impNERD Random Ads vs UBD Block Ad ∫ The Webmaster's Edge

Jun 25th

2008

impNERD Random Ads vs UBD Block Ad

Posted @ 1:31 pm

I have to say, I like UBD’s Block Ad Plugin quite a bit. This plugin allows bloggers to easily display and randomize the display of 125×125 ads in their blog’s sidebar. There are a few features that I would like to see added, but it is a great looking plugin. I see no immediate reason for myself to switch from impNERD’s Random Ads to it though as impNERD’s Random Ads is working for me without issue.

While UBD’s Block Ad Plugin has a “cleaner” interface and allows you to easily select 1-column or 2-column mode as well as the number of ads to display.

UBD Block Ad Pros And Cons

Pro: Easy selection of column layout.
Pro: Easy selection of number of ads to run.
Pro: You can enter more ads than the number selected to run.
Pro: You can use a widget or manually enter code into your template.
Con: Stylesheet is built into php file instead of a separate stylesheet file.
Con: The auto-preview of ads causes you to be unable to enter a google ad in FireFox 3.

UBD Block Ads

impNERD Random Ads Pros And Cons

Pro: Stylesheet is built into a separate stylesheet file.
Pro: You can use a widget or manually enter code into your template.
Pro: Plugin’s settings page tells how to add the code to your template manually.
Con: You cannot enter more ads than the number selected to run, nor can you select the number to run except by only entering a certain number of ads.
Con: HUGE donation link at the top of the settings page.
Con: So-So interface and no ad preview.

impNERD Random Ads

Conclusion: UBD Preferred, impNERD For Now

In the end, I feel that UBD’s Block Ad is a better overall plugin, but plan to stick to Random Ads for now. A few features I’d like to suggest to UBD:

Separate the stylesheet from the php file.
Allow editing of the stylesheet from within the plugin settings page.
Add instructions for adding the plugin to your template on the plugin settings page.
Take a look at and resolve the immediate preview issue when using the plugin with Google and Firefox.

Get UBD Block Ad

Get impNERD Random Ads