| | | |

How To Create A Banner Or Button To Advertise Your Website Or Blog

ByPetra Weiss

Create A Banner Or Button

Now, I actually posted this a couple of days ago, and straight after posting my sidebars lost a few of their widgets, so I had to delete the post and have my fantastically helpful hosting company re-build the site from before posting this post (Paula and Dan from D9Hosting are fabulous, whenever I have a problem they get back to me personally within hours!).

Never mind, I still want you to have this post, I might just try and leave out the screen shots I did – you will still be able to follow, trust me. So here it goes:

Have you ever wondered how to create a flash looking banner or button to advertise your website? I certainly did, and a little while ago I actually found out, from one of my fellow webmasters Maya, who runs a very successful blog for beach lovers called Completely Coastal. I came across her blog searching for possible sites for a link exchange to my beach site. And there it was, in her sidebar on the right hand side – a great button to advertise your site, even with a copy-and-paste html code for anybody to grab it and display it on their site! Of course I needed to know how she did it. And Maya was so nice to explain it to me.

One thing I changed in her instructions, though – she said she created the button with Paint.net, and I tried that, but I have to say I found the program too complicated for me, I just couldn’t work it out. (Blonde? 😉 )

The software I have been using to create my banner is called XHeader, and it is probably one of the best free website tools I have downloaded so far. It is absolutely free and so easy to use, it’s not funny. 😉  In fact, all the header graphics for this site and for my site Healthy Diet Weight Loss have been created with XHeader. It really comes in handy for all sorts of graphics for your site.

So after Maya explained to me how to create a banner or button for my sites to advertise them, I played around with XHeader for a while to create a nice 125×125 graphic. If you have a look at my website Lighthouse Home Decor

(note: this is my Beach Decor website, and I am starting to build backlinks to some of the inner pages of it now to get the pages ranked in the search engines, too, not just the home page, that’s why I use another one of my keyword phrases “Lighthouse Home Decor”; this will over time give me more visitors to the site through my other keywords, too),

you will notice the new “button to grab” on the left hand sidebar towards the bottom. This is exactly what Maya has on her site, too, and that’s what I want to show you. You can create all sorts of sizes of banners or logos with XHeader.

When you create a button or banner for your site, I believe it is important that you keep it in line with the theme of your site, like colors, pictures, etc. What I have done for my Lighthouse Home Decor site is just grab a piece of the site graphics and incorporated it into the button (you find the crab and the thong at the bottom of the site 😉 )

So, here is what you do:

  1. Download your free software XHeader and install it on your computer.
  2. Have a good play with the software – you can’t do anything wrong! Here is what I usually do:
  • Click on “new”
  • Click “Create a blank header”
  • Enter the size of your graphic. Now, the square little button is 125 x 125 pixels. But you could really make it any size you want.

And then just start having a go at creating a nice button! I usually start by importing an image, then adding text and transparency etc.

Once  you have created your masterpiece, just save it as .jpg in a location of your choice. (I always go for “superb” size).

Once you have done that, you need to upload the image to your website. I have a self-hosted WordPress blog, so I uploaded it (from the folder I had saved it to) via my free FTP program FileZilla to my website (wp-admin/images/YourImageTitle.jpg). You need to do that because you will need an URL for the image.

TIP: If you do not know much about file transfers via FTP, there is another solution: Photobucket, a free image hosting site. Just become a member of photobucket, and you can upload any number of pictures or graphics from your computer to your account in photobucket, and each of the photos will then have an URL for you to use.

So, once your image is uploaded to your website (or Photobucket) and you know the URL, here is the magic:

To display the button on your site, including the Text window with html code for other people to “grab it”, you need to use this code:

<img alt=”Your keywords for your site” src=”the URL of your Image“/><br>
<textarea style=”width: 125px; height: 125px” name=”textfield”><a href=”The URL of your Website” target=”_blank” title=”The Title of your website“><img border=”0″ src=”the URL of your Image“/></a></textarea>

The red colored text is what you will have to fill in with your details. Voila!!! Isn’t that cool??? I thought so.

…I am going to upload my new button for this site straight after doing this post, so check out my sidebar and let me know what you think!! And if you like, you can also grab my new button and put it on your site… 😉

Thanks, Maya, for your very much appreciated help!

I would love to hear back from all of you who try this out, to see how you go. And of course, if you create a banner or button for your website or blog like I have done with this method, let me and my readers know and leave us a link to your site so we can check it out!

Similar Posts

120 Comments

  2. Wow, that is some good customer service to help you personally rebuild your website!

    Anyway, I will definitely have to try this out. One question though–if I build a button and then people use that to link to my site instead of just a link, is that worse for SEO? If it’s a text link, it can be the anchor text that I’m looking to rank better for. What about for a button?

    Reply

    1. Joseph, you are giving your image an “alt” text which ideally should be your keyword phrase, so that way Google still sees your keywords which will improve your ranking. Just have a look at the html code – the first red bit is what I am talking about.

      Reply

  4. Thanks for the tip on xheader. I have been using paint based on the recommendation from affilorama.com in their affiloblueprint course. I agree that paint is really not that intuitive in its use. I’ll give xheader a try.

    Reply

  5. I know what you mean about XHeader, it’s one of those rare free software tools that literally makes your jaw drop when you realize what you’ve got.

    I’ve used it to create a number of headers, both using it’s extensive image library, and importing my own.

    Good suggestion!
    .-= Mike @ GPS for Hiking´s last blog ..KeywordLuv, CommentLuv, DoFollow friendly site =-.

    Reply

  6. I’m not the creative type–coming up with a normal header for my site was painful enough! 🙂 But I definitely think there can be some real value in doing this for marketing reasons. Thanks for the step-by-step guide.

    Reply

  7. Hi Petra,

    Creating header graphics is something that is usually considered a very complex job.

    XHeader which you suggest seems to make it less so. After reading your post I went ahead and watched their 2 instructional videos.

    I think it’ll still take some time to master the process but it seems fairly simple. They didn’t mention anything about creating banners in the videos.

    I’ll make a note of this for future use.

    As far as the importance of header graphics there seem to be two opposing views, especially when it comes to fairly new sites and marketers.

    One of them says don’t focus on graphics at first but on content.

    I tend to agree with that.

    Banners are great if you buy media traffic.

    On sites that don’t get high volumes of traffic text links seem to outperform banners 10 to 1.

    There could be exceptions of course.

    I like the button you’ve created and your post was helpful to me and I’m sure your other readers.

    Vance
    .-= Vance@Learn Internet marketing´s last blog ..Alex Jeffreys Marketing With Alex Las Vegas Workshop 2010 =-.

    Reply

  8. I will have to download this program and try it, especially since I’ve been looking for a program to make a nice banner. I have a box with the html to a banner on my Info page on my site for people to copy and paste to put on their site. It’s very handy and easy to use, and provides a inlink for your own site.

    If I can actually make something half-way decent with the software you suggested I’ll post a link to photobucket if I can get one (IF) 😀 Nice post, thanks for the info!

    Reply

  10. Hi Petra,

    Thank you for the find! Will definitely have to check the software out. I need to save some money.

    Quick question I just read your last post and had a giggle at your picture. Where do you find the pictures you use. They are awesome and funny!

    Hope all is great.

    Jacinta 😀
    .-= Jacinta Dean´s last blog ..January’s Daily Tasks! =-.

    Reply

    1. Oh, that would be fantastic if you send them to my site! 🙂 But all the credit goes to you, because without you I wouldn’t have been able to do this post! You should definitely try XHeader, it is great for so many things…

      Reply

  12. I’ve been using XHeader since they released it over a year ago. It’s an awesome program and I can’t believe they don’t charge for it. So easy to use.

    Reply

    1. Suroz, anything you do to get more traffic to your site will work. Some things work better, others not so much. Banner advertising is not as effective any more as it once was, simply because people get bombarded with so much stuff they are getting “blind” to it, but you can still get visitors out of displaying banners.

      Reply

  17. Hey Petra,

    How is it going? It has been a while.

    I have also been using XHeader for a long time. It is a great tool & makes creating Headers & Banners so easy. It even comes with a fairly good library of images.

    A couple of their other paid products are also good. XSitePro (Web Building Software) & XCommentPro (Great for User generated content – Ads a bit more of a Web 2.0 to your site).
    They also have the XSiteProClub with bucket loads of additional resources, Banners, Buttons, Training Videos. (About $30 per month).

    Anyway, great advice.

    To Your Success,

    Rob
    .-= Rob Willis´s last blog ..Happy Anniversary =-.

    Reply

    1. Hi Rob, yes, all the software from XSitePro is great, I am using XSitePro and XHeader, but haven’t looked into XCommentPro yet – even though I have heard of it.
      We are about to move house (3 weeks left) so I haven’t got much time to spend on my IM at the moment! 🙁

      Reply

  20. Hi Petra,
    thanks for sharing your experience with XHeader. I never heard about that tool before.
    Although I usually like creating graphics/images with Photoshop or recently even more with The GIMP I surely will give XHeader a try and who knows, maybe it works even faster for me to create something new than with GIMP or PS.

    Reply

  21. I personally use photoshop cs4 for all my graphics needs.

    Yes I know it was expensive, but art is a hobby of mine and it will do anything once you get over the learning curve photoshop has always had.

    Banners tend to perform less overall than text ads because people will intuitively screen banners out because they assume its an ad and not the info they come looking for in my opinion.

    Anyway, great program for beginners and the artistically challenged.
    .-= Elvenrunelord´s last blog ..Master Survey List =-.

    Reply

  24. Hi Petra,

    That is a great tip! I would also thinking to use it as a community banner “Member of XYZ Fan Club” or as a banner that advertises a give-away or similar and people need to display it to participate. I think simply putting it in the side bar and hoping that somebody grabs it just for fun and displays on their site just for giving a free backlink is a bit optimistic. But the idea itself has potential! For example you could create a “honest internet marketer” badge that links to honestinternetmarketers.com (I am making that one up, no idea if the site exists or not). And then having on the web site a directory of honest internet marketers! Just an idea, SY
    .-= hospitalera´s last blog ..Inetglobal wants to sue me =-.

    Reply

    1. Hi SY, I know that it’s optimistic with the button in the sidebar, but I thought I will do it anyway! 🙂
      Thanks for the ideas, you are really very resourceful!! You always give me stuff to think about. I just wish I would be able to concentrate on my internet marketing a lot more, not just 10 minutes or so a day 🙁

      Reply

  29. Thanks for the good advice. I was thinking of adding a banner to my blog so you’re trials and tribulations will definitely help me make my decision.

    Reply

  31. Hey Petra,

    I never heard about Xheader…maybe I’m just out of fashion. I visit your Healthy Diet Weight Loss blog and the graphics seems great.

    I really need handy tools that can generate banners and buttons fast, so will want to try it soon 🙂

    Reply

  32. Wow! very cool enough. I have been using xheader for my header image too but I didn’t think of using it to make button. Now, I kind of like it. I will be using it right now and see how it goes. Thanks for that information Petra, you’re such a helpful woman!
    .-= jessie@automated forex trading robots´s last blog ..Contact Us =-.

    Reply

  35. I usually just use site templates because I am lazy and thought coding such things is a bit complicated. you have made this sounds so easy to do and I would definitely try it out, thanks for the tutorial!

    Reply

  37. Hi Petra,

    I was “oil rigg hopping” and hopped into your site. Thanks for the info. I went over to XHeader and bought the “one time offer”. You just never know who might be interested in what you promote:)

    Great site with great info

    Reply

  40. I have keen interest in internet marketing but I was even un familiar with ” TO Create a banner ” But really now I can hopefully create banners for my blog

    Reply

  42. In real life banners are the way of advertisement but to earn money from internet banner play a vital role. Good and attractive banner is a source of traffic for a site and I think above explained way is excellent for banner creation
    jhon recently posted…Maigrir en Santé !My Profile

    Reply

  43. Thanks for posting this information. Lot of people will be advantageous in reading this one. I appreciate that effort of sharing ways to make some online advertisement, I could refer to some of this ideas.

    Reply

  48. It’s one of those rare free software tools that literally makes your jaw drop when you realize what you’ve got. But I definitely think there can be some real value in doing this for marketing reasons.

    Reply

  50. What about if you are using word press and don’t have much html knowledge. Where would put the code. or is there a widget or something that I could use to put a banner up?

    Reply

    1. Have a look inside your Dashboard in WordPress – on the left hand side under “Appearance” there are “Widgets”. You just have to add a new text widget to your sidebar and copy the html text in there.

      Reply

  51. Hi Petra, I have just discovered your site and like what I see. I am trying to find an answer to what may be a really blonde question – if I put another site’s badge on my own site, is that a automatic backlink?
    I like your site, I’ll be back for sure.

    Reply

    1. Natalie, if you put another site’s badge on your site (with a clickable link to that site), then it will be an automatic backlink to the other blog, if your blog has dofollow enabled. So it won’t be a backlink to your blog. If your blog is nofollow, then it will still be a link that other people can click, but Google won’t count it as backlink to the other blog. I hope you understand what I am saying 😉

      Reply

  58. It is a fact that most of us can easily recall images than text. So creating a banner or a button can absolutely help us in making our blog more famous. It’s one of those rare free software tools that literally makes your jaw drop when you realize what you’ve got. Thank you for the information.

    Reply

  61. Nice information. banners and buttons are very effective in advertising. You should put your banners/buttons on relevant themed blogs/websites which have good traffic, content and search engine rankings.

    Reply

  66. FOund your blog and just wanted to comment that I have been a loyal user of Xheader for years and can not say enough good things about. I’m glad to see it getting out there because IMO it is way under used

    Reply

  69. Thanks for this tip. I’m about to start a membership site and affiliate program for my site, and this will come in handy to create banners for promotion

    Reply

  72. thank you very much for this post, very thank you!! i love posts like this who helps other people and other bloggers!! i also appreciate helping others with codes!! some people are such pricks not to share their learning! but you my friend, you rock!!!
    cedricboy recently posted…dating profileMy Profile

    Reply

  74. Wow! very cool enough. I have been using xheader for my header image too but I didn’t think of using it to make button. Now, I kind of like it. I will be using it right now and see how it goes. Thanks for this site. 🙂
    Xianne recently posted…play angry birds for pcMy Profile

    Reply

  76. Hmm is there any application to this that have the most simpler instruction? Step by step guide of doing it. I have my blog post which require me to advertise on my home based product business and I don’t know about this plug ins. I want to have it too.
    harrybruna recently posted…BEST DATING SITESMy Profile

    Reply

    1. Gin, I strongly recommend you to have a look at the free WordPress Classroom. It has great videos that will show you how to negotiate through your WordPress admin area and so much more.
      If you go to –>Appearnace –>Widgets that will take you to the widget section, where you can choose the text widget and paste the code into the widget.

      Reply

  80. I have just discovered your site and like what I see. I am trying to find an answer to what may be a really blonde question – if I put another site’s badge on my own site, is that a automatic back link.
    Mayang recently posted…game angry birdsMy Profile

    Reply

  82. Great idea! It is a fact that most of us can easily recall images than text. So creating a banner or a button can absolutely help us in making our blog more famous. It’s one of those rare free software tools that literally makes your jaw drop when you realize what you’ve got. Thanks for sharing..
    Asie recently posted…Temporary TattoosMy Profile

    Reply

  83. Nice information. banners and buttons are very effective in advertising. You should put your banners/buttons on relevant themed blogs/websites which have good traffic. | 😛
    hunterX0506 recently posted…What is Personal InjuryMy Profile

    Reply

  86. Hi Petra! I’m so glad I found your site and this useful information. I have downloaded the Xheader program and created my button. I don’t use wordpress, but I’m wondering now how to get it onto my site? I’m not familiar with FTP either and I’m wondering if you can give me some tips on how to do this? Do I just save as jpeg and then upload the photo onto my site and then copy the url into the code? Any help you can give would be so much appreciated. Thanks again for this information.

    Reply

    1. Alicia, if you can change the html code for your site, then you can just add the code wherever you want the button to display. It depends on what kind of website platform you use. I certainly find WordPress the easiest. I have got the code you have to use in my post (you just need to put in your photo’s URL – use photobucket to get a URL). I am not sure how else to help you, you are not specific enough. Good luck!

      Reply

  88. Hi Petra, nice suggestions. Blogs, social media and banner advertising these are the most effective ways for me. I use a lot of free online classified listings and have joined many forums. It seems to be helping. I have several blogs too.

    Reply

  89. It’s rare for me to find something on the web that is as entertaining and intriguing as what you have got here. I downloaded the software and watched the videos. I think you made some really intriguing points. Not too many people would truly express passion about this the way you just did. I am really impressed that there’s a lot about this subject that has been uncovered and you did it so well, with class. Genuinely excellent information here.Your page is sweet, your graphics are outstanding, and what’s more, you use reference that are relevant to what you are talking about.
    You are certainly one in a million, well done

    Reply

  90. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been running a blog for?
    you made blogging look easy. The total glance of your web site is excellent,
    let alone the content material!

    Reply

  91. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to
    say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!

    Reply

  92. Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve been to your blog before but after going through a few of the posts I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back often!

    Reply

  93. Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as
    I provide credit and sources back to your website?
    My website is in the very same niche as yours and my users would certainly benefit from some of the information you present here.
    Please let me know if this alright with you.

    Cheers!

    Reply

  96. Hello! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers?
    My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several weeks of hard work due to no data backup.
    Do you have any methods to stop hackers?
    Jada recently posted…coupon codesMy Profile

    Reply

    1. Hi Jada,
      good point! That’s one of the things I have been missing out on – a proper back up system. I will have to write a post about it! About the hackers – unfortunately I do not know how to stop hackers, but I am sure it is possible to find ways by Googling for the solution.

      Reply

  97. Wow that was odd. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked
    submit my comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing
    all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
    Son recently posted…protein vs whey proteinMy Profile

    Reply

  98. Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your site. You have some really great posts and I feel I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d absolutely love to write some material
    for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
    Please shoot me an e-mail if interested. Many thanks!
    Patrice recently posted…electronic cigarette ukMy Profile

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.