By Iryna Kozirevych
Modern marketers benefit from multiple ways to advertise online: programmatic platforms, social networks, etc. However, with this advantage comes the challenge of making the right choice.
So, what are the best places to advertise online? To help you ensure the ultimate efficiency of your marketing strategy, we have prepared a list of the top 9 options to consider, so keep reading to learn more.
What Is Online Advertising?
Online advertising (also known as digital advertising) implies using Internet technology to deliver marketing messages to the target audience. It is an umbrella term for email, social media, search engine, display, mobile marketing, and so on. Launching programmatic campaigns also refers to digital advertising since such ads are delivered to the mobile web, in-app, desktop, CTV, and other Internet-related environments.
9 Best Places to Advertise in 2025
Now that the definition of online advertising is clarified, let’s get back to our topic. So, where to advertise online? Here are the platforms to pay attention to.
1. Google Ads
Google is the most popular Internet browser in the world – as of August 2024, its market share was over 65%. Therefore, using Google Ads is a great opportunity for businesses of all sizes to reach their target audience and drive conversions.
Key Features:
The supported formats include search, display, shopping, and video ads
You can also promote your mobile app
Targeting settings include demographics, recent purchase intent, life events, etc.
Additional solutions like Keyword Planner for more effective planning and optimization
Analytics and conversion tracking
Automation capabilities
Pros:
A variety of ad formats and targeting settings
You can reach users who have previously interacted with your website on Google Search, YouTube, or other Google sites
Wide reach
Ease of use
Cons:
Competitive industries may be rather expensive in terms of advertising
Certain reviews report poor customer service and ad issues
2. Instagram
Both Instagram and Facebook belong to the Meta company. Actually, it is convenient since you can launch campaigns on both networks via Facebook Ads Manager. In this paragraph, we will focus on Instagram.
On the list of the top social networks worldwide, Instagram occupies the third place, and the number of users is projected to surpass 1.4 billion in 2025.
People aged between 18 and 24 make up almost 32% of the platform users, while those between 25 and 34 – approximately 31% (as of April 2024). Therefore, the network is the best place to put ads targeting these age groups.
Key Features:
The supported formats are images, videos, and carousels
You can create ads with product tags
A variety of targeting settings, including location, age, gender, etc.
Targeting by audience capabilities
Analytics features
Pros:
Multiple ways to launch ads: via Ads Manager, by boosting a post, from your Facebook page, etc.
You can also build partnerships with influencers
Instagram formats like Stories and Reels are highly engaging
Cost-effectiveness
Cons:
Certain audience limitations – the platform is not the best choice for marketers targeting users aged, for instance, over 50
Instagram marketing is rather time-consuming – you will have to create new ads regularly to keep your audience engaged
It is also essential to continuously monitor user activity to be able to respond to their comments promptly
3. Facebook
Now let’s take a look at Facebook, the most popular social network. As of April 2024, the main audience group was males aged between 25 and 34 – they make up around 18%.
Just like Instagram, Facebook is one of the most popular advertising websites. However, it has the same audience limitations – Facebook is not the most effective platform for businesses targeting people over 45.
Key Features:
Ad formats include images, videos, carousels, and collections
Audience creation capabilities
Targeting settings include location, age, language, etc.
A/B testing functionality
Analytics
Pros:
Access to the largest social media audience
You can launch retargeting campaigns
Flexible ad format for automatic optimization
You can boost already existing posts
Cons:
Limited organic reach – the network prioritizes paid posts
Potentially high expenses
High competition
4. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a professional social network – the number of users is projected to exceed 940 million by 2028. The platform is the best place for ads related to B2B lead generation and recruiting. Higher education institutions can benefit from LinkedIn ads as well.
Key Features:
The supported ad types are text ads, dynamic ads, sponsored messaging, and sponsored content
More than 20 different audience attribute categories
Budget-related and scheduling capabilities
Analytics
Pros:
Enhanced personalization thanks to dynamic ads
Targeting settings that are not available on other platforms – for instance, by job title
Ease of use
Access to a high-quality professional audience
Cons:
Lack of advanced functionalities
Higher costs in comparison with other platforms
5. YouTube
Since videos are among the most popular types of content, the number of YouTube users is growing continuously – by 2029, it is expected to reach 1.2 billion. For you, this means an opportunity to increase your reach.
In terms of advertising, YouTube is a rather universal network. While the largest user group is people aged between 25 and 34 (21.7%, as of 2024), the platform is also used by older segments. In turn, Instagram and Facebook have lower popularity among such groups.
Key Features:
Ads are launched via Google Ads Manager
The supported formats are skippable video ads, non-skippable video ads, and bumper ads
Targeting settings include demographics, keywords, topics, devices, etc.
Analytics
Pros:
Video ads are highly engaging
When designed properly, videos can have a strong emotional effect on the audience
Relatively low expenses
Enhanced reach
Cons:
Ads on YouTube can be blocked by ad-blocking tools
Users may simply skip your ads, when possible
The lack of control over which videos your ads will appear in
6. Spotify
Spotify is the leading music streaming service – in the third quarter of 2023, it had a 31.7% subscriber share. Being currently available in more than 230 countries and territories, it has over 675 million users.
If listening to music is among your audience’s interests, Spotify is among the top places to advertise online for you.
Key Features:
The platform supports video, audio, and podcast ads
Demographic, behavioral, contextual, and custom targeting options are available
Analytics tools
Custom reports
Pros:
Access to a large audience across different countries
Unique opportunities to build brand awareness
Highly engaged audiences
Ease of use
Cons:
Potentially high competition and expenses
Inability to reach premium users
7. TikTok
On the list of the most popular social media platforms, TikTok ranks fifth (as of April 2024). It has almost 2 billion users globally, and the USA represents the largest user group. The network is mainly used by people aged between 18 and 34, so businesses targeting customers of this age in the USA should consider launching ads on TikTok.
Key Features:
Formats include in-feed video ads, playable and carousel ads, messaging ads, and others
Targeting can be set up according to demographics, behaviors, devices, interests, etc.
Testing and optimization capabilities
Analytics
AI-powered tools for content creation
Pros:
You get a free personalized marketing plan
A wide range of formats
Increased reach
TikTok ads are usually delivered in an organic way, which makes them less annoying
Cons:
Potentially high expenses
TikTok is a video-first and mobile-first network, so other formats may not drive results
8. SmartyAds
Programmatic demand-side platforms like SmartyAds are among the top places to advertise since they allow you to automate the processes and reach your target audience in an effective manner. You are not limited to a specific social network – your ads appear on various relevant sources. This way, SmartyAds is a universal solution for businesses of all sizes and target audiences.
Key Features:
The supported formats are banner, video, native, rich media, audio, and digital out-of-home ads
The available environments include desktop, in-app, mobile web, CTV, and outdoor digital displays
The available targeting settings are location, language, IAB categories, browser, timezone, etc.
Budget optimization features
Real-time analytics
Pros:
An extensive list of targeting and filtering settings
Access to high-quality inventory
Scanners to verify traffic and inventory
The platform has multiple awards
Cons:
Mastering all the functionalities may take some time
9. Attekmi
Getting programmatic access to the best web advertising sources (and not only web) requires using a demand-side platform (DSP). However, one more thing that you can do is get your own ad exchange to gain greater control over the processes. You will be able to match the DSP you use with the most relevant supply, which can help you maximize the performance of your campaigns. Besides, you will be able to earn on media trading.
At Attekmi, we offer an entire range of ad exchange solutions so that you get your platform in the shortest time possible.
Key Features:
The supported formats are banner, video, audio, native, and CTV ads
The available environments are desktop, in-app, mobile web, and CTV
Targeting settings are ad format, ad size, traffic type, etc.
Cross-integration bidding
The opportunity to integrate traffic and demand scanners
Optimization capabilities
Analytics
Pros:
A wide selection of ad exchange solutions
White Label Ad Exchange is fully tailored to your requirements, from UI personalization to custom on-request feature development
A variety of targeting and filtering settings to match your demand with the right supply
The platforms are regularly updated with new features
Compliance with data processing standards
Cons:
It may take you some time to learn how to make the most of your ad exchange
Consider Attekmi Your Trusted Partner
At Attekmi, we strive to be your partner in any AdTech matter. We offer diverse ad exchange solutions but that is not all.
Launching effective campaigns requires not only choosing the best online advertising platform. You need to know how to use it and how to improve your strategy. Mastering ad operations can be a rather complex task, but our Attekmi team is ready to help. We offer Ad Ops and AdTech training services so that you can gain new knowledge and enhance your skills.
Ad Ops outstaffing services are also on our list – we can train a professional specifically for your business. This way, your campaigns will be launched and optimized in the most effective way, while you will be able to focus on your core tasks.
Additionally, we provide custom AdTech development services.
Conclusions
Where to advertise services and products? To answer this question, you need to identify your goals first, as well as your target audience. Doing so will enable you to shorten the list of potential options. For instance, if you target an audience aged over 50, using Instagram or Facebook will not make a lot of sense. Instead, you may want to prefer programmatic advertising to deliver the best online ads to the right users.
When choosing the platform, also pay attention to the available formats, targeting capabilities, optimization features, and analytics. If possible, book a demo to learn more about your potential solution – this can help you make the final choice. Besides, it would be useful to look for reviews – they can provide you with insights that you could miss when doing your own research.
After you choose the platform (or platforms), learn everything about their functionalities and monitor the performance of your campaigns continuously. This will allow you to detect both opportunities and weaknesses and react on time.
Does Attekmi look like the right choice? Get in touch with us to discover how we can help!
