In today’s post, we’re going to design Google Display ads.
Let’s get started!
Takeaways
- There are multiple sizes for Google Display ads, and the websites that show your ad will ultimately decide which ad size will be featured.
- Since the goal is to promote your product, a logo isn’t 100% necessary in this case.
- When designing Google Display ads, be sure to use colors, fonts, textures, and additional elements to suit your branding.
What Are Google Display Ads?
First, let’s discuss what a Google Display ad is.
According to Google:
“Display ads are ads that are shown on the articles, videos, or websites that consumers browse.”
You show your ads through the Google Display Network, which is “a collection of over two million websites that reach over 90% of Internet users across the globe.”
Needless to say, Google Display ads can generate a lot of reach and brand awareness for your business.
And today, we’ll tell you how to create your own, so that you can drive great results.
Elements Of Effective Google Display Ads
There are multiple sizes for Google Display ads, and the websites that show your ad will ultimately decide which ad size will be featured.
What’s important on your end is, for all the ad sizes you prepare, you have to make sure 3 key things are visible.
#1. Your key image
This can either be your product or service image. If you want to learn how to create quality product photos, be sure to check out this post next.
#2. Your message
Google Display ads appear in different possible areas in a web page.
You want to make sure that you set your message to be as eye-catching and visually appealing as possible.
As it goes for any ad you design, your goal is to catch your potential customer’s attention.
#3. Your CTA Button
And of course, an ad graphic wouldn’t be complete without a call to action button.
Buy now, learn more, visit website – all of these are examples that you’ll see a lot on Google Display ads.
These give your audience direction on what the ad is inviting them to do and what clicking on the ad will prompt.
Bonus Tip
If you have extra space in your graphic, feel free to add your brand logo in there.
But essentially, you want to feature more of the product image itself rather than your brand.
Since the goal is to promote your product, a logo isn’t 100% necessary in this case.
Google Display ads take up a small portion of a web page, so it’s important to utilize the space you have and make every space you’re taking up count.
If you want to use a logo but don’t have one yet, don’t fret!
You can also make your business logo with Canva, and you can find out how in this post.
With that said, let’s go ahead and jump into Canva to design our ad.
Set-Up & Design Google Display Ads In Canva
Once you have their home page opened, click on the Create A Design button in the corner.
Click on Custom Size, and let’s make one for the display ad size 300 x 250 pixels.
In previous design guides, we’ve created graphics for a mock coffee brand called Koffee Kat, and we’ll be using it for this design guide as well.
At this point, you can either:
- Assemble your own design from a blank canvas using Canva’s library of elements OR
- Use any of the available pre-set designs under their Templates tab, and edit it according to what fits your branding and featured product or service best.
Use colors, fonts, textures, and additional elements to suit your branding.
Once you’re happy with your design and you’ve made sure it has the 3 key elements we’ve previously mentioned…
…let’s go ahead and adjust the design for other sizes.
The top most performing Google Display ad sizes are:
- 300 x 250 (which is the size we just designed),
- 336 x 280,
- 728 x 90,
- 300 x 600, and
- 320 x 100.
It’s important to adjust the elements in your ad for each and every ad size variation.
Different dimensions require different positioning and sizing of elements in your graphic to ensure that your ad always features what you’re promoting best.
And another thing to remember is to get the right file size.
Google Display ads have to be 150 kb or less, so be sure you double-check your file sizes and compress any design that goes above that limit.
And now we have a complete ad set of the top most performing Google Display ad sizes.
That’s it for today’s design guide.
We hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to design Google Display ads in Canva.
If you’re looking to improve your business’s graphic design, be sure to check out our post on how to create digital marketing graphics.
Or if you’d like the help of a professional, you contact us for a wide variety of graphic design and advertising services.
