Advertising Editor Advertising Intelligence

Multimedia ads

Learn how to set up multimedia ads to capture potential customer's attention.

Multimedia ads capture a potential customer's attention with large visual imagery that showcases your brand and products to increase traffic and sales on your website. Multimedia ads will be shown in distinct mainline and sidebar ad positions and will not replace your text ad placements.

Multimedia ads match your content with potential customers' searches by mixing and matching the most optimal combinations of headlines, descriptions, images, and logos.

Learn more about best practices for multimedia ads below.

Create a new multimedia ad

  1. From the collapsible menu on the left, select your campaign.
  2. Select Ads & extensions > Multimedia ads.
  3. Select Add multimedia ad.
  4. Create your new Multimedia ad in the edit pane.
  5. Enter your ad's Short headlines and Long headlines. Headlines are the most prominent text that appears in your ad, so you should make the most out of the available characters. We require multiple headlines so the ad is flexible across a variety of placements.
  6. Enter the ad text. This text will appear below or adjacent to your ad's Short headlines and Long headlines, depending on the ad placement.
  7. Enter your business name.
  8. Select Add images.
  9. Choose from existing images or upload a new one. Accepted file types: GIF (without animation), PNG, JPG, and JPEG.

    Note: Choose one image that supports 1.91:1 and 1:1 or two images, one supporting 1:1 and the other supporting 1.91:1 to fulfill the requirement. Once this requirement is met, you can also add images with a 4:1 aspect ratio. The ad's imagery and overall appearance adjust responsively so it can blend in across a variety of publishers and placements.


    Your images must meet the minimum dimensions in pixels for the following aspect ratios:


    Image dimensions

    Aspect ratioMinimum dimensions (pixels)
    1.91 : 1703 x 368
    4 : 1608 x 152
    1 : 1470 x 470
    1 : 2470 x 940
  10. Optional: Adding logos to your ads allows you to better showcase your brand and reach potential customers.

    Note: You can add up to 5 square (1 : 1) and 5 landscape (4 : 1) logos. Your selected logos will appear in the thumbnail list below Logos.

    Your logos must meet the minimum dimensions in pixels for the following aspect ratios:


    Logo dimensions
    Aspect ratioMinimum dimensions (pixels)
    1 : 1128 x 128
    4 : 1512 x 128
  11. Enter your landing page URL in the Final URL.
  12. Enter your Mobile URL.

Update an existing multimedia ad

  1. Select the campaign from the tree view in the left pane that contains the multimedia ad you want to edit.
  2. Select Multimedia ads under Ads & extensions from the type list.
  3. Select the multimedia ad you want to edit.
  4. In the Edit the selected multimedia ad pane, update the details.

Update multiple multimedia ads at the same time

  1. Select Multimedia ads under Ads & extensions from the type list.
  2. From the data view, select Make multiple changes > Add/update multiple multimedia ads.
  3. In the dialog box, under Add Multimedia data, do one of the following:
    • Paste data using the suggesting headings
      1. Select Insert headings.
      2. Underneath the headings row, paste the spreadsheet data.
      3. Select Edit headings.
      4. Under Edit headings, make sure that the correct heading is selected in the dropdown menu for each column.
    • Paste data from a spreadsheet that includes column headings
      1. Paste the spreadsheet data into the text box.
      2. Select Edit headings.
      3. Under Edit headings, make sure that the correct heading is selected in the dropdown menu for each column.
  4. Select Next.
  5. On the Import Completed page, after you review your changes, select Close.

Learn more about making bulk changes in Microsoft Advertising Editor.

Best practices for multimedia ads

  • Create multimedia ads in existing ad groups. For optimal performance, we recommend using image assets in all four aspect ratios: 1.91 : 1, 1 : 1, 1 : 2 and 4 : 1, to analyze performance and drive results.
  • Provide as many assets as possible. You can provide up to 15 headlines, 5 descriptions, 15 images, and choose from a variety of call to action buttons. We suggest at least 8 to 10 distinct headlines that don't contain similar phrases. Use a combination of short headlines and long headlines to maximize space on any device. Create headlines that are related to your keywords and use at least one brand title.
  • Make content distinct. Avoid repetitive language and create varied descriptions. Include additional product or service benefits and features, a clear call to action, and shipping and return information.
  • Make sure your image uses one of the accepted file types: GIF (without animation), PNG, JPG, and JPEG.

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