Varos Glossary

In-Feed Ads

What Are In Feed Ads?

In feed ads is a form of native advertising that is placed into the feed of a given app or website but does not interfere with the user experience. An in-feed ad can often result in better engagement and conversions since in feed native ads are unobtrusive yet can still be intriguing.

A wide variety of in-feed ads are available across all major advertising platforms. Understanding the differences between each type of in-feed ad helps you better understand how to use them in each campaign.

Different Specific Types of In-Feed Ads

Deciding on the right ad is crucial. You should focus on current business objectives and available budget to select the right ad type for your next campaign. 

Understanding the different types of in-feed ads can help you hone in on the right choice for your organization. Some of the specific types of in-feed ads are:

  • Content feeds: This type of ad feed is within the publisher’s content, and ads will appear in between paragraphs (when considering written content). You’ll also see this type of content feed in videos, with YouTube’s midroll ads also falling into this category.
  • Product feeds: A product feed provides detailed information about an eCommerce site’s inventory and links directly to the product page. These ads are common in partnerships between eCommerce sites that sell complementary products, in addition to Google Shopping.
  • Social feeds:  In feed, social ads can go far in helping you reach and connect with the right audience. Almost every type of ad campaign on social media falls under this category, making it crucial to continually drill down and find the best option for your company. Most people think of in feed social media ads when they think of in feed ads. Social feeds are certainly crucial and form the backbone of a comprehensive ad campaign, but as we’ve seen, they aren’t the only type. 
  • Static in-feed ads: A static in-feed feed is typically a direct link to the advertiser’s website, often with only a text ad. These ads are unobtrusive and often represent a long-term agreement between the publisher and the advertiser.
  • Sponsored content: You’ve undoubtedly seen sponsored content on news sites, blogs, and some social media platforms. The advertiser creates sponsored content to match the publisher’s tone and speak to their audience. While you’ll often see these ads in the form of written content, in-feed video ads can also be sponsored. This type of in-feed ad is more detailed than other types, and success is measured based on engagement.

Key Benefits of Using In-Feed Ads

In-feed ads can have high engagement, grow brand awareness, and generate revenue for your business. Some of the primary benefits of in-feed ads are:

  • Enhanced reach: This type of ad allows you to speak directly to the audience of the given platform. You’ll extend your brand's reach and reach new potential customers, which can be engaged with follow-up retargeting campaigns.
  • Target the right audience: In feed, ads can be a variety of formats, with most advertisers opting to create ads that will appeal to specific users. It’s crucial to choose the right ad platform and format that best fits the objectives of the campaign. Make sure your ad creatives are tailored to the type of ad you plan on running as well.

Ideal for mobile advertising: Mobile advertising can greatly benefit from in-feed ads within the apps your target audience is already using. For example, you can reduce TikTok in feed ads cost while maximizing ROI by refining your ad creatives and targeting with each new campaign.