Get Fluent in Performance Marketing

Plain language explainers to help you keep up with the evolving digital landscape.

Ad modal

What is an ad modal?

An ad modal is a user interface element that displays an advertisement on top of the existing website or app content. It’s essentially a pop-up window specifically designed for delivering promotional messages. Ad modals typically require user interaction, such as clicking a “close” button or dismissing the ad, before returning to the original content.

How do ad modals work?

Ad modals are triggered by various events, such as a user reaching a specific page on a website, performing an action (e.g., adding an item to cart), or simply after a set amount of time has elapsed. The ad modal then overlays the existing content, grabbing the user’s attention and promoting a specific product, service, or offer.

Types of ad modals:

There are several variations of ad modals, each offering different functionalities:

  • Lightbox Modals: These are simple pop-up windows displaying the ad content. They typically have a close button or an option to click through to the advertiser’s website.
  • Slide-in Modals: These appear from the side of the screen, often from the bottom or top. They typically take up less space than a lightbox modal.
  • Fullscreen Modals: As the name suggests, these cover the entire screen with the ad content, demanding the user’s complete attention. These ads can be seen as intrusive and should be used sparingly.
  • Welcome Mat Modals: These appear immediately upon a user landing on a webpage, effectively acting as a full-screen introduction or promotional message.

How to measure the effectiveness of ad modals:

The effectiveness of ad modals can be measured through various metrics including:

  • Impression Rate: The number of times the ad modal is displayed.
  • Click-Through Rate (CTR): The percentage of users who see the modal and click on the ad content.
  • Conversion Rate: The percentage of users who click on the ad and complete a desired action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.
  • Close Rate: The percentage of users who dismiss the ad modal without taking any action.

Why are ad modals important to marketers?

  • High Visibility: By overlaying existing content, ad modals can effectively grab user attention and deliver a focused marketing message.
  • Increased Engagement: The need to interact with the modal (e.g., closing it) can lead to higher user engagement compared to traditional banner ads.
  • Targeted Promotions: Ad modals can be triggered based on user behavior or browsing activity, allowing for targeted advertising campaigns relevant to the user’s current interests.

Who needs to know what an ad modal is:

  • Marketers: Anyone involved in online advertising should be familiar with ad modals to leverage their potential for grabbing user attention and promoting targeted offers.
  • Web Developers: Developers need to understand how ad modals are implemented and how they interact with the website’s user interface.
  • Graphic Designers: Those designing ad creatives for ad modals need to consider the limited space and user experience limitations compared to traditional banner ads.

Use ad modal in a sentence:

“The ecommerce website used a well-designed ad modal to offer a discount code to first-time visitors, resulting in a significant increase in purchases.”

[close]