Going Interactive With Skin Care Advertising

Trends seem to come back around every two decades and this is even true when it comes to online advertising. During the 1990s, the Internet as we know it was young and interactive Flash ads were the rage. Unfortunately, they were used to excess and eventually banned by most ad networks. Interactive ads have come a long way since these days and they continue to be very effective. Marketers embarking on skin care advertising campaigns should review the history of interactive ads and learn how to use the modern versions effectively.

The Birth of Interactive Ads

Early Flash ads featured movement and enabled viewer interaction through mouse-overs. These ads started innocuously but quickly became very annoying. Bright colors, blinking, shivering, and flashing backgrounds gave viewers headaches. Many of these effects tricked readers into clicking an ad that they thought was interactive but was not. Ad networks quickly established new rules to ban these ads and viewers were grateful for the increased regulation.

What followed were widget ads that were essentially miniature websites that fit into small, square ad spaces. These were notably successful on MySpace when used by musicians. Viewers could click on the ad to view pictures of the musician or group, listen to a new single, and get information about new releases. Eventually, these became more interactive and enabled sharing. Skin care business marketers can easily embed modern-day widgets into blogs, websites, and social media pages.

The World Goes Mobile and Video Takes Hold

Mobile phones created a new environment for advertisers who used interactive promotions. From shakable ads to expanding banners that overtook the screen, the level of interactivity has become impressive. Mobile phone users represent an impressive market and advertisers use very creative techniques to capture their attention. For a company advertising skin care products, a mobile phone offers a way to target consumers and convert them to customers of the skin care industry.

Interactive video ads are proving very effective for skin care marketing in both mobile and computer settings. Google offers interactive video advertising that, until recently, has been a relatively untapped marketing tool. Entrepreneurs can use this and other networks to create interactive video ads that incorporate Twitter feeds, social sharing, and hot-spotting of products. These ads engage viewers and encourage them to buy the advertised products.

Even the captcha, which some view as an annoyance, has gone interactive. Advertising and marketing consulting firms are turning these verifiers into creative advertising formats that use interactive methods to increase corporate branding. The standard captcha of one or two words has been transformed into an interactive advertisement that requires users to enter the advertised product name in order to proceed.

Interactive ads are expected to become more creative and compelling in the future. Incorporating the available versions into skin care advertising campaigns allows marketers to benefit from the popularity of this trend. They can begin by incorporating coupons and videos into their ads. As the corporate budget increases, additional interactive advertising methods will be at their disposal.