I think I really nailed it with the text link ads at the top of the page. It makes it look like the ads are a menu of some sort. Do you think the rest of the page looks good? Thanks. http://freegolftips.patsblogs.com/
The top ad links are nicely done - though they look a bit wonky in Firefox. The skyscraper on the right could be blended in better. I think it'd work better if it was the same blue as the text in your sidebar, and the borders were removed. You may want to reduce the font size of your own menu links to make them blend in better. The rectangle at the top of the posts is a bit harder to critique. I think you should try making it have the same colour as your main text. Test it out and see how it goes. Personally, as a visitor I'd welcome an ad more if it was placed after the content but above the comments, rather that where it is now.
Thanks guys. I'll fix the skyscraper. Im gonna toy around with the large rectangle and until I find something thats giving me good clicks.
I think it's a nicely composed site actually. Sparse, simple and it gives useful info. I don't know if you've just changed it in the last few minutes, but as of right now, I don't know if I'd change a thing. The big question is, are you getting clicks? If not, tweak it in a few days.
Looks good to me now. I think this is about as good as you can make it. Don't be tempted to place a 3rd ad unit. It'll muck up your nice clean design. Your ads seem to be nicely relevant to your topic, which is sometimes hard to achieve with a blog. So, sit back, add more good content, and see how it works. Good luck.
The only other thing is that it is a fairly common design. I find that with commonly used templates you have to be very very unique with your ad placement because people are not just blind to your ads, they are preconditioned from other sites with that same layout.
I made the site a few hours ago and have gotten 3 clicks so far. Its too determine anything yet, ill give it a few days. Thanks all who posted!
IMHO your green text at the top screams too much this is an ad. I'd make the color the same as your other text, but I'd maybe use green for the url. just my 2cents..