Joining a top site list is a great way to get more exposure for your web site.
This tutorial will explain how to add a top site banner to your template. It is
written for those that have PappaShop for their web host.
I tried to write
this for newbies so hopefully all the information you need is included.
I will use my top site list for this tutorial but the process is the same for most top sites.
First you'll need to know the URL to your banner and the size before signing up. Your ad
banners
should be uploaded to your image folder in your store admin area. To find out the
URL
of
your banner
go to your Store Admin then Images.
Click on the "Show Images" button.
Locate your banner (you'll want to use your 468 x 60 animated banner )
and click on the banner name not DEL. That's short for delete!
The banner will open in the web
browser where you can copy the URL.
Also note the size of the banner, 468 x 60 pixels. You'll be asked for your banner size during the
sign up
process and if you get it wrong your banner will be distorted and that's not good!
So now you can start the sign up process.
Go to ... http://bellaboutiques.gotop100.com
Look for the "Add Your Site" link.
Clicking on the link will take you to a page where you will need to fill out your information.
You'll also create a login and password and add your banner URL and size.
Click on the "Submit Your Site" button.
The next page is a conformation page telling you an email will be coming with further instructions.
When you get the email you'll have to click on the link to confirm your subscription.
Once you activate your account another email will be sent with your
login and password information.
It will also have a link to get your code and save a banner to your pc. You'll need to upload the banner
to your Images folder and write down the URL, too, you'll need it later in the tutorial.
Once you're logged in click on the "Get Your Link Code" link. The next page has the banners
available for linking back.
You can use the text link or any of the banners. (Don't pick the large banner if your going to use it for your template by adding it to the "site settings" area.) Check the radio button next to the banner
you want
to use and click on the "Generate" button. The next page will display the banner
and link code.
Right click on save the banner to your pc. Highlight and Copy the link code. Now go to your store
admin/Site Settings. For most templates this is the area at the bottom left of your template.
The first thing you should do is add "Vote for me" right under your business information. That let's
people know what those banners are for and they won't be surprised when they get to the top site list
and
are asked if they are voting for a site or were tricked into visiting.
Now let's paste that link code in. Insert your mouse below the "Vote for me!" text.
On the toolbar of the editor look for View/Edit Source button.
You will see the HTML of the page now.
We are going to add the link code in between the Div tags.
< div align="center" > </ div > (you'll see it highlighted in blue)
Delete the  
and paste in your code.
One more step and then you're linked! You have to replace the image source (in red) with your banner URL.
<img src="http://bellaboutiques.gotop100.com/lists/bellaboutiques/custombanners/46446.gif" border="0" width="125" height="125">
It should be http://www.yoursite.com/images/46446.gif.
Click on the Apply button then the OK button. If you did all the steps correctly you should see
the banner now. If it's not there it's probably because the banner URL is wrong.
Click on Update Variables and then click on the Website Quick Link.
Hopefully you're looking at a top site banner in your template site settings area.
I hope you've found this to be helpful information and you'll go
out now
and get yourself
listed at lots of top site listings!
