[markbolyard]

Logo - Leaderboard (Yes, 728x90 next to the logo. Tight fit for some.)

Adsense Link Units under navbar - (Background to match page background, text to match rest of text on page, 728x15 centered under navbar)

Right Column - 120x600 or 160x600 Skyscrapper

Footer - Don't bother. CTR isn't worth placing a ad here, and if you place ads in your welcome text, then this would make 4 ad spots (and with adsense, one is going to disappear and leave your page with a hole)

With the above, in my experience you would triple your adsense earnings to the other scenarios listed above.

And, as for other optimum spots, a 250x250 or 336x250 (I think that's the larger box ad) in your welcome text. Text on the left, Ad on the right. (Add note below this ad (Registration makes this ad disappear. Also, set welcome text to display on every page and not just forumhome)

Last position is in the first post for visitors only, either 200x200 image or 250x250 image float right of post content using:

<div style="float: right;">

Ad Code Here

</div>

With this layout, here is the breakdown I've experienced personally:

728x15 Text Link Unit Under Navbar - Highest CTR, Highest PPC

728x90 at Logo (to Right) - Next highest CTR and earnings

120x600 Right Column (Top if you run other advertisers, anything after the first skyscrapper banner in my opinion is a waste because the ctr if very low) - Third highest CTR and PPC

200x200 or 250x250 (Unfortunately, I forgot to channel this location, but I know without even channeling it, that this position does great and increased earnings exponentially.

And the first post ad spot... does ok, not great, but not to bad.

I realize this thread started with three locations, of which the first three I listed are the best positions I have used, however the other spots (which are only shown to guest anyway, do well enough to try them out, and keep if they earn).

So how about those other positions that vBulletin makes available to show ads in...

Well, the footer location in my experience has been the worse, with a ctr of about .02%, and the thread list bottom, before the quick reply, and end of forums (on forum home) all similar)

After first post, which some choose to use the 728x15 text links, and some a leaderboard banner, have always been poor performers as well, not to mention, most members of the forum HATE to have the post broke up by any kind of ad. The other positions haven't seemed to be a nuisance.

Anyhow, how that helps. Although I won't publish numbers, as I said this simple change from the usual below navbar leaderboard, ad after first post, and footer location, has tripled, if not quadrupled earnings consistently.