Your free directory looks good. However, you might want to try different things with the banner and keep track of the results. The banner that you have at the top you might want to try to match the ads backgroup with your site's background, and see if you get better results. And your second site, I think is against the TOS to put ads without any content. Overall, great site, great layout.
Thanks. I will remove the ads from the frontpage of the second site. But most of the ads are actually on the inner page (upper right corner). Did you see it?
You should change the location every day and count the number of clicks. It is irelevant what a person said. After 2 weeks you will know the perfect location without asking anyone.