Issue 248 – Traffic Exchanges, Safelists and Twitter…Oh My!
Author: Jon OlsonSafelists are dead! It’s official…So much so that I’m ready to claim that all free advertising resources on the net are completely washed up. There is no hope for anything else ‘free’ when it comes to driving traffic…
BAH!
I have to laugh as I read some of the big claims around the net about how bad traffic exchanges are. How useless safelists have become. I mean it’s borderline comedy these days. YES, we are in the era of Web 2.0 and I do embrace it, so much so that you’ll love my article down below about a massive story this week in Twitter, but folks these types of advertising mediums have been around for over a decade…In fact, I’m pretty sure safelists have been around longer than the almighty Google.
Here’s a question then.
My friend David Foley of Traffic Taxis is a pretty successful traffic exchange owner. Taxis is one of the best releases last year and has been doing BIG things. Why on earth would David release his brand new program (a safelist might I add) if these things were washed up?
One look at Reactive Adz and you can see how much time and effort David has put into it. Seems kind of silly that a successful dude like David would launch a ‘dead’ program today doesn’t it?
Folks, it’s like this. You are going to hear everywhere that traffic exchanges don’t work. Safelists are dead. And we should all write articles and spending thousands on PPC. The simple fact is , the people screaming that these things don’t work, are the same people that don’t use them properly.
Well, i’s been 10 years plus for these programs…I’m sure on their 20th anniversary someone will still be saying that they are a fad and doomed for failure…
Thank you very much for being a reader of Hit Exchange News and have a wonderful week!
Jon Olson
The Traffic Exchange Guy
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The News
- This, in my opinion, is the best looking traffic exchange design in history! Traffic Heroes got a new owner a few months ago but what it also got this week, was a complete face lift. Wow, is what comes to mind. Absolutely incredible re-design and one program that should have a massive 2009 because of the new look and new ownership.
- Look out for a MASSIVE surf promotion tomorrow between the Super Surf sites and Traffic Bunnies. It’s Valentine’s Day (this weekend) and we’ve got some big fun lovable goodies for everyone…Stay tuned!
- A big promotion is also taking place at Royal Surf. Over the next few weeks, they are paying out 1$ per active referral for everyone you bring into the system. Expect some great traffic from the Royals and here’s a TIP – How about to traffic exchange specific pages for Royal Surf during the competition.
- Be sure vote today for your favorite traffic exchanges at Affiliate Funnel’s Surfer’s Choice ranker. This has quickly become the most popular ranking service on the net as the surfer’s are finally getting their say. Combined with the stats to back it up and our exclusive ‘new members joining’ statistic, you can see which exchanges are showing and proving, each and every week!
- Want to win your own copy of the best selling traffic exchange book on Amazon.com, Hits, Clicks and Misses, (actually, it’s the only published book about T.E.’s on the planet), simply post a comment about this week’s issue of HEN! Congratulations to ‘Sean’ for winning last week. Be sure to send your mailing address to me so that I can ship you a copy (hitexchangenews at yahoo dot com)!
- Splash Page Hall of Fame – Ya I’m a little biased but wow doesn’t this splash page for I Love Hits look just…Peachy! Note: Why do I focus on splash pages every week? Simple, you MUST be using them in the traffic exchanges to get results. Get a custom made splash page by clicking here!
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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 Bunnies
2. Dragon Surf
3. Traffic Splash
4. Hit 2 Hit
5. Traffic Witch
6. StartXChange
7. Top Tier Traffic
8. Royal Surf
9. Hit Pirate
10. Max Traffic Pro
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
Twitter Spam? Or One Smart Tweeter…
There’s been quite the hoopla at Twitter during the past few days. If anyone wants to see the ultimate power of Twitter, viral marketing and good old fashioned controversy, look no further than Tweeter Getter.
I’ll explain what it is first and then go on my soap box. This is a viral list builder for your Twitter account. That’s it. It’s the exact same script used by such powerhouse programs like Downline Builder Direct and old school builders like Free Net Leads. Nothing new. But what the owner did for this is throw the Twitter brand on an existing technology, and presto, instant controversy.
Here’s why…Twitter is supposed to be about ‘getting to know people and connecting with others’, it’s the whole 2.0 model but in bite sized chunks. So the people who hate this are screaming that it wont build your Twitter followers the right way, it’s going to bring people in who don’t want to hear from you. Some call it Twitter spam…
Here’s why I like it…Yesterday, when I joined Gary McCaffrey (the creator of it) had about 2700 followers. As I write this now, he has over 6300. That’s over 3600 new followers in under 24 hours. That’s insane. That’s the power of Twitter, viral marketing and dozens of people complaining about a harmless little program on Twitter.
Sure, you should get to know all your followers and those you are following. Sure it may attract some people who don’t want to hear from you, but this is harmless fun in my opinion. The benefits, outweigh the negatives here I think. Plus, it’s a wonderful lesson in viral marketing and how quickly things like this can spread. Check it out if you have a Twitter account!
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Things That Make You Go Hmmm…
- How cool is the new look and buttons for Traffic Exchange List?
- I need to work on a new T.E. book…
- If you are not on Twitter yet, you are missing out…BIG!
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I’ve spent the last few days posting on my blog about my thoughts regarding traffic exchanges and although I am open to many other avenues of marketing I truly believe in their power.
I mentioned you and a few other owners today by the way. I used Twitter to alert you and the others but don’t know if you guys caught that. Did it on Facebook too.
Anyway, I already have 1,547 Twitter followers and the only Twitter follower generator I’ve used has been Tim’s Twitter Me Fun (and that is because I knew it would be mostly traffic exchange surfers on the list – at least at the start).
I’m torn between growing my list organically or relying on an app like TweeterGetter but it’s becoming harder to resist. We’ll see.
Jon,
I would love a copy of your book. I read your ebook, The Loyalty Handbook, and you mentioned your book in it. Of course how could I not read your material as my boss, David Foley, would fire me if I didnt. LOL..Your ebook is full of great advise that I have already implemented. It only takes a few minutes to read and the info gained is invaluable.
No SAFELISTS are NOT DEAD..now that I am learning to use them properly, I have found they do very well (thank you again David).
David new site Reactive Adz is totally awesome and a fresh addition to the industry and yes he puts his best into all his projects. I think he over delivered on this one too.
Best Wishes
Kaye Towne
Traffic Taxis
Asst. Admn.
I loved the Twitter Getter Jon, it made a pretty quick jump in my followers right after I started telling people about it.
Pretty cool.
Yep, I’m pretty sure Reactive Adz is going to rock!
Mike
I have given up on Traffic Exchanges and consider them a waste of valuable time.
From my experiences, I found almost all web sites in the exchanges were network marketing or affiliate type programs. Very quickly I ignored everything and ran multiple TE browser windows just to collect my credits.
After awhile I realized everyone is singing the same song. I don’t want to get in your deal, I want you to get in mine.
For every person who raises their hand and says they’re successful with TE, there are a thousand who haven’t made a penny or captured one name.
I think to be successful with TE, you have to create a unique product or service that could not be copied without fear of infringement. If your product or service is remotely familiar to what’s currently being displayed in TEs, you will fail.
On the other hand, if you own a TE, you are making a fortune! It’s sort of like the California Gold Rush. While everyone was trying to find their pot of gold, the people who made the real money were the ones selling the picks and shovels. TE owners sell upgraded memberships.
In the end I thought to myself, “If Donald Trump had to start over, would he use Traffic Exchanges?”
Hi Jon
I remember reading a book by the former pres of Radio Shack detailing how to win more customers.. His basic philosophy was – to catch more mice, build a better mousetrap. The internet powers-that-be are quick to toss aside anything that doesn’t work as good in the present as it did in the past. Rather than creating a ‘new’ way to catch mice, the obvious solution is simply build a better mousetrap.. we already KNOW mousetraps work.
Same with safelist, same with email marketing, same with traffic exchanges. I was told when the Can-Spam Act went into effect in 2004 that email marketing was DEAD. All the head mice jumped ship, sold their list, and redirected their efforts.
I began work on my list, and five years later, have the biggest list in my niche in the world. I had to develop new ideas, including publishing all my newsletters as a webpage, and only sending subscribers a link to their ‘latest’ newsletter to avoid the filters.. But.. it works.
And safelists will work too, if someone will only attempt to create a ‘better mousetrap’ by giving it a new look, a little twist here and there, and a small dose of creative marketing.
We don’t need an alternative to safelist – only a better safelist.
Rick Carruth
Yep, TE’s and safelists are dead. Small aircraft went dead with the arrival of the 747, but it went dead with the arrival of the Concorde.
Hmmm, why all these little aircraft including corporate jets?
Is Google paying these guys to say things are dead in order to rip more people off for PPC?
Max Ziegler
I’m sure it doesn’t matter, but David left the same EXACT comment (word for word) on my blog so I’m assuming he probably left the same comment on blogs that focus on TE’s or defend them like me:-)
I didn’t realize it so I responded to his comment. I hope you don’t mind if I show you what I wrote below:
Thanks David for passing by and leaving us your thoughts. I truly appreciate it.
I don’t agree with you, because I’ve heard and used the same lame excuses but we are entitled to our opinions that is why social platforms kick ass.
I’ve mentioned in my posts if you are promoting anything outside of Internet and Network marketing on traffic exchanges you are probably going to fail.
To say that for every one person successful with TE’s a thousand haven’t made a penny or capture a name is outrageous.
So your argument is that everyone who writes articles, uses Google Adwords or Adsense, participates in forums, or any other advertising or marketing platform succeeds? Everyone?
The bottom line is – if you DO NOT test, track, use splash pages and brand yourself instead of promoting affiliate sales pages at a TE you are doomed.
Guess what? That goes for anything you use to promote your product and service and I’m sure you know that.
If you go into traffic exchanges expecting everyone and their mother to sign up to your program then you will definitely suck at using TE’s.
Creating your own product or service is something everyone should aspire to but no one goes into this business with that luxury. There is a learning curve.
Now, don’t hate the TE owners for making money. Why the heck would they own traffic exchanges in the first place? That’s a cop out.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe if you are going to rely solely on traffic exchanges you may have a tough time in this business but it’s undoubtedly an excellent source to build a list and brand you and/or your biz so it’s foolish not to use them if you are in the Internet & Network marketing niches.
By the way, people surfing traffic exchanges wouldn’t be buying what the Donald is selling and it’s safe to say he is smart enough to know that.
Great content, Jon! If only every surfer would read your articles, we’d have a lot more knowledgeable marketers out there. Let’s not forget that applying what we learn is what separates the achievers from the under-achievers.
I hope to have my exchange listed in your top 10 one day soon. Still in pre-launch, we’re tweaking all the features to over-deliver exactly what every surfer needs – More Traffic and List-Builders!
Thanks,
Jerokiah Darr
Thanks Jon for another great set of articles. I’ve been working on building my Twitter followers and decided to take the plunge on TweeterGetter – it’ll be interesting to see the results.
Dear Jon,
I am amazed at how many new things come and then go away just as fast as they came. But traffic exchange programs that are run properly just continue to be there year after year. As time goes on, tweeter i think prove to be a good source of traffic as well.
thanks,
warren