WP125 is a WordPress plugin to help monetize blogs by allowing the blogger to insert 125×125 pixel banners. Created by Matt Harzewski, this is an alternative to outside banner ad php scripts as it allows WordPress to manage the work, meaning less passwords to remember and administration links to use.
The plugin is easy to install and can be incorporated with a simple click. WP125 includes the ability to enter how many days you wish to run the banner ad , and how many banners are desired for viewing. When the banner campaign is finished, a replacement banner will fill the spot, making it easy for the administrator to not lift a finger other than to either re-activate the ad or replace it with a different campaign. It even has the option to alert the webmaster that a banner is expiring!
Although this plugin is great, the only thing off is that there should really be the ability for the user to be able to give a live link for their advertisers to check the progress of their campaign. From experienced, I have been told that a site receives so many hits, when in fact later on when checking their Alexa rank and such, I was sure I was not getting the ad impressions that could have been. Never mind the click through rate, but when given a screenshot and putting it to the referrals in my stats, I was lied to.
This is not to say webmasters should not use this plugin as it can be handy, but it is best to put on the advertisement contact form definite stats to uphold the integrity of the blog. As for the creators of WP125, perhaps adding this ability will take this plugin to the next step. Although I bring up this point, I do recommend it as it is a good resource for webmasters to have in-house banner advertising. Of course, the plugin has been download over 119,000 times (as of October 2010) and even Weblog Tools Collection has reviewed the plugin too and can be found in the WordPress Plugin repository!
I love that this plugin is easy to install. This is a very easy to use tool but is a essential.