How to Place Advertising Code Into a Blog in HTML

A blog can be a good place to advertise a business.

Placing a banner ad within a blog post, or on any web page that allows HTML editing, can be done by knowing two pieces of information: the destination URL and the image source URL. In that order, those two aspects become the command to make a web page display the desired banner or image and link to site visitors. All HTML code must be absolute. If there's not a space in the instructions/tutorial, then don't add one. If there is a space between characters, don't miss it. This particular type of HTML command will work with most websites.

Things You'll Need

• Destination URL or website address
• Image source URL or website address

Instructions

1. Open the web page of the URL (website address) to which you will link your HTML code. Double-check the page to make sure the URL desired is the exact one being placed into the banner code.

2. Choose the image to be used. The image source URL is determined by right-clicking on the desired image, and selecting "copy image location." A variety of web resources offer to host images at no cost for those who use their own images. Other images can be found free, to lease/use, or purchase. The image used must be one that falls within the user's rights. Using intellectual property that belongs to another is at best unethical, and at worst illegal.

3. 

   A banner ad can draw attention on a blog.

   Insert the target destination site (yourdestinationurl.com) and image source URL (yourimagesourceurl.com) in place of the generic examples in this code:

   <a href="yourdestinationurl.com"><img src="yourimagesourceurl.com"></a>

   Copy that code with the cursor, and paste within the text editor of the blog program. Upon publishing the individual post, all the code is saved as is, and viewers see the designated image as a link within the content. When viewers click on this image, they are taken to the designated URL.

4. 

   Increased banner links equals more web traffic.

   Preview the resulting page, if possible. If this isn't possible, test the banner code on a personal web page, such as a social networking site, before posting it permanently on the page for which it is aimed. The image within the banner likely will not show up while the text editor is open, even in rich-text mode.

Tips & Warnings

• Open and closed brackets are the characters once commonly referred to as the "less than" and "greater than" characters, respectively. Open brackets are typed by "shift + comma;" closed brackets are "shift + period."

• "Highlighting" is when the text (or address in the address bar) that needs to be copied is clicked on, and scrolled over, while the mouse button is held down. Highlighting exact, specific characters of text is vital to editing in HTML.

• "Copying/Pasting" is achieved by right-clicking the mouse within the text area to be copied/pasted, then selecting the desired option from the window that opens. The "undo" option, under "edit" on most browsers, will correct the most recent mistake if the wrong option is clicked.

• A page breaks should be used before and after the code to keep text separate and clean. Within the HTML editor, page breaks are achieved with the code: opbrpclbr (or <p>)

• The simplest and fastest way to know if a banner will display correctly is to learn the code placement. Several tutorials on HTML code are available for free; see the Resources section.

• If the blog is not yours, make sure to get the owner's permission to post advertising code. Otherwise, it could cause problems with existing sponsors. They may also seek a fee for advertising on the site.

• All code must be absolute. This means that if the code doesn't require a space, don't add one. If it does require it, make sure it is there. Every character and space must be exactly where a tutorial instructs you to place it. Websites must include the "http://" portion.

References

• HTML Code Tutorial
• HTML Tutorial
• Basic HTML: Banners, Images Pixels and Software

Resources

• BlogTide Homepage