Pre-roll Ads Come To Web Sites In The Form Of Walk-on Ads

April 13, 2009 - PRLog -- Advertising on the World Wide Web is a major business.  In 2008 about $30,000,000,000 was spent advertising online.  There are 219,537,606 Internet users in the United States, which is 72.3% of the population.  (All figures from a CBS radio sales presentation)

However, advertising on the Web is changing.  Most people think of banner ads, pop-up ads and spam email when they think of Internet advertising.  It is the pre-roll ads on video (e.g. television shows) and audio (e.g. listening to radio stations) that represent the most effective and growing segment of online advertising.

What’s interesting about this type of advertising is that unlike pop-ups, banner ads, and junk email, pre-roll advertising is accepted by viewers/listeners, and at times even enjoyed.  Just like television commercials, pre-roll ads can be entertaining, and in fact, to be successful, they need to be entertaining.

Also, pre-roll ads must be watched if visitors want to view or listen to the show they have brought up on their computers.  They cannot be blocked (pop up blocker) or screened/filtered (to email junk folders).  The ad can also not be ignored like banner ads on web sites, and are not fighting to get noticed by being presented amongst numerous other ads.  This assures the advertiser that every time the ad is played, it reaches at least one potential customer.  

But television shows, movies, radio stations, etc., are not the only ways people use the Internet for entertainment.  Web sites and blogs about football, politics, television shows, movies, pets, recipes, science fiction, investments, the environment, health, etc. receive lots of traffic; as do game sites, dating sites, weather sites, map sites and more.  

Now, thanks to walk-on ads, these entertainment venues (web sites) can also offer pre-roll ads.  Walk-on ads allow sites that may not be big profit centers, to make money, while advertisers reach their visitors to generate sales or build brand.  When a visitor comes to a web site, there is a 15 second ad that the visitor must see if he/she wants to remain on that page.  A person (or persons) “walks on” to that web page and provides about 15 seconds worth of advertising or brand-building (includes click on me for more information, or to go to web site).  Just like pre-roll ads, the ad only plays once, and needs to be entertaining.  After the 15 seconds or so are up, the visitor can stay on that page as long as he/she likes “walk-on-ad-free”.   And web sites can have their walk-on ads placed in a rotation to vary the ad that their visitors see.

There are a number of different versions of walk-on ads, however, the most beneficial are the ones that work like pre-roll ads.  That means the ads should not be in a player, or bring up a menu of options when the mouse is moved over it so it can be turned off before the ad is finished playing.  It should also not continually jump out at you every time the mouse moves over it.  That is cool for the developer and the advertiser, but annoying for the visitor to the web page.  The goal is to have web site advertising mimic television advertising, something that my not be loved by all, but is accepted by most, and one of the characteristics of television advertising is that when it is over, it is over.

One of the benefits of placing pre-roll, walk-on ads on websites rather than using pre-rolls on video/radio shows is that you can better target a potential audience.  For example, if you have a pet product, you can target an age/demographic group with video/radio shows, but using web sites, you can target a site dealing with pet health or pet-friendly hotels.  Pre-rolls are one-on-one marketing, making them very personal, so having an immediate connection to the viewer increases the chances of a sale or building brand recognition.

If you would like to see a sample ad, Jay Goldberg, CEO of DTR Inc., made a demo at  http://www.dtrconsulting.biz.  Mr. Goldberg is far from a professional model, but he made the ad to understand the process and demonstrate its ease.  If you are interested in using a walk-on ad for your business, or if you have a web site and would like to offer walk-on ads, be sure to click on the walk-on ad to find out more information and send in the contact form.  The direct link to that page (will skip the ad) is http://www.DTRConsulting.BIZ/dtrwalkon.htm.

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About DTR Inc.

DTR Inc. develops custom workplace training programs, writes business plans, and provides online marketing solutions.

DTR Inc.'s work readiness training program was called the best in the country by the National Skills Standard Board. In 2008, CEO Jay Goldberg wrote the book, "How to Get, Keep and Be Well Paid in a Job".

DTR Inc.'s business plan process is more than just writring business plans for clients. DTR Inc. helps with marketing and business strategies, and provides a process to help entrepreneurs manage and assess their growth.

In April of 2009, DTR Inc. expanded its services to include helping companies market their products, services and brand online. The centerpiece of this strategy is walk-on ads that can be placed on their own web site and other sites all over the Net. These walk-on ads are similar to pre-roll ads viewed prior to watching video (e.g. television shows) or listening to audio (e.g. radio show) online.