Banner Etiquette
 

OK, I'm new to the adult industry and a first timer here at GFY. I've had my site up for about 9 months now offering what I believe to be unique digital content. Due to the nature of my handmade content, I am exempt from the 2257 guidelines and have my statement on site declaring as much.

I finally put an affiliate program in place and have begun to swap banners with some really nice people out there. But I've got a ton of questions so I'll try to be specific.

Should my banners be out front on my landing page or does this cost me traffic by distraction? I have a specific landing page for my affiliates so that their traffic lands on a ?clean? index page to avoid traffic leaks. Or should I have my banners inside my site so visitors at least get a look around before they head out?

I know that graphic banners are better to look at, but could their depictions put me in violation of my 2257 waiver?

I think banner swaps are a great way to attract traffic, affiliates even better. But I think my site might be starting to look a tad desperate. I am, of course, I just don't want to look it. Is this something I should worry about?

When I check my URL referrals, I have a pretty good idea who's working for me and who's not. Is it proper etiquette to remove someones banner, reducing the aforementioned desperation, even after they have hung my banner? Or is that just a douche-bag move?

As I say, the site has been up for about 9 months, I have a loyal handful of members but nowhere near enough to quit the day job. My traffic is slow, real slow, and I want to make sure I do things right. Please feel free to visit my site and let me know what you think. I take good news as well as bad and I'm all ears. I'm here to learn, I'm here to earn.

Thanks,

SPAZ
actionbondage.com

I'm not allowed to post my full URL yet. New guy thing.

You can put a banner as a header on your site. A banner that is 200 pixels in height. A banner of this height would not cause you to lose traffic and it would not be a distraction to the surfers.

You joined GFY in March 2010, welcome.

Maybe I got too wordy here.

Just need to know the answer to these questions:

Should I hang my banner swaps on the landing page or inside my site so they won't cause traffic leaks?

Could graphic banners from other sites put me in violation of my 2257 waiver?

If other site banners are not bringing in traffic, is it wrong to remove them and avoid all the clutter?

Thanks

I'm new here too and I have lot of banners/links from toplists and directories on my sites that don't send traffic. I think I check the referrer sites 2-3 times a year and remove the banners/links those of them that look absolut "dead". I don't think it would be incorrect, their robots will recognice it and they remove my banners/links as well.
Of course it works only with sites (toplists, directories) where you can submit your url and you didn't swap banners "personally" with them.

Surf some porn and look and see how others are doing this..

I've surfed a lot of porn. Research-wise, of course. I've seen how a lot of sites do the banner thing but not sure what kind of relationship they might have with some of the banners they carry. Affiliates, straight swap, whatever. I'm starting to think I can keep my real attractors/affiliates up front and inside, but my others inside the site only.

Still curious if the graphic banners could jeopardize my 2257 waiver.
Thanks all.

A reciprocal link/banner is just that: reciprocal. In your case, the polite thing to do is inform the other party that their link is no longer available on your site and thank them regardless. Who knows, you may want to redevelop a professional relationship with some of these sites in the future.

Welcome to the board!

Welcome and put it...

well put...