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Putting Ad links on bottom of page a bad idea?

by 24hours
7 replies
I'm redesigning my website just because it needs updating and also to add affiliate links sometime in the future. I'm using Adobe's Dreamweaver, but was having trouble with some of the advanced coding so I bought a template yesterday. I thought the ads would look best in a sidebar, but the template doesn't seem to have an option for a two column layout with a right sidebar. I think the main page looks fine, but before I go any further (I've been at this all weekend), how bad is it to have the ads along the bottom of the page? Am I wasting my time? Should I buy another template?

Here's a link to the site - www.dirtbikes101.com

There's no content except the images on the Home page and About page. There are three (non-clickable) non-profit links along the bottom (except the home page)and that's where the Clickbank links would go.

Bad idea?

Thanks
#bad #bottom #idea #links #page #putting
  • Profile picture of the author CyberAlien
    I'm not going to say you won't earn anything from the ads, but in my experience you'll do quite a bit better with them higher up on the page.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jacer
    The further down someone has to scroll, the less clicks your ads will get. If I was you, I'd want them on the side.

    Have you tried wordpress instead of dreamweaver? It is so much easier, and there are thousands of free templates available online.
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    • Profile picture of the author 24hours
      Thanks - I was afraid of that. I may end up with WP after all.
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  • Profile picture of the author JasonBennet
    You might consider placing an opt in form on your website so that you will build your own list of subscribers too. I don't think you will earn much from the advertisement that you place at the bottom of your website.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan Curtis
      Putting ads at the bottom of the page is not terrible. They will likely generate some income. But ads at the top of the page will always out perform ads at the bottom.

      The best place for ads is where your site visitors are directing their attention. And in general, the bottom and the right column are not the primary areas where your visitors are directing their attention.

      They are looking at your main column. And at least for pay-for-click ads, like adsense ads, the best performing ads are in the main column, right in your text area.

      Yes, ads are annoying in your main text area, and yes, they interrupt the flow. But that is the point. Interrupt the normal flow with an ad and they are more likely to be clicked.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Moore
    Lets take another perspective, what do you want? Do you want your visitor to focus on your ads, or focus on your website? If you think focus on your website is better, then putting an ads banner in the bottom is also an options.
    But if your only source of income comes from the ads, then it is a different story, it means putting your ads in the bottom is a terrible idea because it will get less exposure. Scrolling is a tedious task for people who just want to look around your website.
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  • Profile picture of the author johntan17
    If you cannot change your template, I think it is best to have your ads placed at the top of your page just below the menu buttons if you want to direct the visitor to the affiliate site as quickly as possible. You can join Amazon Associates or Commission Junctions affiliate programs to sell bike related things. If you change your template to one with a side bar, you can put your image ads there together with a small opt in form giving a free gift such as an ebook to build a list.

    If you do not want your visitor to leave your site so quickly but instead prefer the visitor to read through some of your content first, you may want to merge a clickable image ads together with your content with a strong call to action such as "Buy now" or "Click Here for the Lowest Price".

    It is not advisable to put the ads right at the bottom as that is the place that the visitor is least likely to click on. I normally place my affiliated image ads such as products from Amazon at the top, side column or merge together with the content and put google adsense at the bottom. If the visitor is not interested in my affiliated products, there is still a chance that I can monetize from the traffic if he or she scrolls down the page and clicks on the Ads by Adsense at the bottom.

    Good Luck to your new site!
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