15 Best Native Advertising Examples: Definition, Types & Inspiration

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, native advertising has emerged as a potent tool for brands to seamlessly connect with their audiences.

But what exactly is native advertising, and why is it gaining such traction?

Join us as we unravel the mysteries of native advertising, exploring its definition, importance, and real-world examples.

How do native ads seamlessly blend into existing content, and what sets them apart from traditional advertising methods?

As consumers become more discerning in their online interactions, native ads offer a non-disruptive way to integrate branded content into the user experience.

But how can brands effectively leverage native advertising to engage with their audience authentically?

Dive into our guide to discover the strategies that drive success in this dynamic world of digital marketing.

1. What is Native Advertising?
2. How Do You Spot Native Advertising?
3. Native Advertising vs. Content Marketing
4. Types of Native Advertising
5. Native Advertising Statistics
6. 15 Best Native Advertising Examples
   15. Film Supply
   14. Twitter Small Biz
   13. Samsung
   12. Dove
   11. N365 and NMDP
   10. True Classic Tees
    9. Dick’s Sporting Goods
    8. Life Seasons
    7. Salesforce.org
    6. Holiday Inn
    5. Cavendish & This Is Money
    4. Vuori
    3. Leica CINE-1 by Outbrain
    2. COS x Le Monde
    1. American City Business Journals and Platinum Bank
7. Native Advertising Strategy: Best Practices for Creating Effective Brand Campaigns
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
9. Conclusion: Key Takeaways from These Native Marketing Examples

What is Native Advertising?

Native Advertising Defined

Native advertising is a type of paid media that seamlessly blends with the platform’s content, design, and function, making it less intrusive.

Unlike traditional ads, native ads match the style of the surrounding content, appearing naturally in social media feeds or search results.

With significant increases in spending, the global native ad market is expected to reach over $402B by 2025.

With consumers becoming resistant to traditional ads, brands are increasingly investing in native advertising for its higher engagement rates.

Many top creative advertising agencies specialize in crafting native ads that align with brand messaging while maintaining a natural feel within the platform.

Benefits of Native Advertising

Native ads are versatile and can be found on social media, search engines, and publisher sites, mimicking organic content — often complementing broader campaigns that include Facebook and TikTok ads for stronger cross-platform visibility.

This seamless integration makes native ads more engaging and effective, as users are more likely to notice and interact with them.

Their user-friendly approach to the browsing experience has made native advertising a key part of modern digital marketing strategies, contributing to its significant market growth.

Partnering with a programmatic company can further enhance targeting precision and ROI for brands investing in native advertising.

How Do You Spot Native Advertising?

 
Image Source: Freepik

Native advertising seamlessly blends with regular content, making it challenging to distinguish. To ensure transparency, regulatory bodies like the FTC require clear disclosure labels.

Despite their subtle integration, several cues can help identify native ads:

• Look for Disclosure Labels: Native ads often have labels like “Sponsored,” “Promoted,” or “Ad” to indicate they’re paid content. These disclosures are usually required to maintain transparency.
• Notice Design Differences: Even though native ads try to match the look and feel of the platform, there might be subtle design differences. Check for variations in font, colors, or small logos that hint the content is sponsored.
• Check for High-Quality Content: If you come across content that seems unusually polished or professionally produced compared to the rest, it might be a native ad.
• Identify Out-of-Context Content: Sometimes, the content might seem slightly out of place or irrelevant to the usual theme of the platform. This can be a sign that it’s an advertisement.
• Spot Prominent Branding: Look for logos or branding elements within the content. These subtle indicators often reveal the promotional nature of the material.
• Observe Sponsored Sections: On some sites, native ads are placed in clearly labeled sections or widgets, like “Recommended” or “Sponsored Content.”
• Language and Tone: Native ads might use different language or tone compared to regular content. They often include promotional phrases, calls to action, or marketing messages.

Native Advertising vs. Content Marketing

So, you've heard about native advertising and content marketing, but what sets them apart? Let's break it down in simple terms:

In a nutshell, content marketing is about building your own audience over time, while native advertising is more about tapping into an existing audience for immediate results.

Both have their perks, but understanding the difference can help you choose the right strategy for your marketing goals.

Types of Native Advertising

Native advertising is all about blending ads seamlessly with the content users are already consuming.

Here's a quick rundown of the different types you might come across:

1. In-Feed/In-Content Native Advertising

Image Source: Marketing Fix

• What They Are: These ads appear within a website or app's regular content, like social media feeds or news articles. They're designed to look like natural content and are usually labeled as "sponsored" or "promoted."
• Examples: Sponsored posts on Facebook, native articles, and videos on platforms like Nativo.

Want a video ad for your brand? Broadcast2World can help turn your story into a compelling visual experience.

2. Content Recommendation Native Advertising

• What They Are: These ads appear as widgets at the bottom of articles or content pages, suggesting related articles or products. They often say "recommended," "sponsored," or "you may also be interested in."
• Examples: Widgets from Outbrain, Taboola, Dianomi, and Revcontent.

3. Branded/Native Content Advertising

Image Source: MGB2B

• What It Is: This is paid content from a brand that matches the format of the publisher's editorial content. It's often produced in collaboration with the publisher's content team.
• Examples: Articles or videos on sites like the New York Times or Buzzfeed that are created by the publisher but funded by a brand.

4. Paid-Search Native Advertising

• What They Are: These ads appear within search engine results, blending with organic search results but marked as "sponsored" or "ad." They are triggered by specific keywords.
• Examples: Google search ads that appear at the top of the search results.

5. Recommendation Native Advertising Widgets

• What They Are: Widgets on a website recommending products or linking to relevant sponsored content. They enhance user experience by suggesting content users might find interesting based on their browsing behavior.
• Examples: Recommendations on news sites linking to other articles or product pages.

6. Promoted Native Advertising Listings

• What They Are: These are premium placements on e-commerce sites or travel agencies, often appearing at the top of search results. They are designed to catch the user's attention and are typically used by vendors who pay for better visibility.
• Examples: Featured products on Amazon or Etsy.

7. Native Advertising Units

• What They Are: Also known as in-ad units or native display ads, these are ad placeholders that blend into the surrounding content, often containing contextually relevant information.
• Examples: Display ads on websites that match the site's look and feel.

Now, let's look at some stats…

Native Advertising Statistics

Whether you're a marketer, business owner, or just curious about the digital ad landscape, these figures highlight the growing importance and effectiveness of native ads:

• Market Growth: The global native advertising market is on a rapid rise, expected to reach over $100 billion by 2022 and a whopping $650 billion by 2032, with an impressive CAGR of 375%.
• Ad Spend: In the U.S., native digital display ad spend has been climbing steadily, from $35.24 billion in 2018 to an expected $52.75 billion by 2020.

• Consumer Trust: Native ads on editorial sites are trusted by 75% of customers, compared to just 54% for social media ads. This trust translates into higher engagement and effectiveness.
• User Engagement: Customers are 53% more likely to notice native ads compared to traditional display ads. They also spend nearly the same amount of time on native ads as they do on editorial content.
• Click-Through Rates (CTR): Native ads boast higher CTRs, with 0.16% on desktop and 0.38% on mobile, significantly outperforming traditional banner ads which have a CTR of just 0.11%.
• Brand Impact: Native ads can lift brand affinity and purchasing intentions, with studies showing an 18% increase in purchase intent and 9% more favorable brand responses compared to banner ads.
• Content Preference: About 70% of consumers prefer learning about products through content rather than traditional advertisements, indicating a shift towards more informative and engaging ad formats.
• Revenue Influence: Nearly 90% of publishers now incorporate some form of native advertising, with 40% expecting it to drive a significant portion of their digital revenue.
• Mobile Dominance: Mobile native ads now account for over 50% of all native ad revenues, reflecting the mobile-first shift in consumer behavior.
• Sharing Potential: About 32% of users would share native ads with friends or family, compared to 19% for display ads, showcasing the higher viral potential of native content.
• Publisher Adoption: Approximately 56% of all U.S. digital advertising is expected to be native by 2020, underlining the shift towards these less intrusive ad formats.

15 Best Native Advertising Examples

15. Film Supply - Framing Sponsored Content as a Publishing Partner

Image Source: MediaRadar

The advertisement, labeled as "Publishing Partner," is presented alongside other native content featured on Ad Age.

By positioning itself as a “Publishing Partner” rather than a conventional advertiser, Film Supply reinforces credibility while maintaining transparency within the editorial environment.

14. Twitter Small Biz - How "Promoted By" Signals Transparency Within the Same Digital Ecosystem

Image Source: MediaRadar

In this instance, a Tweet from Twitter Small Biz is labeled "Promoted by," suggesting that while Twitter Small Biz and Twitter are under the same company, the promotion doesn't imply endorsement from Twitter itself.

13. Samsung - Elevating Accessibility Through a Campaign Rooted in Inclusive Storytelling

Samsung showcased its "A Sign of the Times" campaign on CNN's "Better Tech for All," featuring accessible TV screens and its "Screens for All" vision.

The long-form article follows David Cowan's journey as a deaf sign language specialist, incorporating multimedia for a captivating and fully accessible storytelling experience.

12. Dove - When Native Product Ads Felt Like Editorial, Not Advertising

Image Source: MediaRadar

Dove featured a story in The Telegraph's Lifestyle section about professional golfer Lee Westwood's parenting journey.

By entwining its brand presence with a human-interest narrative, Dove ensured the content resonated emotionally while aligning naturally with the publication’s editorial tone.

11. N365 and NMDP - Strengthening Community Outreach Through Strategic Storytelling

Be The Match, a nonprofit under NMDP, aims to boost bone marrow donors, particularly from the Hispanic community, through targeted campaigns on "Future of Personal Health."

Partnering with N365, they crafted tailored content emphasizing the immediate need and showcasing real cases to drive urgency and engagement.

By grounding the campaign in real stories and cultural relevance, a native advertising strategy, the partnership moved beyond awareness and toward meaningful community action.

10. True Classic Tees - “Are We Flirting or Is This an Ad?” Where the Punchline is the Product

Image Source: Outbrain

True Classic Tees, a men's t-shirt company, nailed humor in their native social ad, turning it into one of the most creative native advertising strategies.

The ad depicts a chat conversation between a couple, turning hilariously when the woman realizes it's an ad for True Classic Tees.

It seamlessly blends into the social feed, offering a relatable and entertaining experience.

These types of native ad placements are clever, simple, and hits the mark effortlessly.

Take notes on how to incorporate humor into your native social ads from this gem.

9. Dick’s Sporting Goods - Programmatic Native Advertising Embedded Seamlessly in Google Search Results

Dick’s Sporting Goods showcased an exemplary native advertising instance with an ad displayed on Google.

Seamlessly integrated into the search experience, the ad includes the label "Sponsored result," indicating to consumers that Dick’s Sporting Goods secured the placement through payment to Google.

8. Life Seasons - How Sponsorship Clarified Presence Without Implying Partnership

Image Source: MediaRadar

Acknowledging the “sponsored” label makes it clear that the ad is simply sitting alongside Amazon content without any speculation of contributing or influencing it.

Within the platform’s trusted marketplace environment, this distinction keeps the transparency for shoppers while allowing the brand to remain contextually present without implying any endorsement or partnership. These kinds of sponsored content examples typically buy ad space from the platform to place their content alongside the regular listings.

7. Salesforce.org - Integrating Brand Storytelling Through Documentary-Style Native Video

Native advertising offers brands the opportunity to delve deeper into storytelling, and Salesforce.org seized this chance alongside The Atlantic's "Re:Think. Together".

They crafted a captivating native video documenting the legacy of the Wissahickon Boys & Girls Club in Philadelphia, the first to serve black children, making it one of the most compelling native video advertising examples of purpose-driven storytelling.

Lasting 5 minutes and 29 seconds, the video delves into the club's history and impact while highlighting how Salesforce technology enhances its operations.

By focusing on emotional resonance and compelling narratives, this campaign exemplifies the potential of native advertising to engage audiences on a profound level.

If you’re looking for animated native video ads that tell meaningful brand stories and connect with people just like the above video, Broadcast2World is here to bring them to life.

6. Holiday Inn - Mirroring the Platform Aesthetic While Marked as an Ad

This native ad from Holiday Inn seamlessly integrates with the aesthetic of Hotels.com.

However, with the inclusion of "Ad" in the top-left corner, users are informed that Holiday Inn has paid for this placement on the platform.

5. Cavendish & This Is Money - Where Context and Content Worked Seamlessly Together

Image Source: Outbrain

The hallmark of exceptional native content lies in its relevance and seamless integration within the browsing experience.

An exemplary illustration of this is a native ad by Cavendish insurance broker, strategically positioned mid-article on ThisIsMoney.co.uk, a section of Mail Online.

Blending seamlessly with surrounding content, it catches the viewer's attention with a crisp headline, inviting them to "Compare and save on life insurance."

This compelling call-to-action leads to an informative article guiding readers on purchasing life insurance wisely.

Here, context and content converge harmoniously, exemplifying a superior native ad experience.

4. Vuori - Inside a Native Advertising Example That Prioritizes User Experience

Image Source: MediaRadar

In Vuori's native advertising example, the label "Advertisement" is prominently displayed beneath the creative content.

This placement ensures that it doesn't disrupt the user experience while remaining easily noticeable.

3. Leica CINE-1 by Outbrain - One of the Most Performance-Driven Mobile Native Advertising Examples in Tech Campaigns

 

Image Source: Outbrain

Leica and Outbrain teamed up to craft a native advertising campaign that blends well with content in mobile apps and perfectly encapsulates the essence of brand engagement.

Their goal? To immerse the audience in captivating visual experiences centered around Leica's CINE-1, their innovative laser TV.

Leveraging a variety of rich-media ad formats, including premium Onyx placements, they seamlessly told the story of CINE-1, enticing viewers with multi-touchpoints.

The campaign's success was evident in the 'adalytics' results, with a significant third of users expressing a heightened inclination to purchase the product after engaging with the ads, ultimately boosting the brand engagement.

2. COS x Le Monde - Where a Native Advertising Campaign Meets Editorial Sensibility

In a captivating native advertising campaign titled "New Vision of Everyday Luxury," COS, a contemporary fashion brand, unveils its spring-summer 2024 collection on the pages of Le Monde.

Through a clickable 'carousel' format, accompanied by poetic descriptions and stunning imagery set against the Mexican seaside, the campaign masterfully weaves storytelling with self-awareness.

Delving into the brand's design ethos and video marketing strategy, including an interview with COS' artistic director, the campaign exudes authenticity.

Coupled with a subtle call-to-action inviting viewers to explore the collection online, this native ad exemplifies the fusion of narrative, brand identity, and engagement.

1. American City Business Journals and Platinum Bank - Where Podcasting Meets Strategic Partnership

Image Source: Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal partnered with Platinum Bank to launch "Off the Record," a co-branded podcast series featuring candid conversations with local business leaders, showcasing how podcasts can function as one of the more engaging native ad formats.

Hosted by Kathy Robideau and Dave Faust, CEO of Platinum Bank, the podcast aims to foster meaningful discussions while serving as a lead generation tool for the bank.

By choosing the podcast format, Platinum Bank successfully raised its brand awareness, expanded its network, and created a valuable content library for ongoing use beyond the campaign's duration.

Native Advertising Strategy: Best Practices for Creating Effective Brand Campaigns

Creating native advertisements that truly connect with your audience requires a thoughtful approach.

1. Understand Your Target Audience

• Know Your Audience: Before launching your campaign, deeply understand who you’re targeting. Use buyer personas or conduct thorough market research to identify their needs, preferences, and pain points. For example, Gen Z might prefer engaging video content, while older demographics might value detailed articles.
• Tailored Content: Customize your ads to match these insights. This ensures your content is relevant and resonates, increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversion.

2. Create High-Quality, Relevant Content

• Seamless Integration: Ensure your content aligns with the platform’s tone and style where it will appear. This helps your ads blend in naturally and provides a seamless user experience.
• Engaging Elements: Use strong, attention-grabbing headlines, compelling visuals, and clear calls-to-action. High-quality content that provides value can significantly boost engagement and build trust with your audience.

3. Choose the Right Format and Platform

• Format Selection: Native ads come in various formats like in-feed ads, sponsored content, and recommendation widgets. Choose the format that best suits your content and goals. For instance, carousel ads can showcase multiple products, while in-feed ads can blend into social media feeds.
• Platform Selection: Select platforms where your audience is most active. High-authority news sites might work for some, while social media or video platforms might be better for others. Your choice should align with where your target audience spends their time.

4. Measure Success and Optimize Performance

• Track Metrics: Identify and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) like engagement rates, click-through rates (CTR), and conversions. These metrics help you understand how well your ads are performing.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Use the collected data to make informed decisions. Regularly analyze the results to see what’s working and what isn’t. Optimize your campaigns by tweaking elements such as ad copy, visuals, and targeting based on these insights.

5. Leverage User Experience (UX) on Landing Pages

• User-Friendly Design: Ensure that your landing pages provide a positive user experience. Clear navigation, compelling visuals, and concise, persuasive copy are crucial.
• Encourage Engagement: A well-designed landing page can significantly enhance user engagement and conversion rates. It should be an extension of your ad, continuing the seamless experience and guiding users smoothly towards the desired action.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion: Key Takeaways from These Native Marketing Examples

Native advertising has become a vital component of modern digital marketing, offering brands a seamless way to engage with their audience by blending into existing content.

As seen through these 15 successful native advertising examples/campaigns, brands can craft relevant and high-quality ads that align with a platform's tone and style to drive engagement and achieve marketing goals effectively.

Staying informed about best practices and continuously optimizing campaigns based on data-driven insights is essential for success in this dynamic landscape.

Ultimately, native advertising provides brands with a unique opportunity to authentically connect with their audience and drive business growth in today's competitive digital ecosystem.

Looking to use animated videos as native ads that tell your brand story naturally? Connect with Broadcast2World to get started.