Issue 195

One To Click On by Jon

Welcome to the new issue of Hit Exchange News!

This has got to be one of the most anticipated issues of Hit Exchange News ever. Yes, the topic is once again downline integrity and yes we have an article from the side for downline integrity. I'm trying to make H.E.N. as unbiased as possible and I know people will argue that and say 'Jon, you have an agenda...Yadda yadda'. Well yes and no.

Yes, I have my opinions and they have been quite visible in this newsletter since 2003. But no, I do want this newsletter to report FOR the traffic exchange industry. That means, I will always make sure all sides to every story are heard. Plain and simple. I may get my big mouth into trouble some days, but that's because of the passion I have for this business.

The traffic exchanges, once again, have been online for a decade. Let that sink in for second. A decade! We have outlasted every single free form of advertising on the net and continue to grow by leaps and bounds each and every week. The reason?

Everyday new people join the net looking to build a business online. Everyone needs traffic to their site. But also, I think it's because of the diverse community this industry attracts. Different points of view, but all the same passion. And when you are passionate about something, it can only help but grow...And grow...And grow...

Thank you very much for being a subscriber and enjoy Hit Exchange News!

Jon Olson
The Traffic Exchange Guy

Want to have your say? Do you agree, or disagree? Why not visit the Net Marketing Forums and join a community of REAL people, building ideas and businesses...Together!

In This Issue

The News

The HEN Top Ten

Deep Thoughts

The Voices of the Industry

Program Review -- Traffic Truckers

Things the make you go...Hmmmm

Advertising Options

The News

• The $5000 Giveaway is ready to go. This new giveaway is combining the efforts of 5 traffic exchange owners to bring more members and more awareness to their programs. That and they are giving away over $5000 in cash and prizes. Not too shabby for a bunch of 'freebie seekers' that no one wants on their lists huh? *that was my poor attempt at humor*
• A very cool new feature from Hit 2 Hit was added this past week which allowed upgraded members to get their sites viewed on other traffic exchanges as well as within the Hit 2 Hit system. It reminds me of VS Ten meets the Savvy Clicks co-op, which adds even more benefit to an upgrade at Hit 2 Hit.
• H.E.N. will become a blog....Very soon. I'm in the process of gettign the site redesigned as well as put into a blog format. These new changes will help spread the word about the traffic exchanges even more and allow for more reader feedback directly on the site. The changes should be taking place within a few weeks.
• This Week's Splash Page Hall of Fame Entry is this page! I love the new look and layout, but this splash page really made me stop and look.

  
  
  

The HEN Top Ten results are based on traffic statistics (unique hits, traffic flow, hits delivered, traffic quality) and a touch of good old fashioned 'opinion'. The industry changes just like in the real world, so an exchange may not be on the list this week, but will be number 1 next week! Discuss this week's Top 10 list in the Net Marketing Forum!

Enjoy this week's list!

Analysis and Tracking by HitsConnect.com - The Official Link Tracking Service of Hit Exchange News! Sign up today and get your 30% Discount!

Hey Jon, how come I Love Hits, Click Crazey and SWAT Traffic are never on the top 10 list? Since I own them, I feel it would be a conflict of interest to place it on any of my rankings. If you want to see how well they are performing each week, please check TestHoopla top 20 weekly ranking!

Deep Thoughts - Feature Articles

The Doc Is Back!

Back in 2003 I was a struggling marketer to say the least. I was a member of multiple programs and most were getting me no where quick. At that time, I had been involved in internet business for roughly 4 years. 2003 marked a huge change in my business and mind set. I started to build my own stuff. One of those programs was Doctor Traffic. This was actually the start of Hit Exchange News, as it was called Doctor Traffic before H.E.N. Brief history but basically Hit Exchange News was born, then came the H.E.N. Co-Op which morphed into what is now known as Doctor Traffic.

Fast forward to present day, and the co-op has got a major new script upgrade as well as a fresh new look. The biggest problem with this co-op over the years was that members could not change URLs on their own. They needed to get in touch with me because this co-op was completely manually managed. From me adding new sites to the co-op, to editing present ones, it was quick labor intensive and was not easy to use at all for members. That has changed!

Be sure to swing by and check out the brand new Doctor Traffic co-op, which will continue to lead the way as the internet’s longest running and most successful traffic exchange advertising co-operative! Enjoy the changes!

------------------
Want to own your own profit pulling traffic exchange? Learn exactly how to build a successful business directly from Jon Olson! Check out the Traffic Exchange Guy Consulting.

The Voices of the TE Industry

Why downline integrity will grow the industry!

By Rob Gehring

Material was written in last weeks HEN that I felt the need to respond to. Downline Integrity in a Traffic Exchange or any program is simplying looking at those who have referred members to your business with respect. I call it a co-operative list. Many marketers are out there looking to generate leads and prospects for their business. They may come to a Traffic Exchange, see the referral opportunity, and be intrigued. Using the long standing front end marketing model; I advertise my new referral URL and when I have garnered a signup, I will endeavor to show them my primary business. The number one priority of a TE is to deliever traffic. Second to this is to deliver a fair playing field on how referrals are handled. What has sparked much debate is the practice of TE Owners sending 3rd party affiliate links to their membership. Clearly, they have forgotten point #2 that I illustrated above. Even a downline builder is not a perfect model for achieiving fairness here. The owner is knocked for being the default ID. The email mentioning that the new offering is available at the DLB may not be received by many; or received late. So the desired effect may not be achived this way either. Maybe Traffic Exchanges need to try a third method; neither! Yes, you heard right. How about TE's getting back to the business of delivering advertising; and the members being the ones getting the benefit. TEs will surely grow; and more and more will want to get into the action and benefit by it. Owners have every right to advertise in their exchanges; but they will have to earn their referrals the same as everyone else in order to work a 3rd party promotion. This would mean also giving up the contact information of new referrals to their "sponsor"; and also refraining from using the TE as a personal marketing list. Team Builders would need to review their focus too. Are you truly focused on a small set of objectives? Or is it going to be a flavor of the month downline club fiesta? No perfection on either side of this issue; all have room for improvement. My hope is that the improvements will benefit the members in the true spirit of customer service. Now, onto a few points that Soren made last week:

"This article will be very traffic exchange centered. Not because I want it to, but simply because exchanges are the only place where anyone has embraced the idea of downline integrity."

Ummm, downline integrity is based on the Network Marketing Model which began in the 19th century with businesses such as Watkins leading the way. During the 20th century terms like downlines and sponsors became the norm; and the thought that your sponsor or upline would be abusing their position by mentioning various offers (taking focus away) or blatantly trying to "steal" someone to their team that one of their leaders referred. Compensation was devised to promote teamwork and focus; and the industry was off and running. The owner of any traffic exchange or business is the leader and face of the business. They also set the tone for all things including integrity.......downline or other.

"There is a good reason why everybody tells you to build that all important email list ? and that is because it works. Build a list and build a relationship with your subscribers. They then become your personal downline and a pool of traffic you can send to all the products and programs you want to."

Most new marketers come online to generate leads for something they initially joined. Isn't it nice, in the beginning, to offer a co-operative list offer, meaning:

A. They will receive proper notice and contact details of the signup B. Will know that the Upline (Owner) isn't also aggressively in competition with them. For pete sake they own the darn program; isn't that sufficient? If not, maybe improvements in the program will allow them to earn the type of living they are seeking. Businesses grow when there is a sense of a give back in the way the program is operated. It is my belief that many corners of the marketing world with huge teams stay away due to the contact bombardment of links and offers; let alone the fact that it is done in a direct manner. Ignoring the feeling of this group is ignoring a work at home force in the millions that has been taught the principles of DI since, as mentioned above, before the turn of the 20th Century.

So this becomes a feature and benefit and will attract attention as better surf ratios and prizes do. But an interested lead beats most prizes anyway. The resultant effect is a stronger affiliate base who sees the benefits of advertsing said program. A new owner with low start up cash can begin to see a growing membership and an overall community of trust taking place. If new products or services are offered, they will be offered appropriately in a trickle down approach. Though downline builders are no perfect species, they do give a member a better chance of a "piece of the action" than direct ownership "over the top" email marketing does. In that realm, the member has NO CHANCE other than hoping a relationship they built will mean more than an email with a link. Good news here; many times that is the equalizer.

I know in my business I try to transition members promoting our company links into their own domain/hosting situation. This takes time and training; I also provide workshops to cover this type of progression from newbie to intermediate marketer and beyond. Sometimes we have to walk before we run; so to speak. It is a bit unrealistic to thing that new marketers can immediately become independent master list builders without any transitionary training. A TE can provide this type of learning environment; but the members who come seeking this will be looking for some type of protection, structure, and integrity in the interim. Rome, as we know, was not build in a single day.

"Downline integrity is not about sticking up for the little guy, it's about keeping the little guy in his or her assigned place in the downline structure. So they don't run around joining other things, or *gasp* break out of the shell so they don't need to be a part of a given program any longer."

Quite frankly it is this type of stereotypical thinking that causes confusion and misinterpretations. Duh, if you are a member of a traffic exchange you have every right to join anything that suits your fancy (in the rotation of sites). If you have a good sponsor or mentor to run it by and see if they have used it or to get an opinion, fine. Clearly, it pays to be supportive - - - comes back 5 fold. I can only speak for myself and the way I run my business; but there is no imprisonment, shackling, or other controls that are in place. It is very easy to throw stones at any leader who is visable or vocal. Speaking of breaking the circle, one could say that yours truly has done this to a degree in the Traffic Exchanges Industry and is now receiving his 50 lashes. Easy enough to turn the assuser into the accusee in any situation though. Nice how the shoe can move to the other foot sometimes. Gasp, I broke out of the shell! One final point here, focus is something lost on the internet. A great man once said to follow what someone successful has done in order to be successful. So, can one break out of the shell of advice or plan one has been given? Sure. Can one run into the path of the moving car they have been advised to not run in front of? Yes, true as well. Structure, focus, discipline, and other words of this kind are more powerful than chaos, distraction, and weakness - - - for sure!

"Some of the downline integrity people will try to tell you that the fortune is the follow up, but they are only telling you half the truth. They want you to do the follow up and relationship building from inside their programs because it benefits them and prevents your ability to promote other things."

Not true. Let's try to cover this one more time..........SLOWLY. I generate a signup in xyz program practicing downline integrity. I get full contact information and begin to build a relationship with the individual leading to entry into my primary business. Primary Business in any Downline Builder? No. Owner trying to market his or her stuff to this individual directly? No. Owner maybe giving a few points about the resource that we joined in the first place. That they were referred to? Yes. Has my ability to promote other things been stunted? No. Did I pick up a few signups from the same individual due to the convienience and easy of the Downline Builder (resources to share). Yes. Am I going to build a good relationship with this individual to earn their continued business? Yes. Is the guy with the slick email going to beat the guy who gets personal with his business contacts going to win. NEVER! (Oh, and did the owner get my referral as their signup in a new offering???.........well, my ID was filled in. Thanks program owner, I really appreciate that!)

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Rob Gehring is the co-owner of the Top Rated 10khits4unow traffic exchange and the GJW Family of Programs. A place where you will experience results and be treated with respect in all regards including your downline (pre-list). Nor will you be pressured to move to advanced marketing before you are ready. Ir-regardless, your downlines are safe with us. We stand on our reputation of excellence and integrity and are a proud member of the Downline Integrity Brigade.

Program Review - Traffic Truckers

Being a sponge when you first come online is very important. I have seen it happen time and time again, but the people that are always trying to learn in this business seem to do the best. Case in point, with Tina Sparby. She has recently launched her brand new traffic exchange and the results are very impressive.

Tina has been learning the in's and out's of the traffic exchange industry for a few months now and has embraced one itty bitty golden rule of launching a new program...Have the site look like a million bucks. Wow, Traffic Truckers looks great. From the splash pages to the logo, everything in this program looks amazing.

As for traffic? Delivery is very steady. It has got the great pace that follows well planned launches, so you can expect to get what you surf and then even more with the cool bonuses that you get while in the system. Anyways, this is a must join program and one that should be around for many years to come!

Overall Rating: 4.0 Mouse Clicks (Rating out of 5.0)

Have a look at Traffic Truckers by clicking the link!

Things That Make You Go...Hmmm? (A 'Different' Look at the Industry!)

• Something very big is going to happen in the traffic exchange industry...Very soon. Get ready to be blown away... Hmmm....
• Have you checked out the brand new ranking system at I Love Hits yet? Hmmm....
• I can't stop reading books...I'm at the point where I'm reading 3 books a week now. Is this addiction? Hmmm....

Advertise with Hit Exchange News

Affordable Advertising, Targeted and Very Effective!

Why should you advertise in Hit Exchange News?

We offer highly effective ad space for a fraction of what other e-zine's charge. Hit Exchange News is a 100% unique content e-zine (no recycled information here folks!) With dozens of new subscribers each week, H.E.N. has one of the most dedicated and loyal subscriber lists online.

Ad Space is sold extremely quick and for ONLY $49.97, it's the best bang for your online advertising buck!

We also offer banner ads for only $9.97 that deliver unlimited impressions each month. This is not average e-zine advertising, because this is not an average e-zine! See what Hit Exchange News can do for you!

Click Here for more information!

And don't forget, H.E.N. Super Packs are the ultimate in online advertising! Check them out and save BIG!

Comments and Suggestions

That's it for this week folks, thanks again for subscribing to Hit Exchange News. Next week we will continue to bring you useful information and late breaking hit exchange news.

If you want to see anything addressed, looked into or discussed, please let me know. This is your e-zine with content that YOU want to read. I value your input and look forward to talking to each of you! Drop me a line here or visit me in the forums. We're building a professional community in there and we'd love for you to join us!

And finally, if you know of anyone that would like to receive the News, please feel free to let them know about HitExchangeNews.com as I appreciate all the extra promotion I can get *s* !!!

Have a good week everyone and may the CLICK be with you!

Jon G. Olson
Publisher / Editor - HitExchangeNews.com