How Many Banners Per Page

[Robert_Forrester]

I am thinking 2-3 is probably a good idea depending on how long the page is. Any more than that and things start to look tacky. Then again, if anyone has an example of a site that has used more banners but doesn't look bad, I would be open to reconsider.

[creativityunlimited]

There isn't really a general rule. In fact, I am the last person you will ever get a generalized statement from concerning advertising. Even in the days of detailed, accurate analytics, there is no science to our business. Here's what I have found: The amount of ads and banners is fairly static, though only use one leaderboard, period. Beyond that, it all depends. Google Adsense is a good way to get ads on your site without looking tacky. The general surfer is so used to Adsense that it looks like it belongs on every site, especially if you use color schemes to match it to your site, much like what one of my clients did at I Shoot Pool.

I'd say 2-3 is safe, but if you have a good layout, you can get away with more. Just make sure it doesn't look like you're screaming, "Click me, I'm poor!" Here's the thing. Have you ever heard someone say not to keep all your eggs in one basket? It is hard to diversify your eggs if you only have two banners, because they will likely be of one ad company, possibly pay per click ads, prohibiting you from taking advantage of the affiliate program frenzy this forum is geared toward.

Here's what you do: You pick two PPC or CPM ad companies (i.e. Adsense and Adbrite), and two affiliate programs that would target your audience well. You strategically place everything you can, where you want, on your site. Keep in mind that you want to try to keep content similar between ads and your site content, simply to increase revenue possiblities, and you want to keep your layout/template clean.

Here's the key: When you are finished placing all your ads on your site, have at least six friends and/or colleagues look at your site. You want to have a few people in an Internet based business look at the site. Just make sure that at least half of them are people who do not do Internet commerce or run a website, at least not for profit. Have all of them critique your use of ads, and ask them directly if it seems like overkill.

You really have to over do the ads pretty bad to be tasteless, but remember it is easy to do, and once you start walking that fine line, it's almost certain you will cross it. So don't under do the ads because you're cutting off your nose to spite your face, but be careful.

If you have any questions or can use some help on this, feel free to contact me. I'm very good with this.

[GregK]

Well said Michael

[Robert_Forrester]

I like your idea of having six people look at it. I know from experience it is hard to get people to give good feedback on something like that. Any tips there?

[creativityunlimited]

Yeah, you're right. It is hard too get people to sit down and critique your site, and harder to get honest and open feedback from them. I definitely have a few tips there. You want people you know you will get honest feedback from. For instance, grab a few helpful people from this site like GregK or myself and see what they think. I'm not going to speak for Greg, although I would hope he would give you honest feedback, but I know I sure would. If someone asks me for feedback, I give it to them.

Second, I'm sure you have a friend or contact that does internet-based work. Ask him/her. Grab two or three of them, if you have them, and ask them for their HONEST opinion. Next, everybody has that one friend that will not only do anything in their power for their friends but also respects you enough to be honest and give feedback. (I'm one of those kinds of friends.) Ask him or her to look at those aspects of your site and to give their honest opinion. If even one person honestly thinks you might have overdone it, cut only one ad out. Remember, it's a fine line.

One thing that really helps reduce the tacky appearance of ads is to use your affiliate ads as text links. I mentioned I Shoot Pool earlier in this thread. Look at that site for a second, and pay attention to the Cool Sites section on the sidebar. Other than the link to my site (Creativity Unlimited), the rest of those links are Clickbank Affiliate links, conspicuously relevant to the topic of the site and the interests of the visitors. He asked me to incorporate those products into his site for extra revenue building. Clickbank provides some decent widget options, but I didn't like any of them for the site design, which I built. I incorporated them as text links, and they appear as if they are simply products Shooter is recommending. Nobody would ever guess he makes thirty-some dollars and some change (or whatever the commission is) anytime anybody orders one of those eBooks. (well, I guess you would. I just told you.) You can fit more revenue earners into your site with a little creativity and diversified delivery.

If you still need any help at all, keep asking questions or tell me what you need from me. That's what I'm here for.

[GregK]

Oh, I am honest. Honest enough to let you know that was a really long post... That is good info though, pick your reviewers wisely.

[HomeComputerGames]

One has to consider the fact of "banner blindness". Google it for more information.

When searching for specific information on a website, users focus only on the parts of the page where they would assume the relevant information could be, i.e. small text and hyperlinks. Large colorful or animated banners and other graphics are in this case ignored. Usability tests that compared the perception of banners between groups of subjects searching for specific information and subjects aimlessly browsing seem to support this theory.

Text advertisement often out performs image banners 3 to 1. Inline content advertisement also performs very well.

HCG

[fadimore]

I think that 3 banner is good for one page
fadimore
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