The 10 Main Types of Digital Advertising

Digital advertising comes in many forms. Here are 10 main types of online ads use to connect with their audience and boost brand awareness.

1. Display ads
2. Search ads
3. Social media ads
4. Video ads
5. Native ads
6. In-app ads
7. CTV ads
8. Affiliate ads
9. Email ads
10. Audio ads

Ad types show how digital advertising has evolved. It now fits new media formats and changing audience habits. In 2025, digital ads now dominate global ad spend, accounting for over 75% of the $1.8 trillion total ad market.

For absolute beginners, check out our digital advertising guide to understand how it works, and its benefits. To summarize, digital advertising is any ad created on online platforms to promote products and services.

Now, let's explain each type of online advertising.

1. Display Ads

Display ads, also known as banner ads, usually contain images, text, and sometimes animations (rich media). You can find them as visual banners on websites, blogs, and mobile apps. Like this:

These ads are usually sold via platforms like Blockchain-Ads and Google Display Network.

Banner ads come in many dimensions, with the most popular options being:

1. 300x250
2. 728x90
3. 160x600

You can see our content on display ad formats for more sizes and their explanations.

Another type of display ad is rich media ads. This type of ad adds excitement to your display campaign, making it more appealing than static banners. 

Rich media formats include:  

• Floating or pop-up ads  
• In-banner video ads  
• Interstitial ads  
• Expandable banner ads

An example is a display ad that expands when users hover over it. This allows them interact without leaving the page.

2. Search Advertising

Search ads are paid ads that show up at the top or bottom of search engine results pages (SERPs) when users search.

Search ads target specific keywords entered by users and are usually text-based, like so:

Search ads work through a bidding process where advertisers place bids to appear for high-intent queries. This makes the ads very relevant as they reach users when they’re most interested.

But text-only ads aren't the only formats available in search advertising, as we have

• responsive search ads
• dynamic search ads
• call-only ads
• discovery ads
• shopping ads

You can run search ads on search engines, through Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising. Our guide on search ads will give you a full explanation of how this digital ad type works.

3. Social Media Ads

Social media ads are paid content that shows up in users’ feeds, stories, or certain areas of a social media platform. They are meant to target specific audiences based on demographics, interests, and behaviors. Here’s an example:

Social media ads have various formats. They can be text-only, images, carousels, videos, or interactive ads.

Most times, this type of digital ad comes with a "sponsored" tag, although they tend to blend in with the platform and are almost native.

Social ads work well for awareness campaigns as users can discover new products right in their feeds. Our content on social media advertising provides a clear explanation of this digital ad type and how to execute it.

4. Video Advertising

Video ads are short promotional videos that companies create to advertise their products or services. They're designed to grab your attention and persuade you to buy something or learn more about a brand.

You’ll find video ads everywhere. They play before YouTube videos, on social media like Instagram and TikTok, on websites, and even in mobile games. They usually last anywhere from a few seconds to a couple of minutes.

Video ads work by combining visuals, sound, music, and sometimes text to tell a story or show off what they're selling. They are usually more engaging than regular picture ads. This is because they can show the product in action, tell a short story, or use humor and emotions to connect with viewers.

Video advertising comes in many types. These include in-stream, outstream, native, and rewarded ads. You can also find social media, shoppable, search result video ads, and over-the-top ads. 

However, the two main approaches are:

•  In-stream
• Out-stream

In-stream ads are those that play within video content. You’ve likely seen those YouTube ads, and even on streaming platforms like Hulu and NetFlix. They are those clips that pop up before, during, or right after your selected video.

The ones that play before the content are called pre-roll ads. If they appear midway, they’re known as mid-roll, often used for longer videos. Post-roll ads follow at the end. Here's an example of in-stream video ad:

Out-stream ads are unexpected videos. They pop up in places like the middle of an article or when you scroll through a blog post. These ads don’t rely on another video to host them. Instead, they are run through advertising platforms like Blockchain-Ads. Here's an example:

They auto-play silently, catching the eye without disrupting the flow. Once the viewer taps or hovers, the sound kicks in.

5. Native Advertising

Native advertising is a common digital ads type that blends in with the content on the platform, matching its look, feel, and purpose. 

You can see native ads on websites, apps, search results, and social media feeds. They are usually marked as “sponsored” or "promoted," but look like regular content.

There are many formats for native ads, but these three are the main forms:

• In-feed native ads
• Sponsored articles
• Content recommendation widgets

In-feed ads are one of the most common native advertising type. These ads are placed right into your social media feeds or news websites, and they look almost exactly like regular posts or articles. These ads blend in so you don't immediately realize they're trying to sell you something.

Another popular format is the sponsored article, also known as branded content. These are long-form pieces hosted on well-known publisher sites, written to offer insights or tell a story tied to the brand’s message.

The third type is the recommendations widget or "more stories you may like" section. They often appear at the bottom of articles with click-baity titles that prompts you to read them.

Our guide to native advertising further explains this digital advertising type.

6. In-app Ads

In-app ads are becoming more popular because they let companies connect with users in the places they spend the most time—mobile apps. This ad type works for casual games, streaming apps, or other applications.

There are different ad formats used in apps, but the most effective types include:

• Interstitial ads
• Rewarded video ads
• Playable ads

Interstitial ads show up during natural breaks, like when you finish a game level or switch tabs. They briefly take over your mobile screen and show a close button after a short countdown.

Rewarded video ads take a different approach. Users are given a choice to watch a short video and get something in return. In gaming apps, that might be an extra life or bonus coins. This format is successful because users engage willingly, as they know it benefits their time.

Playable ads are interactive previews, especially common in mobile gaming. They let users try a lightweight version of an app before deciding to install it. Instead of just watching a promo, users get to experience how it works. That often leads to higher-quality installs and more committed players.

7. Connected TV Advertising

CTV ads are video commercials for TVs that connect to the internet using streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV, or Roku. These ads usually show up before, during, or after streaming content. This is like how commercials run on regular TV.

But, they're delivered through the internet rather than cable or satellite signals. Advertisers can now target specific audiences better. For example, they can show sports equipment ads to people who watch a lot of sports.

CTV ads are rising in popularity as people turn away from cable TV with 88% of U.S. households owning at least one internet-connected TV device in 2023. Even more notable, CTV ad spending has surged by almost 400% since 2019. This shows how fast this advertising format is growing.

8. Affiliate Ads

Affiliate ads are cost effective promotional content made by partners called affiliates. They earn money by promoting other companies' products or services. When someone clicks an affiliate's link and makes a purchase, the affiliate receives a commission, usually a percentage of the sale.

You’ll often find affiliate ads on blogs, YouTube videos, social media, and review sites. For example, a tech blogger might write a review of the latest smartphone and include special links to buy it. If you click that link and purchase the phone, the blogger earns money from the sale.

These ads often appear as regular content. However, they must have disclaimers such as "sponsored," "affiliate link," or "I may earn a commission.""

In our guide to affiliate advertising, we explain how this marketing approach is a win-win.

• Companies attract more customers through trusted influencers and content creators.
• Affiliates can earn money by recommending products they truly use or believe in.

Affiliate ads can be simple text links or banner images. They can also include full product reviews and unboxing videos which often feel more like entertainment than regular ads.

9. Email Ads

Email ads are promotional messages that reach people directly in their inboxes, and there are two main types you'll encounter. The first type is banner ads that show up in email platforms like Gmail or Yahoo. They look like small ads next to your regular emails, just like ads on websites.

The second type involves sending promotional content directly to people who have signed up to receive it. This includes promotional newsletters from companies that show their products or sales. It also covers sponsored content in newsletters that people already subscribe to. You might get a weekly tech newsletter with a sponsored part that promotes a related product. Like so:

Both types need permission-based marketing. This means people must agree to get promotional emails or use platforms where ads are clearly shown. See our content on email advertising for a full breakdown of how it works.

10. Audio Advertising

Audio ads are a digital ad type targeted at listeners of podcasts, streaming music services, and internet radio.

Streaming platforms and podcasts have made audio a strong tool. It’s great for storytelling, helping people remember products, and reinforcing brands. These ads fit smoothly into what you’re listening to. They usually appear as short voiceovers or sponsored messages.

There are two key formats used in audio advertising:

• Podcast ads
• Music streaming ads

Podcast ads are inserted at the beginning, middle, or end of episodes, referred to as pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll. Some are added based on the listener’s profile. Others are read by the host, creating a personal and genuine tone.

You'll find music streaming ads on platforms like Spotify, Pandora, and Audiomack. These are short audio ads between songs for users on free plans. These clips typically last 15 to 30 seconds and often come with a clickable visual banner that appears on the screen. The result is a dual-format ad: it’s both heard and seen, increasing the chances of engagement.

Choosing the Right Type of Digital Advertising for Brand Visibility

To boost your brand's visibility and get great results, choose digital ads that fit your goals, audience, and budget. Here are the three core factors to keep in mind

• Your target audience: Where do they spend their time online? 
• Your budget: Some ad types are more expensive than others. 
• Your goals: Are you aiming for brand awareness, leads, or sales?

Here are the key factors to consider when choosing your digital advertising strategy:

1. Know Your Audience: It’s important to understand your customers' habits and preferences. This helps you succeed online. Younger audiences often connect more with social media ads on TikTok and Instagram. In contrast, professionals tend to prefer LinkedIn campaigns and email newsletters.
2. Define Your Campaign Goals: Be clear about what you want to achieve with your advertising. If your main goal is brand awareness, try display ads, video ads, or CTV advertising. For quick sales and immediate results, retargeted display ads, search ads or affiliate marketing might work best.
3. Consider Your Budget: Some ad types offer better cost-effectiveness than others. Programmatic display ads are efficient and can reach many people. Influencer marketing needs more investment. Still, it usually delivers better engagement and real connections with audiences.
4. Match Content to Ad Type: The nature of your product or service should guide your advertising format. Complex products or services need clear explanations in video ads or native ads. Simple products, on the other hand, do well with static display ads or social media posts.
5. Choose Platform-Appropriate Formats: Different products perform better on specific platforms and ad types. Attractive products, like fashion and home decor, do well on image-driven platforms with social media ads. In contrast, B2B services often succeed with search ads or professional email campaigns.

Combining different types of digital advertising leads to a stronger strategy. It engages people at various stages of their customer journey. For instance, you can use display ads to attract attention with bright visuals. Then, use native ads that blend into the content. This way, you build trust and encourage engagement.

Platforms like Blockchain-Ads let you run different ad types at the same time. It offers a programmatic approach to advertising, allowing you to reach highly-relevant audiences using multiple formats.

Where can you run these digital advertising types?

Today, most ad types can run on various online platforms. Understanding the placement of your ads can have a significant effect on your results.

You can use search engines like Google and Bing. Social media options include Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.

Video platforms such as YouTube and e-commerce sites like Amazon are also available. You can also utilize display advertising networks and connected TV (CTV) advertising. 

Our guide to the best digital advertising platforms offers a full breakdown of each platform and its strengths.

‍