One of the most effective methods of using a banner or graphic image is to write a testimonial and/or recommendation and place the image immediately below your copy.  You are then providing valuable content and utilizing pleasing eye candy to grab the visitors attention.  A great one - two punch.

 

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APD Tactic 3 - Use Banners within Google Adwords

You can use graphics within Google Adwords in addition to the standard text ads that everyone is familiar with.  These images will appear on content and site targeted settings only and not on seach results.  You can purchase these by either the standard pay per click or by impressions.  As with any ppc campaign, be sure to test which ads perform the best.

 

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APD Tactic 4 - Use Graphics with 404 and Thank You Pages

 One of the most neglected chunks of online real estate are 404 pages and thank you pages.  In fact, these pages are one of the best places to place banner ads - since you need to have a graphic that will catch the visitors attention - so they will investigate further and click thru.  

Create a customized 404 page with short recommendations and a banner graphic and use this same page as a template for your thank you pages when someone signs up or makes a purchase from you.  Then when you are setting up a signup form - use this customized thank you page instead of the default page thank you of your autoresponder.

 

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APD Tactic 5 - Purchased Banners Impressions

Depending on the target market you are trying to reach with your banners, several of the more popular Web2.0 websites are now accepting advertisers.  Most notably amongst these is Facebook where you can purchase either by clicks or by impressions.  Browse to many of these high traffic sites and look for the "advertise" link at the bottom of the homepage to learn more.

 

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APD Tactic 6 - A Word on Banner Exchanges

Banner exchanges work under the principle of trading online real estate.  Most banner exchanges are set up on a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio.  In other words you show someone else's banner on your site two or three times, and then your banner will be show up once on someone else site.  The inherent problem with this arrangement is banner placement.  Often these banners are placed at the very bottom of a web page - with resulting low click thru's.  Or a tactic used by many, is to place these banners on purchased pop under traffic.

I just looked at a banner exchange site today where they openly displayed their stats.  Members 6500 - ads shown today 8500 - ads clicked on today - 1.  Since this was a 2:1 banner exchange - with these sort of stats you would have had to given 17,000 page views for you to get one click thru  - not the best numbers.   

 

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APD Tactic 7 - Banner and Graphics Services

Looking for a place to have graphics created?

Bannersmall

RaxSolutions

BannerQueen

KoolDesigns

 

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