Text-based ad on my site

[Adva Trading]

I was approached by a 'UK based Digital Marketing Consultancy', offering to place a 'small text-based ad' on my site.

They said they pay a 'fixed upfront annual fee which we will agree on with'.

My questions:

1. Anybody have had anything like that, and if so, what is a reasonable fee I should ask for (You may feel more comfortable to PM me rather than post an answer).

2. Anybody can think of any draw backs (Sure, assuming we are not talking about advert for sex sites and so on).

[Red Devil]

Probably link farming. Avoid.

[icegems]

I have had these before now and avoid at all costs - the last thing you need when someone is on your site is for them to leave and go elsewhere (whether related or not).

[lewey]

Presumably people are on your site in the first place because they are interested in your products. And you want them to stay there to browse (and hopefully buy), not give them an excuse to go to another site (unless it was going to help with information on your products). So the only relevant text ads from the users perspective would be to your competitors site - not very good for you!

What assurances do they give you that they won't be putting ads to your competitors there? And if they won't be ads to similar sites, then they become irrelevant ads which look out of place and detract from your site.

Am just trying to make you feel better about avoiding them :)

[Adva Trading]

Thanks for all. Here is the answer I sent:


I don't think your offer will suit us - but still, here is our position:

1. We are willing to place an ad to a single website, not a directory of any kind or shape.
2. The ad is indeed text and not a script.
3. We must be told the text and the website before we agree - as we will not have ads to certain categories, I am sure you understand which without me spelling them out (adult content, medicines, dating, gambling...Does not leave much...).

If the above is acceptable, please let me know the following:
1. The proposed text.
2. The proposed website.
3. The proposed location of the ad.
4. The proposed payment.


Will report back if I ever get an answer.