You know it’s interesting as I listen to people these days and the answers to what is a traffic exchange – so thought this would make a nice blog post and let people share
their definition – don’t be shy now
Wikipedia says this……
A traffic exchange website receives website submissions from webmasters that join traffic exchange networks. The person who submitted the website then has to browse other member sites on the exchange program to earn credits, which enable their sites to be viewed by other members through the surf system. This increases the number of visitors to all the sites involved.
Exchanges enforce a certain credit ratio, which illustrates the amount of websites the surfer must view in order to receive one hit through the program for their promoted website. Many sites offer the ability to upgrade one’s membership level for a more equal credit ratio.
As the viewers are all website owners or affiliates, it is possible that some might find certain member sites interesting and thus make note of them on their own sites, sending more traffic their way. Most traffic programs also impose a time limit when members are browsing, ranging from 10 seconds to 60 seconds. Some incorporate the use of captcha to ensure user interaction.
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 in turn increases the referrers’ amount of credits.
The traffic generated in a traffic exchange can be leveraged by using a downline builder to assist the user in building a referral network in the many different traffic exchanges.
In practice, traffic exchange programs are generally used by small business owners or marketers who either want free advertising or use the exchange programs for low-budget advertisement campaigns.
Now I’m going to ask you to go back and read thru all that ONE more time and this time
look as see if you see anything about a place to EARN money, win prizes, play games
etc. Then I want to you to keep reading the rest of this post as I think that you will see
how much things have changed over the years and in my opinion not sure if it’s good
or bad – thought would put this out there and see what others thought.
Here is what Widipedia says about Paid to Click…..
Paid To Click is an online business model that draws online traffic from people aiming to earn money from home. Paid-To-Click, or simply PTC websites, act as middlemen between advertisers and consumers; the advertiser pays for displaying ads on the PTC website, and a part of this payment goes to the viewer when he views the advertisement.
So lets hear your thought on what is a traffic exchange in your opinion and yes everyone has one – here is the time to share yours
Come on you know you wanna
Great question! Love this topic because I think you hit the nail on the head….It’s what we’ve become huh? More of a glorified PTC these days then a true traffic exchange….
Here’s my definition….It’s a place where I look at your website and you look at mine. I personally have no issues with the gamification of it, because it attracts a wider audience…But I wish we put more emphasis on what we did with those credits we earned…
What to promote and how to promote inside of these programs, I think can help each of our definitions!
Great post Nancy!
Thanks Jon I know and agree in the last 10 years that I have been online I can’t believe the changes and not for the better
I know I was guilty of this when I first started and was a surfer turned owner and it’s so easy to think like a surfer and give,
give, give BUT when you start treating it like a business things turn around. Thanks again for the comment
When you compete with people with the same tools available to them how do you showcase how you are different? What makes a site exceptional when it is identical to 5+ others. Heck what makes it stand out. When you cannot do something new/ innovative/Spin IT how can you compete?
I like where you question leads owners great post
Well great comment and I personally think it all boils down to how you are treated once you get in the door. Example, there are lot of Pizza places out there – each with a different header, all have a building, all advertise, all serve pizza but it’s the service your get that makes you go back JMO
Nancy,
You picked a great topic to blog about and questions for one to ponder as well. I think now there is a much more community like feel as well as the social aspect of TE’s – even as an owner I still enjoy seeing how others come up with new games etc.
Best regards always,
~Mark
Thanks Mark and I love the social aspect of the TE’s and for most keeping the communication doors open is a great way to keep moving forward. You don’t have to agree with everything you hear, you can learn from what you hear and make your own decision on how you will use what you have heard – soooooooooo love what I do
I love Zaney Clicks mainly because of the owner of this TE. She’s very attentive and knows what people want in a traffic exchange.
Ahhhhhhhh thanks Susan – it’s people like you that make what I do soooooooo enjoyable
I explored this topic in January.
It is very eye-opening for sure. Here was the meat of my post:
I would venture to say they are much, much more than just the commercialized exchange of visitor traffic to web pages. A Traffic Exchange is a membership site which allows you to socialize and rub elbows with like minded people. They have evolved into way more than the “you view my site and I will view yours” mentality. They are real people who are spending time viewing advertising or marketing their affiliate links for a variety of reasons. The reasons may vary from: a. wanting to get traffic to their own site; b. looking for other programs to join; c. viewing ads to get inspiration; d. socializing with others while surfing ads; e. building an online business. These are only a few reasons why people use traffic exchanges. Each and every member may have a list of their own specialized reasons for using a traffic exchange. There is no right or wrong reason.
Thanks Cathy – must have missed that post and great comment and have to agree if you ask 100 people you would get 100 answers but still nice to hear what others have to say
The basics of TE has not changed much over the years…. surf to earn credits while viewing other members sites and vice versa.
It was in the late 90’s that TE’s became commercialized by charging for services and offering membership upgrade and by 2000 TE’s became an affiliate program by offering commissions for referring others who purchased advertising and upgrades.
Also in the late 90’s Paid to Surf became popular and that’s where Surfing for Cash got its origins from and today has become part of the mainstream focus of TE’s and surfers who look to the internet to earn some extra income. For more details on Paid to Surf – look it up on Wikipedia.
As Jon Olson mentioned, Gamification of Traffic Exchanges attracts a wider audience, which is why many owners entice their memberships to surf for cash prizes and rewards, and while there nothing wrong with doing this, many owners end up several hundred if not thousands of dollars in debt because they can not afford to pay those cash prizes out to the members. Instead of stopping to give out the cash prizes they choose to tell their members that those cash prizes can only be used for purchasing upgrades and advertising. It okay to give upgrades and credits and even cash as prizes and rewards – but if an owner is not going to offer to pay those cash prizes out without forcing the member to be an upgraded member, they should not entice their membership with cash prizes.
James Dias is absolutely correct – with over 3000 Traffic Exchanges online – the differences between them are insignificant at best.
I like using Traffic Exchanges as they can be fun, rewarding and a great way to earn some extra cash from upgrades, sales of advertising and cash prizes here there.
Great post Nancy! I enjoy reading your blog.
Thanks Randy for the comments and you are right how thinks have changed and will continue to as why I love the TE World. You have brought up some good points and TE land provides great opportunity for people – members and owners. With the over 3000 businesses, it great to see the diversification that there is – from the graphic designing, the gamification and the different styles that are offered in each.
This is one of the reasons that I love this community of people and working here don’t seem like work.
Choose a Job You Love, and You Will Never Have To Work a Day in Your Life – Confucius