Not sure about advertiser's ad format

[andrewshim]

I was just approached by my first direct advertiser! ;) My site is a 15 month old PR4 with medium to low traffic.

However, their ad involves adding approx 40 lines of html in each page. The ad appears as a 750x25 box/table with :

- left : a drop down menu containing 15 items.
- middle : 2 text links
- right : their logo.
(all are live links)

I turned down the offer although it was tempting because :

- the box just seemed to overpower my site with their links.
- too many live links pointing to them (4 per page, 19 if each item in the dropdown is counted)
- caused my keyword density to change.

The advertiser has continued to contact me. I have indicated I am only able to accomodate one live banner link per page.

This is my first time... If you got an ad like that, would you accept? What are your views?

[FourDegreez]

Sounds like they're asking for too much. If an advertiser contacts me, they have to have ad formats that fit my existing layout for me to bite. That is, unless they are willing to pay a handsome premium...then I might make an exception on a case by case basis.

[eljefe3]

I agree with you Andrew. They are asking for too much. Counter with something that you feel is appropriate and then come to a happy medium :).

[hunderdown]

I'd accept if they paid enough. And that would have to be a lot--my site has a simple design, and it would be greatly altered in appearance to place an ad like that on it. I'd look for double my current income from all sources, plus I'd charge an hourly rate to set it up (hand-built site with no one template to change, so that might take me some time).

Good luck, and let us know what happens!

[andrewshim]

sigh of relief!

Okay. Don't feel so bad now. I actually thought NO when I saw the code, but cut and pasted it on a test page anyway to see how it would look and yes, it altered my pages' look too much, not to mention the KW density and possibly any other SEO tangles this would get me into!

I replied very nicely that I could only accomodate one live link per page (either prominent text or banner) but he was insistent on the original look even asking how much I wanted!

I toyed with the thought of charging him "per live link" which would mean x19! but decided against it. Call me stupid but I felt I would be "cheap" if it all came down to money... I had to think of any repercussions to my site. Long-term objectives seemed to make more sense to me.

I genuinely liked his site. As a goodwill gesture, I offered to place a couple of his articles in my site with live links pointing to him. I supposed this changed his thoughts about me although he said there were already 3 other sites that have started displaying his ad in its original format and more to come.

Anyway... his final email offered to consider any other proposal... if I could possibly keep to his format... sigh.

But heck, it was worth the first time learning experience. I didn't expect his offer. I guess I shouldn't underestimate my little site!