Should I put ads on my site?
Placing advertising on each and every square inch of website space is the latest craze, but it doesn't always make sense.
When doesn't it make sense? Well, straight away if you're website is selling your business. Putting ads on your site in that case has two effects - firstly it makes you look less professional, and secondly it distracts potential customers. So if you're website is selling goods or services directly, avoid advertising - or at the very least limit it to strategic affiliations.
For example, Boduweb.com sells web design services. We don't place any advertising on our main pages, as it would distract attention from our main goal, which is to interest you in our design services. On our FAQ pages we have some strategic link ups, which add value to our pages. The FAQ act as a knowledge base and aren't intended to directly sell anything.
When does advertising on a site make sense?
There are two main cases when advertising makes sense on your site.
The first is when you're providing free information. Imagine you're a non-profit association (for whom, by the way, Bodu Web may have a special discount for web design services - contact us for details), which publishes information pages online. Discreet use of advertising can go a long way to helping bay the bills for that non-profit work.
As mentioned in other FAQs here, though, be realistic about how much advertising revenue you're likely to pull in. In many cases direct sponsorship, adding a banner link to your site, can be preferable - given that you can find a sponsor.
The second case for advertising on your website is if you have the time and energy to really go for it. If you're willing to create fresh content, to match up appropriate ads, to market your site - then online advertising, either through affiliate networks or programs like Google adsense make sense.