Interstitial Ad
A type of online advertisement that appears in between content transitions.
Description
Interstitial ads are full-screen advertisements that cover the interface of their host app or website. Unlike traditional display ads that occupy a designated space on a webpage, interstitial ads take over the entire screen. They typically appear at natural transition points in the flow of a user’s experience, such as between activities or during the pause between levels in a mobile game. These ads can include rich media elements such as images, videos, or animations, and often require the user to interact with them before they can proceed to the next screen. Due to their immersive nature, interstitial ads are known to achieve higher click-through rates compared to regular banner ads. However, if not implemented thoughtfully, they can also disrupt the user experience and lead to frustration.
Examples
- In a mobile gaming app, an interstitial ad might appear after a player completes a level. The ad could be a short video promoting another game, requiring the player to either watch it fully or close it to proceed to the next level.
- On a news website, an interstitial ad might show up when a reader clicks on a link to read an article. Before the article loads, a full-screen ad for a new car model could appear, and the reader would need to interact with the ad to continue to the article.
Additional Information
- Interstitial ads should be used sparingly to avoid disrupting the user experience.
- These ads are particularly effective in mobile apps and games due to the natural breaks in user activity.