Free Tool

Native ad preview tool

See your headlines and thumbnails the way readers will: inside a "sponsored stories" widget under an article. Check crops and headline length before you spend a cent on native traffic.

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    A generic widget layout, not any network's exact design. Images stay in your browser and aren't uploaded or saved in the link.

    Getting native ad creative right

    On native networks your ad competes with real headlines and other advertisers in the same widget. The headline and thumbnail are your whole ad, so it's worth seeing them in context before you launch.

    Headlines

    • Lead with the hook. Most widgets show about two lines, so the first few words do the work.
    • Write like an editor, not an advertiser. Curiosity, specifics and news-style phrasing ("We compared…", "Why homeowners are…") tend to outperform obvious sales language.
    • Test several angles. Launch multiple headlines per image and let the data pick a winner.

    Thumbnails

    • Keep the subject centred. Widgets crop to different shapes, so check every crop above.
    • Natural, editorial-looking photos usually beat polished product shots and stock imagery.
    • Avoid text in the image. It's unreadable at thumbnail size, and some networks restrict it.

    Where the click goes

    Native readers are browsing, not shopping. A pre-sell page that continues the story in your headline converts that curiosity into intent before you ask for the sale. Our free advertorial templates are built for exactly this.

    FAQ

    Native advertising questions

    Can't find what you need? Ask us directly.

    What is a native ad?
    A native ad is a paid placement designed to fit the look of the site it appears on, most often the "sponsored stories" or "recommended for you" widgets under news and blog articles. Networks such as Taboola, Outbrain and MGID run these placements across thousands of publishers.
    How long should a native ad headline be?
    Most widgets show around two lines of text, which is typically 50–60 characters depending on the layout and device. Longer headlines get cut off, so put the hook in the first few words.
    What size should native ad thumbnails be?
    Each network publishes its own recommended sizes, and widgets crop images to different shapes (commonly landscape around 16:9 or 4:3, and square). Use a high-resolution image, keep the subject in the centre, and check the crop previews here so nothing important gets cut off.
    Are my images uploaded anywhere?
    No. Images you choose are read by your browser only and never leave your device. They aren't saved in the shareable link either, so the link only includes your headlines and brand names.
    Where should native ads send traffic?
    Native traffic is usually "cold": readers clicked out of curiosity, not intent. Sending them to an editorial-style pre-sell page (an advertorial) before the offer typically works better than linking straight to a sales page. We have free advertorial templates for exactly that.

    Launching on native networks?

    We build the advertorials and run the campaigns, across Taboola, Outbrain and the other major native and programmatic platforms.

    Talk to us

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