Welcome to Digital Marketing Glossary

An interstitial is a type of full-screen ad that appears between content pages, often during natural transition points within a user's experience.

Description

In the digital marketing industry, an interstitial ad is a full-screen advertisement that covers the interface of its host application or website. These ads are typically displayed at natural transition points, such as in between activities or during a pause in the user experience. They are designed to capture the user’s full attention and usually offer a higher engagement rate compared to traditional banner ads. Interstitial ads can be highly effective because they are difficult to ignore; however, if not implemented carefully, they can disrupt the user experience and lead to frustration. Therefore, it’s important to balance the frequency and timing of these ads to maintain a positive user experience.

Examples

  • A gaming app like Candy Crush might show an interstitial ad in between levels. As the player completes one level and moves to the next, a full-screen ad appears, showcasing a new game or product, before allowing the player to continue.
  • News websites such as CNN may use interstitial ads between article pages. When a user clicks on a link to read a new article, an interstitial ad might appear for a few seconds before the content loads, advertising a relevant product or service.

Additional Information

  • Interstitial ads generally have higher click-through rates (CTR) because they are more visually engaging.
  • These ads must be used judiciously to avoid disrupting the user experience, as overly frequent or poorly timed interstitials can lead to user frustration and increased bounce rates.

References

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