Traffic Exchanges And How To Make Them Work

When I was new to the online business and marketing world, traffic exchanges made no sense to me. It was easy for me to feel as though I was spinning my wheels. I was mindlessly surfing for credits and had no idea of why. I had no concept of how to advertise properly and I became very frustrated when all of my traffic translated to NO new business.

Traffic Exchanges are going to play an important role in your business. For those who are new to internet marketing, this will hopefully clarify what traffic exchanges are, how they are used in your business and how to maximize their effectiveness.

How Traffic Exchanges Works

Traffic Exchanges are website networks whereby members (mostly other business owners) advertise their businesses.

For example: I have a business with a website that I place on a traffic exchange. Once my site is approved by the exchange, it will be placed into rotation along with all of the other sites owned the other members of the exchanges network.
Now what you do is “surf” for exchange credits. Each time you visit another exchange network member’s web page, you earn exchange credits. Each credit you earn often times equal 1 web page exposure. So it you view 100 web pages, at 1 credit per viewing, you will earn 100 exchange credits. That means that the web page you submitted to the exchange network will be viewed by other network members 100 times.

So the more you earn, the more your page is displayed around the network.
Almost all traffic exchange programs are free, although many of them offer special features to paid members and offer credits for purchase. Almost all traffic exchange programs encourage users to build their own referral networks, which would in turn help the referrers accumulate more credits. For example, when a referred member receives credits through browsing, the referrer would get a small portion of the credits earned.

For the most part, traffic exchanges are used by small business owners who want a low cost advertising option. This leads to one flaw of traffic exchanges. Most people who browse these networks are looking only to earn credits for their own business and are not interested in the other businesses that are being advertised.

Keeping in mind your audience, it would be better to target your advertising to business owners. Offer something that will help business owners generate more business; for example, offer and e-book on how to generate targeted traffic to their website. Make sure your heading is eye catching. You want to make that surfer stop and actually read your site.

If the business you are promoting is really good (good product, good business model), then create an ad that speaks to how a business owner can supplement their income by considering your business.

Here are several factors to keep in mind for successful traffic exchange advertising:

•Remember your audience. You are advertising to other businessowners. Make it worth their while.
•Your heading is everything. Make it stand out!
•Exchanges often allow multiple web site submissions. Use them ALL
•Try not to advertise your business directly. Use lead capture pages in connection with an auto responder when possible
•Use multiple exchanges
•Set aside 20 minutes a day to surf for credits.
•Track your hit results.

Traffic exchanges are a great low cost way to advertise your business. If you focus on what is outlined above, you should expect to see a steady rise in traffic and business.