Exploring Interactive Advertising: Creating Engaging Connections with Audiences

In this article

Introducing the concept of interactive advertising

Marketers are always on the lookout to improve brand communication between the company and the customer. With interactive advertising, they get a formidable ad ally in helping the customers come closer to the brand. They have emerged as a great way for marketers to really engage directly with the customers.

Definition of interactive advertising and its significance in today’s digital landscape

Interactive advertising is a dynamic approach to marketing that actively involves audiences and encourages their participation. In today’s digital landscape, consumers are constantly bombarded with messages. 

This is where interactive advertising stands out as a powerful tool for brands to engage with their target audiences. 

It fosters potent two-way communication and provides personalised experiences. This way, it cultivates a deeper connection between brands and consumers. The outcome is increased brand loyalty and customer satisfaction.

Interactive ads accomplish one of the below purposes:

• Invite users to take physical action on the ad (spin the wheel or fill up a quiz)
• Reveal something of intrigue in the ad, or
• Navigate to a different landing page

Role of digital communication in connecting brands with audiences

The primary driver of interactive advertising success is digital communication. It has revolutionised the way brands connect with audiences. Brands now get a chance to leverage various online platforms to convey marketing messages.

Take the case of Reebok. It used a digital shoe display on a busy street outside a mall in Stockholm, Sweden. The exciting part was that it also has a speed cam installed on the Digital Out of Home (DOOH) ad display. 

All that the passer-bys had to do was clock the fastest speed running past the digital display. The fastest runner breaching the 10.5 mph speed was rewarded a free pair of ZPump 2.0 shoes. 

This type of user-centric action really amplified the connection of the pedestrians with the shoe brand.

With such interactive ads, brands can engage in real-time conversations with prospective customers. They also get to gather valuable insights and build meaningful relationships with their target customers for incredible impact.

Importance of creating engaging connections with consumers

Getting personal in innovative ways is at the heart of interactive advertisements. The reason is not very hard to comprehend. The brutally competitive landscape has made it necessary for marketers to create engaging connections with consumers. 

Static advertisements are no longer enough to capture attention. Brands need to employ interactive strategies. Such approaches captivate their audience’s interest, spark their curiosity, and encourage active participation. 

This way, a brand can create memorable experiences and foster emotional connections. As a result, interactive advertising enables brands to cut through the noise. In parallel, they forge a lasting impression in the minds of their target consumers.

Leveraging Email Communication:

Benefits of email as a direct communication channel

Email has emerged as a powerful direct communication channel for brands to connect with their audience. Few other marketing techniques drive the phenomenal ROI associated with interactive emails.

It allows for personalised and targeted messaging. This lets brands deliver the most relevant ads directly to the inbox of their subscribers. The benefits of email marketing as an effective interactive media include

– cost-effectiveness,

– high ROI, and

– ability to track and measure campaign performance.

Interactive ads using email can be utilised for various purposes, such as

– brand building,

– generating awareness,

– driving conversions,

– providing exceptional customer service,

– managing risk through transactional emails, and

– delivering entertaining or educational content in some cases.

In a nutshell, the main idea behind sending interactive emails is to boost email engagement. This is because, as a tempting proposition, interactive content would want target customers to continue the conversation and hence come closer to successful conversion.

How to use email marketing in interactive advertising?

Successful brands leverage email marketing to build their brand identity and strengthen customer relationships. Many interactive ad elements, like the below, can be used to elicit action on the emails.

– Newsletters,

– Quizzes, polls, surveys

– Product updates

– Exclusive offers

– Loyalty programs

Brands use email to engage subscribers, nurture leads, and drive conversions. They focus on delivering valuable content and offer personalised recommendations. In doing so, they enable seamless customer experiences via well-designed and targeted email campaigns.

Success stories in interactive email marketing

Several brands have excelled in email marketing by connecting with consumers directly. This way they deliver impactful campaigns that resonate with their audience.

Some may send personalised welcome emails that provide a warm introduction and relevant information. These have proven effective in setting the stage for a positive customer journey. Others may send abandoned cart emails with persuasive messaging and enticing incentives. Such emails help successfully recover lost sales.

Others, like Amazon, send surveys and rating forms along with their emails.

This gives a chance for customers to rate their services and let them know of any grievances. Customers need not spend a lot of time on this as there are only two types of ratings to be given. This ensures a greater number of customers can provide the ratings.  

Another example that stands out is the Royal Caribbean interactive map of Coco Cay. The interactive videos provide a rich sensory experience to mail recipients who can indulge in an immersive experience. Such innovation drives a much deeper engagement than a plain text email.  

Harnessing the Power of Social Media Platforms

How do social media platforms drive results through interactive advertising?

Social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn have become essential brand-building tools. Companies use this channel to build their online presence and connect with their target audience.

These platforms offer unparalleled reach. They let brands engage with millions of users worldwide. This type of outreach may not be possible with any other format or channel.

Social media platforms provide an interactive and dynamic environment where brands can share content, communicate directly with customers. This helps them build brand loyalty.

Social media platforms present a vast user base and advanced targeting capabilities. Hence, they offer an opportunity for brands to deliver these USPs:

– Amplify their reach to potential customers,

– Increase brand awareness, and

– Foster meaningful connections with their audience.

How does social media use interactive ads to establish connections with customers?

Brands can leverage social media platforms to actively engage customers on a more personal level. Social media platforms provide a space for brands to showcase their brand personality or share behind-the-scenes glimpses. Some advertising strategies include

Interactive banners

These are one of the more popular examples of interactive ads. Such banners attract eyeballs on the brand’s social media page. It uncovers interactive elements like a video ad, a quiz, or a playable game when the user hovers the mouse or clicks on the banner.

Playable Ads

When the user clicks on a link, they are taken to a page that offers a trailer or sneak preview of the app or game. They can use the mouse controls or keypads to play fun playable in-app ads that are related to the product.

A good example is Samsung’s showcase of the zoom capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S20.

Video ads

YouTube has a rich repository of interactive video ads that will blow your mind. One great example that we saw was the Boursin® Sensorium 360 Virtual Reality Experience. This interactive video ad showed how fresh ingredients filled up the inside of a refrigerator. Among the ingredients was Boursin – the brand being promoted in the ad.

Facebook: A Hub for innovative campaigns for interactive advertising  

Each social media platform has its unique strengths and characteristics that can be leveraged by brands. Facebook, for instance, offers a robust platform for interactive video advertising. It lets brands target specific demographics, interests, and behaviours. Brands can invest in these forms of Facebook content.

Lead ads

Brands looking for people who want their business have a hard time getting sign-ups. But Facebook’s Lead Ads have made it easier now. The interactive Facebook ads channel lets users sign up for a newsletter, an offer, a subscription, or an event in just two taps. All other information like name and email id are prefetched from the information shared with Facebook, thus delivering a personalised experience.   

Facebook Messenger

Companies like Expedia deliver an omnichannel experience via Facebook Messenger’s interactive ad. The user will enter the destination, dates, and number of nights. Based on this, it will show a few available hotels within the Messenger interface. The user can click on any of them to be directed to the website to complete the booking.

Instant Experience

Previously known as Canvas Ads, Instant Experience from Meta is available on Facebook and Instagram. In addition to the regular mobile ad journey of the user clicking on an image and then acting on CTA, there is one more step in this interactive ad format.

When you tap on this type of ad, you get to see a full-screen ad. Brands can serve various types of content like images, videos, or even AR ads. The immersive experience of Instant Experience ads encourages consumers and takes up the engagement factor by a notch.

Expanding Outreach Made Easy with Mass Media Communication

The massive ad potential of mass media

Out of the many types of interactive advertising, the oldest is mass media. This type of communication channel takes on many forms in the modern communication and interactive marketing landscape. They may involve TV, radio, and movies. These also cover digital platforms like Netflix. These channels offer brands unparalleled opportunities to reach a wide audience.

Television remains a dominant medium, providing access to millions of viewers simultaneously. Interactive advertising agencies have found it lucrative to strategically place an interactive ad during popular shows or events. With such tactics in interactive display ads, brands can expose their advertising message to a diverse range of viewers.

Radio also offers broad reach with traditional ad campaigns. They have the advantage of targeting specific demographics through different stations and programs for healthy long-term relationships.

The third medium, movies, has a massive outreach in both cinema halls and through streaming platforms. They allow brands to embed their products or messages within the storyline, reaching a captive audience.

Lastly, we have digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Disney Hotstar, Hulu, and Netflix. They provide an avenue for product placement or sponsored content integration. This drives incredible visibility among digital-savvy consumers.

How do brands leverage mass media channels?

Brands can leverage mass media channels to create impactful advertising campaigns that resonate with a wide audience. TV commercials, for example, allow for visually compelling storytelling that engages viewers emotionally. Advertisers can craft narratives that evoke laughter, tug at heartstrings, or inspire awe. This leaves a lasting impression on the audience.

A good example that comes to mind is Budweiser’s interactive TV ad (right now available on YouTube). It prompted action from ‘interactors’ on a game and rewarded winners with a free ticket to the football World Cup.

Radio ads utilise sound and voice to create a memorable audio experience that captures attention and drives brand recognition. Brands can also partner with movie studios to integrate their products seamlessly into the storyline. This step helps in generating organic brand exposure.

Brands can expand their reach by leveraging these mass media channels. This way, they can establish a strong presence in the minds of consumers.

Effective Digital Advertising Strategies

Which are the popular digital advertising strategies

Today’s customer is increasingly showing their presence on digital media. With technology making a marked prominence in our lives, it is only natural for marketers to look at digital advertising strategies to enhance business bottom lines.

In this section, we will take a look at popular digital ad strategies, their benefits, and some success stories around them.

Types of advertising strategies

Programmatic advertising

Programmatic advertising leverages automated systems to target specific audiences, optimise ad placements, and deliver personalised messages at scale. This type of targeted advertising offers precise targeting and real-time optimisation. It is a cost-effective way to ensure that the ads reach the right audience at the right time.

Mattel’s Hot Wheels is a great example of programmatic advertising. Its in-game advertising does away with intrusive ads in the middle of game play. It also eliminates partially covering screens with ads. Instead, it seamlessly blends ads into the game. This non-standard in-game advertising approach led to 90% viewability for their Monster Truck ads.

Influencer marketing

Influencer marketing utilises influential individuals with substantial online followings to promote products or services, tapping into their credibility and reach. Influencer marketing builds trust and authenticity as it is backed by a known influencer who has millions of fans. This type of advertising expands brand reach through influential voices.

Samsung’s collaboration with Snapchat influencer CyreneQ is a good instance of an influencer marketing success story. Cyrene’s Snapchat account gave a glimpse of her journey to the Note 7 launch event. This aided in giving her audience a preview of the new device.

Content marketing

Content marketing focuses on creating valuable and engaging content. This resonates with the target audience. It also helps in building brand awareness and establishing thought leadership. Content marketing utilises well-articulated content to establish impressive brand authority. It nurtures customer relationships and drives organic traffic through high-quality, valuable, and relevant content.

Optum content marketing success shows how campaigns need to be devised and rolled out. The B2B healthcare company developed 1000+ pieces of content like infographics, podcasts, articles, and ebooks. The purpose was singular – to inform and educate people. The campaign exceeded Optum’s goals by a staggering 250%.

Search engine marketing

Search engine marketing involves optimising online visibility. This is accomplished via paid search ads and search engine optimisation techniques. Such targeted campaigns drive relevant traffic and conversions. This approach of digital advertising improves online visibility and boosts website traffic. It helps capture high-intent leads by optimising search engine rankings and utilising paid search campaigns.

Backlinko by Brian Dean is a good example of an SEO success story. It looked at user intent and search intent to improve its backlinks using superior quality content and then reaching out to the right people to share it with. This video gives a glimpse of the skyscraper technique in action. this technique helped him secure more customers.

Building a Career in Digital Communication 

Specialised skills and education lead to a rewarding career in digital communication

The field of digital communication demands proficiency in diverse areas. These include social media management, content creation, digital marketing, data analysis, and communication strategy. Obtaining a degree in digital marketing or communication provides a solid foundation. It will demonstrate a commitment to professional growth.

Certifications in relevant areas like Google Analytics or social media marketing can further enhance a person’s credentials and knowledge.

The importance of staying updated with the evolving digital landscape

In the fast-paced world of digital communication, staying current with the latest trends, technologies, and industry best practices is mission-critical. Take the case of search engine optimisation. Google makes thousands of changes to its search algorithms every year. If a person is not aware of the latest shifts in SEO techniques, then their campaigns might be as effective as expected.

Continuous learning and professional development will help a person to get a competitive edge when they apply to an open position for this role. They can attend industry conferences and participate in webinars to stay ahead of the learning curve. Even joining professional associations help professionals remain at the forefront of digital communication strategies.

The Many Merits of Online Bachelor of Arts in Communication Degree

An online degree program holds tremendous scope in the competitive job market today. It offers flexibility for working professionals to earn a degree while balancing other commitments. It has a comprehensive curriculum covering various aspects of digital communication. This covers social media management, content creation, strategic communication, programmatic advertising, and data analysis.

This degree equips individuals with the knowledge, skills, and credibility necessary to pursue a successful career in digital communication.

Conclusion

This post examined the mission-critical importance of interactive advertising in creating engaging connections with audiences.

This type of interactive ads has become an essential tool for brands to capture the attention and interest of their target audience.

Brands utilising interactive advertising leverage various digital platforms and strategies. By doing so, they get a chance to foster meaningful connections and drive engagement. These strategies help the brand stand apart in a highly competitive business landscape.

The significance of digital communication tools and techniques

Effective communication is paramount for businesses to thrive in today’s brutally competitive times. Digital communication tools and techniques encompass interactive emails, social media, and mass media communication.

They provide unprecedented opportunities for brands to connect, engage, and interact with their customers. Businesses can effectively convey their brand message with these tools and strategies. They get to build strong relationships and drive desired actions, ultimately contributing to their overall success.

An end note for marketers

As a savvy brand marketer, you need to adopt interactive ad strategies to effectively connect with consumers in the digital era. Technology will continue to advance at a scorching pace. In parallel, consumer expectations will continue evolving. Hence, brands must stay agile and adapt their advertising approaches.

Brands can effectively cut through the noise when they embrace interactive advertising. They can look forward to capturing attention and creating memorable experiences that resonate with their audience.

As a forward-looking company, your brand needs to continually explore new avenues and stay informed about industry trends.

Let Sortlist help you stay ahead of the curve and thrive in the dynamic world of interactive advertising. Explore our website to get introduced to verified agencies offering a wide spectrum of 1000+ versatile services. By leveraging the power of interactive advertising strategies, businesses can create engaging connections with their target audience, establish brand loyalty, and drive meaningful results.