Over the years I've discovered several tools that have helped me to improve my websites and to increase my affiliate commissions.

One of the best of these tools is a snippet of javascript which is available free. I originally downloaded the script at JavascriptKit.com. I've provided the link later in this article.

It's a very clever piece of javascript which selects random images (GIF or JPEG) which you specify and displays them randomly on your website. Unlimited images can be specified to be randomly selected, and corresponding links can be specified for each individual random image displayed.


First, a banner rotator

Originally I used this code simply as a banner rotator. I uploaded banners to my web hosting account for each of the affiliate programs I was promoting and used the script to randomly select banners, with my correponding affiliates links, for each program I was marketing at the time.

This meant each time one of my pages loaded a different random banner would be displayed, keeping my banners fresh and (hopefully) increasing the chances that my repeat visitors would eventually see a banner for something they were interested in and click on it.

Nothing very innovative in itself - banner rotation scripts are quite commonplace.

But then I realised that the same script could be used not only as a mere banner rotator but could be adapted to generate fresh content every time my web pages loaded.

An example of this application is a site I designed at http://tarot.nzfriendfinder.com

This site generates free random Tarot card readings with links to the meanings for each card. (I adapted the script slightly to open the links in a new browser window.)

The site also displays random dating profiles and links for a dating affiliate site I've set up at nzfriendfinder.com

At the same site, I've also used the script at to generate random "Members of the Moment" profiles each time the page loads. (In this case I've adapted the script slightly to open the links on top of the existing browser window, which is in a frame.)

I use the same script at CoolKiwi.com to display random "Fan Mail" testimonials which I've received from satisfied Webmail customers.

Each of these examples shows how this elegant script can be used in a variety of ways to keep the content of each of your site fresh and engaging without the need for complicated programming and without the need to be constantly updating your sites on a daily basis. I simply update my profile images and fanmail quotes occasionally and there are enough different images to randomly select from that my sites are always looking fresh.

One key to building a world-class site and encouraging repeat visitors is to offer something fresh each time someone visits your site. Fresh content sells.

This script achieves that goal wonderfully. I don't know what I'd do without it.

It's free for anyone to use and distribute. Just make sure you leave the author's copyright notice intact.

I've placed a shortcut link to the JavascriptKit page for this random image script at http://coolscript.coolkiwi.com or you can get it from JavascriptKit's URL at http://www.javascriptkit.com/script/cut144.shtml

I hope you find as many versatile uses for this nifty little script as I have.