In today’s digital and fast-paced world, mobile apps have become an integral part of our daily lives. With millions of apps available in app stores, it’s challenging for app developers to stand out from the competition. That’s where promotion strategies, especially advertisements, come in. Ads in all forms, whether video or image, have proven to be a highly effective way of reaching potential users and increasing app downloads. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore one form of mobile application advertising, which is video advertising. We will get to demonstrate the best practices and strategies for creating compelling mobile app video ads that will help you maximize your mobile app’s reach.
What are Mobile App Ads
Before diving in, let us speak generally first: what are mobile app ads? Mobile app advertising, or “in-app advertising,” is the method of promoting an application through another application or platform. Mobile app ads are also one of the most important app monetization strategies that are widely used at the moment. Every app user is definitely familiar with mobile app ads in all their forms and types. That is because they are a major part of any app development process and plan. Statistically speaking, in-app advertising increases both user acquisition and retention by four times. They also reached and generated over $200 billion in 2021. These numbers seem unbelievable, but they are very accurate. The most common in-app ad types are interstitial, banner, native, and video apps.
- Interstitial Ads are the type of ads that appear all over the screen during transitions from one section to another or during breaks.
- Banner ads are a very common type of app that usually appear at either the top or bottom of the screen.
- Native ads are the type of ads that appear natively and non-intrusively during scrolling and navigating through an app.
Mobile Video Ads
The one type of in-app advertising that we are going to focus on is video advertising. Video ads are a somewhat novel form of mobile app advertising. Instead of creating mobile ads with static images, app owners can now create ads with videos, whether interactive or static. Through this video, the advertiser can include all the elements and components that he wants the user to know about the product or application. Moreover, the incorporation of auto subtitles in these videos significantly enhances accessibility and comprehension, ensuring that all potential users, regardless of their hearing ability or language proficiency, can fully understand the advertised message. Video ads can also be presented on websites, but for now, they have gained more recognition for applications, especially gaming apps.
Types of Mobile Video Ads
Mobile app video ads usually come in three types which are;
1. Rewarded Video Ads
Rewarded video ads are now the most common type of in-app video advertising that you might see. This type lets a user get a reward for the application he is on by going through the entire ad. It is very common in gaming apps for a user to earn extra lives or coins by going through the ad shown on the screen.
2. Interstitial Video Ads
Interstitial video ads are similar to the traditional interstitial ads mentioned above. The only difference is that they appear in a video format, not just an image. They usually cover the whole user’s screen when they transition from one window to another and can be ignored immediately or after a specified duration, which is usually 10 to 15 seconds.
3. Interactive Video Ads
Interactive or “gamified” ads are the last (and most fun) type of video ads. This type of video ad let users experience a small part of the displayed product or application. This can be done by playing for a brief amount of time for gaming apps or getting a glimpse of the app’s functions. This type of ad tends to attract and retain more users since it offers a taste of the full experience, even if it is for a brief moment.
Importance of Mobile Video Ads
Reach Specified Target Audience
One of the biggest advantages of mobile video ads is their ability to target specific audiences. With the use of data and analytics, app owners can target their ads to individuals based on demographics, interests, behaviors, and more. This means that your ad is being used to reach the people who are most likely to be interested in your application or services, rather than all audiences.
Generate More Revenue
One of the biggest benefits of mobile video ads is their ability to generate more revenue. With the rise of mobile usage, more and more consumers are watching videos on their smartphones and tablets. By creating engaging and relevant video ads, you can easily capture their attention and drive them to take action. You can also use a video hosting solution to ensure seamless playback and optimal performance across different devices and platforms.
Increase App Downloads
Unlike traditional in-app ads, mobile app video ads provide a more immersive experience that captures the user’s attention. Video ads also allow you to showcase the features of your app in a more engaging way, making it easier for users to understand what your app does and why they should download it. Video ads have higher engagement rates compared to other ad formats. Users are now more likely to watch a video ad compared to other ad formats. This means that more people are likely to install your app after watching a video ad.
Tips for an Effective Mobile App Video Ads Campaign
Creating a compelling video ad requires careful planning and execution. Here are some best practices for creating mobile app video ads:
Keep It Short and Brief
Mobile users have short attention spans, so it’s essential to keep your video ad short and straight to the point. Aim for a short video length that is between 15 and 30 seconds, nothing more or less. You can also focus on highlighting the key features of your app.
Grab the User’s Attention
The first few seconds of your video ad are crucial and determine whether you win or lose the user. So make sure to grab the user’s attention right away. You can do this by using bright colors, engaging and appealing visuals, and catchy dialogue to capture the user’s attention and keep them engaged.
Show, Never Tell
Instead of telling users about your app, show them what it does. Storytelling is an effective method that is usually used for video ads. You can use visuals and animations to demonstrate the key features of your app and how it can benefit the user.
Optimize for Different Devices
Different platforms and devices have different video ad requirements, so make sure to optimize your video for each device. The standards and measures needed for Android devices, for instance, are very different from those needed for Apple devices.
Include a Clear Call-To-Action
As much as beginnings always matter, endings also do. For video ads, it is critical to include a clear call to action at the end of your ad. This way, you will encourage users to download your app or view your product by including a clear and compelling call to action. This, in turn, will increase the number of app downloads and new users.
Final Thoughts
In-app advertising is not only a great way to promote your app, but it is also an effective way to generate revenue and taking your first steps toward success. Video ads are the ideal ad type if you are looking to expand your horizons and reach the target audience you thought was out of reach. By following the tips we mentioned earlier, you can launch an effective and powerful video ad campaign and increase your app downloads almost immediately.
To make things even easier for you, you can now develop and launch your campaign easily and in one click with nandbox. Nandbox is a leading native no-code app builder where developers and non-developers can create any app they’d like. In addition to having up to 200 robust features, and an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface, nandbox also made it very easy to implement in-app ads. With only a simple click, you can allow ads in your application and add any app you’d like in any format. When you consider all of this, it’s definitely hard to resist. Try the nandbox app builder now and enjoy the supreme app development experience.