The Fight For Attention, New Online Advertising Explodes

On visiting ESPN.com the other night the main homepage ad caught my eye more than normal. How couldn’t it? The rich media ad for the iPod Touch made the ESPN website explode.

As a recent Washington Post article pointed out, online advertisers are hoping that bigger and bolder ads can save display and banner advertising. There was no doubt I couldn’t miss the Apple ad as the iPod Touch device jumped out of the ad frame and exploded the ESPN main navigation bar into pieces. In fact I refreshed it twice just to see it again. Mission accomplished for Apple this time.

Brands are working hard these days to get noticed online and also putting some new twists out there as well. Obviously the Skittles social media twist gained big attention and buzz over the past few weeks. It will also be interesting to see how far new, edgy and different can go before pushing users away too.

Let me know if you have seen an ad or concept online lately that jumps from the norm, looking to grab more attention.