Utilizing your empty slots effectively
It’s pretty often that you see blogs displaying empty 125×125 ads with “advertise here” text on them. There is no problem displaying such ads, but there is a problem when you display the same banner on all 6 or 8 blocks. Why?
Well, the answer is two-fold: 
- It affects your branding strategies
It sends wrong message to your potential advertisers. Advertisers will think, if no one is advertising, why should I? There must be something wrong with the blog… since no one is interested to advertise in this blog.
- It affects your profitability
I don’t understand why you have to put “advertise here” banner on all 6 slots? For me it’s not even acceptable to put more than one. Putting on single spot is ok, because by doing that you are communicating to your potential advertisers “hey, your banner could be here!”. But putting the same “advertise here” ad on more than one spot is already “not good”.
Because you could have put some other ad on that same spot and make money! Why not put some affiliate banners instead? Why lose the money, at the same time send negative message to your potential advertisers?
Making Money with Affiliate Programs
When I do not have people advertising on my blog, I just put some affiliate banners that can bring me money. For example, the Revolution Wordpress Theme banner on the right column brought me $174.95 for the month of July (see screenshot below).
So, does it make sense to have empty slots (even worse having more than one empty slots) on my blog? It doesn’t make any sense! Because I can make money by placing related ads on my blog. Yes related is the keyword. Don’t just put any ads, put something that is related to what you already blog about.
$174.95 is more than what I charge for the slot, I charge $150/month, so this particular ad from Revolution Theme is making pretty good money for me.
You also have to think in this manner: “If someone is willing to pay $150 a month for this spot to advertise on my blog, why I should have it empty? Empty means “zero”. This spot doesn’t deserve a zero money!“.
So, are you using your empty slots effectively? What are the other ways that you make money with your available spots?
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By Rajaie AlKorani on Aug 2, 2008
I currently added a few affiliate spots and am eagerly waiting to make my first sale!
By Web Services India on Aug 2, 2008
Really your information is quite sensible and should be followed to earn money as well as popularity.
By paulette on Aug 3, 2008
I agree:) Free spaces should be use effectively.
By yahoo web hosting on Aug 4, 2008
I’ve been noticing that a lot lately. I wonder if those spots would get a higher CTR from a single box of adsense ads that looks like the rest of the ads.
By Rice Blogger on Aug 4, 2008
wow…that is quite a lot….i have not much luck with affiliate banner so far
By Eliza J. on Aug 5, 2008
Such ads are very common means of advertising and are used by many blogs. These 125X125 ads are great options for bloggers and advertisers but it should be done carefully.
Location of the ad plays an important role in conversions.
By Fawaz on Aug 5, 2008
That’s right. These spaces are important for bloggers, they should them wisely
By Internet Shopping US on Aug 8, 2008
for getting more earnings, one need to be design adspace for blog very cool so, it attracts visitor to click on add.
By Internet Shopping US on Aug 8, 2008
Affiliate banners should be placed at right place and looks so cool when you are using with your blog designs.
By SEOAdsenseThemes.com on Aug 8, 2008
“Advertisers will think, if no one is advertising, why should I?”
Savvy advertisers who seek ad placements do their research too. They’d know if those ad blocks are actual quality advertisers or simply affiliate ads you placed it there yourself.
I dunno about low-traffic sites that charges $5/mth for their 125 ads. But for advertisers who are paying $150/mth, they would’ve done their homework. Just my opinion.