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My Favorite WordPress Ad Plugin

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Manage 125x125 Ads

Most bloggers are familiar with placing 125×125 ads in their sidebar, and may even sprinkle a few ads within a post or above the header. Placing them all can sometimes become an unmanageable mess, especially when some of the ads use javascript code, some use flash, and some are straight HTML.

Want to display a different type of ad in the same spot, randomly, with each page load? The mess intensifies at that point.

The Big Ad Management Possibilities

I’ve tried some of the bigger ad management programs such as OpenX and even Google’s Ad Manager, but I’ll be honest with you – they were too confusing for me to manage. Those types of programs are probably necessary for the hugely popular blogs, but I think they might be overkill for the average blogger.

The One-Note, Too Simple Ad Plugins

Many other plugins I tried were too simple, on the other hand. Most work pretty well for just plain old 125×125 ad blocks, where all you need is a url to link to, and a url for the ad image. But that leaves out all the other possible ads you might want to place there, such as Adsense or other javascript or flash-based ads. On the flip side, there are lots of Adsense plugins, but they often don’t allow for non-Adsense ads to rotate in the same ad spot as well.

The Ad Plugin That’s Just Right For The Average Blogger

The best one I’ve found for my needs is Datafeedr Random Ads v2. It’s completely free, and it works really well. You can set it up so that various ads can show in 1 ad group. So the first time a page loads, maybe an Adsense ad of 125×125 will appear; the next time the page loads, a flash-based 125×125 ad might appear; the next time, a straight HTML ad may appear, etc. It’s super simple to manage. You just define a placement (like sidebartop, for example), and then copy/paste the code for each ad you want to randomly rotate within that spot. It doesn’t matter if the code is javascript, or flash, or HTML.

datafeedr random ads

For one of my blogs, I have 5 spots defined. Three are 125×125 spots in my sidebar. Each of those spots rotates through 5 different ads (so that’s a total of 15 ads that will display in those 3 spots over time). I also have a 468×60 banner ad spot that displays after each single post, and I have 3 different ads rotating within that spot. Finally, I have 1 300px square ad block that displays within certain categories, with 2 different ad codes rotating within that spot.

If you’d like to be able to display a mix of ads randomly, with each ad using a different type of code, then the free Datafeedr Random Ads v2 WordPress plugin might be just right for you.

Am I missing out on a better plugin? If so, be sure to let me know.

About

I'm a near-dinosaur in the SEO world, but I don't really consider myself an SEO. I'm an online entrepreneur, affiliate marketer, and ebusiness coach among other things. Mainly, I'm a geek making a living online. :)

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{ 52 Responses }

  1. Richard says:
    Does anyone know how/is it possible to code the php function so that an ad will only display after three blog posts? Any help would be great and helpful
  2. Morgan says:
    I keep hearing nothing but great things! So I'm definitely going to be checking this out. I've been looking for a great plugin like this. Thank you!
  3. Justin Germino says:
    I use WP125 Ads but am looking for something more versatile, does this plugin let you add manual php code in your header.php or footer.php so that it can display ads anywhere or does it only work with shortcode?
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      Yes, it gives you some php code you can place in any template.
      • Hesham says:
        Thank you Donna, I remember I saw this somewhere when I started to use the plugin, but what I've done is to add extra widgets my blog theme, so it's now more simple to add ads anywhere I want and control it from my dashboard. Really awesome plugin, and I can not thank you enough to let us know about it.
    • Hesham says:
      Justin, The Datafeedr Random Ads v2 plugin is amazing, it allow you to add ads anywhere by using a widget! So if you have a widget in the header, footer or anywhere else then it's possible! Plus I think you can add it even through your theme by passing it's function, but to be honest I don't know how to do it! By the way, since Donna posted about it here, I am using it on three spots here on FB, header , sidebar and footer to rotate my ads!
      • Justin Germino says:
        Thank you both for the response, this post is proof why Tweet Old Post is a great Wordpress plugin (I assume that is what you use to blast out older articles, if you use something else let me know)
        • Hesham says:
          Yes I use Tweet Old Post, it's also amazing plugin :)
  4. steve says:
    this plugin works well, but when super cache is enabled. The ads won't rotate anymore. I tried to put just datafeed function without caching it, but it doesn't work. Is there possible to load it like with adsense(javascript)? thanks
    • Hesham says:
      This makes sense.. I think you are refreshing the page via your browser.. but what happen when you open a new page (another post on your blog)? I think another ad will show!
  5. Caleb says:
    Well the WP125 plugin is just as easy and works phenomenally. Especially if you add the simple free Paypal shopping cart plugin along with it tp easily accept payments ;) btw, Speaking of alternatives, have you guys checked out Infolinks new tag cloud app?
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      Caleb, the WP125 plugin is very different than the one I'm talking about and simply is no substitute. I used the WP125 for a long time. Difference #1: WP125 is for 125x125 ads only. Although I mention the 125x125 ads a few times in the post, and the editor here placed an image mentioning 125 ads (I didn't choose that graphic), the Random Ads plugin isn't just for 125x125 ads. Any size ad can be used. I also mentioned that I use it to run 468x60 and 300x300 ads as well. Difference #2: This is the biggest difference. WP125 has form fields to input a URL to link to and a URL of an image to show (among other fields). That leaves out a vast amount of possibilities for showing ads. You can't put Adsense code in those fields. You can't put any other ad network's javascript code in there. You can't put anything else but an image URL in there. It's way too limiting. The real beauty of the Random Ads plugin is that I can use any HTML code supplied by any ad network that I want. Plugins that try to force me to use only one type of ad (a url to an image) just doesn't cut it for me.
      • Hesham says:
        I used to edit my theme (skin) files every time to change the banners.. now after your post.. I did some work to create special widgets on FamousBloggers.net to use the Datafeedr Random Ads v2 .... so.. now my skin is fully widgetized.. I can say I am in love :) I am using it on the header, footer and one on sidebar as well! Now I don't have to stick with one ad... not boring! Many thanks Donna.. you rock!
  6. Tonyknuckles says:
    Took me a few days to understand and place the code where I wanted. but the Datafeed plugin is performing great on my site. One thing though, I never understand why some advert platforms ask for wording above or below the ad code? Any ideas on this?
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      Although I'm not completely certain of the reasoning behind it, I'm guessing it's to make it easy to add things like beginning or ending UL tags if for some reason the sidebar list gets messed up by the plugin code - or if you wanted to add something above/below the ad like a horizontal rule, or some other separator. There might be other reasons for it, but that's what I've always assumed.
  7. Sachin says:
    Excellent Post I m lovin this awesome Pluggin. :) ;)
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      Now, see, Sachin, I might believe that except for the fact that you've "great posted" so many other of the recent posts here. I'm more inclined to think of you as a comment spammer. But this isn't my blog, so I'll let the owner make that decision. And if I'm wrong, then I apologize.
    • Hieu Martin says:
      Thanks Dazzlindonna i use max banner ads and i happy with this plugin.
  8. Tinh says:
    Nice plugin but I get used to MBA from maxpressblog as it has more features for my personal ads. Thanks
  9. Laura Davis says:
    Great post! Sometimes I have trouble finding ad programs that work for me. I'll be sure to give this one a try next!
  10. Julia says:
    I only use one plugin for ads, Smart Ads Plugin and the rest is Manual.
  11. Dean Saliba says:
    I use New Adman and IOIPublisher. Someone bought the second one for me, I would nver pay myself to use a plugin no matter how good it might be.
  12. Scott Hickey says:
    I just checked it out, you are right, it is really simple to use! I tried google adsense once, one time, after that I got sick of fiddling with it and having been utilizing adspace like I should be, but I think this will make things some much simpler for me and my blog, thanks!
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      Good! Glad it's something that can help make things simpler. Simpler is always a welcome relief for me, that's for sure!
  13. Jon says:
    Since I installed Quick Adsense by Philip Ze I have not looked back. The name is a bit misleading as you can put any ads into it. The best feature is that you can set it to display an advert after the nth paragraph so get those nice in content adverts with no fuss. You can set around 10 ad blocks and 10 ads widgets (I do not bother with the widgets) and then manually ad blocks as well as setting specific adverts (blocks) to show at start of post, end of post, or do random rotations. There is even an after image option, and you can configure it to show ads on pages, cat and tag pages too. Also, you can easily set "no ads" so if you wish to remove all ads from a post this is easily done too (I often do this when showing videos as the in content ads mess up the layout). I had some layout issues when using the widgets though, but that may have been my theme and not the plugin. Overall, a very handy ad management tool.
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      Cool, Jon, I'll check that one out!
    • Hieu Martin says:
      I check it out now Jon. Thanks
  14. bryan says:
    Hey Donna, I'm just wondering if you have heard of OIO publisher. Have you considered that as an option yet? Not an affiliate btw, just an opinion here.
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      Tried it for a short time, but every time they had a problem or their site was slow it kept my own site from fully loading while it tried to load the ads. Had to dump it because of that.
  15. ashok says:
    Put this on Stumbleupon, bookmarked it for myself. I know nothing about setting up ads, and getting a list of useful plugins is a priority. Thanks so much for the info!
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      Thanks for the stumble luv, ashok. :)
  16. Dennis Edell says:
    The only direct ad sales I may have in the future are before/within/or directly following articles. I'm not sure I'll need a rotator for that, but will keep it in mind.
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      Probably won't need a rotator for that, Dennis, but if you ever do, it's good to know there's something there. :)
  17. tushar says:
    looks like a great plugin....infact i too searched for a good ad plugin a lot for my theme as it did not had already installed ad spots....i managed to get something good but this plugin in definitely worth a try
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      So what are you using now, tushar?
  18. John says:
    Hey there…have you seen the meebome wordpress plugin? works in both wordpress.com and wordpress.org and lets you directly embed IM on your wordpress blog…
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      No, John, I haven't seen meebome, but what does an instant messaging plugin have to do with serving ads?
  19. Kimi says:
    Definitely another choices of using plugin to display ads. Although i personally do not use plugins either, i prefer editing the files, but then again, there are lots of people who still need plugins to display they ads, especially when these plugins are really helpful and always updated by the developer so it is always compatible with the newest wordpress. Thanks.
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      It's difficult to handle ad rotation easily with manual file edits, though. Not impossible, of course, but requires some decent programming skills.
  20. Eric says:
    I will definitely give this a shot. Might be just what I need!
  21. Nick Rosener says:
    For my ad serving, I don't use a wordpress plugin at all... I use google double-click for publishers. It takes some delving into the source code of the template, but the analytics that you get are really great! You get detailed reports of eCPM, CTR, impressions, etc. It manages ad rotation for you, and keeps track of how much you should be charging your clients. Would recommend to anyone! -Nick Rosener Tech Nick Consulting
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      I tried that once (a while back), and it was just too complicated. It might be a lot easier these days though, but I just didn't feel like making it harder on myself than it needed to be. Sounds like it might be worth the learning curve though if the detailed reports are needed. I'd probably move up to this kind of solution if I sold ads based on impressions rather than a flat fee.
      • Jon says:
        I found it too complicated a while back too, but then took another look and now use it on my WP site. Maybe I will write up an article on it at some point, as I know I struggled to find any clear and simple instructions on how to set it up. I needed it really to show the CTR of the banners I was testing. I know the conversion rates once clicked, but did not know which were being clicked. Google ad manager (now DoubleClick for Publishers) will also automatically display the banner with the best conversions, which is handy.
  22. Jakes says:
    Hi Donna, Yup, you are right. But I guess direction monetization requires paypal account. I don't have that too. We Indian paypal users need to have some cards called PAN card. So getting a paypal account is a bit of lengthy process. :-( . Anyways, I am not worried about advertising now. First I need to get some blog-traffic ;)
  23. Cindy says:
    This looks like the one plugin I've been looking for to place those 125 ad boxes. Thanks Donna!
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      Hope it makes your life just a little easier, Cindy. :)
    • Hieu Martin says:
      Just vitit your blog. you not use plugin to add banner box right Cyndy
  24. Jakes says:
    Hi Donna, Good review. I have not yet been to advertising. As of now, it seems like my blog won't be approved by Google Adsense due to some posts about Hacking. Once I am into monetization , I will be sure to check out this plugin.
    • DazzlinDonna says:
      Hi Jakes, you don't have to depend upon just Adsense to monetize. There are lots of other alternatives - selling directly to advertisers, using other ad networks such as buysellads or chitika, etc. Tons of choices, so don't limit yourself to Adsense.
      • Aj says:
        I agree...And for the most part people hate websites filled with adsense. You may find a higher turn over rate and greater profits switching to a different method such as selling advertisement spots (if you have the traffic) or joining affiliate programs selling products in your Niche.