'Net Features : ad units

Yahoo Ad Units Place Sponsored Content in Redesigned News Stream

Michael Garrity — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

Earlier this week, Web media and technology company Yahoo announced that it was launching two brand new in-stream ad unit formats: one for desktops and mobile devices, and another standard billboard-type ad.

In a move that is similar to the Sponsored Stories ads that Facebook rolled out a while ago, Yahoo’s new “Stream Ads” are native ad types that will feature sponsored posts appearing in the content stream on the freshly redesigned Yahoo homepage; the ads will also show up in as news summaries in the updated Yahoo mobile application.

Of course, it’s not all about Yahoo finding a way to line its pockets (just mostly). The company also has its users, and their interests, in mind.

“The more our users spend time with Yahoo, the more relevant and personalized the content and advertising become,” said Yahoo’s CEO, Marissa Mayer. “Stream Ads are the sponsored twin to our newsfeed articles and are every bit as personalized and engaging.”

Stream Ads will appear in the news feed and closely resemble the other articles, including having a headline, synopsis and thumbnail image. The only differences will be a slight shading, a “Sponsored” label at the bottom and an AdChoice icon in the upper right-hand corner.

Currently, these Stream Ads only include text and an image, and Yahoo hasn’t provided any pricing details yet.

The company also hasn’t offered pricing information on the new, more traditional billboard-style ads that are at the top of the Yahoo homepage, which Mayer said could be used by advertisers to display more rich and interactive content.

AdSense Adds Half-Page Ad Unit

Pete Prestipino — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:20:00 GMT

As web design trends evolve ( and as the devices users employ to access the Web provide more immersive experiences) the ad units that publishers require to monetize their digital properties must also change.

Google has just announced that a massive 300x600 unit will soon be available in publisher accounts. These half-page units are one of the fastest growing sizes by impressions (according to Google's recently released Display Business Trends - PDF) but while full of promise and pizazz, they are not without their limitations.

Integrating these much larger ad units is likely going to take some creative integration to ensure both advertisers and users receive an optimal experience - but that's only the tip of the digital iceberg. Google has made it known in the past that it does take page layout into account (at least to some degree) when ranking sites and these banners are bound to present some problems - we'll see how much as more publishers integrate them.

For those of you keeping track, Adsense now offers 20 different ad unit types - from leaderboards and skyscrapers to link units and squares.

New Standard Ad Unit Portfolio from IAB

Pete Prestipino — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:30:00 GMT

Say goodbye to that old 468x60 banner ad. The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has officially released a new Standard Ad Unit Portfolio which includes a range of formats including the IAB Rising Stars Display ad units and six new interactive ad units. The entire lineup of standard ad units can be accessed here.

In order to measure the new unit’s ability to "deliver at scale", the IAB partnered with IPG Media Lab to conduct research that looked at attentiveness, emotive response and brand lift. The research findings reveal that consumers interact significantly more with Rising Stars ad formats than with incumbent standard ad units (such as the leaderboard and medium rectangle).

In fact, users were 2.5 times more likely to interact with a Rising Stars ad unit than a standard ad unit, spent twice as much time interacting with the ad and took less time to react to the ad (two times quicker than with standard ads). Along with increased interaction, eye-tracking showed that users viewed ads longer (31 percent more) with Rising Stars units versus standard formats.

“The new IAB portfolio allows creatives to tell bigger, bolder brand stories,” says Randall Rothenberg, president and CEO of the IAB. “The new units offer more space, greater functionality, and a broader range of user experiences—providing a collection of next-generation interactive canvases designed to leverage the rich, immersive benefits of digital.”