A Note on the "Banner Exchange Ad"

Several months ago, I began experimenting with the use of "Banner exchange" programs. There are a lot of them in existence on the 'net today. Basically, in exchange for displaying other people's "ads" on my web site, my own "ad" gets displayed on their web sites. I do not pay for these ads nor am I paid for posting the other ads here. Its roughly a semi-mutual exchange of banners.

When I first started, I was getting only a 0.4% "click thru rate" (CTR). At this time, I have fine tuned the ad design and targetting (selecting which web sites it appears on) and generally get in the 1.2% to 1.4% CTR range. By tweaking some parameters, I've also gotten as high as about 3% CTR. I'm learning how to market ham radio as I do this, that's for sure!

I have just moved the existing "LinkExchange" program banner from the bottom of the page to the top of the page. I did this because allegedly, by doing this, my banner will be guaranteed better page placement (meaning the top of pages) on other web sites. I'm curious to see what kind of difference, if any, this makes in the CTR. I will probably give this at least 2 to 4 weeks - if I see an improvement, it will stay. If I do not see much improvement, it will move back to the bottom of the page.

Eventually, I will publish an article on how to set up your own banner exchange ads so that you can use your own web sites to help promote ham radio. Let's make the Internet our friend in promoting ham radio to more interested parties!

A reminder: I do not receive any money for running this web site. I have run this web site for just shy of 4 years and do so 100% as a volunteer hobby because I'd like to see ham radio as THE 21st century hobby.

73, Ed, KF7VY