Banner designing is a specialized job, like an website designing or a graphic designing. A professional banner designer understands the importance of copy, what keywords to be targeted and call to attention. Designing a banner, is different from normal graphic designing.
A job of a good banner designer is to ensure a banner brings click. A high click through rate is very important for any successful affiliate campaign. An effective banner design can make the difference between an unsuccessful and successful banner ad campaign.
Promoting a product through banners is very common and effective ways this days. A good graphic does bring more clicks, than a normal ads. Animated banner can sometimes too bring more clicks. Animated banner are made in .gif format and static banners are made in .jpg format. Banners can also be made in flash. Flash banners are published in .swf format.
While designing a banner, the designer may also have to take into account various rules and guidelines provided by the forum, adwords, blog, wherever the ad is going to be placed. Rules are generally related to static or animated banner, dimensions,size of the banner, clickTAG code for flash banners etc..A designer has to work in co-ordination with the advertiser for any successful campaign.
A professional banner designer should have some basic qualities. Understanding of keywords, color, animation, size of the banner and any other rules or guidelines as necessary. The banner should not be cluttered and should use limited color and royalty free stocks if needed.

we have found that the following banner design tips can increase CTRs (click through ratios) and resulting sales. We hope these tips help you.

i) Use animation. A quick-to-download animation can greatly increase a banner’s CTR. Animation must be used very carefully since the purpose of the animation is to attract visitors, not to irritate them.

ii) Feature a call to action.

Placing a “Click here” or “Submit” graphic image on your banner can significantly improve your CTR.

iii) Use bright colors.

Blue, yellow, and green banners have a higher CTR than black-and-white banners. Use the color red sparingly.

iv) Use the word “Free” in your banner.

Depending on what’s offered, the word “free” can increase CTRs. For example, offering a free software demo gets a good response. Offering free money arouses suspicion since people will want to know what the catch is.

v) Give a benefit for clicking on your banner.

For example, “Do you want more traffic?” or, “Need help with taxes?” The answer to the question will be on your web site.

vi) Keep the message short.

Simple banners have higher CTRs than unfocused, wordy banners.

vii) Link the banner to a specific page.

When people click on the banner, they want to go directly to the web page that has the information they want. Your visitors do not want to go to your home page and have to hunt for the information.

viii) Refresh or change your banners frequently.

Studies have shown that CTRs drop significantly after 2 weeks. The CTR usually increases when a new banner appears.

To find the most effective banner design for your business, you must go through a period of testing. Testing means that you run a banner over a period of time and measure the results (i.e. CTRs and resulting sales). Then you change one thing about the banner design, such as a color or a font change, and run that banner over a period of time and measure the results. The banner designs that result in the most sales should be the types of banners you use for your banner campaigns.
Photo Credit: webnewtons.com