Number of new websites are increasing every day. And the number of websites putting ads on are increasing twice as fast. So in this race, how do you know which advertising spot works best. Because you see websites using so many different type of ad spaces. Some are using header banners, where as others are using 125 x 125 buttons, so which ones are the best? Keep on reading and find out.

Why should you care?

Advertising is an important part of branding. The most important part of economics is allocating efficiency. You need to know which ad spots work best for you in order to get the most out of your money. So it is pretty simple why this study is important for you.

Why am I advertising?

You need to ask yourself this question. Many people have different reasons. Some just need a backlink increase while others want traffic increase. So you need to ask yourself what exactly do you want. Do you want to increase traffic, or do you want to increase techonrati rank, or backlinks and what not.

Type of Ads

Header Banner (728 x 90)
Web Banner (468 x 60)
Sidebar Button (125 x 125)
In Post Banner (300 x 250)
Sidebar Text links
Contextual Links
Designer Links / Sponsor Links
Peel Away Ad

Analysis

• Header Banner – These are the large banners usually displayed towards the top of the website with the dimensions of 728 x 90 pixels. Which takes up all the screen. If you want exposure for your brand or product and want people to notice you. This is the ad spot that you want. But usually this is one of the most expensive ad spots on a site, so might not work with people with a tight budget. Works best when it is not in rotation.
• Web Banner – These are the banner that is shown on top of balkhis next to the logo. The dimensions of this banner is 468 x 60 pixels. This is prominent towards the top. These ads work magic if they are in the header without any rotation. But most sites run it with rotation, so it is not as expensive as header banner. But from the experience, I have had, these banners are the ones that don’t have a high click through. This is more of branding, so if you want your name to be known. This is the way.
• Sidebar Button – Sidebar buttons are usually 125 x 125 pixels in dimension. This ad is usually affordable on most sites. They get good enough attention. Most sites don’t put these on rotation, so it is one of the best buys. Click through rate is not very high because you are next to most likely 6 or more ads, so your banner doesn’t stand out a lot.
• In Post Banner – These are the banners that are embedded in the post. These banners work the best if the content is related. This is the ones that attract serious buyers to your site. So this is the one that is likely to convert a lot, but this won’t get you a whole a lot of traffic. So your numbers might not look, but the one or two that you get will most likely convert. This banner is usually in the dimensions of 300 x 250 pixels.
• Sidebar Text links – These are not the best way to get a lot of traffic. These links are used to increase backlink count, and technorati rank. This is the way to show search engines that you are popular. But must remember google is cracking down on paid text links.
• Contextual Links – Contextual links convert well. And it only attracts serious buyers. These links in my opinion are worth a lot because these are mostly permanent links. Therefore most of the times bloggers or webmasters does not sell these links. These links are more like organic links, but if you can get these for a price, then you are on a golden route.
• Designer / Sponsor Links – There is a way to promote your site and that is by releasing free themes with backlinks. Webmasters buy links from the designer of the theme and release the theme for free. Sponsor links are not worth a lot compared to designer link. If you can get the designer link on the free theme, you will get more traffic. A smart designer will release themes saying “Courtesy of xxxx and xxxx” This way both links get more exposure.
• Peel Away Ad – This is a new concept that is coming in place. These ads are usually more expensive than the one in the sidebar. These are viewed a lot, but most are by accident. A lot of the users convert, but the percentage of viewing and converting is a bit low. I am not saying this is a bad spot because if you have 17,000 impressions and 252 clicks from which 125 converted this is a very good value. But in comparison, 252 clicks is not a big percent. This is the ad spot that works very well but usually is more expensive.

How to get the best results

The results will entirely depend on the way your banner looks and your landing page where the user lands, so you need to focus on the two before you advertise. So if you don’t get good results from one of the better spots I mentioned above, you know the reason why.

Bottom Line

I think peel away ad, 728 x 90, and 300 x 250 are the best ad spots if you want your product to convert. So if you are thinking of mass promotion, then these are the spots you need to buy.

Couple weeks ago I wrote about how to identify lazy ass designers. Well I am sure none of the designers really want to be considered in that category. So I got this one coming up for you that shows you how to be a kick ass designer in 24 hours. So is it possible? Heck yes it is. No I am not going to give any photoshop tutorial. I am assuming you can already design. But by using these tips that I discovered form my 6 years of experience, you can make yourself more productive therefore you will be a kick ass designer.

Need to Do’s

1. Learn to accept constructive criticism – As I entered this industry, I was very snobby. I thought my designs were the best even though they sucked as I look back now. But I notice that majority of the new designers have this issue. They can’t take criticism. I have learned to take constructive criticism, or just criticism as a gift. Because people who envy you are very stupid if they find problems in you and tell you. Because then they are telling you how to improve and be even more kick ass. So take criticism as a way you can improve yourself. But don’t let other people interfere in your designs to a limit that you lose yourself from the design. Remember your design is your identity.
2. Seek for help – If you can’t get something done, then ask. There is nothing wrong with asking and getting the work done rather than having the client wait till the deadline and have nothing done. Kill your ego and treat yourself like you know nothing. Because that is the only way you will learn new things.
3. Look for inspiration – I look for inspiration in almost everything I see, and every place I go. I have realized every good design have an inspiration behind it. There will be times that you can’t come up with anything. Take a break and get more inspiration. Heck there are times when I found inspiration from hot sunny days when I was working under a tree on the corner of a lake.
4. Stay updated in the industry – Sometimes you will get so busy that you don’t have time to stay updated, but it is a must that you stay updated. Check out designer blogs that have tutorials. Check out recent news. Web Design Galleries where you can find some inspirations. The bottom line is stay updated with what is going on in the industry because that is the only way you know who your competition really is. You can’t beat your competition and be a kick ass designer without knowing their weaknesses, and the only way to know their weaknesses is to know them, and you can do that only by staying updated in the industry.
5. Get involved and Make Connections – who said talent gets you everywhere? You can have talent and no connections and be no where. Having good connections can even make a monkey rule the kingdom. Get involved in the community. Go to seminars, conferences, attend everything that you can. Get to know top dawgs in your industry. Because they will be the source to your potential clients.
6. Stay Organized – This becomes a big issue as time goes on because the more clients you have the more you are likely to be unorganized. Why because you have too much stuff to keep track of. You need to make sure you clean everything weekly and have it organized. I try to keep all the files off my main computer because just incase anything happens. That is why I have external storage devices. Keep folders for each contract that you sign and each client. Keep dates in records and everything that can possibly help you. Just stay organized. Even when you are designing, name your layers and folders. Because an organized designer always stand out.
7. Get a contract / templates – If you are a designer have a contract. Have your clients sign it and email it to you because this way you have everything in record, so there are no disputes later on. You have everything in hard copy, so you are most likely in advantage. So make sure you have all the quotes, and contracts ready so if a client ask you have it.
8. Time Management – Personally, this is my biggest issue. I don’t know how to do this very well. But I am getting better at this every day. All I am going to say is don’t check your email every 10 minutes. Set a specific time in a day for it. So you can make the most out of your time. Make sure you know all of the shortcuts that can speed up your designing.
9. Enjoy and have fun – Designing is my passion. There is not a moment when I don’t like designing. So all I am going to say is even though with all the rules don’t forget to enjoy and have fun while you are designing. Make sure you take your breaks, go on vacations. Make sure each design you make represents you because that is when you will make the best product.

I am pretty sure by using these tips you can be a kick ass designers. These secrets are no secrets just things that you will learn as you stay in the industry long. So if you are new might as well take advantage of these because I spent 6 years and learn those, and these are here just for you to grab.

If you do all this, you are a kick ass designer.

So as you know that I headed down to Orlando to have lunch with Market Leverage. Their office is in a very nice area. A lot of other corporate offices are there like Chase, AAA and others. One thing you gotta make sure if you go there is don’t speed because the speed limit is only $35 and the cops are hiding in the bushes. I saw a lot of people getting pulled over.

But anyways ML has been mentioned in the Orlando Business Magazine for being the most innovative work environment. The reason for that is because they are cool. They have a very friendly work environment with great food. Wii room, and everyone have this little cool shooting guns that shoot out foam darts. So it was an awesome trip. They have a very nice lunch room which is also a conference room. There are a lot smaller conference room.

I loved their studio as I got the behind the scenes MLTV looks, but I won’t add it in this post because I will link to the MLTV where I am interviewed with the video of Dina messing up haha lol so wait till this Monday I think. Sorry Dina.

Guys Dina is the best host. She is heck a lot of fun to mess around with and pick on specially if you are wii bowling. But she is a great representative of Market Leverage.

So check out the pictures below along with the video tour that was given to me by Rebecca from ML. She is also awesome and was amazing at giving me company all the time while I was in the office.

So I told you about this awesome printing company that makes awesome shirt. I got 7 shirts, and everyone here loves it. We are definitely going to use their service to get such lively shirts. They fit to the body well, and it is just that good. Check my pictures out in their pictures.

Definitely try out Jak Prints at Jaxprints.com

So yesterday I was at Create Chaos. I had a free EXPO Hall pass from Izeafest, so I thought I should go. Well I just didn’t want to go down there for one thing only, so I made plans with Market Leverage. I went to their corporate office which is pretty nice. More details on that would be in my next post.

Last expo hall I visited for free and collected gifts were from Adtech Miami 2008. I have to say Adtech was much bigger, much better. I mean at least adtech gave me a bag to carry the stuff that I collected.

I arrived at Create Chaos expo hall around 3:40 p.m, Registered. They had plenty of those Create Chaos bag sitting there, but none was given to me. I asked but I guess I wasn’t important enough because I didn’t have the full pass.

Well in there I met some nice companies, like iStockphoto, Shutterstock, Izea, and JAXPrint (My Favorite).

I collected a few shirts, and a cap. which will be on Tip Sunday

Check out my logo on the top hahahahaha!

More Picture in the full post…..