What Is an MREC Ad?

How Does an MREC Ad Work?

MREC ads function like banner ads and can be placed in multiple ways, e.g. inside the content of the page or like interstitial ads. They take up a large proportion of a smartphone screen to catch the user’s attention – more so than leaderboard banner ads. However, they do not take up a full screen. MRECs are usually static images or animated. This ad format is usually 300 by 250 pixels in size, but some ad networks also support other sizes, such as 450 by 450 or 300 by 300.

You can use MRECs in an app in the following ways:

• as a banner, inside the content
• as an interstitial ad (it appears as an overlay, like an interstitial) – but it doesn’t take up the entire screen

Check your monetization provider documentation to understand which placement options are possible.

Why Are MRECs Popular?

In the in-app advertising space, the most popular banner sizes are the 320×50-pixel leaderboard banner and 300×250-pixel MREC ad. 

Gaming apps use leaderboards more often, while non-gaming apps often monetize with MRECs. This is because MREC ads can be placed anywhere on the screen, including on pages where the user can scroll.

Another benefit of using MREC ads is that users engage more with them than leaderboard banners ads, as they take up considerably more space on a smartphone screen. They’re hard to miss.

This means that they can also showcase an advertiser’s game or app – or whatever is advertised – far better due to more space for creatives and branding elements. Attractive creatives are more likely to capture a user’s interest – and in the case of mobile games – they are more likely to install the game and convert.

How Do You Maximize the Impact of MRECs?

App developers and publishers advertising or monetizing their app with MRECs should consider the following criteria if they want to reach their retention, engagement, or revenue goals.

• When: Publishers should serve MRECs in a way that doesn’t disrupt the user and cause them to churn from the app. 
• Where: Publishers should place MRECs where most users are – in the most visible and high-traffic parts of your app.
• What: Advertisers must perform A/B tests to find out which ad creatives will increase conversion rates.

Monetization managers should carry out extensive and continuous testing in order to find out this data and maximize their revenue, while UA managers should test their creatives to find out what is most likely to lead to quality customers and users.

Conclusion

MRECs are medium rectangle ads you might find in both gaming and non-gaming apps. 

The most standard MREC size (300 by 250 pixels) allows advertisers to showcase their product – be it an app or game – with relatively large ad creatives. This increases the likelihood of advertisers acquiring new customers or users and publishers increasing their conversion rates. 

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