This template, including the 3-column template, is incomplete.
I stopped working on these 2 templates after I couldn't decide which was better choice for this website - a 2-column or 3-column template?
If I choose the 2 column template, I would have to give up placing the 160x600 Google Adsense.
If I were to use the 3-column template, besides the Wide Skyscraper , there's another column for my text advertising.
OR
How should I make use of the sidebars? What size advertisement. How many column of 600x160 should I have.
Or is 120 too narrow?
At the same time, there's another voice telling me, forget about sidebar advertising. that's not what sidebars are for.
Then what just one column of the sidebar?
Still the struggling continues.
With the limited space, what should goes in, what should be left out? I need one 350x350x box for CPA offer....
After studying Google AdSense Ad Formats, I had a better idea - a single column page would fit in perfectly.
Enough! I shall not have any. No advertiments for level 1 and level 2 pages, maybe not even level 3.
Include them from tier 4 onwards.
But I didn't plan for any Tier 4 pages. Create level 4 then.
Then I want the sidebar to look more appealing. I started looking for images to fit into the background of each box.
Until I have to stop myself.
That's not the objectives of template designing...
Even if it was, not at this stage. I should focus on content building.
Activities like:
After deciding on the one-column template, I stopped my internal arguments.
There's are no space for 3rd tier navigation, no space for advertisements. no box for banners and buttons
Now I could concentrate.
Once you get rid of all the distraction and noises, you do the most obvious thing - the single focus goal.
So what's your choice - 1-column, 2-column or 3-column template
If you are new and are not making any progress with your new website, between 2 and 3, opt for 2 column.
If you are too busy with affilate marketing and 2-column is insufficent to fill in all those 120x120 boxes, opt for a one column.
Go back to the basic... provide value to your readers.
The only way to make your website works is to continue to provide great content and not more advertisement spaces.
Start with a column template
You could make changes later
Start it right... and simple
After this box was created, I felt it looked too plain. It needs something extra to hold the reader. And so I create 2 other boxes with image background.
The 350px square looks OK if I placed an ad on it, but the paper background looks ugly on its own.
The image for navigation didn't look right. I like the graphic but the sidebar looked ugly. Perhaps I need to trim the width of the title bar.
It can be done, it's not difficult, but still I have to conclude - plain is best