs or banners can make your blog look like Times Square, and you’ll end up driving people away instead of attracting them.
Banners on Social Media
You can also use your blog’s banners on social media, but be cautious. Make sure the size is appropriate for the platform, or else the images will stretch and look distorted. As mentioned earlier, image is everything, so don’t let a stretched or poorly formatted banner ruin your first impression. If done right, images can enhance your social media posts, and platforms tend to favor images over text when it comes to visibility.
Be Mindful of Copyright
One of the biggest mistakes marketers make is using images without permission. You cannot just right-click and save an image from Google and use it for your marketing purposes. Many images are copyright-protected, and companies like Getty Images hire law firms to find and penalize people who use their images without permission. The penalties can be steep—up to $1,500 per image.
Final Thoughts
Remember, use images legally and make sure they are high quality. There are plenty of reputable stock image sites and PLR image packages that provide affordable options. It’s crucial to ensure that any images you use, whether for banners or blog posts, are of the right size, fit the platform, and are legally permitted for use.
Marketing is visual, and banners and images are powerful tools to capture attention and drive engagement. Use them wisely, and they can significantly enhance your marketing efforts. Always check the training resources available to you, such as the MAP ecosystem, to make the most of these tools and tactics.
