How to:

Boring ads are easy to ignore; making a good ad is a challenge. Our attention-grabbing templates will help, but the rest is up to you. Here is Benrik’s short guide to making a great ad that will get more people’s attention.

The basics

Spell it out

Give viewers an idea of what they'll get if they click on your ad.

Yes

Tell people to click

If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

Yes

Make great stuff

If whatever it is you’re advertising is original and inspired, it’ll shine through.

Yes

Keep testing

Make a new ad every few weeks and see if it gets a better reaction.

Don't be a moron

If your ad is feeble, chances are you will be too.

Dealing with rejection

We have to check all ads before we publish them on other people's sites. Here are some common reasons for rejection.

Too porny

If some innocent kid could be traumatized for life by seeing your ad, it won’t pass.

Too rude

Swearing: it’s not grown-up, honestly.

Too thieving

We are 99% sure you do not own the copyright to this photo. Please use pics you’ve taken yourself.

Too thieving (part 2)

Same goes for music. You didn't write "Stairway to heaven" did you?

Too insulting

Be nice. We don’t want George suing, do we?

Too foreign

This could mean something beautiful. Or it could be a death threat to millions. Until we hire translators, English only please.

For tips of your own, or to suggest template ideas, email .