Questions About Adding Ads to Wordpress Blog

[debdenby]

Hi all,

Well, my saga continues. I tried to recreate a new site using Hostgator's templates and unfortunately can't add html code for PopShops or CJ, so it's back to square one.

I wanted to include a blog with my site, now I'm thinking my site will now BE a blog. That said, I'm now learning how to use Wordpress.org.

The template I'm using is WP-Magazine by Gabfire, which I was thrilled to find because it had 5 places to add advertising!I figured there'd be a place in the administrator panel that would stay "put advertising code here," but no such luck. That would just be too easy, right?!

So, newbie that I am, I'm back here asking for your help. Ugh, I'm so confused!

Help, please?!

Thanks so much.

 

[Clintoc]

You will have to learn how to edit PHP to insert this code.

Most templates that have room for adds will have a folder named like Ad1, Ad2... etc. Which, if your template is done this way, you should know which is which based upon how things look without the ads on.

Now, I didn't tell you you need to learn how to edit PHP to scare you, it is rather painless. I learned by trial and error. Save the whole page in notepad (in case you really mess up) and insert your code. I am a quick learner, so it didn't take too long to figure it out.

This one tip easily converts to adding affiliate banners in your sidebars as well (editing sidebar.php in this case).

The one thing you will need is actual code for the adds... formatted to your ad space.

 

[Clintoc]

Forgot to mention. You will have to edit in your file manager, which you access through your hostgator cpanel page.

The actual folder that you will do your editing work from is in the templates folder. Then go into the template folder that you are currently using.

From there is as easy as copy + paste (trial and error comes into learning where to paste =D)

 

[debdenby]

Forgot to mention. You will have to edit in your file manager, which you access through your hostgator cpanel page.

The actual folder that you will do your editing work from is in the templates folder. Then go into the template folder that you are currently using.

From there is as easy as copy + paste (trial and error comes into learning where to paste =D)

Thanks for your reply. Why do I do this to myself?! I feel like I hit myself in the head over and over again. That's exactly the issue, aside now, thanks for letting me know, that I have to learn PHP, ugh, where to place! I must be a glutton for punishment! Any suggestions on where to learn PHP in a hurry?

 

[Clintoc]

It isnt so much learning PHP, its more about inserting your code into the PHP files in your template folder.

Most advertisers will have banners and buttons and such that you can use to post across your website. That code is all you will need to put into place.

It is not nearly as daunting as I made it sound

Here is the key to doing all of this. Once you figure it out once, the next time is easier. I just gave myself a crash course in editing CSS in between my posts here (I got myself a new banner.)

A site to start with is killerphp (dot) com. Figure that one out on your own, Linda and Minstrel can fix it if they want... I did it this way so they do not have to approve the link before you can fix it.

W3 schools can be a help as well, google that one.

killersites (dot) com is another good source on editing wordpress themes.

-------------------------------

Unless you are learning how to do everything from scratch (no reason to) those resources will easily help you out. Google is also your friend here, I googled CSS Color Codes to correct my problem a few minutes ago.. page 1, first result = winner.

 

[djbaxter]

In fact there a few WordPress plugins that will allow you to insert ads without having to learn PHP.

Some of the ones listed here should help you: wordpress plugin ad manager - Google Search

 

[debdenby]

It isnt so much learning PHP, its more about inserting your code into the PHP files in your template folder.

Most advertisers will have banners and buttons and such that you can use to post across your website. That code is all you will need to put into place.

It is not nearly as daunting as I made it sound

Here is the key to doing all of this. Once you figure it out once, the next time is easier. I just gave myself a crash course in editing CSS in between my posts here (I got myself a new banner.)

A site to start with is killerphp (dot) com. Figure that one out on your own, Linda and Minstrel can fix it if they want... I did it this way so they do not have to approve the link before you can fix it.

W3 schools can be a help as well, google that one.

killersites (dot) com is another good source on editing wordpress themes.

-------------------------------

Unless you are learning how to do everything from scratch (no reason to) those resources will easily help you out. Google is also your friend here, I googled CSS Color Codes to correct my problem a few minutes ago.. page 1, first result = winner.

Thanks, Clintoc, for all of the reading material. Sounds like I'll be very busy educating myself today.

 

[debdenby]

In fact there a few WordPress plugins that will allow you to insert ads without having to learn PHP.

Some of the ones listed here should help you: wordpress plugin ad manager - Google Search

minstrel,

Installing a plugin would certainly be easier then doing all of that reading and then attempting to implement. It's not the reading, of course, that's scary to me, but the implementation part. I know without a doubt that I won't get it right.

I looked at the first three, from the google link you gave me. Two of them are based on the same article and start out as follows:

"If you?ve given up the low-paying and slightly obtrusive ad networks used by many new bloggers, in favor of selling ads directly..."

This is confusing to me since I'm not selling my own ads, I'd be using the ones from my merchants that are on CJ. Is this still the option that would work for me?

Thanks!

 

[djbaxter]

minstrel,

Installing a plugin would certainly be easier then doing all of that reading and then attempting to implement. It's not the reading, of course, that's scary to me, but the implementation part. I know without a doubt that I won't get it right.

I looked at the first three, from the google link you gave me. Two of them are based on the same article and start out as follows:

"If you?ve given up the low-paying and slightly obtrusive ad networks used by many new bloggers, in favor of selling ads directly..."

This is confusing to me since I'm not selling my own ads, I'd be using the ones from my merchants that are on CJ. Is this still the option that would work for me?

Most of the plugins I've used for WordPress and vBulletin will allow you to insert just about any code for advertising banners, although some have difficulty with Flash code. It's usually just a matter of inserting the code you obtain from the advertiser into a text box in your WordPress control panel.

Try these as a starting point:

AdSense Integrator
Manage your AdSense ads (not only) in a super easy way. Place ads inside your posts with a graphical user-friendly interface, see the screenshot! Version 1.3.3 Updated 2009-5-21

Advertising Manager
This plugin will manage and rotate your Google Adsense and other ads on your Wordpress blog. Version 3.3.18 Updated 2009-5-18

Clickbank Widget
Add advertisements from Clickbank related to any keyword of your choice to your weblog and earn affiliate commission! Version 1.2 Updated 2009-5-18

Chitika | Premium
This plugin will automate adding Chitika | Premium to your blog posts. Chitika | Premium is an AdSense alternative/compatible search targeted ad solut Version 1.3.6 Updated 2009-5-15

Clickbank Ad Feed
Add a Clickbank text ad feed widget to a sidebar. Version 0.2 Updated 2009-5-10

WP125
Easy management of 125x125 ads on your blog. Ads can be run for a specified number of days, and will automatically be taken down. Track clicks too.

LinkShare AdMix
LinkShare AdMix gathers new deals from LinkShare's RSS feeds and mixes them into your blog.

LinkShare RSS DealFeed
LinkShare RSS DealFeed uses RSS feeds from LinkShare Advertisers to automatically populate your Wordpress blog with deals and other promotional content.

Smart Ads
This plugin allows you to intelligently insert ads (like Adsense) before and after your post content based on post wordcount, post date, etc.

Wordpress-Banner
Advertise banner plugin

For a complete list of available WordPress plug-ins, see WordPress › WordPress Plugins

 

[debdenby]

Most of the plugins I've used for WordPress and vBulletin will allow you to insert just about any code for advertising banners, although some have difficulty with Flash code. It's usually just a matter of inserting the code you obtain from the advertiser into a text box in your WordPress control panel.

Thank you for the list, that's great.

Not only will I look at those options but I got some additional help from someone on the Wordpress forum.

She pointed me to the Appearance > Editor section of my dashboard. I went into it and there is an area on the right hand side that lists all of the adds I can add and where.

So here is what it said for the 125 x 125 banner ads:

<img src=:<?php bloginfo('template_url'); ?>/images/ad.gir" class="left" alt=""/>

There were two for the left ads I guess and two for the right.

Where would I paste my CJ code? Would I paste it in between some of this or in place of this, right next to it?

Heeeelp!

 

[djbaxter]

There are specific step-by-step instructions for how to do this at How to Add 125×125 Banner Ads to Your Sidebar : Premium WordPress Magazine Theme

 

[debdenby]

There are specific step-by-step instructions for how to do this at How to Add 125?125 Banner Ads to Your Sidebar : Premium WordPress Magazine Theme

minstrel,

You're my hero! Thanks so much. I may actually get this yet!