What is display advertising and how does it work?
What counts as display advertising, how it is bought and priced, and how publishers make it worth more.
Written by Samhub with the help of AI·Updated 13 Oct 2026·3 min readDisplay advertising is visual advertising on websites and apps, such as banners, rich media and native units, usually priced per thousand impressions.
Display formats
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| Standard banners | 300×250, 728×90, 320×320 |
| Large formats | Panoramas and takeovers |
| Rich media | Expandable and interactive ads |
| Native | Ads that match the content |
How display is bought
16 pages for publishers, with a checklist for data, programmatic and direct sales.
Raise the value of display
Visible placements
Fewer, better ad units.
Audience data
Targeting raises the price per impression.
Proven results
Reports that show reach and effect.
CPM uplift at Stampen Media after activating first-party audiences with Samhub.
Frequently asked questions
Yes for reach and awareness, especially with good placements and targeting.
Search ads respond to a query. Display ads reach people while they read.
Mostly CPM, sometimes CPC or fixed fees.
No. Display is the format; programmatic is one way to buy it.
Related terms
The ad sizes every buyer and ad server supports.
Ads with video, animation or interaction.
Ads that match the look of the surrounding content.
The price of 1,000 ad impressions.
Ads in video form, in or around content.
Plan, report and validate campaigns on your own audience data, and win back direct deals.
- A walkthrough with your own data
- Built for publishers and media houses
- 30 minutes, no commitment
Turn your audience data into more revenue
Get the Media Monetization Playbook: how media houses turn first-party data into higher CPMs, data deals and direct sales. With checklists for every step.
