Issue 210 - The ‘Potential’ Death of the Traffic Exchanges
Author: The T.E. GuyI’m back in the saddle once again. I’m home after a two week hiatus and travels across the continent. It’s been a very interesting couple of weeks in the traffic exchange industry and I have quite a few strong opinions on what has taken place during this time. Be sure to check out my ‘Deep Thoughts’ section in this week’s issue.
As promised in the last issue of Hit Exchange News, R. Tom Worthington has won a copy of Hits, Clicks & Misses: The Traffic Exchange Experience. Please remember, I’m giving away a copy of this book each and every week to a reader that simply posts a comment about the newsletter.
Speaking of contests, have you seen the new contest from Affiliate Funnel? For the first time in traffic exchange history, we’re giving away 3 grand prizes of a laptop computer, a digital camera and a satellite radio receiver. Be sure to check out more details about this new promotion and if now was not the best time to get involved with AF, I’m not sure what will be. This is huge folks, and it’s only going to get better from now on!
It’s great to be back and writing Hit Exchange News. I hope you have a great week and happy surfing!
Jon Olson
The Traffic Exchange Guy
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The News
- Traffic Bunnies reached quite a milestone this past week as it hit 10,000 plus members. Congratulations to the newest 5 figure membership exchange on the net, and a very good one at that. Cindy has been working like mad on her program, and it shows. Here is an exchange owner that ‘gets it’. Way to go Bunnies!
- Traffic Wonderland is a brand new program and one I think has some very big potential. I have talked with the owners and these guys have got some big plans to make this program a huge success. How’s this for a jump start? They already have over 1200 members in a very short time. Some exchanges cannot even reach 1200 in a year, and this program did it in about a month. Not too bad for two brand new people to the traffic exchange industry.
- It’s been a few weeks since it launched, but Nexus Exchange looks and feels amazing. Here are another pair of owners that have been working non stop for years to make their program the best it can be. Congratulations to both Aaron and Eva for all your hard work. This new layout and design looks amazing!
- Splash Page Hall of Fame - Blue Surf’s been making waves lately and this personalized splash page is just what the doctor ordered!
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The Famous Hit Exchange News Top 10 (Disclaimer: These are my top performing exchanges for the past week. Alexa rankings and fancy numbers have nothing to do with how I rank my list. This is based on my results and my opinion, nothing more, nothing less.)
1. Traffic Swarm
2. Traffic Splash
3. Traffic Bunnies
4. TS 25
5. Dragon Surf
6. StartXChange
7. Magnify Traffic
8. Traffic Punk
9. Royal Surf
10. Traffic Era
Note: Analysis and Tracking by Hits Connect - The Official Link Tracking Service of Hit Exchange News! Sign up today and get your 30% Discount!
Question: Hey Jon, how come I Love Hits, SWAT Traffic and Click Crazey 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. (But we all know how great they are anyways lol)
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Deep Thoughts - Jon’s Weekly Rambling
The ‘Potential’ Death of the Traffic Exchanges
If anyone can remember the fiasco we had a few years ago about the ‘auto surf’ exchange, this will almost sound like a repeat. The reason being, is because I see so many similarities between this new issue and the auto surf exchange argument.
It’s the 5 second timer!
More and more, exchanges seem to be lowering their timers to under 10 seconds and some have even launched this past week from some pretty well known exchange owners that have a 5 second timer from day one. I know, I know…This is what is going to happen after the exchanges went from a 30 second timer, down too a 10 second industry average.
But where does it end? At one second? No wait, I’ve got a better idea, how about a no second timer when you don’t even need to surf, just set it and forget it…Oh wait, that’s already been done. Auto surfing anyone?
I do think this is going to seriously hurt the industry. As someone who spends hundreds of dollars a week in traffic exchange advertising, I am concerned that this is catering to traffic delivery, rather than giving me (an advertiser and surfer) a viable and effective form of advertising.
I’m sure we will continue on this path though, and heck, maybe I’m even concerned about something that’s not that big a deal. But being in this business since 1999, I cannot help but feel we are heading down a very dark path when it comes to going below a 5 second timer. And it’s coming, give it a year or so…
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Things That Make You Go Hmmm…
- Over 13,000 members and a brand new look! Magnify Traffic has been doing amazing things this past year, and this is just icing on the cake!
- John Marks and I met when I was in Toronto. I talked his ear off for a good hour and a half about FFA pages….LOL Just kidding. Hey man, great to meet you again!
- Anyone remember Urgle?
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Its interesting you mention the 5 second controversy. From the survey that I just performed the majority of people that took the time to answer the survey (which are probably the ones that will actually view your site) say they would rather have a surf timer between 10-15 seconds. So I will likely be adjusting my timers to accomodate that. Traffic delivery is nice, but results are what count…
You have a floating pop up to vote for my favorite Traffic Exchange on the side. However, I cannot click it to vote or get rid of it, as it follows me down and up and lands just below the line. Maybe you should center it better so I can take action one way or another. By the way, I have already purchased your Hits, Clicks and Misses book.
I’m really enjoying reading the book. Thanks again!
To anyone that hasn’t read Hits, Clicks & Misses, I highly recommend that you get it. I believe it is important to learn about the past and to always keep learning so you can plan where you are going. Sure, I know circumstances change, but at least plot a course to aim for!
Personally I think that 5 seconds is just right when it comes to surfing timers. I can pretty much tell within that time frame whether or not I want to know more about what’s being offered.
If so, then I stay a little longer or I open the site in a new window and come back to it later. (Sidenote: “Open in New Window” is a feature that should be part of more TE’s).
Here are some additional things to consider:
1. Many surfers have multiple surf sites open at one time, so they probably only see each site for less than 5 seconds anyway.
2. Having to view the same sites (affiliate websites) over and over again for 10 - 15 seconds each time is really monotonous and a waste of valuable time.
3. Most people just don’t have the time to surf enough sites to earn the massive amount of credits it takes to effectively advertise on TE’s. Therefore, I believe that lowering the timer to 5 seconds will actually HELP the TE’s in the long run because surfers will now be able to earn enough credits to make TE’s work for them, thus earning them a better reputation overall.
I don’t see any similarity between a 5-second timer and autosurfing. As long as there has to be human interaction to get to the next site, you know that there are actually eyes on the page!
Just my two cents!
Cynthia Howard
I won’t use a traffic exchange that gives my pages less than 8 seconds exposure. And I’d rather spend my advertising dollars on exchanges like EasyHits4U and TrafficSwarm that give my pages a full 20 seconds exposure or more.
Perhaps the exchanges with shorter timers will attract more free members, but I think you’ll find that more PAYING members join and stay with the exchanges with longer timers.
Just my opinion, of course, but my money goes where my opinion goes…if that matters to any of the TE owners out there.
I buy quite a bit of my credits and would never pay for anything less than a 20 sec timer like TrafficSwarm and TrafficG with a 30 sec timer also seems to do well for me as an advertiser. Forget about 10 secs or less. That burns my ad dollars much too fast.
Well said, Jon!
I promote a number of TE’s via my Guru U website, and I, too, have become concerned over the last year with webmasters lowering their timers.
Just as you stated in your article…
“I do think this is going to seriously hurt the industry. As someone who spends hundreds of dollars a week in traffic exchange advertising, I am concerned that this is catering to traffic delivery, rather than giving me (an advertiser and surfer) a viable and effective form of advertising.”
“Advertiser” is the operative word here…
TE webmasters really need to focus on the fact that it is us ADVERTISERS who pay the bills. When advertisers get poorer and poorer results, it will seriously impact the TE industry as a whole.
As Mike commented, “Traffic delivery is nice, but results are what count.” I would go even further and state that traffic delivery is MEANINGLESS without results. I advertise on TE’s to have my product sold, not to accumulate credits.
Similar situations killed the efficacy of FFA sites and safelists.
Stan Stuchinski
Author, “Secrets of the Big Dogs”
Webmaster, GuruUniversity.net
Great comments everyone, thanks so much for your valuable input. I’ll announce the winner in a day =)
Great to see you back Jon - 5 seconds is too short by 5 seconds!
Kent
I’m with you Jon. Just today I got a promo email from a TE owner about the 6 sec surf they were running. Since I had to message him anyways, I threw in my 2 cents, and asked that the timer remain at 10 sceonds.
I really enjoy TE’s like Traffic Splash and Fast Easy with their short timers, and I DO have proven good results with them.
However on the overall, I strongly feel that 10 secs is fast enough, and even a lot of Splash Pages are doubtful to open fully on slower connections with 6-8 secs. Affiliate pages and the likes don’t have a chance at most peoples connection speeds.
I spend a LOT of dollars every month on TE advertising. I always read my TE emails before I do my surfing, and look for the “Bonus” reduced timers, that are becoming more and more frequent on Very Good popular TE’s.
I NEVER assign my credits or surf or spend my dollars on these TE’s, while these specials are running.
Unfortunately I have never tested the difference, but my Gut tells me that the results are better overall with a 10 sec minimum.
Let the TE’s that were designed for quick timers, and that ONLY allow fast loading pages have their niche, but I say - let’s keep all the other TE’s at 10 secs minimum.
Great comments on the timer isssue Jon. I think TE owners are going a bit crazy with the dropped timers lately, and I refuse to assign credits to my sites on those days. I think 10 seconds is the perfect amount of time that’s fair to both the advertiser and the surfer.
Dear Jon,
As long as most surfers use a tabbed browser the 30 sec. to 10 sec. timer is safe. If you surf a lot using a tabbed browser lets say 5 exchanges, even the 10 sec. timer is having to wait for the surfer. What that means is that any thing lower than 10 seconds is not working in practical application. When I surf I want to see what others are doing so each page gets my eye for several reasons. Intel on competitors is the main one but there is also a learning thing that goes on as far as how to do things from a technical point and yes I even buy and or join stuff that I feel I need to see what is out there. So don’t worry the less than 10 sec. exchange is just a fad and will go the way of the dodo.
Hello Jon,
Thank you for bringing this subject to the attention of your subscribers. For some reason there seems to be those that feel the timer in a TE is not a factor… and as an owner and advertiser in other exchanges, I have to disagree. I will many times not advertise a splash page in order to attempt more information in the sales page. Over time, more information works better than splash pages, in my opinion and testing… especially if the splash pages are old and overused. With this in mind, I very rarely spend money in an exchange with a timer of less than 10 seconds…
Hi Jon,
I’m with you on this one. I really believe that at least a 10 to 20 second timer is the best for both
surfers and advertisers. Heck anyway we mostly all surf in tabs and with the 6 second timer it’s done and sitting there waiting to be clicked when you get back to it, waisted seconds I
say. Also when members/promoters are purchasing advertising via upgrades or credit purchases they would expect to have their site shown with at least a 9 second timer I would think to Free members.
And to the owners that send an email out to advertise a special 6 second timer it’s just another ruse to keep members logging in and active and so they can send out another link ad to their members, like every other day.
I try to limit my email ad links to my members.
But like anything it goes both ways for owner and advertiser.
We’ll have to keep watch and see how this timer affects the bottomline.
Jon, I so agree with your comments about a 5 second timer. It seems to me that 10 seconds is good. If you have an attractive splash page or a page that loads quickly 10 seconds gives you enough time to make an informed decision about clicking through or bookmarking the site. 5 seconds is just not enough time, and I for one would not join or promote such a site.
Roger Rothove
Most of the salient points have been well covered, but nobody has commented on the fact that there are still a lot of sites that do NOT open in five seconds. Before even going to that extreme, somebody should check the possibility of the timer starting WHEN THE PAGE OPENS, then we would have something realistic to consider. The rush to get everybody to use splash pages has not really worked anyway, so a minimum of ten seconds would seem more appropriate, practical and sensible.
Jon , have to agree 5 seconds is no deal for the advertiser, and many pages dont open in that time. We already have some programs with 6 second timers. Program owners with slow loading pages may have to rethink; some exchanges allow members to pay for extended viewing time on their pages - just throwing in an idea! Everything seems to have to be fast and furious these days, WHY?
Here’s something for TE owners to consider:
When you send me an email (and most of you do), that is your newsletter, or an ad, or just encouraging me to surf, from now on, I will only spend as much time reading your email as your timer. In other words, if you have a 5 second timer, I will read your email for 5 seconds, and then stop. Think your message will get across to me?
Something to think about.
Hi Jon –
I couldn’t help but notice that most of your top ten sites also happen to be on the PTC referenced above. I just found this site recently and have been trying to find out if it is legitimate.
At first I thought it probably was — because of the quality of the sites it lists in the PTC area — almost all of them top rank sites. But then, I’m not sure why these sites would actually pay someone $.1 per click when there is a ton of “free” advertising around.
Can you comment on this, please?
Thanks,
mr1mij
Hi James,
Not really sure which PTC you are referring too. I think only a few of the exchanges in my top 10 offer PTC services, if any?
PTC is a similar concept to traffic exchanges, but have unique differences. The first, being in a traffic exchange your surfing is exchanged for page views. In a PTC system, your surfing is exchanged for cash, not a lot of cash mind you.
Different market too. As a successful traffic exchange can get 10,000 members. A successful PTC could get 50,000. Older and bigger market too.
As a Newbie these comments were good to read. My first thought about the “secs.” was - “can’t be true, no-one will be reading anything”.
I am encouraged by the 20secs. having found a lot of help through one or the other site because of the given time to look into it without getting dizzy.
The other thing is, I am now aware that this is going on and so will be on the alert for the more secs. traffic sites.
And we have a winner for this week - Congratulations to ‘Zo’
If you can send me your mailing address to hitexchangenews at yahoo dot com, I will ship your book out to you this week.
Thanks everyone for the amazing feedback, keep it coming =)
Good stuff as usual. However, not to belabor a point, you have traffic swarm as your number. No doubt it has been good for me. I also notice someone has said they like the 20 second timer. WRONG! Swarm is a biggie but you can click away in about 2 seconds. You do not have to keep looking at the site. People need to stop and think about that when they debate timers.
I use a 10 sec timer on Traffic Heroes. I ran a promotion at 5 seconds and I’ll never do it again. Half the sites did not load when I surfed 300 plus sites during the promotion. I will promote with 8 seconds from here on out.
The polls always show that people do not like below 10 seconds and everyone will say they will not surf a exchange with a timer less then 10 seconds but if that was so one of my favorite exchanges would not have had the huge success that they have had in the last year Traffic Splash. They have a 7 sec timer, over 10,000 loyal members. Do TS members not take polls? It’s one of the best exchanges in the industry.
I also think in the next year or so we will see timers increase not decrease. Video in traffic exchanges is becoming more popular everyday and the timers are going to need to be adjusted up to accommodate the newer technology. Thats my opinion anyway!
Rich Morris
Traffic Heroes
Hi Jon –
Follow-up to the PTC item above. The site in question is
http://www.noobitz.info
This is a new PTC and they have listed about 16 of the TOP manual surfs as PTC advertisers, indicating they will pay from $.1 to $.5 per click.
This seemed odd to me that that many of these quality exchanges would be paying that much — all at the same time to a new PTC — especially now that I see you were not aware of them.
If this is legitimate, great — but if not, it could hurt the exchanges listed through “guilt by association”. Just thought an industry watch guy like yourself should know.
James
I agree on the timers anything lower than 10 seconds is not giving the members quality advertising