In Part 2a we discussed creating an account and entering in an URL. Here we are going to discuss deleting or removing an URL. Sign onto your XtreamSurf account. In the same section where you saw "add" a URL, you will see an icon for "adding back credits/deleting URL". Push that icon. It brings up the list of sites on a new screen that is on a timer. If you do nothing, it will automatically close after 25 or so seconds.
Once you have this screen brought up, the first thing you want to do is add back your credits by pushing the "add back" credits icon. Wait for it to do this. Then, when the screen comes back, you push "delete". Repeat however many times necessary. Note, you MUST add back credits first. If you push delete without adding them back, you lose those credits.
Also note that you cannot "edit" your sites. If you want to replace a site with something else you MUST add in a new site and delete the old one. Once you add in the new site it goes to Admin for review just as in the first time you added a site in. The system treats every newly added URL as though it were the first time entered in. So, if you add a second identical URL, it will still be handled as the first one: into Admin queue until approved to run on the surf.
by: Cherie Halliday
http://www.xtreamsurf.com
Friday, February 25, 2005
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Traffic Exchanges: Part 3, entering text and banner ads
Parts 1 - 2 we discussed creating your membership, adding in urls, and then deleting sites. Now we discuss adding banners and text ads.
Log on to your http://www.xtreamsurf.com account.* In the first section framed by a gold border rather at the bottom you will see (on upgraded accounts) 2 icons: 1 for adding banners the other for adding text ads. Banner and text ads run independently on the surf bar, on the main page and in the member's area. They are great little "additional" type advertising.
Both banners and text ads use straight text. You need only your active banner and target url links. Html will not work so please do not add those in. The script sometimes accepts them but you end up with garbage. So, only the actual link and actual gif file can be used.
For your banner, you need a target link like http://www.xtreamsurf.com and the banner link like http://www1.ecxmall.com/stores/candrenterprises/catalog/0xsurf.gif Note that this link is what is called a "hosted" url. You can click on the link and see the actual banner. If you click on the link (even though it says .gif) and cannot see the banner then IT WILL NOT WORK. If you are an affiliate and using a pre-made banner this usually is not a problem. If you make your own and do not "host" them, it is.
Confused? Do not feel badly about that...lol. It has only taken me a year to figure all this stuff out. All of it was by frustrating trial and error. A lot on the error side I must admit. Simply put, if you can click on your .gif and see your artwork, yeah! It works. If you can click on your target url and it brings up your site, Yeah!! It works. If not, it doesn't.
Click on the "add banner" icon. A new screen comes up. You will see a number of areas to fill. The main 3 are the target url, the banner url and the alternate text. Paste or type your banner .gif into the banner .gif spot, your referral or site url into the target spot. Then type in a short text like: "XtreamSurf". Or, "Xtream Marketing". It acts both a reference id for your banner and shows up even when your banner does not. Save and you are finished. Repeat for each banner.
Adding text is very similar except you do not need your banner .gif. Click on the "add text ad" icon. New screen comes up. Paste/type your target url in. Type in a short ad, like "XtreamSurf means Xtream marketing for your sites." Save and you are done. Repeat to add in another text ad.
Ok, so now that you have entered in your text and banner ads, why not surf just a bit. It is fun, you see interesting sites AND you help rotate sites in the surf bar while building credits for yourself. All of which is what a traffic exchange is all about.
Regards,
Cherie Halliday
* If you have not joined us please do at: http://www.xtreamsurf.com/?ref=7 Once I see you I will upgrade you to rotation account.
c
Log on to your http://www.xtreamsurf.com account.* In the first section framed by a gold border rather at the bottom you will see (on upgraded accounts) 2 icons: 1 for adding banners the other for adding text ads. Banner and text ads run independently on the surf bar, on the main page and in the member's area. They are great little "additional" type advertising.
Both banners and text ads use straight text. You need only your active banner and target url links. Html will not work so please do not add those in. The script sometimes accepts them but you end up with garbage. So, only the actual link and actual gif file can be used.
For your banner, you need a target link like http://www.xtreamsurf.com and the banner link like http://www1.ecxmall.com/stores/candrenterprises/catalog/0xsurf.gif Note that this link is what is called a "hosted" url. You can click on the link and see the actual banner. If you click on the link (even though it says .gif) and cannot see the banner then IT WILL NOT WORK. If you are an affiliate and using a pre-made banner this usually is not a problem. If you make your own and do not "host" them, it is.
Confused? Do not feel badly about that...lol. It has only taken me a year to figure all this stuff out. All of it was by frustrating trial and error. A lot on the error side I must admit. Simply put, if you can click on your .gif and see your artwork, yeah! It works. If you can click on your target url and it brings up your site, Yeah!! It works. If not, it doesn't.
Click on the "add banner" icon. A new screen comes up. You will see a number of areas to fill. The main 3 are the target url, the banner url and the alternate text. Paste or type your banner .gif into the banner .gif spot, your referral or site url into the target spot. Then type in a short text like: "XtreamSurf". Or, "Xtream Marketing". It acts both a reference id for your banner and shows up even when your banner does not. Save and you are finished. Repeat for each banner.
Adding text is very similar except you do not need your banner .gif. Click on the "add text ad" icon. New screen comes up. Paste/type your target url in. Type in a short ad, like "XtreamSurf means Xtream marketing for your sites." Save and you are done. Repeat to add in another text ad.
Ok, so now that you have entered in your text and banner ads, why not surf just a bit. It is fun, you see interesting sites AND you help rotate sites in the surf bar while building credits for yourself. All of which is what a traffic exchange is all about.
Regards,
Cherie Halliday
* If you have not joined us please do at: http://www.xtreamsurf.com/?ref=7 Once I see you I will upgrade you to rotation account.
c
Traffic Exchanges: making them work for you, Part 2
In Part 1 of Making Traffic Exchanges Work For You, we discussed exchanges in general, the different types, some of the additional services exchanges may offer and some of the rules which a typical site will employ. In Part 2 we will start discussing on how to make the most of a Free to join Auto and manual traffic exchange http://www.xtreamsurf.com
If you are already a member, you can just follow along with your existing account. If you are not, please join on this link: http://www.xtreamsurf.com/?ref=7 Reason you are joining on this link rather than the main one is because once you join, I will upgrade your account to rotation. This will then give you access to all the extra services we will be discussing in the next couple articles. We will start with the joining process:
First click on http://www.xtreamsurf.com/?ref=7 . Once on the main page, you will see at the top a number of small boxes under the logos. These are all the sites currently in the XtreamSurf network. On the bottom are the Alexa ranking boxes and some free site submitters for your use. On the far left hand side are various links: FAQ, rules, member's login and etc. Click on the link and it brings up the main page. Click on "sign up for free" icon. This takes you to the joining page. You need to fill the necessary information. You need an actual working email. Please do not use an autoresponder as your account will only be deleted. You will receive periodic updates from Admin and important information and need an actual email account. If you use spam arrest software, please white list admin@xtreamsurf.com.
It is a good idea to read the rules regarding sites allowed on the surf. As mentioned in Part 1, anything that disrupts the surf and special sites like rotators are NOT allowed. It will save you and Admin a lot of grief if you read and understand the rules prior to putting up sites for approval to be added to the surf. Check the box that you read and understand the rules and then submit your application.
A basic welcome letter with your login info and an activation link will be automatically sent to your email addy. Click on the link embedded in your email to activate your account then login. Once inside your members' area you will see a lot of different things in there and it may be a bit overwhelming at first. We will take it one section at a time.
The area is basically made up of several sections. At the top are small button links to the free to use adblasters, forum, other advertising links and etc. Below those are links to other programs Xtream is affiliated with, exclusive offers and additional free marketing resources.
There are three areas roped off in gold: far left is your members navigation bar, middle top is where you see basic account information, icons to play the game, and once you are upgraded, the icons for adding banner and text ads. We will come back to those icons later. You will also see the icon "add url". This is the one we want to envoke now. Click on the link and it takes you to the place where you enter and test your url.
In this section, you can find icons for "rules", checking for banned sites and etc. Once you are assured you are not entering in a banned site, type/copy/paste your target url into the bar for it. A correct url will look like this: http://xtreamnet.blogspot.com/. Notice there is no html code. If you are working from html code, pick out just the http:// info.
Enter in your url. Click on the link in red that says "please check your site before adding." This puts the url into the tester. See what it does. If little pop ups don't come up you are past the first test. Close the link and then click on the "I read the rules" box, then on the "add my site" icon. Your site is entered into the bottom gold roped off area where all your sites will reside.
You will see your site listed and it will be "on hold" pending Admin approval. Please add some credits at this time. You have 15,000 credits added to your account at sign up. Add however many you want to your site by typing in the number in the blank credit box on the far left hand side of your site. Then, push "add." Your credits will be taken from your account and placed on the site. Once your site is approved, it will start rotating automatically.
Also notice that at the far right hand side of your site/s will be colored lights once your site is approved and activated. Green will indicate everything is go, red will mean "we have a problem mission control." Usually it means you need to add credits to keep your sites running. So, it is good idea to log in every now and then to check on your sites AND to get at all the goodies found in your members area.
Now that you have loaded you site/s, it is time to do some surfing! Remember, we are an exchange and it all works when every member surfs a bit to keep all the sites rotating. On the far left hand gold boxed area you will see "surf" options. Click on the link. In this area are the different surf timers available to you. You will also see your surf links that you can use to go straight to surfing without logging in. These are very handy to use for getting straight to the surf. Just remember to login to your account to check on your sites and find the other things offered to you.
Surf on,
Cherie Halliday
http://www.xtreamsurf.com
coming up next: Part 3, entering text and banner ads
Other sites similar to XtreamSurf you may enjoy:
http://www.shoppersuf.com
http://www.rockinhits.net/?ref=18
http://www.rapidfirehits.us/index.php?y=7&ref=319
http://www.ptrsurf.net
http://www.gamersurf.com
If you are already a member, you can just follow along with your existing account. If you are not, please join on this link: http://www.xtreamsurf.com/?ref=7 Reason you are joining on this link rather than the main one is because once you join, I will upgrade your account to rotation. This will then give you access to all the extra services we will be discussing in the next couple articles. We will start with the joining process:
First click on http://www.xtreamsurf.com/?ref=7 . Once on the main page, you will see at the top a number of small boxes under the logos. These are all the sites currently in the XtreamSurf network. On the bottom are the Alexa ranking boxes and some free site submitters for your use. On the far left hand side are various links: FAQ, rules, member's login and etc. Click on the link and it brings up the main page. Click on "sign up for free" icon. This takes you to the joining page. You need to fill the necessary information. You need an actual working email. Please do not use an autoresponder as your account will only be deleted. You will receive periodic updates from Admin and important information and need an actual email account. If you use spam arrest software, please white list admin@xtreamsurf.com.
It is a good idea to read the rules regarding sites allowed on the surf. As mentioned in Part 1, anything that disrupts the surf and special sites like rotators are NOT allowed. It will save you and Admin a lot of grief if you read and understand the rules prior to putting up sites for approval to be added to the surf. Check the box that you read and understand the rules and then submit your application.
A basic welcome letter with your login info and an activation link will be automatically sent to your email addy. Click on the link embedded in your email to activate your account then login. Once inside your members' area you will see a lot of different things in there and it may be a bit overwhelming at first. We will take it one section at a time.
The area is basically made up of several sections. At the top are small button links to the free to use adblasters, forum, other advertising links and etc. Below those are links to other programs Xtream is affiliated with, exclusive offers and additional free marketing resources.
There are three areas roped off in gold: far left is your members navigation bar, middle top is where you see basic account information, icons to play the game, and once you are upgraded, the icons for adding banner and text ads. We will come back to those icons later. You will also see the icon "add url". This is the one we want to envoke now. Click on the link and it takes you to the place where you enter and test your url.
In this section, you can find icons for "rules", checking for banned sites and etc. Once you are assured you are not entering in a banned site, type/copy/paste your target url into the bar for it. A correct url will look like this: http://xtreamnet.blogspot.com/. Notice there is no html code. If you are working from html code, pick out just the http:// info.
Enter in your url. Click on the link in red that says "please check your site before adding." This puts the url into the tester. See what it does. If little pop ups don't come up you are past the first test. Close the link and then click on the "I read the rules" box, then on the "add my site" icon. Your site is entered into the bottom gold roped off area where all your sites will reside.
You will see your site listed and it will be "on hold" pending Admin approval. Please add some credits at this time. You have 15,000 credits added to your account at sign up. Add however many you want to your site by typing in the number in the blank credit box on the far left hand side of your site. Then, push "add." Your credits will be taken from your account and placed on the site. Once your site is approved, it will start rotating automatically.
Also notice that at the far right hand side of your site/s will be colored lights once your site is approved and activated. Green will indicate everything is go, red will mean "we have a problem mission control." Usually it means you need to add credits to keep your sites running. So, it is good idea to log in every now and then to check on your sites AND to get at all the goodies found in your members area.
Now that you have loaded you site/s, it is time to do some surfing! Remember, we are an exchange and it all works when every member surfs a bit to keep all the sites rotating. On the far left hand gold boxed area you will see "surf" options. Click on the link. In this area are the different surf timers available to you. You will also see your surf links that you can use to go straight to surfing without logging in. These are very handy to use for getting straight to the surf. Just remember to login to your account to check on your sites and find the other things offered to you.
Surf on,
Cherie Halliday
http://www.xtreamsurf.com
coming up next: Part 3, entering text and banner ads
Other sites similar to XtreamSurf you may enjoy:
http://www.shoppersuf.com
http://www.rockinhits.net/?ref=18
http://www.rapidfirehits.us/index.php?y=7&ref=319
http://www.ptrsurf.net
http://www.gamersurf.com
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Auto vs. Manual surf: the debate rages on. Why should it?
I was recently at a small conference where the topic of Auto surf sites vs. Manual surf sites came up. Very ugly remarks were made by the guest speaker (a Manual traffic site owner) concerning Auto surf sites. Of course, I could not remain silent on the issue. Sigh. I am quite passionate about what I do and, obviously, I do Auto surf exchanges although mine are actually both. So, tempers flared, words were exchanged and we got of topic completely. Very unproductive in the end. But, it reminded me once again how very narrow-minded people can be when it comes to marketing choices.
My personal philosophy, both as a “user/member” of resources and an owner is: if it works, use it. If it don’t, then, don’t. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. Now, in my experience, I have had no luck with manual exchanges. I have clicked my poor fingers off and never, ever had any results with them. I have had good results with auto surf sites. I know of people who have great results from manual surf sites, I just am not one of them. Does that make me hate and loath manual surf sites? No, of course not! Do I go around calling those sites “garbage”. Absolutely not! Because, this is another one of my philosophies: “All these sites an INDUSTRY make.”
It takes ALL the different marketing sites to make a healthy, viable marketing industry. Each and every site and type of marketing medium has its good points, its bad points, and sometimes the ugly as well. Lol. But they are ALL part of an overall network. They ALL are viable marketing resources. You as an individual need to try as many different mediums as you can, then sort out what works and doesn’t work FOR YOU. This goes for traffic sites, safelists, submitters, ffa sites, adboards, downline and list builders, lead providers and any other mediums I have failed to name. ALL make up an industry.
You have to try them out and find out what works and what doesn’t work. In my experience, you need variety in your marketing portfolio. It has taken many, many resources to promote my sites: traffic (mostly auto but some manual), safelists, submitters, ffas, adboards, list builders and you name it. One resource is not particularly more valuable than another. They all have value. Some are better at certain things then others. Now, over the course of marketing I have left individual sites in which I found no merit. I have left a lot of manual traffic sites, but that is only because that site was not working for me. I have left a lot of auto surf sites for the same reason, and safelists and….well you get the gist here.
In retrospect of the meeting I attended, the speaker ended up null and voiding all his points he had been making. He had talked about “networking” and building alliances but when called to task about the remarks he was making about Auto surf sites (and small membership sites as well), he became quite defensive and said that this was “his opinion” and that he would be glad to debate me with all his “statistics” and then continued to bash auto surf sites even more. Lol. Like, “hello” you can’t just bash a part of the industry and expect to make alliances! He can throw all the stats he wants out there, I have my own and they favor auto surf sites! So what good would that do anyone? And, everyone has opinions. They have a God given right to have them. They need them to function in life. That does not necessarily mean that you need to air them, especially if they are rude and offensive. Kinda like the you know whats that everyone has but don’t necessarily need to show everyone. Lol.
He rather ended all discussion then by telling me he "did not need a relationship with me." Screaming roll on the floor laughing! Talk about double speak! Here he was going on about the importance of an alliance and how he was trying to get one going for an ad coop, but, when put to the task, he could not get his own ego out of the way long enough to build one with one humble person. Phew and wipe my eyes.
Bottom line: Lots of marketing sites out there. Try them. Keep the one’s that work for you. Leave the one’s which do not. If you are into network marketing or building an alliance: do NOT throw rocks. They might bounce back and hurt you.
By: Cherie Halliday
http://www.xtreamsurf.com/
My personal philosophy, both as a “user/member” of resources and an owner is: if it works, use it. If it don’t, then, don’t. It doesn’t get any simpler than that. Now, in my experience, I have had no luck with manual exchanges. I have clicked my poor fingers off and never, ever had any results with them. I have had good results with auto surf sites. I know of people who have great results from manual surf sites, I just am not one of them. Does that make me hate and loath manual surf sites? No, of course not! Do I go around calling those sites “garbage”. Absolutely not! Because, this is another one of my philosophies: “All these sites an INDUSTRY make.”
It takes ALL the different marketing sites to make a healthy, viable marketing industry. Each and every site and type of marketing medium has its good points, its bad points, and sometimes the ugly as well. Lol. But they are ALL part of an overall network. They ALL are viable marketing resources. You as an individual need to try as many different mediums as you can, then sort out what works and doesn’t work FOR YOU. This goes for traffic sites, safelists, submitters, ffa sites, adboards, downline and list builders, lead providers and any other mediums I have failed to name. ALL make up an industry.
You have to try them out and find out what works and what doesn’t work. In my experience, you need variety in your marketing portfolio. It has taken many, many resources to promote my sites: traffic (mostly auto but some manual), safelists, submitters, ffas, adboards, list builders and you name it. One resource is not particularly more valuable than another. They all have value. Some are better at certain things then others. Now, over the course of marketing I have left individual sites in which I found no merit. I have left a lot of manual traffic sites, but that is only because that site was not working for me. I have left a lot of auto surf sites for the same reason, and safelists and….well you get the gist here.
In retrospect of the meeting I attended, the speaker ended up null and voiding all his points he had been making. He had talked about “networking” and building alliances but when called to task about the remarks he was making about Auto surf sites (and small membership sites as well), he became quite defensive and said that this was “his opinion” and that he would be glad to debate me with all his “statistics” and then continued to bash auto surf sites even more. Lol. Like, “hello” you can’t just bash a part of the industry and expect to make alliances! He can throw all the stats he wants out there, I have my own and they favor auto surf sites! So what good would that do anyone? And, everyone has opinions. They have a God given right to have them. They need them to function in life. That does not necessarily mean that you need to air them, especially if they are rude and offensive. Kinda like the you know whats that everyone has but don’t necessarily need to show everyone. Lol.
He rather ended all discussion then by telling me he "did not need a relationship with me." Screaming roll on the floor laughing! Talk about double speak! Here he was going on about the importance of an alliance and how he was trying to get one going for an ad coop, but, when put to the task, he could not get his own ego out of the way long enough to build one with one humble person. Phew and wipe my eyes.
Bottom line: Lots of marketing sites out there. Try them. Keep the one’s that work for you. Leave the one’s which do not. If you are into network marketing or building an alliance: do NOT throw rocks. They might bounce back and hurt you.
By: Cherie Halliday
http://www.xtreamsurf.com/
Traffic Exchanges: making them work for you, Part 1
We all need traffic, people to actually SEE our sites. Email marketing is great but still dependent on one crucial step: the reader to actually click on your link taking them to your page. Traffic exchanges eliminate that step by allowing you to post your site link on the surf to rotate and be seen by other exchange members. When a member sees a site which interests them, they click on what ever links are embedded in your site to join, buy or ask for more information.
They come in all forms and sizes. Some exchanges are auto surf, others are manual. Some are free to join, others require a fee. Some are "paid-to-surf" programs in which members receive cash money for viewing x amount of sites daily. Some exchanges run into the tens of thousands of members (even up to one-hundred thousand), some a couple hundred. Each type, regardless of size, has it’s merits and are worthy of adding to your overall marketing strategy.
What ever the type, they all operate under the same principals. You advertise your site URL/s in "exchange" for viewing other members' sites. This is called "surfing". Depending on the individual site, each URL put on the surf bar is on a "timer". At the end of the specified amount of time, the site is displayed. Then it "rotates" out and another one takes it place. In addition to sites, many exchanges also have banner ads and what are called "text" ads which rotate in and out as well. So, while viewing a site, you will also oftentimes see a banner ad for a completely different program and a text ad as well as the site you see in the surf window.
Manual Surf Exchanges: The most basic form of traffic exchange. When you surf you must manually click on a link to rotate the site and bring another one up for viewing. Typical exchange ratio is 2:1 meaning for every site you surf you receive one credit to your account in which to show your sites. An example of a strictly manual surf site is: http://www.make1c.com/u/xts2004
Auto Surf exchanges: These are exchanges which members primarily surf without having to click on anything. The sites rotate "automatically". Most auto surf sites also have manual surf options as well. http://www.xtreamsurf.com/ is an example of an auto exchange with the manual surf option.
Free to join exchanges: These require no fee to join and usually offer a sign on bonus of credits to get you going. You then surf, refer and do other activities related to the site which earns you more credits to keep your sites showing on the surf bar.
The other type is the "Paid-To" traffic exchanges which actually pay you a certain amount of money to surf a certain amount of sites everyday. Otherwise, they are like any other traffic exchange.
All sites have rules regarding what types of sites you can put on the surf bar. Any site that disrupts the surf is generally not allowed. These are some terms you want to become familiar with in case you happen to have a site that you cannot run on a traffic site:
Frame Breaker: a site which stops the surf and "breaks" the frame so that you stay on that site after the allotted time. Pop up: this is a type of "extra" add that "pops up" while viewing a site. Pop ups tend to want to open up another window and can be very annoying for viewers.
Exit Page: it acts like a pop up only it only appears AFTER the host site "has left the building". They are especially frustrating as they are hard to catch. Usually the next site gets blamed and reported as having a pop up, when it doesn't. The site before had it and by then no one knows what site that was!
Rotator: Rotators are urls which allow you to load multiple sites on them. This way, in traffic exchanges, every time the rotator shows on the surf bar a different site is shown. These are the bane of most traffic exchanges. Every site that goes into the surf has a specific "address". If something happens and that site gets reported, Admin can then go into the database and find that site. Not so with rotators. The only site which has a specific address at the traffic site will be the rotator itself. Therefore, if one or more of the urls loaded on that site misbehave, Admin cannot locate it to deal with it. This is often a nightmare for both Admin and members. Hence, most traffic exchanges do not allow rotators.
Redirect: this is a site which sends you to yet another site to view. Like in rotators the only site in the database is the host site. Many times people will use redirects in an attempt to get around the exchange rules and show a site would normally not be shown.
Besides the exchange of traffic, most sites also offer other forms of advertising such as banner ads and text ads. These also rotate on the surf bar in a separate "window" so to speak. You see them while you surf and these are independent from the main site being shown. Still other sites have "paid-to-click" ads and even "paid-to-read" emails as well. Two of my all time favorite sites that have these options are: http://www.cheapwebtraffic.net/?rid=8 and http://www.smileytraffic.com/?rid=93 .
While traffic exchanges are not the end all or be all of marketing, they make a good addition to your overall marketing arsenal. I highly recommend you join at least 10 or more sites to get as much exposure to your sites as possible. Just as in other forms of advertising, maximum exposure is the key. Join as many sites as you can reasonably handle knowing that unless you purchase credits to fuel your sites, you will need to do some surfing.
Exchanges all offer items for sale including credits, upgrades, banner, text ads and etc depending on what is available at that specific site. If you find a site especially responsive it is always a good idea to purchase items to enhance your advertising with that site. You may want to consider buying credits for your sites if you do not have the time to surf and find a particular site to be productive.
The best thing you can do is develop a relationship with the owner/admins. For the most part, exchanges are very "hands on" entities and still a place where you can actually communicate with a living, breathing person. The very large membership sites do tend to be less "personable" than the smaller sites, but not always so. Developing a good working relationship with your exchange owners can help you in many aspects. I have been on both sides of the traffic equation: both as a member and as an owner.
As a member I weighed how the sites owner and/or admin responds to my questions and emails. Ones who responded in a professional and courteous manner are the ones I stay with. Customer service is high on my list and one's who do not have it are soon history. This holds true for myself as the owner of a site. Customer service is top priority. There are many exchanges out there and only so much of your time. You, your membership and concerns are critical to the overall health and well being of my exchange. We also have to weigh what is good for the individual to what is good for the exchange as a whole. The key is building that relationship between yourself and Admin.
The last aspect to discuss in this article is Admin email. As a member you will receive emails from Admin. These are in the way of support, information, and etc. Many times when Admin is having trouble tracking down a site breaking the rules, they will email members to enlist their help. They use emails to announce contests, winners of contests and pass along information regarding other sites. Every site will require that you agree to accept email and that you have a valid box in which to send that email to.
Bottom line: Traffic exchanges are exciting and viable marketing options and well worth adding to your portfolio.
by: Cherie Halliday http://www.xtreamsurf.com/
They come in all forms and sizes. Some exchanges are auto surf, others are manual. Some are free to join, others require a fee. Some are "paid-to-surf" programs in which members receive cash money for viewing x amount of sites daily. Some exchanges run into the tens of thousands of members (even up to one-hundred thousand), some a couple hundred. Each type, regardless of size, has it’s merits and are worthy of adding to your overall marketing strategy.
What ever the type, they all operate under the same principals. You advertise your site URL/s in "exchange" for viewing other members' sites. This is called "surfing". Depending on the individual site, each URL put on the surf bar is on a "timer". At the end of the specified amount of time, the site is displayed. Then it "rotates" out and another one takes it place. In addition to sites, many exchanges also have banner ads and what are called "text" ads which rotate in and out as well. So, while viewing a site, you will also oftentimes see a banner ad for a completely different program and a text ad as well as the site you see in the surf window.
Manual Surf Exchanges: The most basic form of traffic exchange. When you surf you must manually click on a link to rotate the site and bring another one up for viewing. Typical exchange ratio is 2:1 meaning for every site you surf you receive one credit to your account in which to show your sites. An example of a strictly manual surf site is: http://www.make1c.com/u/xts2004
Auto Surf exchanges: These are exchanges which members primarily surf without having to click on anything. The sites rotate "automatically". Most auto surf sites also have manual surf options as well. http://www.xtreamsurf.com/ is an example of an auto exchange with the manual surf option.
Free to join exchanges: These require no fee to join and usually offer a sign on bonus of credits to get you going. You then surf, refer and do other activities related to the site which earns you more credits to keep your sites showing on the surf bar.
The other type is the "Paid-To" traffic exchanges which actually pay you a certain amount of money to surf a certain amount of sites everyday. Otherwise, they are like any other traffic exchange.
All sites have rules regarding what types of sites you can put on the surf bar. Any site that disrupts the surf is generally not allowed. These are some terms you want to become familiar with in case you happen to have a site that you cannot run on a traffic site:
Frame Breaker: a site which stops the surf and "breaks" the frame so that you stay on that site after the allotted time. Pop up: this is a type of "extra" add that "pops up" while viewing a site. Pop ups tend to want to open up another window and can be very annoying for viewers.
Exit Page: it acts like a pop up only it only appears AFTER the host site "has left the building". They are especially frustrating as they are hard to catch. Usually the next site gets blamed and reported as having a pop up, when it doesn't. The site before had it and by then no one knows what site that was!
Rotator: Rotators are urls which allow you to load multiple sites on them. This way, in traffic exchanges, every time the rotator shows on the surf bar a different site is shown. These are the bane of most traffic exchanges. Every site that goes into the surf has a specific "address". If something happens and that site gets reported, Admin can then go into the database and find that site. Not so with rotators. The only site which has a specific address at the traffic site will be the rotator itself. Therefore, if one or more of the urls loaded on that site misbehave, Admin cannot locate it to deal with it. This is often a nightmare for both Admin and members. Hence, most traffic exchanges do not allow rotators.
Redirect: this is a site which sends you to yet another site to view. Like in rotators the only site in the database is the host site. Many times people will use redirects in an attempt to get around the exchange rules and show a site would normally not be shown.
Besides the exchange of traffic, most sites also offer other forms of advertising such as banner ads and text ads. These also rotate on the surf bar in a separate "window" so to speak. You see them while you surf and these are independent from the main site being shown. Still other sites have "paid-to-click" ads and even "paid-to-read" emails as well. Two of my all time favorite sites that have these options are: http://www.cheapwebtraffic.net/?rid=8 and http://www.smileytraffic.com/?rid=93 .
While traffic exchanges are not the end all or be all of marketing, they make a good addition to your overall marketing arsenal. I highly recommend you join at least 10 or more sites to get as much exposure to your sites as possible. Just as in other forms of advertising, maximum exposure is the key. Join as many sites as you can reasonably handle knowing that unless you purchase credits to fuel your sites, you will need to do some surfing.
Exchanges all offer items for sale including credits, upgrades, banner, text ads and etc depending on what is available at that specific site. If you find a site especially responsive it is always a good idea to purchase items to enhance your advertising with that site. You may want to consider buying credits for your sites if you do not have the time to surf and find a particular site to be productive.
The best thing you can do is develop a relationship with the owner/admins. For the most part, exchanges are very "hands on" entities and still a place where you can actually communicate with a living, breathing person. The very large membership sites do tend to be less "personable" than the smaller sites, but not always so. Developing a good working relationship with your exchange owners can help you in many aspects. I have been on both sides of the traffic equation: both as a member and as an owner.
As a member I weighed how the sites owner and/or admin responds to my questions and emails. Ones who responded in a professional and courteous manner are the ones I stay with. Customer service is high on my list and one's who do not have it are soon history. This holds true for myself as the owner of a site. Customer service is top priority. There are many exchanges out there and only so much of your time. You, your membership and concerns are critical to the overall health and well being of my exchange. We also have to weigh what is good for the individual to what is good for the exchange as a whole. The key is building that relationship between yourself and Admin.
The last aspect to discuss in this article is Admin email. As a member you will receive emails from Admin. These are in the way of support, information, and etc. Many times when Admin is having trouble tracking down a site breaking the rules, they will email members to enlist their help. They use emails to announce contests, winners of contests and pass along information regarding other sites. Every site will require that you agree to accept email and that you have a valid box in which to send that email to.
Bottom line: Traffic exchanges are exciting and viable marketing options and well worth adding to your portfolio.
by: Cherie Halliday http://www.xtreamsurf.com/
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