Creating and Managing Banner Ads for Directory and Other Components

Banner ads are images that can appear on any webpage of the MC Trade website, including the directory, eCommerce store, news articles, and coupon list. Banner ads can be clickable, and link to a URL that records referral data for each connected profile. 

For the banner ads to display correctly, they must have specific keywords, banner names, and image sizes.

Types of Banners

There are three types of banners:

Leaderboard: 

This is a wide banner that appears at the top or bottom of the page. 

• The banner name must be leaderboard.
• The size of the image must be 970px (wide) x 90px (high).

Many banners titled leaderboard can be added to the data bank, and the leaderboard image will cycle to the other banners every 10 seconds. 

Square1 or Square2: 

This is a smaller banner that appears in the directory search, results, and/or details. Square1 can also be used on Ecommerce pages. 

• The banner name must be square1 or square2.
• The size of the image will be 300px x 250px (width x height).
  • Images must be adjusted to this size or have a ratio of 6:5 to prevent distortion. (Divide its width by its height and the result must be 1.2, which is equivalent to 6:5)
• If both square1 and square2 are being used, it will place the images side-by-side or on top of one another.
  • Each of these image files should not exceed 500kb in total file size.

Many banners titled square1 and square2 can be added to the data bank, and the square1 and square2 image will cycle to the other images every 10 seconds. 

Adding a Banner Ad

1. Select the Communication menu > Banner Ads.

2. Select Add a Banner Ad (top right).
3. A window will open and ask for a profile ID or name. While it is not required, it is strongly recommended to link a banner to a profile to easily track the clicks/views of that banner. After typing the ID or name, a list of matches will appear. Click Select to choose the profile.
4. Fill out the following fields:

   • Keyword: If this is left blank, it will display this banner on all applicable pages. Otherwise, enter one or more keywords (comma separated) to display the banner on specific pages.

     • directory will display it on all of the directory pages.
     • DirectorySearch and #search will display it on the directory search page.
     • name of the category or subcategory will display it on the category result page.
     • #results will display it on the directory search results page.
     • eCommerce will display it on the results view of the eCommerce area.
     • News will display it on the search and detail pages of the News Article area.
     • Coupons will display it on the search and detail pages of the Coupon area.

     In the directory, keywords can be attached to specific profiles, but can also be attached to a listing category or sub-category. Once a listing category is applied, anyone searching a category or keyword will receive the banner ad in their search results. 

   • Banner name: This determines the type of banner and its location. Enter leaderboard, square1 or square2, depending on the type of banner being created. 
   • Image alt text: This is text that will appear if the visitor is visually impaired or has their images turned off. Their reader software will read this text. Best practice: Place the name of the banner sponsor here for the reader to properly credit and advertise the sponsor. 
   • Start date: This is the first date that the banner ad will appear. For the banner ad to begin immediately, the date must be set to before today's date. 
   • End date: This is the last date that the banner ad will appear. 
   • Select an image in the system: Select the magnifying glass, then choose from previously uploaded web content or upload a new image. This will automatically fill out the Image URL.
   • Image URL: Instead of selecting an image in the system, enter a URL of the image.
   • Navigate to this URL when clicked: If the visitor clicks on the banner, they will go to this URL.

5. Select Save.
6. Go to the page(s) defined through keyword(s) and confirm that the banner appears.

Below is a table displaying which banner ads can display on which pages, and which keywords are supported on those pages:

Editing a Banner Ad

1. Select the Communication menu > Banner Ads.
2. Find the banner you wish to edit. There is a search bar at the top to search by keyword, profile name, and/or the banner's active date range. 
3. Next to the banner, select Actions, and Edit.

4. Make the desired changes and select Save.

Deleting a Banner Ad

Exercise caution as this cannot be undone.

1. Select the Communication menu > Banner Ads.
2. Find the banner you wish to delete. There is a search bar at the top to search by keyword, profile name, and/or the banner's active date range. 
3. Next to the banner, select Actions, and Delete.

4. Click Delete to confirm.

Generating Embed Code

After adding a banner ad to MC Trade, an embed code can be created to apply the banner to third party sites. The code can be generated using our Banner Ad Widget generator. Once the code is copy and pasted, it will track the views/clicks of that banner in your member's profile.

1. Select the Communication menu > Banner Ads.
2. Select Generate Banner Embed Code (top right).
3. Select the Banner Name drop down and choose the banner.
4. Enter any desired keywords (use a comma as a separator for more than one).
5. Select Generate Embed Code.
6. Select Copy Embed Code and Close.
7. With the embed code copied, paste that to the desired page(s) in any third-party website CMS. Any banners created that have the banner name and keyword(s) previously entered into the widget will then display on the page.