Putting Multiple Ads In Merchant Sites

10.9 Putting Multiple Ads In Merchant Sites

Fig. 10.3 Distributing multiple ads on a merchant site.

There are really two approaches you can take to using AdSense on merchant sites. The first is simply to treat them in the same way as blogs: put a link at the end of each section of advertising copy and place a banner or half banner beneath it. That ad unit should blend into the text above and below. You can use a skyscraper on the edge of the screen, a link unit beneath a list of navigation links, a search box at the top of the page and referral ads on the side.

Alternatively, you could use graphic referral ads as images and write text about the products. That would give you an instant online store!

In the sample layout above, I’ve placed a large rectangular ad unit directly beneath a featured product. The feature would create the most attention and users would have read past it to reach the rest of the page.

Whenever you’re using AdSense on merchant sites though do keep a close eye on the ads you’re serving; you don’t want to advertise your competitors!

Possible alternatives to try:

Using a text link instead one of the ad units between the marketing copy;

Placing a large picture of a product on a page... and an ad unit right next to it;

Using banners instead of half-banners;

Placing a leaderboard either at the top of the page or at the bottom;

Separating each piece of marketing copy with a large square unit.

And if you’re worried you’ve put in too many ad units... just take one out and see if your CTR changes.