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Home >> Articles >> Promoting and Marketing >> Advertising Methods - Traffic Exchanges
Author: BJ
Added: November 18, 2005
Views: 2,022
Rating: 8/10
One of my favorite means of free advertising is Manual Traffic Exchanges. Traffic Exchanges allow you to show your web site to others by either purchasing “hits” or by exchanging your time for other viewer's time, thus the name; Traffic Exchange. It is an actual exchange of your time for another member's time to look at each other's programs.
Traffic Exchanges allow members to view web programs for a specified period of time ranging from 15 to 30 seconds. Manual Traffic Exchanges require the viewer to perform some kind of action, usually a click on a button or specific item, picture, number, etc., before another program can be seen. Auto Traffic Exchanges automatically change the site after the time has passed. The viewer of an Auto Traffic Exchange may not have to do anything but watch the screen. Both provide the viewer with a timer for each program and often provide a count of sites viewed.
I will primarily discuss Manual Traffic Exchanges and Non Paying Auto Surf Exchanges. Each, provide the member with credits for their participation which can be used to have the member program(s) viewed by other members. It stands to reason the more members in a program, the wider audience your site will reach. However, quantity can be hindered by quality of the membership. Look for testimonials in forums, on the site or ask someone you know who is a member.
The exchange ratio varies by program and is usually between 2:1 or 1:1. The 1:1 ratio indicates that for every site viewed, the viewer can have their site viewed. Many offer less than a 1:1 view ratio to encourage members to surf more. Most will offer upgrades to members that will allow the 1:1 ratio and free members will have to view more sites to acquire credit for their sites to be seen. The 2:1 ratio requires the member to view two sites before their program can be viewed once.
Most Manual Traffic Exchanges have built in anti cheat techniques, which can involve an item to click or the location of the item to click. Variations in the click location help to ensure the viewer is actually in front of the computer viewing. These variations can range from left to right of the screen or top to bottom of the screen. Many require the viewer to select the proper picture or item, and these can be displayed in words or pictures. Some Exchanges will place cheat testing pages throughout the surf where the member will be required to perform some action in order to continue surfing and earn credits.
All Traffic Exchanges can take up to one inch of the screen to display their “Surf Bar.” When you try this method of advertising, be sure your page loads within the allotted time frame and you have the eye catching clinch words or pictures set so they can be seen. It is also a good idea to ad a bookmark option on your page for surfers. You will usually be able to view your page and how it will appear prior to adding it to the surf programs.
Most Traffic Exchanges have pop up requirements and do not allow programs that cannot be viewed within the surf frames. Some do not allow any pop ups while others may allow up to two pop ups. Programs that cannot be viewed within the frame of the surf program are called “frame breakers” and usually are not allowed by any Traffic Exchanges. Frame breakers throw the members out of the surf program and they must start over or to log in again to continue. Be sure, before you add your program that you are in compliance with the requirements of the Traffic Exchange you will be joining.
The down side to Traffic Exchanges, as an advertising option, is the time required to accumulate credit to show your program. If you have done your work on your program and have the time to surf, it is a great means of getting free advertising. Surfing Traffic Exchanges may also allow you to see what else is being advertised similar to your product or program or you can check the competition. However, if you do not have the time to surf, all Traffic Exchanges will sell you credits to have your program viewed, and in many cases, you may not have to join the program.
If you surf for credit or buy credit, Traffic Exchanges can cause challenges to your program through the bandwidth requirements. To ensure you will not exceed your maximum bandwidth, start with one or two programs and see how your hosting package can handle the traffic. If you are limited by your bandwidth, you can limit your surf or reduce the number of views you purchase per month. Most hosting will allow you to purchase additional bandwidth.
Happy Surfing!
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