Smartclip Launches New SmartStitial Ad Format to Improve Effectiveness of Online Video Interstitial Ads

NEW YORK, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- A new highly impactful online video interstitial format, which surrounds an advertiser's video commercial with a prominent branded message, has been launched by Smartclip LLC (www.smartclip.com).

Called SmartStitial™, the new ad unit (http://gallery.smartclip.net/smartstitial) is designed to grab the attention of site visitors due to its use of client logos and brand images that wrap the ad with the advertiser's brand in a highly engaging manner. Unlike traditional interstitial ads, SmartStitials float on a page with an opaque background, allowing users to know they have not left a publisher's website. Smartclip, introduced in November 2009, is the North American arm of Smartclip AG, the largest video advertising network in Europe.

"SmartStitials support interactive video formats and only require two standard assets from an advertiser – a basic background wrapper in a .png format and a standard video clip with no special integration required," said Jay Drago, chief operating officer, Smartclip USA. "Advertisers and publishers will benefit from the dramatic impact the SmartStitial provides to consumers."

TopTVBytes (www.toptvbytes.com), one of the top TV clip aggregation sites on the web with more than 20 million unique views per month, has committed to exclusively deliver the SmartStitial format on its home page.

According to Neal Weinberg, president, sales and marketing, TopTVBytes, "SmartStitial is one of the most innovative and engaging formats to come along in the online video advertising industry. As soon as we saw it demonstrated and realized how effective it was, we jumped on the opportunity to be among the first publishers to utilize the format."

Numerous Benefits to Publishers, Advertisers and Consumers

SmartStitial was developed in response to industry concerns that video interstitials completely obscured web pages – creating consumer dissatisfaction – and often are a visual mismatch to a site's appearance.

With the SmartStitial format, publishers have the ability to create new ad inventory from existing content. It also does not interfere with any other ad space on their site and is invisible to visitors when there is no ad to serve. SmartStitial includes its own VAST-compliant rich media player that fully utilizes EyeWonder reporting metrics without any player requirements. SmartStitial implementation requires zero integration and is easily delivered through any popular ad serving system including DoubleClick and Atlas. The uniqueness of the format should allow publishers to obtain a higher CPM for their inventory.

Advertisers benefit from the new format due to its striking imagery designed to engage users and allow them to control the environment their ad is seen in. Since the SmartStitial supports complete video interactivity, advertisers can link their video ads to additional assets including special contest pages and microsites.

"We're pleased to expand our global relationship with Smartclip here to the U.S.," said John Vincent, CEO of EyeWonder. "Just like Smartclip, EyeWonder is committed to creating engaging interactive online video advertising opportunities, and combining our reporting technology with their innovative formats. Together we provide publishers and advertisers with the tools they need to maximize their interactive ad campaigns."

Smartclip offers advertisers multiple layers of consumer targeting including demographic, geographic, behavior/shopping cart, re-targeting and contextual.

For more information about Smartclip's SmartStitial video advertising format, contact [email protected].  

About Smartclip

Smartclip LLC (www.smartclip.com) is a second generation, premium online video advertising network. The company offers advertisers a blend of innovative ad formats, exclusive inventory including social media, reach partnerships and extensive tracking resources. Smartclip is part of Smartclip AG, the largest video advertising network in Europe. Together, they provide international marketers with an efficient pan-European/American delivery network.

SmartStitial is a trademark of Smartclip LLC. All other trade names are the property of their respective owners.

This release is available online in the Feintuch Communications media room located at www.feintuchcommunications.com.

SOURCE Smartclip LLC