In the last post we talked about avoiding ad clutter.  Here are a few follow up tips to ensure that your ads aren’t so obnoxious that visitors leave your site immediately.  The point of ads is for users to click on them, not for them to run away!

Ads should never interfere with the usability of your site!

Bright, Flashing Ads Are Tacky

It might seem logical for ads to blink at visitors, alerting the reader to its presence.  Yes, it can be difficult to obtain a user’s attention, but users are so familiar with these ads that I think – at least for me – these ads have the opposite effect.  Users might associate these ads with scams.

Instead, lead users to your ads by positioning them in an ideal location on your site.

Sound is Obnoxious

Most people I know surf the web while watching television or listening to their own music, so when websites have music on them – whether it is just on the page or part of the ad – it’s annoying and interferes.  I either turn the sound off (making the effect moot) or leave the page.

The only ads I ever see with sound are those ones that say “You’ve Won!” which I assume is a scam, anyways.

Avoid Video Ads

These are probably the most annoying ads out of all three.  They are like a combination between flashing ads and ads with sound.  It distracts from the content, and instead of reading your blog, users will be frantically searching for the ‘mute’ or ‘pause’ buttons… if they’re not leaving already.

The Most Important Tip: Use Relevant Ads

Use ads that relate to your topic.  These are the ads that your users are interested in, and if your users are interested in the product, they’ll click on it and that will help you make money.  For example, if you are a sports blog, use ads that pertain to sports, ie sports equipment, tickets to games, or sports memorabilia.

Remember: the main reason to avoid flashing ads, ads with sound, and video ads is this: generally, they are not relevant to your content.  If they are related to your content – well, that depends on your readership loyalty.  I don’t think it’s worth it to lose readers over these ads, and there are probably other ads out there that will pay the same amount.