Cross-screen transplants: How to adapt TV ads for digital

Digital advertisers often see video content as a channel-agnostic panacea. But using the same content across the web, even embedded in your display ads, isn’t the answer. Just because it works on TV doesn’t mean it belongs in a banner.

A little extra work can go a long way: Turning your standard video ads into a native, interactive brand experience is an engaging way to get the results you want.

Here are three things to keep in mind when tailoring video content for digital display advertising:

TV is passive, digital is active
Traditional TV commercials are designed to guide a passive audience along a linear narrative. There’s not much room for interactivity or creative presentation. But the sort of “on-demand” narrative enabled by digital inspires users to be more active and involved in their content consumption. Avoid one-way broadcasting.

Know your goals
Before adapting a TV ad to the digital plane, know your goals. Do you want the audience’s full attention? Do you want interaction? The answers to those questions will help decide just how you expand your traditional spot for an online audience

Find the right format
There is a variety of digital display ad formats, and finding the right mix can carry consumers all the way through the marketing funnel. Adding standard, in-feed native and rich media video display formats to your roster will help you make the most of your digital channels’ immense potential.

Read the full guide

More from Digiday

TikTok launches MCP server to let AI agents run campaigns

The platform launched its own model context protocol (MCP) server during its sixth annual TikTok World event.

Future of TV Briefing: Inside Warner Bros. Discovery’s programmatic upfront pitch

This week’s Future of TV Briefing looks at how WBD’s programmatic advertising business has evolved with programmatic playing a bigger part in its upfront deals.

Mail Metro Media shifts ad strategy toward PMPs and fewer ads as it unifies stack

Mail Metro Media wants to drive 300% PMP growth over the next three years as part of plans to turn a high-volume digital direct business into an outcomes shop.