What are the best ad positions for a forum setup?

[geekology]

Hi All,

I would like to know, what positions are regarded as the best when using contextual ads for a forum setup, which can lead to an increase in CTR.

As in the case of blogs "F" position is regarded as the best(through some research). Do we have similar study for forum set up also?

[ThreeGuineaWatch]

Forum traffic is often repeat traffic therefore users get "ad-blindness", particularly if ads appear in the same places on all pages (which is usually the case due to the need to edit templates.)

In order to prevent this you can i. change ad placement on a regular basis ii. place ads in areas where they annot be easily overlooked (however this might p*ss off regular users.)

[geekology]

nice tip...Thanks ThreeGuineaWatch ...btw which forum software you use? It will be good if we can make the process of changing ad placement automated so that it can be changed every 7,15 days or x days by itself.

Other suggestions please?

[Qryztufre]

Yes, there has been studies on the best ad placement for forums...

Forum Ad Placement (http://armchair.seo.googlepages.com/forum-ad-placement)

Some more information can be found here
Six AdSense optimization tips for forums (http://adsense.blogspot.com/2005/10/six-adsense-optimization-tips-for.html)

[CrAzY-MaStER]

maybe after the first post or in header

[geekology]

ok great, Thanks everybody

[Bohol]

Header and Sidebar work best. Take note of "ad-blindness."

[LinketySplit]

Can you please give some more info on 'blogs "F" position'? I'm curious about that.

[geekology]

There was a study that an eye traces an F shaped pattern while reading web pages or scanning through search results. So naturally your ad placed on those spots will get more exposure than other places. Refer the URL below for full story
http://www.eyetools.com/inpage/research_google_eyetracking_heatmap.htm

[Tom Strong]

What about randomly between posts ?

[Rocs]

Underneath the navbar or after x amount of posts is also good.

Red Tyger ad management over at vb.org is good for that.

[Patricksia2007]

If I am not mistaken, I have once heard some internet marketee guru that it will be good to place them at top or in header location.

May success with you.

[turbulence]

Poynter Institute has some really nice studies and discoveries related to the ways people read texts and ads. Maybe this will help you find the best position for you.

http://www.smartwebsiting.com/magnetic-content-and-the-ways-we-read-text/

I kind of think that the researchers from Poynter are on the right way. You have to understand the readers' respectively visitors' behavior and then all these queries and doubts will fade away.

[scylla]

if you want to know, then install clickheat (http://www.labsmedia.com/clickheat/index.html)