As I work on a lot of sites/forums/email templates that use ads I am always showing clients how different sized ads will look within the layout of their websites. This PSD will hopefully act as a good guide for banner ad sizes you can place within your designs.

Below you can see a preview of the banner ad sizes PSD. Once you have downloaded the PSD you can drag and drop each ad size onto you design easily.

Download the Website banner ad template below

I thought I would start of with this clever piece of online viral advertising by Joe Schreiber who’s new book puts Star Wars Death Troopers surviving against our old favourite the zombie. When a prison ship (The Purge) docks with Star Destroyer (Vector) they find the crew of the Star Destroyer dead and without knowing whats happened they find them selves in a huge zombie Storm Trooper mess.

Mr Schreiber has used the online Star Wars fan base to create him mini fan-made Death Trooper trailers to promote his book. Mixing zombies with Star Wars is clever enough I thought but then allowing it’s fans free reign on it’s trailer was even better. With the 5 chosen videos online they set up a pole where you were allowed to vote for your favourite.

The verdict was anonymous and the final trailer I have posted below – Check it out.

Not only did they involve the huge Star Wars fan base they also created a fictional Twitter feed of a Storm Trooper that was based upon the Star Destroyer Vector. This has inspired me to do a similar thing in the future on an upcoming animation project really great stuff. Here is the troopers Twitter feed for your reading pleasure.

http://twitter.com/TK329

Letters that were found on the ships were posted up on fan sites and forum boards. You can read a couple of them here on the official Death Trooper book website > deathtroopers.com

As I loved the book so much I thought I would also post up some of the official artwork illustrated by TheUnknownStranger.

I have gathered together 10 of what I think are some of the best online Flash ads.

Lego Star Wars

I’ll start of with this ad which has been around for a little while but always hooks me in. Well it is Lego and Star Wars – all in one banner full of win!

Pringles

Next is this rather clickable Pringles ad. Here is, finally, a piece of interactive advertising which relies on copywriting instead of  “form-over-function”.

“Get it? She has a Pringles can on her hand” – just brilliant, and really tickled me. A lovely, simple piece of brand advertising. It goes on… and on… and on. Maybe the slogan should be ‘once you click, you just can’t stop’.

AutoTrader

This AutoTrader advert was pretty addictive due to its interactivity and the quirky little Auto Trader fella. You can draw your perfect car, bike or… well whatever comes into your head first. :s

Mini spin off

Mini spin off is an ad where you can create a vinyl for the roof of your mini in seconds. Doubt anybody will actually purchase one of these roof vinyls but is a bit of fun and goes well with all the other mini ad campaigns I think.

McDonalds

McDonalds Flick a Pickle allows you to cause havoc and vandalise a web page, great stuff for all chavy teenagers. Not really sure what this ad actually communicates apart from the fact that if you have a routine at McDonald’s you’re too fat and shouldn’t be throwing out the only healthy bit of the burger!!!

Kelloggs

A rather witty banner from Kelloggs. The scroll bar on the right hand side makes this ad look not very clickable but maybe that is the point of the ad. Maybe they don’t need you clicking through they just wanted to let you know what it does and the fact it is in stores as a selling product.

BurgerKing and Sharpie

Draw all over this guys face with a Sharpie and a really cool drawing wrapping effect.

Amanco

Like toilets? Well you’ll like our next ad, a sharp and funny idea. Pull away.

Sprint

Not much information in this banner, the meaning of this ad is shown indirectly – ‘Use Sprint and you’re not throwing away your money’. Clever (but frustrating!) ad.

Companhia Athletica

Try the home gym bike but try not to ride too fast. Oh no actually, do ;) You may find yourself playing it over and over again.