Traffic Exchanges. Increase your Search Engine and Alexa rankings:

Adding your sites to traffic exchanges is a great way to increase your Alexa rankings and improve your overall ratings in the search engines. Traffic sites rotate your links, which generate "hits." This is considered activity that is picked up by the SEes.

Also, adding your links is similar to link back. this is also picked up on by the SEs. Some programs, like those associated with XtreamNet, will also add your link to the exchange sometimes on the main or public page or in the members’ area. These links are also picked up by the SEs and can help your rankings as well.

Plus, members surf and view your ads and sites in ways safe lists, ffa and classified ad posts don't provide. As each member surfs the exchange, a site is shown on the rotator.

Marketing studies have shown that people need to see a site or ad or offer on average of 7 times before taking action.

Getting your site up and running on many exchanges can be a good strategy for you.

Many affiliate sites reward you for promoting their site, ie your referral link, with credits and sometimes cash. This makes traffic exchanges, sometimes called surf sites a good venue for most affiliate programs. Program owners rely on affiliates to help increase their traffic and search engine rankings, so adding your affiliate program to traffic sites is a win-win situation for everyone.

Now, if you choose this route, you also need to be active and participate in these programs!

The lifeblood of any exchange is the surf.

Sites which have active members who surf on a regular basis are healthy and sites are rotated, seen, and lots of hits generated for you and all members.

It is sometimes tempting to merely join a site, post your site with the credits awarded you and then simply vanish, never to return or participate in the site. In the long run, this is a very bad strategy. Exchanges only work when the members - all of them - surf. Without surf, sites do not get rotated. Without rotation, sites do not get seen - especially yours!

Surfing does not have to be an all consuming activity. A good strategy is to set up a couple of groups of sites, load a few onto your browser and then surf while accomplishing your other online activities like reading email, marketing, chatting and etc.

You can size your windows to view the sites as they rotate and still do other things.

This way, you contribute to the health of the exchanges, get your own sites seen by others and rotated generating hits, all the while doing the other things you need to do online.

- Cherie Halliday