Zaney News & Blog Is Back — And So Am I

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Nancy Radlinger

There’s something special about coming back to where it all began.

As I was going through my files recently, I found my old Zaney News & Blog — and wow, what a trip down memory lane. Reading those posts reminded me how much I loved sharing what I was learning, teaching others, and building something that truly mattered.

Back then, I didn’t realize I was documenting a journey. I was simply figuring things out, learning through trial and error, and sharing what worked and what didn’t.

But looking at it now, I realize this blog has always been more than just posts.

It’s been a place to teach.
A place to encourage.
A place to build community.

And now… it’s back.
Why I’m Bringing the Blog Back

Over the years, Zaney Clicks, Hummingbird Hits, Zaney Mailz and New Mail Alert have continued to grow and evolve. I’ve learned more than I ever imagined about traffic exchanges, mailers, and building online communities.

I’ve also seen firsthand how powerful these tools can be when used the right way.

This blog will once again be a place where I share:

• What works
• What doesn’t
• Tips and lessons learned
• Updates and behind-the-scenes insights
• And ideas to help you build your own success online

No hype. No fluff. Just real experience.

Building Traffic, Community, and Success Since 2008

When I bought Hummingbird Hits in 2008, I had no idea where this journey would lead. Shortly after, Zaney Clicks became part of that journey, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

What started as a learning experience became a passion.
What started as a small project became a community.

And I’m still learning every day.

The Best Is Still Ahead

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:

You are never too old to learn something new.
You are never too late to start building something meaningful.
And sometimes, the best chapters come after you think the story is finished.

I’m excited to bring this blog back and continue sharing this journey with you.

Thank you for being part of Zaney Clicks — past, present, and future.

— Nancy

Get Traffic To Your Blog

Posted on September 28, 2017 by Nancy Radlinger

It’s funny how conversations in Skype rooms can give you a topic for a blog post and this one is going to surprise you on how to get traffic to your blog.

I was just in a chat room and the conversation was that one site owner was not allowing blogs in their site. So it was asked why as a blogger I like to get people to my blogs to help people from not going through some of the things that I have learned the hard way.

The conversation went to that the reason they didn’t was because people were just adding their main page and to me I agree that is just as bad as adding the home page or main page of a TE (traffic exchange) and wonder why you are not getting any referrals.

The one thing that came out of this conversation was think of advertising in TE’s as a billboard along a highway. That ad on the billboard has to grab your attention going down the road at 65 mph. Online advertising is no different – you members are surfing at 6, 8 and 10 second timers – you have that time frame to grab their attention.

Source: inboxity

HOW DO YOU DO THAT? You have to get creative as an advertiser and put out splash pages or squeeze pages that are going to give them a REASON to click. Just like the billboards along the highways – give the driver a reason to take the next exit and visit their store.

I recently did a blog post on What Happened to Creativity? When is the last time you looked at ads in a magazine, newspaper, or even google ad examples? Study those ads and notice how they are set up and that there are only key points there so that you will go to the store, go to their website, etc.

Bottom line is if you are trying to get traffic to your blog then you need to give me a reason to click and go to your blog – put on your creativity hat and can’t wait to see your ads that you create. Below is one example of how you can get people to your blog.

Help Me I can’t decide

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Nancy Radlinger

There are so many times that I hear from members that there are just so many pages at a site that it makes them hard to pick the one to use to promote and I hear Help Me I can’t decide.

While I can tell you which ones get the best results for me as I track – I have also found that what works for one does not work for others. So I have a simple solution for you and it really does not take that long to set up and this WILL save you time and credits in the long run.

In sites where there are so many wonderful pages to choose from and even I have hard time deciding which ones to pick – well here is what I do…………….I go to Zaney Clicks and then I pick out 5 of the ones that I want to use and I set them up as trackers – now if you want to save time down the road – you can add them all in there and then go and set up a rotator.

For this example, I will use Zaney Clicks as there are soooooooo many to promote – I simply set up zcsplash1, zcsplash2. Believe me I started out that way and now I get a little more descriptive in my names zccatsrule, zcspring, zcwaitingcats – well you get the idea.

After you add your trackers, then you go and set up your Zaney Rotator and then you add five of them in that rotator – then take that rotator URL and put it all over. That’s right this is a great way to save credits – as the 5 trackers that you have added will rotate each time your rotator is shown – pretty cool huh

Now here is the best part, test these and if you are not getting referrals, then go in and pick a couple more to change out. This is where you learn to work smarter and not harder – because you have your rotator URL all over – you just go back to Zaney Clicks and take out a few and then add a few more and test them.

You know how much time you just saved yourself because you didn’t have to chase all over and change the URL – you make your changes and they are changing where ever you had that rotator URL

That is how you save time and credits – because now instead of trying to assign credits to 5 of your favorite URL’s you only have to assign them to ONE URL . Now I know you are thinking wow I could do that with 5 favorite sites, my 5 money makers, or my 5 sites that get me referrals – easy peasy huh???????

I don’t know about you but do you ever get to the point that you get CRS and you can’t remember where you even have your links – well I admit that I suffer from that occasionally – well until I started using the free tracker and rotator services that many sites offer – when you look at your stats – you will see exactly where everything is showing and how many times.

So the next time that you just can decide and want to say Help Me I can’t decide – try this and as always would love to hear how this works for you – I know it’s been a true blessing for me now that I have gone back to work.

TIP: Some sites have a splash page rotator and that is even a gold mine – put that in YOUR rotator and that site is covered – then just find 4 more that offer that shhhhhhhh don’t tell anyone that I let that slip out

Work Smarter, Not Harder (part 2)

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Nancy Radlinger

Well I’m going to take a few minutes to put an answer to a question that I have gotten over and over the last week on the previous post Work Smarter, Not Harder and I love the feedback that I get from these post – so feel free to leave comments here or send me a support ticket

People have mentioned to me that they has been trying this theory and so I asked each one to tell me what they had been doing with the site they were promoting. Each said they had put in the site url, added a banner and text link in other TE’s and assigned credits to that one url, banner and text – that the sites would only allow the url to be added once.

After hearing this, I realized that I didn’t mention that the way to utilize ALL of your sources that is available to you did not fully explain what I was thinking and that you all are not mind readers – sorry my fault for not explaining further.

Here is what I do when a site will not allow the same url to be repeated – I will go to the site and grab the urls of the splash pages as they are all different urls – and if you go to the site that you are promoting you will hopefully see that the site has offered you a variety of pages to promote. Oh I know you are thinking why would I want to do this.

There are a few reasons why this important to do – when you are picking out a splash page to promote you are picking the one that you like and I learned from years ago that just because I like it – others may not have the same taste as I do.

See I owned a gift shop for years and when I would go to buying shows I would take a couple girlfriends along to go with me and then I would order a variety of things from what I liked and what they liked. This is a big mistake I made for years with the gift shop till I learned that just because I would never like this particular thing – it doesn’t mean someone else might.

Well the same works in promoting your ONE site – when you are picking the splash pages that you like based on the graphic, colors, etc. – you are limiting your audience. So that is why it’s important to pick a splash that you don’t like, colors that you think are just ucky as there are some out there – it could be their favorite and they click.

Now I know you are thinking, Nancy you have really gone Zaney – there is no way that someone is going to click on an add just because they like the colors, the graphics etc. well I did a test oh about a year ago and tested it – same ad and just changed the background in it – now here is the interesting part – I got the same results from each page.

So with so many talking to me this week with similar stories thought I would do a follow up post on Work Smarter, Not Harder as there might be more of you out there with the same issues. Grab those splash page url and add them to your tracker and bet you will be surprised what your results will be.

Safety Precautions

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Nancy Radlinger

Working online can be very rewarding and fun but there are safety precautions that a person can do and should be doing and believe me this is just a few that I have learned along the way.

There are some things that I just wanted to highlight in this blog post to make you aware and use caution here online. These are just some things that I have learned the hard way and some I have heard from friends.

Phishing

Most of you probably know what this word means but if you were like me you had no clue what it meant when I first started online. Phishing pronounced fishin is the activity of defrauding an online account holder of financial information by posing as a legitimate company.

This happens in emails, Skype, Facebook, Twitter, etch so it really keeps a person on their toes. My rule of thumb NEVER click on any links that you do not know where they came from and DO NOT even click on any links from friends unless you are talking to them at the time. I will even take this one step further – ask a question that only the person you are talking to will know the answer as some hackers will even talk to you – I had that happen on Skype before pretending to be the friend of the account they had hacked.

Trojans

Yes that is a scaring word to lot of people but do you know there are hackers out there that will download them on your computer to get info from you. They can be disguised in ways that look harmless.

Drive-by downloads

Did you know that hackers can sneak malicious code on to legitimate website – when you think that you are downloading a legit file or even pictures. That happened to me once when I download a picture that I wanted to use from Facebook and Google.

Bypassing passwords

As I was researching, I was quite surprised to find out that there is a software that will actually install virus and can read what you type on your computer – thus giving the hackers your passwords.

This info was gotten from this post on USA Today and here is the link to the post and really think that everyone should read this 5 Ways Hackers Attack You.

This all has been a real eye-opener for me and actually my research started on all this as my support guy is always on my case about logging out of my sites vs just hitting the X at the top and closing out. Well this does NOT close you out and leaves a door open for hackers – in fact there are a group out there that are doing just that.

So this all started out with me just giving you a eye-opener and like with any thing that you do there are safety precautions that you have to do. Take the time to log out of your site, your cpanel, the TE you are surfing etc. I know it’s a PITA and quicker to hit the X but don’t be leaving your doors open and invite unwanted intruders in. This is like locking your front door and leaving the back door unlocked thinking that a burglar wouldn’t bother to check – think again.

A couple more places that I would like to send you to especially if you share a computer or might have to use the computer at the library or school. The Data Goldmine

AND this one for sure as I have been guilty of this and that is using the same password at many of the sites that I’m on because it’s easier to remember. Keep in mind once they have your password – that means that all the accounts with that same password is up for grabs. 9 Things To Do After Your Email has Been Hacked

Why Affiliate Funnel?

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Nancy Radlinger

So often we get caught up in all the new programs that we forget about the old ones that are working and in my opinion is a must join and I’ll try and tell you why Affiliate Funnel.

If I was starting out today, and really didn’t know what I was doing yet, needed some training and guidance, was overwhelmed with all the traffic exchanges and safelist out there, this is where I would start. Well in my opinion, Affiliate Funnel offers the answers that you need and will give you the source to build your list and earn commissions as an affiliate.

Here are some of the reasons that I enjoy using Affiliate Funnel – the best part is that as an upgraded member you are allowed to pick programs to add to a splash page that is in your affiliate toolbox – this is what mine looks like. My Affiliate Funnel Page (Yes this is even available to free members – two programs can be added) This gives you the opportunity to promote the programs that you pick along with Affiliate Funnel at the same time – how cool is that

When you first start or even a seasoned marketer, it’s really hard to know which sites are new, which one have been here awhile – well this will gives you a great list of the ones as to even be listed in the downline builder you need to have reached 3000 members. Now some of you might think that is not fair, but it helps to weed out the ones that are really here for the long haul, ones that are serious about growing their business.

Now one of the biggest mistakes I see people do when they join is look at all those pages and think WOWWWWWWWWW there is no way I can join all those sites and why would I want to – good question. But with this list it will give you a place to start – some guidance which ones to join if you don’t have a mentor to ask. The other mistake is not filling in your affiliate id’s when you join a site.

AND did you know that they give you a free guide to help build your list – so basically took the excused away and made available the tools that you need to build a list and start earning online. There are squeeze pages already built for you – you just need to add your autoresponder info.

Still confused after viewing the site – well you can bring your questions to a FREE webinar on Saturday’s at NOON EST and the gold nuggets (tips of the trade) that you can get by attending these and listen to Marci Jones is a priceless.

So I will ask you Why Affiliate Funnel? This program is one of the best list building tools out there offering your many avenues to be able BUILD YOUR LIST. AND you don’t even have to request your money, you are paid directly to your Paypal or Payza account once you have earned 10.00 or more.

Join my Team now and get started building YOUR list

Branding – is it worth the time

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Nancy Radlinger

It’s interesting when I first came online and started learning, I had a friend of mine tell me that to make it online you have to learn to sell yourself, brand yourself and at the time I thought right – who is going to want to know about me. Well I learned fast that he was right and I have some examples today that I’d like to share and then you tell me – Branding – is it worth the time

You know it’s funny as actor/actress have been doing this for many years when you think about it and it don’t necessarily have to be your name – example when you hear these lines does an actor/actress come to mind

I’ll Be Back – right away you picture Arnold in the Terminator
May the Force Be With You – didn’t Star Wars pop in your mind
There’s No Place Like Home – didn’t Dorothy pop in your head from the Wizzard of Oz
Go Ahead, Make My Day – Can’t forget Clint Eastwood
Beam Me Up Scotty – can’t forget Star Trek

Well you can do the same thing online and I have been watching many people in the traffic exchange industry to the same

Flash – didn’t you think about Jo right away and no name was not used
Splash – bet the dolphin popped in your head right away
Tezak – and bet you are a tezzer now

Now I could go on and on with examples – you don’t necessarily have to use your name to brand yourself – but you do need to have something that will make people think of your of your site right away.

So think about it some and then leave me a comment – Branding – is it worth the time?

Promote, Promote, Promote – Does It Pay?

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Nancy Radlinger

So often I get asked how do I earn money online and what is it that I do that causes me to get so many referrals, earn commissions and grow my sites. The bottom answer is promote, promote, promote – Does It Pay?

Well I have some examples that I would like to share with you and some of the mistakes that I have made and what I have learned over the years. First of all I hear so many talk about not having their own program so don’t know what to do and that was my first excuse that I used. Well the first thing I suggest doing is find a program and become an affiliate for the program.

Now I’m not just saying join a bunch of sites and throw out your referral links – I’m saying find a program and yes it can be a traffic exchange, a product someone has created or a program that is something that will benefit others. It took me many years to get this thru my head but finally that light bulb went on.

I know most of you have seen the page that I created and plastered it all over – and this is why I tell you all the time do something that is going to be different, something that will pause the member when they are surfing, and yes I also use mailers but everyone got to see this page Hot Flash Hits .

Now for all of you that grab a referral link and pop it in here and there and add say 1000 credits to it and then think wow well this site didn’t work – well after watching the hits that this page and anything that I promote gets 1000 is NOT enough these days to get you the results you are looking for. The problem that I see so many doing is giving up before doing all they can to make it work.

You see when I believe in a program, I keep at it – promote, promote, promote – does it pay? Yes it does and all I can say is find something that you really believe in, learn that program, and then get out there a do everything you can think to do to tell people about that program. It can be a splash page, a blog post, a video, sending out solos on the mailers and safelist, etc – try it all – track what you are doing and your will soon find what works for you.

Yes I said YOU, I can sit here all day and tell you what I am doing but what is working for you may not work for you and what you find that will work for you might not work me me or anyone else. BUT if you don’t do something – take action – you will NOT get results. So stop making excuses, stop blaming everyone that you are not earning money – get out there and take some action.

Are you just a number?

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Nancy Radlinger

It’s interesting as I was surfing this weekend of the things that I noticed and one of the things that I saw was people in the chat rooms swapping their links to be a referral for each other and that got me to thinking are you just a number.

When you join a site do you know the person you joined under, do they contact you, do they try to help you if you have questions or are you just a number. Personally, I want some attention from my upline (person I joined under) not that I want to bug them but want to know that they are there if I have questions.

There are so many times that I have joined different programs and it’s not long I feel I get lost in the numbers and I can understand that as a person’s list get bigger – BUT there are many ways to keep the doors of communication open and one way is doing what I’m doing here – blogging – give your upline a place to go where they can hear from you, teach them something, answer some questions so it helps everyone in your downline

The other thing would be your emails – do you send out emails that just keep wanting people to buy or do you try and help the people that are on the other end. This is one of the ways that I think people don’t do enough and then they wonder why they are not earning money or getting more referrals. Stop chasing the quick easy money – reset your mind and the money will come.

If you have let your downline become just another number – then maybe you should take a look at your downline again – ask yourself why are they there – did they join because of what you were offering and then afterwards just become another number on your list.

Did they join under you because they wanted someone to teach them, they wanted to be your referral because you presented yourself as a teacher or mentor – well do you?

Or did you join with the intention of just being just a number – you joined just to get a referral to another program or to win a contest and have no intention in giving the program you joined a chance to show you it works. This happens so often – you join then your upline drops the ball because you were just a number to them – you were not taught how to use the program, you had questions that you couldn’t find the answers, etc. – and what happens after that – you get disgusted and quit – so I’m just saying think about it the next time that you join a new program or someone is bugging you to be a referral for them – are you just a number OR will it benefit you the way it needs to,

That is why it’s important that you back up and remember your “why” and if you don’t know your “why” then stop everything that you are doing until you have your “why” This will help you understand if you fall into the rut of “are you just a number” OR if you are going to treat this like a business so that you can learn and teach – because if you can do that then the earn follows – just that simple.

Drop It and Forget It

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Nancy Radlinger

Today I have been going thru my sites and cleaning and it’s amazing how it seems that so many members (me included sometimes) just put a link, banner etc in a site and do what I call drop it and forget it.

It was amazing how many banners that I deleted today because the image was not showing and it’s not all your fault as if you are like me you jump in and jump out of sites and see if you need to add credits, banner and text impressions.

Well don’t waste you credits, banner and text impressions on nothing being there – so many times the site might change things – delete splash pages and add new ones and all of a sudden your favorite one is not being seen and unless you checking on them once in awhile – in your mind you might blame the site when it’s not the site’s fault.

Grant you, it’s gotten better over the years and there are scripts that will kick out a bad URL and thank to some members they will report them so that site owner can take them out of rotation. But let me ask you – how many of you are so busy to get to the next site that you don’t take the time to hit that report button? hmmmmmmm

Well I use to do that when I first started because the word report was like I’m telling on someone and didn’t want to cause problems. BUT you are actually helping a fellow member and the site owner and that is a good thing. So the next time you see a page that it says that the site is not available, can’t find site, etc – take a few seconds to hit that report button.

Now I know you are thinking I don’t have time to do that as some sites don’t seem to care what is showing and why should I help them out. Well there are a couple reasons that I report them – as that is less competition and my site will come up faster in rotation getting the bad sites out.

The other reason is I’m from the old school and if that was my site – I would WANT someone to report it for me so I can make the change. So I try to do what I would want someone to do for me.

So the next time you are in adding credits, banner and text impressions and have not viewed your sites, banner and text ads – take a few minutes and view them – don’t be one of those members that just goes from site to site and drop it and forget it.

Don’t feel bad either and where I see this the most is in the mailers, text ad sites and even paid to click sites – and that is even worse as the site owner is paying someone to view your site, banner, text and it’s messed up – that does not set an example that I want others to see – how about you?