I realise I am in a minority, but I have never clicked on a digital ad and went through to buy something, and I never will.
The minute I see ads on a webpage, I automatically associate that site with trash. (Please take note HN :))
It is as if humanity cannot be trusted with technology. This creates a certain "ceiling" for us in terms of development as a species. Such a shame.
It's the same thing as a full-page advert in a magazine that you flip through. For some readers, they will stop an read it, raising awareness to that brand/product/company etc.
A company spamming my eyeballs with visual ads to "raise awareness" does not get my money. I take particular offence to that, as it is my screen. Not a Billboard for example.
My point is proven in the HN website, where it enjoys a large readership, largely influenced by the sites clean, ad-free design.
Slashdot used to be like that until they started displaying ads, and that is what brought me to HN. Thank you HN for not doing this.
You might want to reconsider