Why do sponsors display URL on banners?
 

I see sponsors displaying their direct URL on banners (from buttons to FPAs) intended for affiliate webmaster use. I mean I guess they hope to get some type-ins from surfers, but since those banners are only for promotion on webmasters' sites, isn't this a sort of "bypassing" them? And if this is not what is intended, why is the URL mentioned there? Maybe just as some sort of site identification? I am always reluctant to put such banners on my pages, since type-ins would give me no credit.
Someone told me there aren't many surfers typing-in the url, since they are lazy to do so and don't know/don't care about these things, but then again - why are they mentioned?

the have urls on banners so you wouldnt steal them :321GFY

DarkJedi I love your signature :1orglaugh

branding.

2 things.

1 if the program is compensating you well - you could consider that a small fraction of your ad money you make with them - is actually buying some X amount of impressions.

if you make enough with the program - this might be something you're willing to do for them. a favor.


but since not many of us are that nice...

the second reason - you might want to do it - is if the program/sites name - may already have an established brand.

by using their name - you may clue surfers off - and they will click on the banner and check them out.



I run a program. I don't think the Dorm Angels name is quite to that point of instant recogition....

But we do get a lot of recall on the yellow legal pad back ground - that was our primary color scheme. So we designed some banners and hosted galleries with it.

BTW - new tour is converting at twice the rate of the old one - but the old one is available if you send the traffic to www.dormangels.com/ww1_index.html and it will be available this week on an alternate url - probably ww3.dormangels.com

Gee ... and if they mention in words the name of their site (which most of the time is well-known in the industry - it's not just a general name, such as "hardcore sex"), isn't it obvious the banners are theirs? I mean you don't have to put a URL on all photos to prevent them from being stolen. It should be the same for banners.

You would be surprised.

And photos are stolen all the time, you know that.

tip: make your own banners

BrettJ, for the first I don't think many webmasters think of that, especially that many complain about their income - i.e. low ratios, missing signups, etc.
For the second: I haven't seen your site or banners, but supposing you have on your banners www.dormangels.com or http://www.dormangels.com , do you thinks surfers see it as an established brand? I mean people complain about sites being overexposed, so those who do know the brand, might have already joined or saw it in the past and don't like it, while new surfers who should be the target (more likely to join), don't know about that brand.
I see what you mean, but I would prefer banners without the url. Maybe sponsors should create both type of banners, with and without the url.

Livedose, I know that, but that's why all sponsors have that copyright notice in their TOS, which is ground for account termination. Content theft doesn't come without a risk.

Very true. I'm just saying that I've seen banners being used on programs they were not intended for. And content, yes it is part of the bullshit that comes along with producing any work that is consumable.

Personally though I think as far as banners go the branding angle is the strongest point. IMHO. The same way that Coke & Pepsi put their names one anything they can throw money at. It's in your face marketing and it works if you have the money. Or in the case where like Brett said people use banners without a refer code on it.

That's actually a good tip. Surfers are more likely to click on a banner if they haven't seen it 100 times already.

Exactly.

I see what you mean - it's about branding. I am still reluctant to use such banners, but I got my answer. Thanks, guys!
As for making my own banners, I'd rather spend time asking my sponsors if I can delete the url in their banners with a photo editing software, rather than spending more time producing my own banners.

Cash,

If you feel like you might lose a couple type ins why don't you just use 'mouseover' to blank out the ref code.

You don't want people typing in the domain, you want them clicking.

On the other hand, if it's a sponsor that already has branding, say Bang Bus in its prime, then having the URL on there may encourage people to click.

It's a judgement call.

On a lot of content licences it says you can only use images for banners aslong as you include the url of the site that the licence belongs to.

That's what I'm currently doing for all my links :)

hehe, a fellow AOL hater, glad to know I'm not alone!

:thumbsup

It's all about branding, and memory. Type-ins come from people who remember your URL, not your site name. These are people who aren't clicking anyhow, and will visit long later. I doubt it costs you many signups.

Webmaster 101