Experimenting with Ads

Only displayed to search referrals.

New permanent (if it works out, that is) placement.

Digg button shows up if an article has been submitted to Digg and links directly to it.

Only displayed to search referrals.

I've been playing around with ad placement recently - although, most of you shouldn't have seen the majority of them. AdSense only shows up when the user is referred by Google, Yahoo! or MSN.

I'm trying out Text Link Ads as permanent placement in the sidebar on all articles/reviews now. Wanna buy a link?

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Comments

Luke Dorny (luxuryluke) says:

Hmmm. Sidebar seems acceptable...
I can't stand seeing adsense that tricks me into clicking. It's a distraction. But necessary? Perhaps…
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Dachande663 says:

Yeah, as long as its not in the main content, that's always the worst because undoubtedly they camouflage it.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

James UK says:

Nice stuff. Tastefully done. I think it's nice that you show appreciation for those that are site regulars (ie. not referred from a search engine) by reducing the ads.

Let us know what you think of Text Link Ads, I'd be interested to here how other programmes work other than Adsense.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Evan Sims says:

I really like it, very nicely integrated. Smooth and doesn't distract from the content, or break the layout.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

rzklkng [deleted] says:

Did you do that via landing pages?
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

cory.holt says:

yea, what code are u using in order to tell if its comming from a search?
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Dachande663 says:

He's probably just checking $_SERVER['http_referrer'] for google, yahoo or msn.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

lisamac says:

That referrer bit is a seriously smart idea. And the design works well considering it's advertising. Smartie. ;-)
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Matt Brett says:

Glad I haven't made anyone barf in their mouths with my add riddled screenshot. I tried to be as tasteful as possible. Although, I did dump that one in the content with full intentions of disguising it. ;)

Dachande is right on the money. I don't recall where I found this nifty little chunk of code and I'm sure it can be optimized, but this is what I'm using...

‹?php if (stristr(getenv('HTTP_REFERER'),"google" ) || stristr(getenv('HTTP_REFERER'),"yahoo" ) || stristr(getenv('HTTP_REFERER'),"msn" )) { ?›
-- AdSense code here --
‹?php } ?›

@Lisa: I didn't realize you were from Barrie. I'm not too far, in Pickering. Howdy neighbor!
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

andy-pearson says:

Interesting, i signed up for adsense and text link ads, and although they don't look so bad, for me it's not really worth it, I'm not making any money and the site looks better without them, they will be gone in my next redesign.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Patrick Haney says:

The ad links on the left side, which only show up on search referrals, looks pretty "bleh." The ad links on the right and bottom that do the same look fine though, and like you said, you're not tricking anyone into clicking them, thinking they're part of your site. Yet they don't look too out of place.

The "Paying the Bills" section looks fine, and I believe this will work for all users. Not intrusive at all and very honest (we all need money, right?).
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

cory.holt says:

cool, might have to use that code on my site. great idea Matt.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

Marko Mihelcic says:

interesting solutions Matt.
Posted 39 months ago. ( permalink )

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Experimenting with Ads

Comments

Luke Dorny (luxuryluke) says:

Dachande663 says:

James UK says:

Evan Sims says:

rzklkng [deleted] says:

cory.holt says:

Dachande663 says:

lisamac says:

Matt Brett says:

andy-pearson says:

Patrick Haney says:

cory.holt says:

Marko Mihelcic says:

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