When it comes to understanding great flash ads, it’s helpful to have our Best Practices document. What’s also really helpful: actual examples. Since we’re still in alpha and don’t have quite enough of our own yet, here are some of the best ones we’ve found recently. Don’t forget, since animation on the ads stops at 15 seconds, you’ll have to occasionally refresh the page to see them from start to finish.

Pros: attention grabbing and fun initial animation, nice segue to get user to interact wiping away the snow

Cons: With 3 main messages on the last frame, a little text heavy. Button gets lost.

Pros: Interesting point of view. Interaction organically makes sense.

Cons: Takes a little while to get to the message.

Pros: Cute puppy and call to action invite a lot of interaction with the ad.

Cons: If user doesn’t interact with the banner, they don’t get to see the product.

Pros: Very attention grabbing. Invites lots of interaction. People will talk about it.

Cons: Great for branding but would not work as a traffic builder or for online sales.

Pros: Drag and dropping the outfits is an engaging interaction. It dovetails well with the message.

Cons: An animated prompt to nudge the user to start dressing the passengers would help.

Pros: Simple interaction, nice animated prompt, organically makes sense

Cons: If user does nothing, the last frame is not very compelling

Pros: Simple yet unusual animation of the ocean moving almost as if it’s video. Nice reflection of ship in the water. Button changes with mouseover

Cons: Could have something else animate with a mouseover— perhaps ships lights come on or it could move

Pros: Appealing realistic looking animation, easy for users to picture themselves there

Cons: Not very clear call to action, gets a little lost. Continues to animate after 15 seconds, which usually is a tech no-no.

Pros: No missing this banner bouncing in. The “chat” text is really engaging. Strong message.

Cons: Not very clear call to action, gets a little lost. Continues to animate after 15 seconds, which usually is a technical no-no.

Pros: Perspective out the windshield is from the user’s POV. Simple interaction organically makes sense for car insurance, clear call to action.

Cons: Logo not up the entire time, which some websites require

Pros: Distinctive animation, engaging interaction

Cons: Prompt to mouseover could be more compelling. Last frame, call to action could stand out more.

Pros: Distinctive animation. Great bonus when the user mousesover. Message organically makes sense.

Cons: Prompt to mouseover needs to be more compelling.

Pros: Animation strongly illustrates the 100K+ message. Makes user want to keep watching.

Cons: None.

Pros: Game idea is simple and works well with the message. Clear prompt on how to play.

Cons: None.

Pros: Fun interactive way for advertiser to get user’s information. Dovetails well with TV campaign.

Cons: None

Pros: Golf game make sense for target. Realistic looking greens.

Cons: Too many messages. Trim copy.