Limit ads appearing more than three times

Question

I am using the following code in content.php to repeat an ad insertion. Ads are inserted in the middle of every 2nd row in a grid of thumbnails. There are 3 thumbnails per row.

<?php else : ?> 
 <?php global $wp_query; ?>
 <?php if (($wp_query->current_post + 1) % 5 == 0 ): ?>
  <div class="box">
   <adsense code>
  </div>
<?php endif; ?>

However Google's AdSense policy limits 3 content ads per page and I don't want to violate these terms. How can I limit this to only three instances? Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

You could just make an easy counter - Untested though.

 <?php else : ?> 
  <?php global $wp_query; ?>
  <?php $ads = 0; ?>
  <?php if ($ads < 3 && (($wp_query->current_post + 1) % 5 == 0 )): ?>
   <div class="box">
    <adsense code>
   </div>
 <?php $ads++; ?>
 <?php endif; ?>

Answer 2

check the post loop counter at the same time as you check the modulus; example:

<?php if (($wp_query->current_post + 1) % 5 == 0 && $wp_query->current_post < 15 ): ?>

Answer 3

Here is a function that I use to add a widget area between posts. I can then add whatever widget or adsense or any banner code to that

This goes in your functions.php, no need to alter any other files. For this example, The widget area will be added only after post 3 and 6. You can just set these to match your exact needs

  function widget_after_x_post( $post ) {
    global $wp_query;

    if ( $wp_query->post != $post )
        return;

    if ( 3 != $wp_query->current_post || 6 != $wp_query->current_post)
        return;

    <---ADD YOUR ADSENSE/BANNER/ADD HERE---->
}

 add_action( 'the_post', 'widget_after_x_post' );