The greatest, most masterful ads out there are ads that make us feel, that make us think and that make us act. They're the ads that stay with us long after we've seen them, that lodge in our brains and influence our decisions. There's no one secret to creating a great ad; it takes a combination of effective advertising strategies and an understanding of your audience. However, if you want to create an ad that truly stands out from the rest, you'll need to take inspiration and guidance from the ad wizards themselves. In this article, we will go over how to make an advertisement appealing and the most commonly used visual advertising techniques by ad wizards today. Ready to create ad wizardry? Let's get started!
What Makes an Advertisement Appealing?
Several advertising techniques can make an advertisement more appealing to consumers. Some of the most common techniques include using attractive visuals, using celebrities or other famous people, using humor and using slogans or catchphrases. Creating a visual that is likely to capture the viewer's attention is one of the most important factors in making an advertisement appealing. This can be done by using bright colors, interesting graphics or attractive models or celebrities. You can also use humor to make an ad stand out. Humor can be a very effective tool for getting people to notice an ad, and it can also help create a positive impression of the product or service being advertised. Finally, many ads use catchy slogans or catchphrases to create a memorable impression. Slogans and catchphrases can help people remember the ad long after they see it, and they can also be used to communicate the benefits of the product or service. Could your business use a little extra help in creating appealing ads? At Wizard of Ads®, we have the greatest and most effective advertising methods in our spellbook. Contact us today to get captivating ads that will bewitch your audience and increase profits.
13 Commonly Used Visual Advertising Techniques by Ad Wizards
Now that you’ve got a better understanding of what makes an advertisement appealing, let’s break down the most commonly used visual ad techniques by ad wizards.
The Bribe Advertising Technique
The bribe ad technique is a type of advertising tactic that offers a free product or service to the consumer to get them to buy the product or service. A great example of this is free shipping ads. These ads offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount in order to get the consumer to buy more products. This advertising technique is effective because it offers a benefit to the consumer that they cannot refuse. By offering a free product or service, the advertiser is making it easier for the consumer to decide to buy their product or service. This makes it more likely that the consumer will purchase the product or service and therefore increase sales for the advertiser.
The Color Psychology Technique
The Color Psychology Technique is popular because it uses colors to influence people’s emotions and persuade them to take action. This technique works because different colors can evoke different emotions in people, and by using the right color, an advertiser can encourage people to feel a certain way about their product or service. Take the bright and positive colors of Air BnB ads for instance. Air BnB is a company that provides short-term lodging, and their advertising strategy focuses on making people feel happy and relaxed. The use of colors like yellow and orange in their ads create a warm and inviting atmosphere, which encourages people to consider staying at an Air BnB.
The Rule of Thirds Technique
The Rule of Thirds Technique is an effective advertising strategy because it drives people to take action. It is most commonly used in print ads, as it can make the ad more visually appealing and help grab people's attention. To use this method of advertising, you divide an image into nine equal parts, with two horizontal lines and two vertical lines. The four points where the lines intersect are considered important, and the main focus of the image should be placed there. A helpful example of this is the Montblanc watch ad with Nicholas Cage. In this ad, Cage is positioned at one of the four intersections of the lines, and his eyes are looking towards the other three. This creates a sense of movement and encourages people to look at the ad further. As a result, the Rule of Thirds is often used in advertising to create more visually appealing images.
The Focal Point Technique
Similar to the rule of thirds, the focal point technique is used to focus the viewer's attention on a specific area or point in an ad. This visual technique can be used to highlight a product or service or to create a sense of urgency. An example of the focal point technique in action is IBM's "Pinpoint More Oil" print ad. In this ad, the focal point is a red oil rig at the top of two upward-pointing fingertips. The fingers and oil rig draw the viewer's attention to the slogan at the top of the print, "Now Data Helps Pinpoint More Oil" and urges them to visit the website for more information. Using The Focal Point Technique can help control where your viewer's eyes go when they see your ad as well as leave a lasting impression on your audience.
The Direct Gaze Technique
The direct gaze technique is a very effective advertising technique that is sure to grabs the audience's attention. This technique involves looking directly into the viewer's eyes and using strong eye contact to create a connection. Perfume, make-up and lipstick ads are great examples of this technique in action. Direct gaze is often used to create an emotional connection with the viewer, and to make them feel like the advertiser is speaking directly to them. It can be a very powerful way to get your message across and can be very persuasive. If you're looking to create an impactful advertising campaign, consider using the direct gaze technique. It's a great way to command attention and connect deeper with your audience.
The Body Language Technique
The Body Language Technique can be used to create powerful emotional responses in consumers. This method is effective because it uses subconscious cues to influence people's emotions and behaviors. For instance, Mars Nut Bar's "Happy Face" ad is a great example of how the body language technique can be used to create a positive emotional response in consumers. By using a happy face as the ad's focal point, Mars was able to create an association between their product and happiness, which made people more likely to buy their product. When used correctly, the body language technique can be a very powerful advertising tool. It's a great way to evoke positive emotions in consumers and make them more likely to buy your product.
The Repetition Ad Technique
The Repetition Ad Technique is an advertising technique that focuses on building brand recognition. You can do this by having repetitive brand names, logos, CTA’s, etc. This will help your customers remember your product or service and increase the chances of them returning in the future. Additionally, including keywords in your advertising can help you to rank higher in search engine results pages, which can bring more traffic to your site. By using the repetition ad technique along with keyword optimization, you can create a successful advertising campaign that will help you to achieve your business goals.
The Anthropomorphism Ad Technique
Anthropomorphism involves giving human characteristics to non-human things, such as animals or objects. This can make ads more relatable and interesting to consumers, and therefore more persuasive. There are many different types of anthropomorphism, including emotional anthropomorphism, where animals or objects are given human emotions, and symbolic anthropomorphism, where animals or objects are given human traits or characteristics. Anthropomorphism is often used in advertising to create a sense of familiarity between the consumer and the product. For example, by giving a dog human emotions, the ad can create the impression that the dog is happy and loving the product.
The Bandwagon Advertising Technique
The bandwagon advertising technique involves creating a sense of urgency or excitement around a product or service to ultimately persuade people to buy it. It often uses phrases such as "everyone's doing it", "you don't want to be left behind" or "this is the next big thing." This avant-garde advertising technique can be particularly effective when it comes to new technologies or products. People may be hesitant to try something new, but the bandwagon advertising technique can convince them that they need to buy into the trend in order not to miss out. This is why you often see this type of advertising for new cryptocurrencies or mobile apps.
The Storytelling Ads
Storytelling advertising is a technique that involves sharing your brand history or story with consumers to create an emotional connection. This can be a very effective way to connect with people and make them more likely to consider your product or service. When people feel a personal connection to a brand, they are more likely to trust it and be influenced by its advertising. If you want to use storytelling advertising, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:
- First, make sure your story is interesting and engaging. Share the history of your brand or the story of how it came to be, people love a good story!
- Second, the story needs to be relevant to your product or service. The story should highlight the benefits of using your product or service.
- And finally, make sure that the story is told clearly and concisely. People's attention spans are short, so make that time count.
Influencer/Celebrity Testimonial Ads
Influencer or celebrity testimonial ads are advertisements that use celebrities or influencers to endorse the product or service. Whether they are niche, micro-influencers or the biggest A-list celebrities, using a credible spokesperson can add trust and legitimacy to your advertising message. Celebrities and influencers have a large social media following, so their endorsement can reach a lot of people. Additionally, if they are seen using or positively endorsing the product, it can create social proof and increase the likelihood of someone buying it. This media technique is great for building trust, and if used correctly, it can be can generate an influx of profits.
The Emotional Appeal Ads
Advertisements that have an emotional appeal are, as the name suggests, used to evoke an emotional response from viewers. This type of advertising is effective because emotions often override rational thoughts, causing people to be more likely to impulsively buy a product or service. Some common emotional tactics used in advertising include fear, pity and love. One example of an emotional appeal ad is the "Dawn" commercial from Procter & Gamble. In this commercial, a woman is shown going through the stages of her life, starting with her as a young girl and ending with her as a grandmother. The tagline at the end of the commercial reads "Dawn: A movement for mothers who do it all." This ad uses the emotion of love to sell their dishwashing detergent. It plays on the viewer's emotions by showing them a montage of a woman's life and how Dawn was there for her every step of the way.
The Before and After Ad Technique
The before and after ad technique involves comparing the current state of something to its past state. This technique can be used to show how a product or service has changed someone's life for the better. Before and after ads can quickly show the difference that a product or service can make. They can also be emotional, showing how a person has gone from being unhappy to being happy. For instance, if you are a personal trainer, you can show a before and after photo of someone who was very overweight and unhealthy to someone who is now in great shape. By using before and after ads, companies can show potential customers the results that they could achieve by using their products or services. As business owners and marketers, we all want to create ads that make our competition green with envy. To become a wizard at your craft, start by using one or more of the techniques we’ve talked about in this article. But remember, it takes practice to perfect these skills and it doesn’t simply happen overnight. At Wizard of Ads®, we help businesses create ads that turn them into top competitors within their industries— and we can do the same for you. Contact us to become an ad wizard today!