What is native advertising?

Native advertising refers to a type of promotional content that is designed to blend seamlessly with the format of the platform on which it appears. This means that the ad mimics the surrounding content's look and feel, making it less intrusive and more engaging for the audience. Typically, native ads appear in a feed or as part of a content stream, and their purpose is to provide value through storytelling or informative content while subtly promoting a brand or product.

This approach leverages the context of the platform to enhance user experience, as the ad provides useful or entertaining material rather than disruptive sales pitches. Because of this integration, native advertising tends to result in higher engagement and better retention compared to traditional advertisements that may stand out starkly or interrupt the user's experience.

The other options do not accurately capture what native advertising is. For example, ads that stand out prominently would classify more as traditional advertising, which is overt and can often be seen as disruptive. The limitations of advertisements solely for television or only in print ignore the versatile nature of native ads, which can appear across various digital platforms, including social media and websites.