Recently I’ve noticed there are a lot of Wordpress blog themes being developed that incorporate banner ad positions.  They often have a 468×60 in the header, and a default set of six 125×125 positions in the sidebar.  All of the themes I’ve seen so far use a right sidebar to position the 125×125 ad cluster.

Based on research done a few years ago, that studied how a surfer scans a newly loaded web page, the 125×125 cluster of ads is in the number two most popular position.  If a left sidebar where used, they would be in the number one spot a surfer first looks when viewing a new page, just before shifting to the same location on the right side of the page.

I doubt seriously these 125×125 ad clusters will generate a lot of clicks from porn surfers, but they make for excellent branding, particularly if the webmaster is also promoting the same site in his/her posts.

I am in the process of developing a new blog that makes use of a theme which incorporates the 125×125 ad cluster.  I started looking for banners and quickly discovered a noteworthy number of sponsors do not supply 125×125 ads.

It is my recommendation sponsors consider developing a selection of 125×125 banners that lean heavy toward branding.

Late last week BunzBlazing announced the launch of Rate My Cock, an acquired property that has been in operation since 2002.  GunzBlazing re-developed and re-launched the site about 6 months ago. It now includes their more flexible and versatile Social Networking Plus application, an integrated pay site component, and more ways for webmasters to make money.

Rate My Cock is a social networking platform that includes cock voting (by size and style), members’ comments, groups, blogs, friends lists, free member-to-member cams and unlimited user photo and video uploads. A news feature keeps users up to date with the activities of their friends. All uploads are monitored and submission of third party content is not permitted.

Rate My Cock also includes a premium, paid for members area, featuring big cock content from Raging Stallion Studios and several AMPRO big cock producers. Free/Unpaid users are presented with an endless array of up-sells in the “free area” enticing them to buy a premium membership. Premium members also get unlimited access to their popular, big-dick pay site, Xtra Inches.

It all sounds great…right?  Hold on, there’s more.

Also incorporated is a revenue-share based advertising system using the sponsor’s Sponsor Switch system. Affiliates sign-up for each of the affiliate programs listed and add the ID for that program (or use your existing ID) into the Sponsor Switch console.

Now here’s where it gets interesting.  Fifty prevent of the ad rotations in Rate My Cock will then include the participating webmaster’s affiliate ID for that program.  So, affiliates take 50% and GunzBlazing takes 50% OR ad sales, and that’s using YOUR traffic!

Because there are quite a few straight guys uploading their dick photos, advertisements for non-gay sites have been included in the ad rotation.  Best I can determine, webmasters can not select which sponsors they want in the ad rotation, and some of those sponsors may have leaky site tours, as well.

Here is a quote, from public statements made by GunzBlazing, regarding the benefits of their recently announced merger with AEBN.

“It’s great news for our partners. We will soon be able to offer a true, one stop, traffic-leak-free shop to promote an ever-expanding range of top quality pay sites, VOD and DVD shopping sites.”

Sorry guys, but I’m not seeing it.  Then again, maybe I’m looking too soon.

Even more interesting is two of the sponsors in the Sponsor Switch system are AEBN and Naked Sword.  Why will an affiliate’s ID only show up 50 percent of the time on advertisements for these two sites?

Don’t get me wrong.  I am, and always have been, a big fan of GunzBlazing.  But I have to wonder if Rate My Cock is an early indicator this sponsor is headed in a new direction.

Video production houses are notorious for having leaky pay site tours, so it’s refreshing to see Lucas Entertainment has developed a totally new site tour that’s completely leak free!

Other changes have been going on in the Lucas camp.  Affiliates now enjoy 50% payouts on all sales and rebills.  The sponsor has also increased the cookie life to 30 days.  Topping it off, Lucas Entertainment is now supplying photo and video clip promotional content, and notifying webmasters directly of its availability.

Lucas must have brought someone on board than knows what she’s doing…(wink wink)…thanks Holly!

KJ Cash has announced the launch of Gay Asian Twinkz, their second gay Asian porn site, and number five in a rapidly growing suit of gay porn niche venues.  The new site boasts exclusive and original content, with many of the models never before seen on the Internet.

The sponsor has also secured exclusive rights to publish content produced by Thai Twinks, whose pay site had a short life, shutting down in the fall of 2008.  In addition, the Gay Asian Twinkz membership package includes full access to Laughing Asians, a gay Asian foot and tickle fetish site.  Combined, members will enjoy updates 7 days a week.

The Epoch powered affiliate program offers banners, hosted photo and video galleries, and RSS feeds for webmasters to promote the new Gay Asian Twinkz site.