Display Ads and Online Video Ads from Microsoft

Nowadays, digital marketing is becoming increasingly focused on visual and dynamic ad formats. Microsoft Advertising offers several options for advertisers who want to reach their target audience through Display Ads and Video Ads. Although the Microsoft Audience Network is primarily known for its search network advertising services, such as Bing, the platform has expanded its capabilities in recent years to include visual and interactive ad formats. 

Display Ads are designed to represent your brand through attractive and customized images. They allow you to choose from various formats for different devices, such as banners, billboards, or half-page ads. To target the right customers, they leverage Microsoft’s AI. Microsoft Advertising combines search signals and consumer intent to display relevant ads. At the same time, it provides you with full control over how your images will be displayed.

To launch display ads, select the campaign goal Brand Awareness.

Select the Display Ads option and then choose Continue.

You can now proceed to upload your ads. Ensure that the uploaded elements are compatible with the accepted Display Ads formats. Start by uploading an image and selecting its size, then add the target URL. If you need to create additional ads, select the Create Another Ad option.

Enter the name of your ad group and set the campaign targeting according to your goals. You can choose from various targeting options, such as location, age, gender, target audience, and scheduling, to specify when your ads will be displayed.

Choose a name for your campaign and set its daily budget. The bidding strategy will automatically be set to CPM (cost per thousand impressions), helping you maximize reach. Set your bid amount and frequency cap, which can be adjusted to an hourly, daily, or weekly frequency.

Microsoft Online Video Ads allow advertisers to create short yet engaging videos that capture the audience’s attention and convey the message effectively. These ads can appear across various video platforms and Microsoft partner websites.

To run Online Video Ads, select Brand Awareness as the goal of your campaign. 

To launch online video ads, select the Online Video Ads option.

Upload your video and enter the target URL for the ad. If you wish to create multiple ads, simply select the Create Another Ad option.

After uploading your ad, the system will conduct a quality check on the video, which will determine where your ad is eligible to be displayed. Higher-quality videos will have the opportunity to be placed on premium platforms.

Set the ad group name and choose targeting based on campaign goals, including location, age, gender, device, and scheduling. You can refine audience targeting using remarketing lists, similar audiences, or customer lists. The campaign reach can be checked through monthly impression data, which will update as you add additional targeting options.

First, enter your campaign name and set a daily budget. Your bidding strategy will automatically be set to Viewable CPM, which supports Online Video Ads. Next, enter your bid amount and, if needed, set a frequency cap. You can adjust this cap according to your goals, setting it on an hourly, daily, or weekly basis.

Know Your Audience – Carefully plan which audience segment you want to target in your campaigns and ensure that your message aligns with this target group.

Capture Their Attention – Engage your audience within the first 10 seconds, as these initial moments are crucial for effectively delivering your message, even if the ad itself is longer.

Present Your Brand Clearly and Early – Showcase your product or brand message right at the beginning to make it more memorable for your audience.

Be Creative and Experiment – Try different video lengths to see what resonates best with your audience. Focus on storytelling and visual quality rather than just direct selling.

Consider Ad Frequency – The frequency of ad impressions can influence brand perception and campaign success. It’s important to strike a balance: show ads often enough to leave an impression, but not so much that they become overwhelming.

Don’t Forget the Call to Action – Encourage viewers to take action through your videos and direct them to your website. Consider the ad format—for example, QR codes may work well for CTV ads.

Microsoft Display Ads and Online Video Ads present an exceptional opportunity for advertisers seeking effective ways to reach their target audience. Combining engaging visual formats with precise targeting helps businesses not only build brand awareness effectively but also increase customer engagement. With Microsoft’s advanced advertising tools, you can easily achieve your marketing goals. Start using Microsoft Advertising today and see how it can drive the success of your campaigns.