SEO or Advertising Space

[CPL]

I have a potential valuable piece of space at the top of all my web pages and the question is:-

• Should I use this space for SEO rather than try to get contextual advertising revenue for it?

The site isn't going to launch until next week so i don't really want this link crawled but here is the address; test.pubs.positive-dedicated.net/functionRoom.php

Many thanks

CPL

[grishamist]

If you want to boost up traffic to your site, Search engine optimization is the best choice, advertising is a part of off-page optimization so a full package for you.

[jobster]

advertising might be your best bet as with that small space not much effective on-site seo could be done

[CPL]

Thanks guys, Jobster are you saying that:-

The most valuable and sought after website real estate space that external advertisers pay for is no good for internal advertising?

That having an optimised image such as pubs function room.jpg, in this popular, above the fold space is a waste of time?

That Alt tags with a great description of the site so close to the top of the page would not help google find out who we are and what we do?

I understand it's a very small space but there are quite a few pages, hundreds of thousands if you count the different search combinations.

As I said, the site isn't going to launch until next week so I don't really want this link crawled but here is the address; test.pubs.positive-dedicated.net/functionRoom.php

Many thanks for your input.

CPL

[Crawdad]

How well monetized is the site? Does the site make more off of the traffic it receives or from advertisers waiting like hungry wolves in the wings?

It's about making money. Which option will bring up the sites profit?

Optimizing is fine, just make sure you are optimizing the right thing.

[advancedmerchant]

SEO!

Get your site popular first, or your advertising will not generate any revenue anyway!

Maybe use that spot for a promotion of your services.

[CPL]

Thanks again guys, good feedback:-

Crawdad, the site is launching next week so is new and not monetized and it's intended that it will work from licensee subscriptions. However, contextual adds will show if visitor searches for something and there are less than 6 results.

Good point advancedmerchant, however, I have a 15,000 - opt in customer database from an existing 7 year old website on a similar theme and 500 + paying subcribing licensees. the new site is an attempt to rebrand. I can make it popular to some extent from the old site.

Site is:- test.pubs.positive-dedicated.net/functionRoom.php

Thanks again

CPL

[Markll]

If your site content is well delivered and relavant. The single best SEO strategy is a well rounded well executed marketing campaign.

SEO tactics are not gaurenteed to last whereas a solid foundation of branding through marketing and advertising is.

Spend your money on the future. Don't get suckered into an SEO fixation.

[CPL]

Mtheory, thank you for your feedback, absolutely right, I am currently spending in excess of £3,000 per month on a well executed marketing campaign including the old site, new site build, off-page PR specialist and online advertising.

It's just that I have this 468 x 60 piece of real estate that I'm not sure what to do with. Thanks again.

CPL

[bsmiffy]

Hi great idea for a site, i actually thought of some thing like the job section as it's sooo hard to find good bar people especially in my village.

Any way back to the site, it's a bit on the grey side for me so adding a bit of colour with a banner be it your own or an ad sounds good.

If you can get the traffic as you say then i would put an ad there if not you might need to wait until you have the traffic.

Good luck