An Animated Response

July 25, 2011

An Animated Response

Introducing my very first animated ad. I'm so proud of myself. LOL!

But I could really use a focus group before I let it air live. What do you think of it?

The ad is actual size and will appear at the top right of The Romance Studio's banner.

Is the text readable? Does it transition too fast for you or should the frames be slower?

Any and all comments welcome. I'm spending money on this ad so I'd like some honest feedback.

I'm thinking the text in the first frame with the blurb should be a tad bigger, or maybe use more leading between lines. I'm not a good judge because I know what it says. So I need someone who hasn't seen it to give me a more unbiased opinion.

Thanks!

Comments

Angelina Rain said…

I like it. Maybe it should transition a little slower but besides that it's great. Did you make this animation yourself?

July 25, 2011 at 7:24 AM

Linda Leszczuk said…

First time through I thought it changed a little too fast so I waited for it to come around again. By the third time I thought it was slow enough. Then I realized it was just fast enough that I'd get most of it on the first read but want to watch it again to make sure I got it all. Now you've got the readers watching your ad twice - fixing the name in their minds. Even more effective than a slower single read.

The text is fine, even for my old eyes.

July 25, 2011 at 7:27 AM

J.K. Coi said…

Awesome. I think the animation speed is good. You don't want it too slow or people scroll by it, not knowing that it's going to change to show something else.

July 25, 2011 at 7:31 AM

DRC said…

Looks fine to me. The speed is fine, and the text is fine. Even if you miss a section, the wait for it to come round again isn't too long meaning most people will be willing to wait to complete the read, and like Linda said, you'll get readers watching it twice.

July 25, 2011 at 7:46 AM

Maria Zannini said…

Angelina: Made it all by myself using Adobe ImageReady CS.

Linda: You're a good barometer for our age group. For me it was a little tight, but I couldn't tell for sure because my brain already knew what was coming up.

JK: That was exactly my thought on the speed. I know that's happened to me when I've seen other people's animated ads. I thought it was a static ad and moved on only to learn later there was more to the ad.

July 25, 2011 at 7:46 AM

Maria Zannini said…

DRC: That's a good point about people looking at it twice. I hadn't thought of that. Thanks.

July 25, 2011 at 7:47 AM

Sarita Leone said…

Honestly I love it. I think the pace is smooth, the font size readable (even to my slightly fried head) and it makes me smile. Watched it three times, smiling each time.

You did a great job with this ad. I'm impressed!

July 25, 2011 at 8:13 AM

Maria Zannini said…

Sarita! It's so good to hear from you. I was wondering how you've been since your scary heat stroke. Thanks for the feedback. Glad you stopped in.

July 25, 2011 at 8:24 AM

Dru said…

I like it and the text and speed are fine.

You did a great job on creating this animated ad. Kudos to you.

July 25, 2011 at 9:22 AM

Mike Keyton said…

This is more than fine, it's good. Speed just right.

July 25, 2011 at 10:11 AM

Maria Zannini said…

@Dru
@Mike

Thanks, guys. You've restored my confidence. :)

July 25, 2011 at 10:23 AM

Raelyn Barclay said…

I think the speed is good. The only font issue for me is the "No matter who..." part. I'm not sure if the font is too small or the passage too long for the length of time on that page. But as others have mentioned you don't have to wait long for it to come around again.

You continue to amaze me with your talents :)

Good luck with the ad!

July 25, 2011 at 10:44 AM

Sarah Ahiers said…

i thought it was great! I had not problems with the font size OR the speed. Honestly, if it was slower, i wouldnt stick around to read the whole thing, because i'm a fast reader and get frustrated if something forces me to read at a slower pace. So i'd say, keep the speed right where it's at

July 25, 2011 at 10:45 AM

Maria Zannini said…

Raelyn: I have no real talent. Just chutzpa. LOL.

Sarah: I'm like you. Unless the art grabs me, I generally don't wait around.

July 25, 2011 at 10:49 AM

Angela Brown said…

So I took a look at the ad. First time through I thought it looked a tad too fast. After a second look, I got caught up looking at the handsome fella. So the third watch, I had to agree that the slides move just a tad too fast. I would say the font for what I think is the first slide could be a bit larger and that could happen if they remove the second title since it's already prominent on the cover.

Angela
http://publishness.blogspot.com

July 25, 2011 at 11:13 AM

Jackie said…

I read fast so got each ad the first time before the slide changed, the font size is good because am afraid if you make it larger than that means more lines to read and if the frame changes you have to wait for it to start over again to get the rest of the "hook"... The speed of the frames work for me, seems to be just right as long as you do not get caught up gazing at the models instead of reading the text... If one does that than waiting for it to reload works fine as it is just fast enough....

Maria you better never underestimate your computer talents again, you did a great job! I likee!

Now the fun part is going to be sharing the HTML code to make it a sidebar widget for bloggers.

July 25, 2011 at 12:25 PM

Ellie Garratt said…

I like it, and I think the speed is fine. There are only three images, so viewers can easily wait for it to come around again!

Ellie Garratt

July 25, 2011 at 12:26 PM

Maria Zannini said…

I need to step away from the computer more often. Every time I come back there are more comments. :)

Angela: I got stuck looking at the guy too. :)

Jackie: Thanks! I can send you the gif if you want to post it anywhere.

Ellie: I deliberately kept it down to three frames. I think TRS allowed six, but after three frames I get bored, so I erred on the side of my lack of patience.

July 25, 2011 at 1:12 PM

Barbara Ann Wright said…

I think it looks good. Not too fast or too slow. And I like the size.

July 25, 2011 at 3:36 PM

Stacy said…

I think you nailed it. It looks great and the speed seems perfect to me. It took me a couple of times to get the text on the first frame but I think that's because I need new glasses and not that the text is too small. Nice job Maria!

July 25, 2011 at 4:18 PM

Maria Zannini said…

Barbara: I was glad TRS provided a big enough format to showcase the book.

Stacy: The speed was critical to me and the part I was most blind to since I knew each of the frames so intimately. That's why I needed to get some opinions.

Thanks, guys.

July 25, 2011 at 4:21 PM

Renee Miller said…

I love it and although I did have to wait to read the text the second time around, I don't think it's too fast. I was busy ogling the guy and had to reset my brain back to "read". :)

By the way, I love that blurb. The last line is killer.

July 25, 2011 at 10:48 PM

Jenny Schwartz said…

It worked great for me. Just fast enough that I didn't scroll on down the page, thinking it was static. And I love the moody blue-grey colours.

July 26, 2011 at 1:32 AM

Cate Masters said…

Yes, the transition timing worked fine for me too. The colors create a wonderful ominous feel. Very well done!

July 26, 2011 at 5:50 AM

Maria Zannini said…

Renee: That guy does tend to stop traffic, doesn't he?

@Jenny
@Cate
Ominous is right! LOL. Thanks.

July 26, 2011 at 7:29 AM

Kit Courteney said…

Oooh, I like it!

Font - fab.

Speed - super.

Fella - Phwoar!

:)