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[Andrew Anderson Contribution Level: 2]

I've always thought of Traffic Exchanges as a proving ground. They do not give quality traffic. Which is why I figure if you can get a page to convert at all in a traffic exchange its a page worth spending some time getting some better traffic to. Although everytime I mention the words Traffic Exchange I get a chorus of people who say they are worthless, useless, and a waste of time.

I'm also the kind of person that says "If your going to tell me something, back it up with data." So I'm issuing a challenge:
Prove to me they are worthless. Take your best converting page and rotate it in 5 traffic exchanges that you surf for 1 hour a day for one week (something I've heard called the "600 visitors an hour" method). If you get signups, I'm right and its a great proving ground for pages. If you don't get any signups then you're right.

Here's my favorite exchange that gets me the most hits: http://www.hitsafari.com/?rid=38945

Yes that is a referral link, no I am not doing this as a stunt to get more referrals. But I might as well gain a little right?

If you want to take the challenge, go for it. If you want to do the challenge but not give me anything, don't use my link. If you don't' want to take the challenge, don't.

Post what your page normally converts, and what it did in the TE's. I think it'll once and for all prove something.

[Timothy Norton Company: AdzZoo Contribution Level: 3]

I'd say that I have to agree with you, Andrew. Even though I have never used traffic exchanged because I have always heard that the traffic I would receive would be low quality, I do agree that it is a great proving ground for squeeze pages. If your squeeze page is compelling enough to convert in a traffic exchange then it should kick butt out in the world of pay-per-click, social media, and content marketing.

I think I will take you up and give it a shot.

-Tim

[Paul Murphy Company: Vitamark International Contribution Level: 7]

People are using traffic exchanges effectively, or they wouldn't exist. I personally choose not to use them, and find they are not very effective for the majority.

[Dave Kotecki Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 5]

I've come to the conclusion that the return is
not worth the effort.

If you want to use them, I'm sure you'll get some
traffic. Just don't waste your own precious time
to surf them.

If you can't pay someone $8 or whatever per hour
to surf for you and still make a profit after you
pay them, I wouldn't bother.
I say spend your time doing something
that gives you a higher rate of return for your time.

[Kurt Henninger Company: Shaklee Corporation Contribution Level: 5]

I highly recommend people DO NOT spend an hour a day surfing traffic exchanges. Yes, you are bound to get some traffic and leads just for sheer effort, but you really can spend your time MUCH better than that.

If you think about the psychology behind users of a traffic exchange, people are not on there looking for solutions or searching for a business....they are looking to promte their own business plain and simple.

Why bother with those when you can easily connect with those who are looking for exactly what you have to offer?

Instead, you are much better served writing an article, making a video or blog post with that hour. These will generate traffic forever for you, and the traffic you will get will convert much better.

[Richard Bravo Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 9]

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In the spirit of competition I would retort by issuing a rebuttal challenge.

I'll pit my best converting landing page against your best converting landing page.
I'll use PPC and you use any Traffic Exchange of your choice.

The challenge?...
Who makes more money in 24 hours?

See, here's the real deal when you get down to brass tacks...
Optins to your list mean nothing.
Traffic to your squeeze page, landing page or any other form of website mean nothing.
Click points in your exchange account mean nothing.

No, there's really only one metric that takes the cake at the end of the day -
Increased Digits in Your Bank Account.
And which ever source of traffic accomplishes that goal most efficiently..... Wins.

If it takes 6 hours to generate 2-3 optins from a Traffic Exchange and 6 hours to generate $100 in your bank account from PPC, well, you do the math. Maybe I don't get it.... but I guess I'm dumb like that.

~richard
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[Andrew Anderson Contribution Level: 2]

THANK YOU DEAN!!! You actually heard what I'm saying. I'm not saying traffic exchanges are a great way to build a business absolutly not. But its a good way to test a page without losing an arm and a leg if you fail. They're proving grounds. If they do alright, then spend time promoting them some other way and its bound to do good.

If a page works with bad traffic, then it'll work great with good traffic.

I'd rather waste hours of my time then hundreds of dollars trying to figure out whats going to make my splash page work. And lets face it, no one tells you exactly how to make your page.

[Richard Bravo Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 9]

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I see your point Dean.
And it's true, your marketing budget shouldn't be squeezed out of rent money.
I was simply trying to illustrate valuing your time.

Even still, I think there are far better mediums to "test" a landing page.

Forums being one of them.
Some of you may remember I had a "Blue Pill / Red Pill" matrix themed signature awhile back.
Over a 45 day time frame I received 37 optins from that test. That's almost one optin everyday.
The audience was highly targeted and I didn't have to spend hours and hours earning click points.
Yes, I worked for it by contributing to the forum, which in turn increased my signature exposure,
but it wasn't an hour a day I can assure you.

Anyway... to each his own. For those of you that choose to use exchanges I wish you luck.

~richard
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[Kurt Henninger Company: Shaklee Corporation Contribution Level: 5]

Absolutely,

You could send all your "free traffic" (from your blog, forums, videos, articles, social networks) to ONE page and split test it.

You'll get fairly quick (although not nearly as quick as PPC) split test results and far more opt-ins and residual traffic and leads from this method than spending an hour a day click click clicking away.

I'd also like to add, for those who spend time clicking away on safelists, the same thing holds true.

You will get MUCH better use of your time and quicker results, by creating content, or learning PPC, than clicking away on safelist ads for an hour a day.

Kurt

[Adam Holland Company: Global Resorts Network Contribution Level: 3]

Yes, there are better ways of testing a landing page and such...

The only thing I did with traffic exchanges is try to raise awareness of one of the trainings I launched about a month ago. I consider them like a billboard. People may not opt in... But then they google me, or the training. They see a PPC ad for it. They see a banner ad... etc..

I'd drop $20, get a few hundred/thousand hits and hope it helps with all of the OTHER stuff I'm doing to create a "buzz".

All the best,

Adam Holland