Ultimate Side Columns 2.2 or vb AdManager 4.0?

**Johnny5** · 10-30-2008 05:44 AM

Which would you guys recommend for adding a skyscraper on the left or right? Ultimate Side Columns 2.2 and vb AdManager 4.0 seem to be the most popular mechanisms for adding a side column available, unless I missed one, and I was wondering which you'd recommend going with?

**briansol** · 10-30-2008 03:34 PM

I'd just do a hard template edit.

plugins add processing time to eval().

a template edit will be much faster (run time) but will require reverting on upgrades, so there is a trade off.

**Johnny5** · 10-30-2008 03:39 PM

Since I just want to add a skyscraper and some custom content, that's probably the best way to go.

Do you by chance know the code I need to add and where?

Also, while I don't know too much about plugins/templating in vb yet, wouldn't side column plugins affect template changes one way or another that would have to be redone if you upgraded, just like manual template edits would?

Too bad they couldn't simply add a left and right column as a default ad location template (like below navbar) and let you use conditionals to set when things display.

Thanks, Brian!

**briansol** · 10-30-2008 03:46 PM

the plugin adds the HTML real-time. It attaches itself much like vbseo attaches the linkback menu bar real-time.

All you really have to do is wrap the current table in a new outer table, and then make the new column.

<table><tr>
<td width="80%">
CURRENT MAIN FORUMHOME table area HERE
</td>
<td width="20%">
your new right column
</td>
</tr>
</table>

you can do the same to forumdisplay and showthread if you want the sidebar there as well

**Johnny5** · 10-30-2008 03:56 PM

Thanks a bunch. I haven't seen much talk of the performance of skyscraper ads here, but Google rates them high on the "heat map" and I figure it can't hurt to give them a whirl...

**Johnny5** · 10-30-2008 04:50 PM

This 160 wide skyscraper is pretty... big at 1024. Has anyone run it for members without turning people off to the site?

**briansol** · 10-30-2008 05:15 PM

i've found them to be horrible for CTR

**Johnny5** · 10-30-2008 05:19 PM

As for CPM (adsdaq), do you know if they pay more because they are larger, or do they count the same as any other impression but just take up that much more space, in which case I'll get rid of them if there aren't clicks...?

**briansol** · 10-30-2008 05:42 PM

i don't know for sure. run 'em for a couple days and compare to other blocks.

**Johnny5** · 10-30-2008 06:44 PM

I would have, but members already complained that the 160 x 600 skyscraper "squished" the forum... I'd rather not lose impressions I'm already getting so I removed it already.

Thanks for your help and I wish I could give you the few minutes of your life you spent helping me with this back to you.

Maybe I'll try a 120 wide at some point.

Has anyone out there had success with skyscrapers on their forums, or are they not worth bothering with?

Thanks

**eJM** · 11-21-2008 02:45 AM

When I integrated my forum with vBadvanced CMPS with a left side column on most of my forum pages, I included a 160x600 Google skyscraper below the navigation, welcome etc. (see the link in my sig area), my Adsense revenue increased. I changed my websites style at the same time, so I am not sure it is only because of the skyscraper, but the increase was about 20% - significant. CMPS is free too.

I was gonna chide Brian about suggesting all those tables. Seems like a side bar added to a forum shouldn't be too awfully difficult if it's just a skyscraper ad you want to add.

Code:

<body>
<div id="wrapper">
  <div class="float-right-skyscraper">
  ad code here
  </div>
<table>
  <tr>
    <td>all forum structure here</td>
  </tr>
</table>
</div>
</body>

Something like that. You set the width of the sidebar only and leave the forum structure just as it was before. The float CSS will keep the sidebar positioned on the right side (or left, if you prefer) and the rest of the CSS will reserve the rest of the column so that the forum structure doesn't try to wrap under the sidebar. Doing the DIV also allows you to use conditionals to have the sidebar on some pages and not others.

Anyway, it sounds like you abandoned that idea, so I'm just exercising my fingers.

Jim

**briansol** · 11-21-2008 03:30 PM

heh, yeah, it's just easier to to wrap it in a table when 99% of vbulletin is in a table anyway.

Ultimate Side Columns 2.2 or vb AdManager 4.0?

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