Hubspot Insights: How to Reduce Ad Blocking and Build Better Ads

Hubspot research on why people block ads reveals clear patterns that marketers can use to design respectful, effective advertising that audiences actually want to see.

This how-to guide translates those findings into practical steps you can apply to your own campaigns so you can improve performance while protecting user experience.

Why People Block Ads, According to Hubspot Data

Before you can fix ad performance, you need to understand what drives people to use ad blockers in the first place.

The Hubspot study highlights several core reasons users reject ads:

• Intrusiveness: Ads that cover content, auto-play media, or interrupt reading.
• Clutter: Too many ads crowding a page or app screen.
• Irrelevance: Ads that do not match user interests or context.
• Slow performance: Creative assets that cause pages to lag or freeze.
• Security and privacy worries: Fear of tracking, malware, or misuse of data.

The conclusion is simple: users are not against all advertising. They are against bad advertising that wastes attention, slows devices, or feels disrespectful.

Key Lessons from Hubspot on Respectful Ads

Using the research as a foundation, you can reframe how you approach digital advertising and focus on long-term trust rather than short-term clicks.

Hubspot Principle 1: Put User Experience First

When you design ads, imagine the user’s context: what they are doing, what they want, and how your message will affect that moment.

• Avoid full-screen pop-ups that block primary content.
• Use clear close buttons on overlays and interstitials.
• Do not auto-play audio; let users choose to engage.
• Limit animation and flashing that distracts from reading.

These adjustments reduce the frustration that drives people toward ad-blocking tools.

Hubspot Principle 2: Reduce Ad Clutter

The study suggests that perceived ad volume directly impacts user tolerance. Fewer, higher-quality ads usually earn better results than a crowded layout.

• Cap the number of display units per page.
• Prioritize one strong message over many weak ones.
• Use frequency capping so users do not see the same creative repeatedly.

Streamlining placements can improve both engagement and page performance.

Hubspot Principle 3: Make Ads Truly Relevant

Relevance is more than inserting a name into copy. It is about context, intent, and timing.

• Align creative with page topic or user journey stage.
• Show offers that logically follow the last action a user took.
• Use clear segmentation instead of broad, generic targeting.

Relevant messaging feels useful instead of annoying, which reduces the urge to block ads.

How to Apply Hubspot Findings to Your Ad Strategy

Turning research into action requires a structured approach. Use the steps below to audit and improve your campaigns.

Step 1: Audit Current Ads with a Hubspot-Inspired Checklist

Review every major placement and format across your channels.

1. Identify intrusive elements. List pop-ups, auto-play videos, and large overlays.
2. Measure load impact. Test pages and creative with performance tools.
3. Evaluate relevance. Compare targeting rules to audience needs.
4. Review privacy signals. Check how you communicate data use and consent.

Score each placement on a simple scale from “user-friendly” to “likely to cause blocking.”

Step 2: Redesign Creatives Using Hubspot Best Practices

Next, update your creative and placement strategy with user-friendly standards.

• Move from full-screen takeovers to lighter, in-content formats where possible.
• Shorten copy and emphasize one main benefit per ad.
• Use clean design with strong contrast, but minimal distraction.
• Test shorter video lengths and give users control over playback.

These design choices align with the motivations uncovered in the research and reduce friction.

Step 3: Improve Targeting and Context

Apply the relevance guidance that mirrors Hubspot insights to align ads with what users want in each moment.

1. Map your funnel. Awareness, consideration, and decision stages need different messages.
2. Group audiences by intent. Use behavioral and contextual cues instead of only broad demographics.
3. Customize offers. Adjust creative for returning visitors, subscribers, or existing customers.

Better targeting helps ensure that users see offers that feel helpful instead of disruptive.

Using Hubspot Research to Measure and Optimize

Improvement does not stop at a one-time redesign. You need a measurement loop that reflects how users actually respond.

Key Metrics Inspired by Hubspot Findings

Track indicators that connect directly to user experience and ad quality:

• Time on page: Longer engagement can signal less irritation.
• Bounce rate: Sudden increases may indicate intrusive ads.
• Scroll depth: Shows whether users keep reading past ad units.
• Viewability and interaction: Indicates if people see and choose to engage.
• Opt-out or unsubscribe rates: High numbers can hint at overly aggressive messaging.

Combine performance data with qualitative feedback from surveys or user testing where possible.

Test Variations the Way Hubspot Would

Run structured experiments instead of guessing:

1. Create two or more versions of an ad, each changing only one element.
2. Test different levels of intrusiveness, such as a subtle banner versus a large overlay.
3. Compare performance not only on clicks, but also on engagement and page behavior.

The goal is to find formats that drive results while reinforcing long-term trust.

Hubspot Case Insights: What Good Ads Have in Common

Across the findings, several traits consistently show up in better-performing ads that users tolerate or even enjoy.

• They are clearly labeled as ads and do not try to trick the user.
• They load quickly and do not freeze the screen.
• They match the content or intent behind the user’s visit.
• They offer genuine value, such as education, discounts, or tools.

Use these shared traits as a checklist when planning your next campaign.

Putting Hubspot Lessons into Your Broader Marketing Stack

To get full value from the research, integrate the principles into your whole marketing ecosystem, not just a single ad network.

• Update internal guidelines for designers, copywriters, and media buyers.
• Align email, content, and paid media so offers remain consistent.
• Share insights with leadership to support long-term, user-first strategies.

If you need help shaping a complete strategy that follows these user-friendly principles, you can work with a digital marketing consultancy such as Consultevo for implementation support.

Learn More from the Original Hubspot Research

For deeper detail on the data behind these recommendations, you can read the original study on why people block ads and what it means for marketers and advertisers directly on the Hubspot blog.

By aligning your ads with those findings, you can lower the risk of ad blocking, protect user trust, and build campaigns that perform better over the long term.