Sponsor Buttons – New Trend?

I’ve noticed a surge in webcomics offering fixed, button-sized ads recently. I think Yirmumah may have been the first one I noticed – it displays several 100×31 buttons for “sponsors” at $10 a month. I just saw Evil Inc had a slightly larger button (145×45) at $20 a month and I know I’ve seen this as a new thing at several webcomic recently.

Good thing, bad thing? Effective for the advertisers? Decent source of revenue for the creator? Any thoughts…

Xaviar Xerexes

Wandering webcomic ronin. Created Comixpedia (2002-2005) and ComixTalk (2006-2012; 2016-?). Made a lot of unfinished comics and novels.

7 Comments

  1. No different than link page buttons except now people are paying for them. I don’t see how it would make a major impact one way or another honestly.

  2. We’ve had the sponsor bar thing going for a good while now– It’s a good thing– I have 18 sponsor spots now at 10 bucks a piece. And several of those people are returning sponsors and are really happy with the amount of traffic we generate to them– And at 10 bucks you can’t go wrong. It’s not a whole lot of money out of their pocket, but heck even 4 or 5 sponsor spots end up paying my internet bill every month.

    I think 20 might be a bit steep, although I paid 20 for a spot on Starslip and 15 for a spot on Punks and Nerds. Advertising on Punks and Nerds was one of the best deals I’ve ever made. I don’t think it will work for everyone, because some sites just don’t have the traffic yet. But for those who don’t this is a good way to cheaply build up more traffic as well.

  3. 100×31 and 145×45 are unusual sizes. I wonder what made them decide to choose these measurements?

    Also, I wonder more generally on why some websites have their advertisers create custom ads that are useful only with their specific sites, instead of making their ad programs go with more convenient and user-friendly “standard” ad sizes. How does the importance of the custom ad size compare with requiring advertisers work more for the opportunity to advertise on their sites? How many advertisers are put-off for having to create a custom ad? I’m not saying asking for a custom ad is wrong, I’m mostly just wondering if advertisers feel the extra creation effort is worth the return.

  4. As someone who has requested custom sized ads from people in the past, I haven’t heard any complaints. Whether or not it’s a deal-breaker for people who wanted to advertise with me, I guess I’ll never know.

    I understand the question, but ultimately I don’t think it makes that big of a difference. People usually have artwork lying around that they can create a custome banner with. Also, it gives the advertiser an opportunity to create a message that speaks specifically to the readers of the site they are advertising with. A better opportunity to hook them.

  5. Coffman! You’re breaking my balls!

    When I was initially setting a price, I saw that Yirmumah was asking $10 for 8pt text (text was all I saw, anyway) links down the side of your site, for about the traffic I was doing daily, if not a hair less. I thought people would pay more for larger images, presented above the fold. Judging by how quickly I sold out of space, the sponsors seem happy so far!

    I’ll also say that Punks and Nerds for $15 is tremendous.

  6. I wasn’t trying to break your balls. I just have a hard time asking for that amount. Heh… As soon as I saw Starslip offered it up, I bought up a space immediately because I do think it’s worth it if you got it. I’m always thinking people are broke though and try to give them the best deal. I’m probably cutting myself short. I’m a dumbass like that.

    We’ve always had the button graphics on the archive page where the meat of my traffic goes to, and on the blog I did have text links for a spell with the old layout because the damn images wouldnt randomly locate like they were supposed to.

  7. Oh, I assure you, you haven’t heard the last of my balls.

    Indeed, I figured if I was wrong, and the market wouldn’t bear it, it’d be easier for me to lower the price, rather than say “hey, everyone’s lovin’ $5! I’ll ask for more next month!” That’d just make people mad.

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