In the dynamic and often overwhelming world of digital advertising, gaining and retaining user attention is a perpetual challenge. As consumers increasingly adopt ad blockers and develop "banner blindness" to conventional formats, advertisers are compelled to seek out innovative and highly effective methods of engagement.¹ This ongoing quest has propelled formats like the interstitial ad to prominence. To understand what are interstitial ads and how they deliver unparalleled performance on a global scale, it's essential to examine how platforms like PropellerAds leverage this powerful format to provide robust marketing solutions for brands, agencies, and affiliates worldwide.

 

So, what are interstitial ads? At their core, they are full-screen advertisements that appear at natural transition points within a user's experience of a website or a mobile application.² Unlike smaller, embedded banner ads that sit within content, an interstitial ad takes over the entire screen for a brief, predetermined duration (often with a clear close button).³ For example, after a user finishes reading a news article and taps to load the next one, an interstitial ad might appear before the new content fully renders.⁴ Similarly, in a mobile game, an interstitial ad could be shown between levels or after completing a specific in-game action.⁵ Their full-screen nature ensures maximum visibility, making them virtually impossible for users to overlook.⁶ This inherent prominence, combined with the strategic timing of their appearance at natural breakpoints, empowers interstitial ads to effectively cut through the digital noise, delivering a powerful and deeply engaging message.⁷ This engagement frequently translates into significantly higher click-through rates (CTRs) and, ultimately, superior conversion metrics compared to more passive advertising formats.⁸