Insights From The NativeNexus Blog.

Here's a quick guide to boost your native ad ROI:

1. Plan ROI-focused campaigns
2. Create engaging content
3. Choose the right platforms
4. Target and personalize ads
5. Measure results accurately
6. Improve ROI continuously
7. Solve common problems

Key stats:

• Native ads get 60% more consumer focus than traditional ads
• Click-through rates are 40 times higher than banner ads
• 77% of users don't feel like they're reading an ad
• Native ads can increase brand lift by 82%

Strategy	Benefit
Set SMART goals	Clear targets for measuring success
Know your audience	Better ad targeting and engagement
Match ads to marketing plans	Consistent brand messaging
Use attention-grabbing headlines	Higher click-through rates
Choose the right visuals	Improved ad performance
Write helpful ad copy	Increased user trust and engagement
Pick platforms your audience uses	Better reach and ROI
Use data for targeting	More relevant ads and higher conversions
Retarget to improve conversions	Increased sales from interested users
Test different ad versions	Optimize performance and ROI
Follow ad regulations	Avoid fines and maintain user trust

Remember to constantly measure results and adjust your strategy for the best ROI.

Basics of native advertising

Native advertising is a way to show ads that look like regular content on websites and apps. These ads fit in with the content around them, making them less annoying for users.

Common types of native ads

Here are the main types of native ads:

Type	Description	Example
In-Feed Units	Ads that look like posts on social media or news sites	Sponsored Facebook post
Content Recommendation Widgets	Suggestions for more content at the end of articles	"You May Also Like" section
Sponsored Content	Articles or videos made by brands that give useful info	BuzzFeed article sponsored by a company
Promoted Listings	Sponsored products shown at the top of shopping pages	Featured items on Amazon search results

Main parts of a native ad

A good native ad has these key parts:

1. Headline: A catchy title that fits the site's style
2. Visuals: High-quality images or videos that match the ad's message
3. Ad Copy: Text that gives value to the reader
4. Call to Action (CTA): Clear instructions on what to do next, like "Learn More"

How native ads differ from other digital ads

Native ads are different from regular online ads in these ways:

• They blend in with the content around them
• People click on them more often (40 times more than banner ads)
• Most users (77%) don't feel like they're reading an ad
• They can make people like a brand more (82% increase in brand lift)

Here's a real example of how native ads work:

In 2022, Spotify worked with Netflix to promote the show "Stranger Things." They made special playlists based on the show's theme. This was a native ad because it felt like a normal Spotify feature, but it also advertised the TV show.

Planning ROI-focused campaigns

Setting clear campaign goals

To get the most out of your native advertising, start by setting clear goals. Use the SMART method:

SMART Criteria	Description	Example
Specific	Clearly define what you want to achieve	Increase website traffic by 20%
Measurable	Use numbers to track progress	Gain 1,000 new email subscribers
Attainable	Set realistic targets	Improve click-through rate from 2% to 3%
Relevant	Align with your business objectives	Boost sales of a new product line
Time-bound	Set a deadline	Achieve goals within 3 months

By setting SMART goals, you can better measure how well your native ads are working.

Knowing your target audience

Understanding who you're trying to reach is key to making effective native ads. Here's how to do it:

1. Use your own data: Look at your website analytics and customer surveys.

2. Do online research: Find out what your audience likes and how they behave online.

3. Create audience segments: Group people based on things like age, interests, and online habits.

For example, Netflix used this approach for their "Stranger Things" campaign on Spotify in 2022. They created playlists based on the show's theme, targeting fans of 80s music and sci-fi content. This led to a 30% increase in streaming for the show's new season.

Matching native ads to overall marketing plans

Make sure your native ads fit with your other marketing efforts. This helps build trust and makes your brand easier to recognize. Here's what to do:

• Use the same message across all your marketing
• Make sure your native ads look and sound like your brand
• Link your native ads to other marketing campaigns

Airbnb did this well with their "Live There" campaign in 2016. They used native ads on travel websites that matched their TV ads and social media posts. This led to a 14% increase in bookings and a 22% boost in brand awareness.

Campaign Element	How It Matched
Native Ads	Featured local experiences in travel articles
TV Ads	Showed travelers living like locals
Social Media	Shared user-generated content of unique stays

Creating effective native ad content

Writing attention-grabbing headlines

Headlines are key to getting people to notice your native ads. David Ogilvy said, "On average, five times as many people read the headlines as read the body copy." Here's how to make your headlines stand out:

1. Use questions: Ask something your readers care about. For example:

• "Do Your Joints Hurt When You Walk?"
• "Want to Save Money on Your Next Vacation?"

2. Add numbers: People like lists. Try headlines like:

• "5 Ways to Lose Weight Without Dieting"
• "3 Simple Steps to Fix Your Credit Score"

3. Make it personal: Use words like "you" or mention specific groups. For instance:

• "Attention New Moms: Here's How to Get More Sleep"
• "Are You a Small Business Owner? This Tax Tip Could Save You Thousands"

Choosing the right visuals

Pictures and videos are just as important as words in native ads. Here's what to keep in mind:

Do	Don't
Use high-quality images	Use blurry or pixelated pictures
Match the style of the website	Stand out as obviously different
Try different types (photos, graphics, videos)	Stick to just one kind of visual

Writing ad copy people want to read

Your ad should give readers something useful, not just try to sell them something. Here's how to do it:

1. Keep it simple: Use short sentences and everyday words.

2. Be helpful: Give tips or information people can use.

3. Sound like a real person: Write like you're talking to a friend.

4. Add a clear next step: Tell people what to do, like "Learn More" or "Try It Free."

Choosing the right platforms

Looking at popular native ad platforms

When picking a native ad platform, it's important to look at the top options. Here are some of the biggest platforms:

Platform	Users Reached	Key Features
Outbrain	Over 1 billion	In-feed ads, sponsored content
Taboola	1.4 billion unique users per month	Personalized content suggestions
Nativo	Works with 600 brands and 400 publishers	Custom ad solutions, no traffic limits
Yahoo Gemini	50 billion unique ad views	Ads for both search and display

Picking platforms your audience uses

To get the most from your ads, choose platforms where your target audience spends time online. For example:

• If your audience reads a lot of news, Outbrain and Taboola might work well. They partner with big news sites like CNN and NBC.
• Use tools like Google Analytics to see where your website visitors come from. This can help you choose the right platforms.

How to split your budget across platforms

When deciding how much to spend on each platform:

1. Look at how well each platform performs for you.
2. Put more money into platforms that work better.
3. Keep some money to try new platforms.

Here's a simple way to split your budget:

Platform Performance	Budget Allocation
Top performer	60%
Second best	30%
New platforms to test	10%

Targeting and personalizing ads

Using data to target the right audience

To make native ads work better, it's important to show them to the right people. This means using data to find out who your ads should reach. Here's how it works:

1. Look at who your customers are (age, gender, etc.)
2. See where they live
3. Find out what they like and how they act online

For example, Nike uses this method to reach sports fans. They look at things like age, what sports people like, and which websites they visit. This helps Nike show their ads to people who are more likely to buy their products.

Changing content based on user behavior

Ads work better when they match what users are interested in. Here's how to do this:

1. Watch how people interact with your ads
2. Change your ads to fit what they like
3. Use different words or pictures based on where people are

Jubna, an ad company, does this well. They change their ads based on where users are. For instance, they might advertise a fitness app like this:

City	Ad Title
New York	"Join New York's Fitness Revolution"
London	"Get Fit with London's Top App"
Sydney	"Sydney's Favorite Workout App"

This makes the ads feel more personal, which helps more people click on them.

Retargeting to improve conversions

Retargeting means showing ads to people who have already seen your brand. It's a good way to remind them about your products. Here's why it works:

• People are more likely to buy if they've seen your brand before
• You can show ads that match what they looked at on your website

Guinness, the beer company, used this method well. Here's what happened:

Result	Number
Ad views	5.2 million
Time period	3 weeks
Increase in app downloads	150%

This shows that reminding people about your brand can lead to more sales or downloads.

To make retargeting work even better:

1. Keep track of how your ads are doing
2. Change your ads based on what works best
3. Try showing different ads to different groups of people

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Measuring native ad results

Key numbers to track ROI

To check how well your native ads are doing, focus on these important numbers:

Metric	Description	Benchmark
Click-Through Rate (CTR)	How many people click your ad	0.3% to 0.5%
Conversion Rate	How many people take action after clicking	2.35% (average), 5.31% (top performers)
Cost Per Acquisition (CPA)	How much you spend to get a new customer	Varies by industry
Return on Investment (ROI)	How much money you make compared to what you spend	Higher is better

Tools for checking ad performance

Use these tools to see how your ads are doing:

Tool Type	Examples	What They Do
Native Ad Platform Tools	Taboola, Outbrain	Track clicks, views, and actions
Google Analytics	-	See website traffic and user behavior
Social Media Tools	Facebook Insights, Twitter Analytics	Check engagement on social platforms
Other Tools	SEMrush, HubSpot	Get more detailed reports

Using data to make better decisions

Here's how to use the information you collect:

1. Set clear goals: Know what you want to achieve with your ads.

2. Watch your numbers: Keep an eye on CTR, conversion rates, and CPA.

3. Try different versions: Test different headlines or images to see what works best.

4. Make changes quickly: If something isn't working, fix it right away.

Real-world example: Airbnb's success

In 2016, Airbnb ran a native ad campaign called "Live There" that showed how well data can help. Here's what happened:

Result	Number
Increase in bookings	14%
Boost in brand awareness	22%

Airbnb used data to match their ads to travel websites, which helped more people see and use their service.

Ways to improve ROI

Testing different versions of ads

A/B testing helps make native ads work better. Here's how to do it:

1. Create two versions: Make two different ads, changing one thing like the headline or image.

2. Show both ads: Let some people see version A and others see version B.

3. Check the results: See which ad gets more clicks or sales.

4. Use what works: Pick the better ad and use it more.

For example, in 2022, Spotify tested two ad headlines for their Premium service:

Version A	Version B	Result
"Listen ad-free"	"Unlimited skips"	Version A got 15% more sign-ups

Fine-tuning who sees your ads

Showing ads to the right people helps save money. Here's what to do:

1. Look at your data: See who buys from you now.

2. Make groups: Put similar customers together.

3. Choose where to show ads: Pick websites or apps your groups use.

4. Keep checking: See if it's working and make changes.

In 2021, Nike used this method for their running shoes:

Group	Where ads showed	Result
Runners aged 25-34	Fitness apps, running blogs	30% more sales

Changing how you bid based on results

Spending money wisely on ads helps get better results. Try this:

1. Start small: Spend a little on each ad.

2. Watch what happens: See which ads work best.

3. Spend more on good ads: Put more money into ads that work.

4. Cut back on bad ads: Spend less on ads that don't work.

Airbnb did this in 2020 for their "Go Near" campaign:

Action	Result
Increased bids on ads with 5% click rate	20% more bookings
Decreased bids on ads with 1% click rate	Saved $100,000 in ad spend

Solving common native ad problems

Dealing with ad fatigue

Ad fatigue happens when people see the same ads too often, causing them to lose interest. To fix this:

1. Change your ads often: Make different versions of your ad with new headlines or pictures.
2. Watch how your ads do: Keep an eye on click rates and how many people engage with your ad.
3. Show ads to different groups: Split your audience into smaller groups to show them more relevant ads.

For example, in 2022, Spotify changed its Premium service ads every week. This led to a 25% increase in new subscribers compared to the previous month when they used the same ad.

Action	Result
Weekly ad changes	25% more new subscribers
Same ad for a month	Lower subscriber growth

Keeping your brand consistent

It's important that your ads match your brand's style. This helps people recognize and trust your company. Here's what to do:

1. Make a guide for your brand's style
2. Check your ads to make sure they fit your brand
3. Use similar themes in all your ads

BuzzFeed did this well in 2021 when they worked with Coca-Cola. They made sponsored posts that looked like regular BuzzFeed articles but clearly showed they were ads. This campaign got 20% more clicks than their average sponsored content.

Following ad rules and regulations

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has rules for native ads to protect consumers. Here are key points:

Rule	What it means
Clear labels	Ads must say "Sponsored" or "Ad"
Easy to see	Labels should be big enough to notice
Near the ad	Put labels close to the ad content

In 2020, the FTC fined a major fashion retailer $4.2 million for not clearly marking their Instagram posts as ads. To avoid this:

1. Train your team on ad rules
2. Check your ads regularly to make sure they follow the rules
3. Be open about what's an ad and what's not

What's next for native advertising

New tech in native ads

AI and automation are changing how native ads work. These tools help create ads that fit what people like. For example:

Technology	How it helps
AI algorithms	Make many ad versions quickly
Real-time feedback	Change ads based on how people react
AR and VR	Create ads people can interact with

In 2022, IKEA used AR in their app. This let customers see how furniture would look in their homes before buying. The app was downloaded over 35 million times, showing how people like this kind of ad.

How people's ad preferences are changing

People want ads that feel real and fit what they're interested in. They're good at spotting ads and often ignore the ones that feel fake. This means:

• Ads need to blend in with other content
• People want to know when something is an ad
• Brands that are open about their ads do better

For example, Patagonia talks openly about how they make their products and why they care about the environment. In 2022, their sales grew by 15%, partly because people trust their honest approach.

Getting ready for future changes

To keep up with new trends in native ads, companies need to:

1. Use programmatic advertising
2. Make sure ads work well on phones
3. Think about voice-activated ads

Trend	Why it's important
Programmatic ads	Buy and sell ad space automatically
Mobile-friendly	Most people use phones to go online
Voice search	More people are using smart speakers

In 2023, Amazon reported that over 50% of their product searches came from voice commands. This shows why thinking about voice search is key for future ad strategies.

Wrap-up

Key points to remember

As native advertising changes, here are the main things to keep in mind:

• Tell stories that matter: Brands should connect their ads to things people care about. This helps people trust and like the brand more.
• Use new tech: AI, AR, and VR can make ads more personal and fun. For example, IKEA's AR app lets people see how furniture looks in their homes. It was downloaded over 35 million times.
• Be clear and honest: People want to know when they're seeing an ad. Brands that are open about this do better. Patagonia's honest approach helped them grow sales by 15% in 2022.

What's next for native advertising

Here's what to expect in the future:

Trend	What it means
More personal ads	Using data to make ads that fit what each person likes
Automated ad buying	Using computers to buy and sell ad space quickly
Changing with the times	Making ads that young people like, with real stories that fit in with what they're already looking at

Real-world examples

1. Spotify's changing ads

In 2022, Spotify changed its Premium service ads every week. This led to 25% more new subscribers compared to when they used the same ad all month.

2. Amazon's voice search

In 2023, Amazon said that over 50% of their product searches came from voice commands. This shows why thinking about voice search is key for future ad plans.

3. Notion AI's Product Hunt launch

In March 2023, Notion AI launched on Product Hunt and got 11,000 upvotes in 24 hours. This led to a 300% increase in daily sign-ups, from 5,000 to 20,000 per day for the next week. Notion's CPO, Akshay Kothari, said: "The Product Hunt launch did much better than we expected and really helped us grow."

FAQs

What is the best practice for native ads?

The best practice for native ads is to focus on content that helps readers. Your ad should lead to a blog post, landing page, or other content that:

• Answers questions
• Gives useful information
• Entertains

This approach helps build trust with your audience.

How to measure native advertising performance?

To check how well your native ads are doing, look at these key numbers:

Metric	What it means	How to calculate
Click-through rate (CTR)	How many people click your ad	(Total clicks ÷ Total impressions) × 100
Conversion rate	How many people take action after clicking	(Total conversions ÷ Total clicks) × 100

A good CTR for native ads is usually between 0.3% and 0.5%.

Real-world example: Notion AI's success on Product Hunt

In March 2023, Notion AI launched on Product Hunt with impressive results:

Metric	Result
Upvotes in 24 hours	11,000
Increase in daily sign-ups	300%
Daily sign-ups before	5,000
Daily sign-ups after	20,000
Duration of increased sign-ups	1 week

Notion's Chief Product Officer, Akshay Kothari, said: "The Product Hunt launch did much better than we expected and really helped us grow."

This example shows how a well-planned native ad campaign can lead to quick growth in users and interest.

Related posts

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• 10 Tips to Maximize ROI on Native Ads Across Networks
• Health Device Brand Native Ad Case Study