The pros and cons of advertising on your website has been debated over and over by webmasters and designers since the beginning of the internet. Many feel the ads can be too distracting to your message while others feel it is a great way to help support costs for the site. We, to be honest, are on the fence - enjoying designing ads and great placement on sites AND working with affiliates to help subsidize web costs. If you are considering placing advertisements on your site you have a couple options:
1. Banner Ads
You can sell space on your site or you can join a free banner exchange.
Selling space = Many of our entertainment clients offer ad space and have an ad rates sheet on their site.
For an example check out holidayclubchicago.com/advertise
Banner exchange = A banner exchange is a service that let you exchange banners with other members, you show banners for other members and they show banners for you, this way you get free advertising for your web site.
An example would be 1800banners.com
2. Google AdSense
Google AdSense matches ads to your site's content and audience, and depending on the type of ad, you can earn money from clicks or impressions.
3. Affiliates
Affiliate marketing is an Internet-based marketing practice in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate's marketing efforts. These are generally free to set up if the company offers them. For example we are part of HostGator.com, ConstantContact.com and GoDaddy.com affiliate programs.
If you are ready to offer advertising on your website, remember you need to track your visitor statistics using a tool like google analytics. Advertisers want to know more detailed demographics to ensure they're hitting their target market and getting a return on their advertising dollars. Be prepared to share your visitor statistics with potential advertisers and to share reports with current clients.
Another consideration is how to manage your advertising. Consider something like OpenX or Google AdManager. Creating your own spreadsheet or script can be a headache once you have more than 10 advertisers to answer to on a regular basis.
Resources:
http://adwords.google.com
http://www.startupnation.com/steps/76/marketing-website.html
http://www.entrepreneur.com/marketing/guerillamarketing/article193476.html
http://websitetips.com/articles/marketing/
http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/top-10-internet-advertising-websites-september-2008-6402/