Month: June 2010

Oftentimes, we receive request from builders wanting to advertise “above the fold” for their banner campaign only. The fold is what’s visible first when the web page loads before a user scrolls down for more information. The belief is that the banner is the first thing consumers will see and that will increase the likelihood of action. Similar to running an ad on the inside cover or back page of magazine. It’s an understandable request and natural that advertisers would want the best position.

However, instead of worrying about placement, consider the actions users take when shopping listings. They’re scrolling through potentially hundreds of homes and communities, gathering information. As a result we’ve found that the content and offer of the ad by far outweighs the placement. Unlike, traditional media which interrupts a consumer’s experience with online banners, consumers are actively searching for information about a builder’s product. We’ve found that the banners closely embedded within the content perform best. It’s one reason we believe we see so much action with banners supporting a builder’s listing. It’s also a reason I’m a strong supporter of complementary creative, using each position to advertise a different aspect of the business.

On NewHomeSource banners perform relatively the same for each position in terms of CTR. It’s the creative and offer that will set you apart.

For more information on how you can take advantage of Display Advertising, contact Thane Tennison, Ad Operations Manager for NewHomeSource at 866-651-8866 or at ttennison@builderhomesite.com. You can also follow Thane on Twitter at @t_tennison

This is a great article from Adweek on the use and value of analytics to measure and evaluate campaign effectiveness. It’s poignant to show how analytics can be used to set benchmarks and measure against predefined goals but not to drive all marketing decisions.

At BDX we’re continually monitoring our most effective display campaigns, measuring consumer engagement, frequency and messaging strategies to drive the most value for our advertisers.  As a result, we’ve seen a continual lift in our sites effective CTR and have helped many advertisers reduce their eCPC and drive meaningful traffic back to their site.  Unfortunately, we only have insight into one side of the story. What the consumer does beyond the click is left to the trusted hands of the builders’ marketing team.

Working with a national builder, I was alarmed when I saw a drop in click traffic when a new campaign was launched. But after talking with the builder they showed a greater lift in back-end action and stronger lead conversion.  The banner and analytics justified their assumptions and didn’t just direct their marketing decisions.

We’re always looking for new ways to improve campaign performance and are happy to work with builders for A/B testing and creative review. Have you run a campaign where analytics provided insight that you would have never considered?

For more information about Display Marketing Strategies contact Thane Tennison, Advertising Manager for the BDX.