Creative Guidelines

  • All click through urls must open in a new browser window. For AOL Homepage, new browser window must have a fixed-width page design
  • For AOL Homepage, new browser window must have a fixed-width page design, center-aligned in the browser window with a design space of 756 pixels wide, plus, 4 pixel margins on both the left and right sides (764 pixels total page width).
  • AOL reserves the right to reject any insertion, graphic, text description, or URL.
  • All ads must comply with AOL's Faux Functionality policy. (See AOL Homepage Policies for additional guidelines.)
  • Ads may not employ rapid/"strobing" animation of any graphic, copy, or background elements(s).
  • Banners should be encased in a one (1) pixel black border and distinct from the content. If borderless, a banner must contain the advertiser s name to signify that it is an ad creative banner, not content.
  • Ads may not have transparent backgrounds and may never blend into the screen content.
  • AOL interactive properties may not be used to imply affiliation with or an endorsement by AOL—whether an AOL product, content, or service—unless such a relationship exists.
  • Animation does not have a loop maximum, but total animation time for all loops combined cannot exceed 15 seconds. (See AOL Homepage Policies for additional requirements.)
  • Television and print advertising standards prohibit advertisers from issuing ads, infomercials, or infotisements in such a manner that the viewer or reader believes the content is news, rather than advertising. AOL's standards also follow this policy.
  • Method of expansion and contraction must be the same (i.e., mouse-over or user-click)
  • Subsequent expansions ' replays ' can be initiated upon User Click everywhere. Expansion by User Mouse-Over is not permitted on Homepages (e.g., AOL Homepages, AOL.com, etc) and Mail Inbox (AOL Client Service & Webmail).
  • To minimize accidental expansions, animation, out-of-banner or floating, AOL has defined interactive "hotspots." Hotspots must be clearly identified and cannot exceed 33% of total ad space.
  • Mandatory "Close" button in top right corner