Google Display Ads Explained: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

What is a Google Display Ad?

A Google Display Ad is a type of online advertisement that appears across the Google Display Network, which covers millions of websites, apps, YouTube, and Gmail. Unlike Google Search Ads, which show up when people type in a query, display ads focus more on visual discovery and building brand awareness.

These ads can appear as static banners, responsive formats, interactive visuals, or even video ads that show up on websites where your audience spends time. The real strength of display ads lies in their targeting ability, as you can reach people based on demographics, interests, browsing behavior, or even reconnect with visitors who left your website without making a purchase.

In simple terms, Google Display Ads help businesses show the right message to the right people at the right moment, even if those people are not actively searching for their products yet.

Benefits of using Google Display Ads

Running Google Display Ads gives businesses a significant advantage in digital marketing, as it combines scale with precision. By understanding its core benefits, you can maximize results and make smarter use of your advertising budget:

• Expansive reach across millions of sites and apps

With access to the Google Ads Display Network, your ads can appear on over two million websites, apps, and platforms like YouTube and Gmail. This allows you to connect with a massive audience and build brand visibility far beyond search engines alone. Using the Google Ads Display Network also ensures your campaigns are seen in relevant contexts that match your brand objectives.

• Advanced targeting options using demographics, interests, and behaviors

Display ads are not about random placements. They let you zero in on the right audience by filtering based on age, gender, location, interests, and online behaviors. This ensures that your ads reach people most likely to engage with your brand. Additionally, mastering targeting strategies often requires completing a Google Display Ads Certification, which equips marketers with the skills to maximize campaign effectiveness.

• Retargeting power to re-engage past visitors

One of the biggest strengths of display ads is remarketing. You can show tailored ads to users who visited your website but did not convert, reminding them of your products and nudging them back into the buyer's journey. Retargeting works best when your creatives meet the Google Display Ads Image Size and Google Display Ads Specs guidelines, ensuring ads display correctly across all devices.

• Cost-effectiveness compared to other ad formats

Display ads often come at a lower cost-per-click than search or social ads, making them budget-friendly. With proper optimization, they can deliver strong ROI, especially for campaigns focused on awareness and remarketing. By following Google Display Ads Specs, you can ensure your ads look professional and maintain a high-quality appearance that drives trust and clicks.

• Data-driven insights for ongoing optimization

Google provides detailed analytics on ad performance, including impressions, clicks, conversions, and audience behavior. These insights help you refine targeting, adjust creatives, and optimize budgets to maximize the value of every campaign. Marketers with a Google Display Ads Certification can leverage these insights more effectively to make informed decisions and continually improve campaign performance.

Google Display Ad dimensions

Let's take a closer look at ad dimensions, as understanding the correct sizes is essential for creating campaigns that look professional and perform well across various devices. Ads that do not meet the required specifications may appear distorted, get rejected, or fail to engage the audience effectively:

• Standard banner sizes

Some of the most common ad sizes include 300x250 (medium rectangle), 728x90 (leaderboard), and 160x600 (wide skyscraper). These sizes work well across desktop and mobile placements, ensuring your ads appear clear and visually appealing. Using standard sizes also makes it easier to test multiple ad variations and find what resonates best with your audience.

• Large and responsive formats

Responsive Display Ads automatically adjust their size, appearance, and format to fit available ad spaces. This flexibility allows your creatives to reach a wider audience without creating multiple static images. Additionally, responsive formats often improve campaign efficiency by automatically optimizing for the best-performing placements.

• High-impact and special placements

For more prominent visibility, you can use larger formats such as 970x250 (billboard) and 300x600 (half-page). These sizes provide more room for visuals and messaging, increasing engagement potential. Larger formats are ideal for campaigns that aim to make a strong impression or highlight premium products.

• Mobile-optimized dimensions

Mobile devices account for a significant portion of ad impressions, so it is essential to include mobile-friendly sizes like 320x50 (mobile leaderboard) and 320x100 (large mobile banner). Proper sizing ensures your ads display correctly and maintain strong click-through rates. Optimizing for mobile also provides a better user experience, which can directly influence conversions.

• Tips for effective sizing

Always create ads in multiple sizes to maximize reach. Maintaining high image resolution, readable text, and engaging visuals is crucial for improved campaign performance. Testing different sizes and formats helps you identify what works best for your audience, ultimately boosting overall campaign results.

Setting up your first Google Display Ads campaign

Creating your first Google Display Ads campaign involves a structured approach to reach the right audience and achieve measurable results. Following these steps ensures your campaigns are optimized for performance from the start:

• Step-by-step walkthrough of campaign creation

Start by logging into your Google Ads account and selecting the Display campaign type. Set your campaign objective, choose your target audience, and define placements where you want your ads to appear. Taking it step by step helps prevent mistakes and ensures your ads are shown to the right people at the right time.

• Choosing the right goals

Determine whether your campaign focuses on awareness, conversions, or remarketing. Awareness campaigns are ideal for introducing your brand, while conversion-focused campaigns drive specific actions, such as purchases or sign-ups. Remarketing campaigns reconnect with users who have previously visited your site, giving them an extra nudge to convert. Choosing the right goal guides your targeting, ad format, and bidding strategy.

• Budgeting and bidding strategies

Set a daily or campaign-level budget based on your marketing objectives and overall ad spend. Choose a bidding strategy such as cost-per-click (CPC), cost-per-thousand impressions (CPM), or target return on ad spend (ROAS). Proper budgeting and bidding help you maximize results without overspending while allowing flexibility to scale campaigns as performance improves.

• Crafting ad creatives that capture attention

Design visuals and copy that are engaging, relevant, and clearly communicate your message. Use high-quality images or videos, compelling headlines, and strong calls-to-action. Well-crafted creative ads not only attract clicks but also help build brand recognition and improve overall campaign performance. Testing multiple variations can reveal what resonates best with your audience.

Designing standout visuals for Google Display Ads can feel like juggling a dozen different sizes, formats, and placements at once. Instead of getting lost in endless image tweaks, Pippit acts like your personal creative co-pilot. It lets you create polished ad visuals, instant mockups, and responsive designs in minutes, effortlessly turning ideas into scroll-stopping ads. With Pippit, you can experiment with layouts, optimize images for every placement, and create campaigns that truly shine across the Google Ads Display Network—all without the usual stress and hours of manual work.

How Pippit can boost your Google Display Ads strategy

Pippit is a next-gen AI-powered content creation platform that makes designing ad visuals fast, effortless, and highly effective. With the video generation, you can transform static concepts into dynamic video ads that tell your brand story in seconds. The prompt-to-Image feature enables you to convert simple text ideas into professional-quality visuals, ideal for ad banners and responsive display formats. The image editor gives you complete control to refine designs, adjust logos, and ensure every visual meets the required specifications. Meanwhile, AI background removal enables you to isolate products or key elements, creating clean, polished creatives that stand out in any placement. Together, these tools enable the creation of multiple ad variations, responsive designs, and mockups for the Google Ads Display Network in just minutes. With Pippit, marketers can focus on strategy and messaging while AI handles the heavy lifting of visual production.

Steps to create Google Display video ads using Pippit

Creating Google Display video ads is simple with Pippit's AI-powered tools. You can design professional, attention-grabbing videos quickly and efficiently. Click the link below to start turning your ad ideas into high-performing visuals:

STEP 1
1. Navigate to the "Video generator" section

Start creating high-performing Google Display video ads by signing up for Pippit with the link above. Navigate to the homepage and click on "Video generator." Input your content by adding ad text, product photos, or campaign ideas. You can use "Agent mode" to instantly produce polished video ads from uploads or "Lite mode" to refine visuals, timing, and transitions for maximum engagement. When your video meets your expectations, hit "Generate" to finalize your ad creative.

After selecting your input in Pippit, a new page titled "How you want to create video" will appear. Here, enter the name of your ad campaign or product focus, and provide additional details, including campaign highlights, target audience, and key messaging points. Scroll down to the "Video types" and "Video settings" sections to choose the ad format, select a video style or avatar, set the aspect ratio, pick the language, and define the video length. Once everything is set, click "Generate" and Pippit will produce a polished Google Display video ad ready for your campaign.

STEP 2
1. Generate and edit your video

Pippit will start generating your Google Display video ads and may take a few moments to complete the process. Once ready, you'll see a selection of AI-generated video ads to choose from. Browse through them carefully and select the one that best aligns with your campaign goals and brand style. Hover over the selected video to access options like "Change video," "Quick edit," or "Export." If none of the videos fit your vision, simply click "Create new" to generate another batch of ad variations.

To make quick changes to your Google Display video ads, click "Quick edit." This allows you to adjust your ads' script, visual elements, voiceover, and any text overlays. You can also tweak media placements and customize the style of captions to ensure your message stands out and aligns with your campaign's branding.

STEP 3
1. Preview and export your video

If you want to elevate your Google Display video ads, choose the "Edit more" option to access a full-featured editing timeline. You can enhance your ad clips by adjusting colors, applying Smart tools, removing backgrounds, reducing audio noise, and controlling video speed. Add animations, effects, or relevant stock images and videos to make your ads visually striking. These advanced features enable you to create professional-grade display video ads that capture attention and drive engagement across the Google Ads Display Network.

Once your Google Display video ads are ready, click "Export" to download them to your device. You can also upload it to your campaigns across the Google Ads Display Network or share it on social media to maximize reach. Alternatively, you can directly "Publish" the video to platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, making it easy to launch your ads, engage your audience, and maintain consistent branding across multiple channels.

Steps to create product posters for Google Display Ads using Pippit

Designing eye-catching product posters for Google Display Ads is easier than ever with Pippit. You can create professional visuals, customize layouts, and optimize designs to stand out across the Google Ads Display Network:

STEP 1
1. Navigate to the Image studio

Start by logging into Pippit and selecting "Image studio" from the left panel. Scroll to the "Find Inspiration" section and open "Product Poster," where you'll see two creative options: click "Create from your product poster" to upload it, and Pippit will generate personalized poster variations based on your prompt. Alternatively, choose a template you like, click "Change Product," and replace the images with those from your assets or device to customize the design for your brand.

STEP 2
1. Generate your poster ad

Once your product image is uploaded, you can customize a new background with presets or describe the scene you want surrounding your product, from sleek and minimal to vibrant and dynamic. Hit "Generate" to produce a striking backdrop in seconds. The outcome is a visually compelling poster that stands out on Google Display Ads campaigns.

STEP 3
1. Select, customize and downloAds

After generating your background, multiple design options will show up in the Results panel on the left side. Select the thumbnail that best fits your campaign vision. Use the toolbar tools, including Cutout, HD, Flip, Opacity, and Arrange, to fine-tune visuals and organize elements. The Resize option helps adjust dimensions for various Google Display Ad formats. Once satisfied with your design, hit "Download" in the top-right corner to save a polished, campaign-ready product poster.

Explore more features of Pippit for Google Display Ads

• Turn ideas into marketing visuals

With Pippit's text-to-design feature, you can convert simple text ideas into professional visuals for your display ads. Just describe your product, campaign theme, or desired style, and Pippit generates multiple creative options instantly. This makes brainstorming ad concepts faster and more efficient. You can also tweak prompts to explore different design styles until you find the perfect visual.

• Lifelike avatars for marketing and advertising

Using Pippit, you can create highly realistic avatars that represent your brand or products in Google Display Ads. These avatars can be animated or static, allowing for more engaging ad creatives that capture user attention instantly. When integrated with Google Display campaigns, avatars can showcase product features, demonstrate usage, or convey brand messaging in a visually appealing way.

• Effortlessly showcase your product online

Pippit enables you to create professional, visually appealing product showcase ads for Google Display campaigns. These ads can highlight your products' key features, benefits, and branding elements through images, videos, or animated sequences that grab user attention. With advanced customization options, you can tailor each showcase to target specific audience segments and maximize ad performance.

• Instant ad creation with templates & mockups

Use Pippit's library of video templates and image mockups to design multiple ad variations quickly. Whether it's a banner, responsive ads, or square format, these tools help you visualize how your ads will appear on different placements before launching. Templates save time while maintaining a professional design standard. Mockups let you preview ads in real-world scenarios, giving you confidence before publishing.

The examples of Google Display Ads

Exploring real examples of Google Display Ads can help marketers understand how to design visuals, write compelling copy, and optimize placements for maximum engagement. Seeing different ad formats in action makes it easier to apply best practices to your own campaigns:

• Static image ads

These are simple, visually appealing ads that feature a single image, logo, and concise messaging. They are ideal for brand awareness campaigns and can appear on websites and apps across the Google Display Network. Well-designed static ads are easy to create and can quickly grab user attention without overwhelming the viewer.

• Responsive display ads

Responsive ads automatically adjust their size, format, and appearance to fit available ad spaces. By uploading multiple headlines, images, and descriptions, Google assembles the best combination for each placement. This flexibility ensures your ads look great on desktops, mobile devices, and across various websites.

• Video display ads

Video ads on the Google Display Network and YouTube allow brands to deliver rich storytelling experiences. Engaging short videos can explain product features, showcase tutorials, or highlight promotions. Video ads are particularly effective for capturing attention and conveying more complex messages than static images.

• Interactive and rich media ads

These ads include elements like sliders, expandable content, or clickable buttons that encourage users to interact. Interactive ads create a more engaging experience and can improve click-through rates by actively involving the viewer. They work well for campaigns aiming to educate or entertain while promoting products.

• Remarketing display ads

These ads target users who have previously visited your website or interacted with your brand. By showing tailored visuals and messaging, remarketing ads remind potential customers of products they consider and encourage them to complete a purchase. Effective remarketing campaigns can significantly boost conversions and ROI.

Conclusion

Google Display Ads offer marketers a powerful way to reach audiences, build brand awareness, and drive conversions across millions of websites and apps. By understanding ad dimensions, crafting engaging creatives, setting up campaigns strategically, and leveraging various ad formats, including responsive, video, and retargeting ads, businesses can maximize the impact of their display advertising efforts. Monitoring analytics and optimizing campaigns ensures that each ad delivers results while avoiding common pitfalls.

Pippit, your Smart Creative Agent, makes this process even easier by helping you design eye-catching display ads, create multiple ad variations quickly, and produce visuals that stand out across the Google Display Network. With AI-powered tools, you can save time, scale your campaigns, and focus on strategies that drive real growth. Start creating high-performing display ads today with Pippit and transform your campaigns into a visual and conversion powerhouse.

FAQs

• What is the Google Ads Display Network and how does it work?

The Google Ads Display Network lets your ads appear on millions of websites, apps, and platforms like YouTube, reaching audiences visually and strategically. With Pippit, you can quickly design professional ads that follow proper specifications and create mockups to ensure your visuals perform well across all placements.

• How can I get certified with Google Display Ads Certification?

A Google Display Ads Certification validates your skills in creating and managing effective display campaigns. Pippit can help by providing ready-to-use templates and examples that follow image size and ad format guidelines, giving you hands-on experience while preparing for the certification exam.

• What image sizes should I use for my display ads?

Ad image sizes depend on the format, whether standard banners, responsive ads, or mobile placements. Using the correct dimensions ensures your visuals appear crisp and professional. Pippit helps you generate ad mockups and adjust designs, so they look perfect across different devices and placements.

• How do mockups help in designing display ads?

Creating a mockup lets you preview how your ads will appear before launching them. It helps test multiple designs, formats, and messages to find what works best. With Pippit, you can produce high-quality mockups quickly and ensure your ads meet specifications without wasting time.

• What are the main ad sizes and specs I need to know?

Common Google Display Ad sizes include 300x250, 728x90, and 160x600, while responsive ads adjust automatically to available placements. Pippit simplifies the design process by letting you create visuals that fit these sizes, maintain high resolution, and follow specifications for better campaign performance.