I just read several posts about putting adsense code in a widget in the header area. Now i am wondering if I used my affiliate code correctly. (It is not adsense, its Linkshare) It is a banner and seems to be running ok, but this is the code I used:

%pages %logo <a target='new' href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=fT7Xbke*jAA&offerid=211868.6&subid=0&type=4"><div id="masthead">
<img class="banner_ad" alt="Find cheap concert tickets" src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=fT7Xbke*jAA&bids=211868.6&subid=0&type=4&gridnum=0" /></a></div>

and then in CSS inserts I defined the div and class.
Is there some reason I should have used a widget area? Thanks for all your great work!

If that works as you want it to then there is no need for a widget area.

I think I just realized the answer to my question after reading some more. Widget areas are for widgets, and since I didn't use a widget to display the affiliate banner, just straight code, I don't need a widget area.

Correct?

There are different ways to do similar things. You could add a widget area, add a text widget and put your code in it, but since it is working, the way you did it is also correct. It's only incorrect if it doesn't work