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🧠Your Ads Are Begging for Attention (And That’s the Problem)
Ads that disrupt get ignored. Ads that fit the experience get engagement. Here’s how to build performance ads that people actually want to click.
Kody Nordquist
March 15, 2025
Welcome back to the 79th edition of Nord Media
Before we get started, is there anything specific you want to learn about? Let me know, as always, I appreciate all of you who reply each week and share feedback with me.
Marketers are frustrated. Ad costs are rising, engagement is dropping, and what worked a year ago just isn’t cutting it anymore.
It’s not a budget problem. It’s an attention problem.
I was scrolling the other day, half-paying attention, when an ad actually made me stop.
No flashing banners. No annoying pop-ups. No desperate “Click Now!” energy. Just a headline that fit so naturally into what I was already reading that I didn’t even realize it was an ad until I clicked.
It wasn’t forced. It didn’t break my focus. It just made sense at the moment. And because it wasn’t fighting for my attention, I actually gave it.
This is what high-performing advertising looks like.
Instead of disrupting the experience, it earns engagement by meeting people where they already are like on publisher sites, inside articles, next to content they actually care about.
And because performance ads match the format of their environment, they don’t trigger the automatic resistance people have to traditional ads.
They feel natural, and that’s exactly why they work.
Higher engagement
Better performance
Placements people actually trust
But not all performance ads are created equal. The ones that convert aren’t just slapped onto a website. They’re placed strategically, designed to blend in while still making an impact.
And today, we’re breaking down the exact framework that makes performance ads drive real results at scale.
Let’s dive in:
Why Your Ads Are Getting Ignored (And How to Fix It)
If your ads are getting ignored, it might be because they’re irrelevant, intrusive, or just plain lazy.
You’ve seen it happen. Maybe you’ve even done it yourself. An ad pops up, disrupts your experience, and you move on without a second thought. That’s what happens when advertising demands attention instead of earning it.
Instead, advertising should be naturally blended into the content that people are already engaging with.
Here’s where you maybe going wrong:
You're Targeting the Wrong People
A lot of ad platforms are still relying on outdated tracking methods, chasing audiences with third-party cookies that are on their way out.
That’s why targeting feels off. Ads keep following people who aren’t actually interested.
This is why you need a massive content discovery platform that actually knows where attention is.
One of my go-to’s is “Taboola.” I’ve been using it to tap into real-time audience signals instead of just guessing who might convert. This way you can reach people while they’re actively engaging with content to drive maximum action. .
Your Placements Are Working Against You
Ads that disrupt get ignored. Ads that blend in get engagement. Simple as that.
The goal isn’t to force users to stop what they’re doing. You want to meet them where they’re already paying attention:
Homepage feeds that serve recommendations when people are in browsing mode
In-article placements that feel like a natural extension of the content
Mobile manufacturer feeds that integrate directly into the user’s device
This is why placement matters more than ever.
To make sure ads land where attention is highest, I’ve been optimizing Taboola’s premium inventory that gives me access to the biggest news, entertainment, and lifestyle sites.
Instead of just showing up anywhere, ads are placed where people are already engaged and ready to take action.
Your Ads Aren’t Smart Enough
Assumptions don’t drive conversions. Data does.
Taboola’s AI has spent 17+ years learning what people actually engage with.
It continuously adjusts placements, creative, and audience targeting to deliver ads when they have the highest chance of converting.
Instead of static campaigns, ads adapt in real-time to maximize performance.
Your Creative Looks Like an Ad (And That’s the Problem)
The second something feels like an ad, people tune out.
Creative that blends in with the surrounding content performs better, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring.
Successful ad-styles include:
Social-style creatives that mirror what people actually engage with
Vertical video optimized for mobile-first audiences
Dynamic display that adapts to different placements
Taboola has a GenAI AdMaker so that you can tweak and optimize creative assets instantly, testing variations to find what works without burning time or budget on production.
Final Thoughts
You most definitely don’t have an “ad problem.” It may in fact just be an attention problem.
It doesn’t matter how much you spend if your ads are getting ignored. If you’re still running disruptive, out-of-place placements and expecting people to engage, you shouldn't expect results.
If you’re tired of fighting for scraps on platforms that penalize you with rising costs and shrinking reach, it’s time to try something built for scale.
I highly recommend Taboola for this. They reach billions of users across premium publisher sites with AI-powered ad placements that actually get engagement.
With 17+ years of data, first-party audience insights, and placements designed for performance, it’s built to drive real results.
If you’re serious about maximizing native ads that actually work, you should 100% test out Taboola.