Are current banners successful in increasing the response rate? How can advertisers make banner advertisements appeal to consumers effectively? To answer these questions, banner strategies were investigated by a content analysis of banner advertisements and a survey was conducted for the purpose of addressing consumers' perceptions of banners and some of the advertising strategies underlying them. Comparative analysis of the results from the two studies reveals banners currently in use rarely appeal to consumers, due to the failure to meet consumers' advertising wants and needs. The study found that consumers value the functional banners, through which they can access advertisers' information immediately and easily, over the visually attractive banners, which tend to rely upon emotional appeals. But, advertisers import, and rely heavily on, traditional strategies in the new and innovative medium. The more effective banners are those that fit into the Web environment and offer unique values over traditional advertisements.