Optimum size for Image ads?

[HarryM]

Is there an optimum size for image ads? Banner, beaderboard, medium rectangle, square, or skyscrapers?

What format do advertisers tend to use or prefer?

[peppuh]

From what I heard, medium rectangle (300x250) is the preferred one by publishers. However, image ads don't work well for most publishers.

[Scurramunga]

I would like to know what the optimal niche is for image ads, because they have not appeared to work well for me in times past

[edited by: Scurramunga at 10:18 pm (utc) on Dec. 3, 2007]

[tim222]

s there an optimum size for image ads

In my experience, image ads are usually off-topic and have a very low CTR. So I think the best size is 0x0 :)

But all-in-all, I don't think there's a universal "best ad," whether it's image or text. The best thing to do is experiment with different sizes. Make a unique channel for each type/size combination and let each ad type run for at least a couple of weeks. That way you can determine what's most successful in your own situation.

[HarryM]

Thanks all.

I was really looking for advice on what publishers preferred, such as peppuh gave.

I do run channels to see how different ads perform, but there are so many variables (such as seasonable, ad budgets, etc.) that it is difficult to draw any real conclusions unless you have a very high traffic levels.

[mixart]

It really depends on your advertisers and more importantly your ad placement.

I ran a test on my site for a while with both 120x600 and 300x250 ads to see which got more clicks and which paid more. I used a server side script to deliver a different layout of my content randomly so half the time it was one layout, half the time it was the other.

I found more variety of ads in my 300x250 spot but more success with the tower (120x600) ads due to the nature of my layout.

Try both, every website gets different results.

[potentialgeek]

> I was really looking for advice on what publishers preferred.

But it's a moot point if the ads are irrelevant.

Once you've tested relevancy and found it to be acceptable, you only have about a half dozen ad size tests to do.

Try to get your ads to align with the layout of your page. It's a neat, professional look that helps users stick around/click.

p/g

[HarryM]

Thanks p/g, but it's not a moot point as far as I am concerned. It takes time to test every combination of size and position, and the results can be obscured by seasonal and budget issues. Also in order to test certain sizes I would have to change my layout.

And anyway I already do this as far as text ads are concerned, and continuously monitor the results via channels. So essentially the "testing" never ends.

So why re-invent the wheel if the answer is out there? If there is a size of image ads that quality advertisers prefer then I can manipulate the layout to test them in various postions. At least I won't be wasting my time testing formats that are unlikely to work.

[greatstart]

I don't use image ads anymore, but when I did, I ran them with the square sizes like 200x200 and 250x250.

All the other sizes didn't look well. See for yourself - [google.com...]