I got some feedback from yesterday, and there were a few thoughts in there that I wanted to let you all know about before going on about my year. There seemed to be a few people mentioning owners sending out emails, the frequency and the content.
What I thought was really interesting was that one person said they see it as the owner not believing in their own exchange. Essentially if an owner has to email the members, rather than putting it into rotation, then it shows their lack of faith in using exchanges.
I never thought about it that way before. I will say that I disagree because I use the email function to make sure every email hears about it (that opts into the newsletter) but it did provoke some thought into this brain. What do you think?
Anyways my year was pretty good. I learned some new things, and I re-launched a fabulous site I had been working on for a long, long, long time. It was great to see the success of the launch and the feedback. It did however kill my productivity..
You see all the hype and pressure to get it launched and finalized pretty much exhausted me. I think with Christmas right after it helped kill the productivity during that time period. Not really that good.
So what I learned from 2009 was that I need to take breaks from working, no matter how busy I am. Burn out hurts more than working a consistent amount of time with breaks.
I also learned that Traffic Exchange Live is not a break. In fact it actually drains a ton of energy out of me. I don't know what it is about it. Maybe it's because of the constant attention I have to give to the chat or the fact that I am not getting up on a whim.
So I need to figure out how to get breaks into my routine in a time crunched schedule. I also learned I need to get in shape. It'll be tough but if I can figure out time management this year I'll be more productive.
{ 24 comments }
So true, Tim! Burn-out is a killer… much more so than consistent diversions. We all need time for something other than work. I too, will be working on that in 2010, Tim.
Keep up the great blog,
Carl Bailey
Hi All,
Yes I feel that some TE owners send out to many emails..I get 2-3 on some days from the same TE. I delete most of them.
Tim you send out maybe 1-2 per week..this is ok with me, plus you give us a bonus of activity points if we read and or at least click the link.
We all need to take a break from work, be it in or out of the home, you will get burned out. Take a vacation with your lovely family and leave the computer,cell phone, ect. at home..Make this time for you and your family only.
Only my thoughts,
Shirlene
Re: emails – I appreciate emails from the exchanges I belong to – at least one a week. At first, I was bothered by the number of daily emails from a certain exchange that shall remain nameless, but for those who really get in to his program and are really looking to earn some money from it, the frequent emails are great. Now, if I am not in “surfing mode”, I just ignore them, but they do not bother me any more.Worse are those exchanges you join and NEVER hear from!
Re: TE Live – perhaps it would be good to have a “topic for the day” or something like that. A live site about traffic exchanges may have sounded like a good idea, or may BE a good idea, but it should be more than social chat, in my opinion. Not that the chat isn’t sometimes entertaining, but some days there seems to be no purpose at all for the time spent by both moderators and guests. If there were announced topics, and those topics were actually discussed, then TE members interested in those topics would be more likely to tune in and the chat might be more focused and more meaningful.
Just as with any website, be it a TE, a blog, a membership site – whatever – it does take TIME. And, if there were designated topics for designated days, then I would imagine that the moderators would need to do a little preparation for the show. There seems to be a lot of very dead time. Part of it is, of course, the time it takes for the moderators to read the chat stream and respond. I know it isn’t a webinar, but it might be more useful if a bit more “webinar technique” could be incorporated. Aside from a few good buddies, why would the general TE membership take the time each day or a few days a week to tune in to the broadcast just to watch two or three guys sitting at their computers? There needs to be more to it than that. Now, bear in mind, I don’t watch other streaming shows, so I don’t know if TE Live is typical or not. I would hope to learn more about effective TE use from the show and/or to exchanges ideas and/or thoughts about features, strengths, weaknesses, techniques, do’s, don’ts, useful TE tools, effective promoting, etc.
If TE Live doesn’t draw more people on a regular basis, it will and should die. If it doesn’t provide more meaty content, it won’t attract more viewer participants. I’m hoping it makes it, because aside from a few forums dedicated to TEs, there’s nowhere else TE members – both veteran and newbies alike – can gather to learn and share.
Perhaps guest moderators could be invited to host a certain topic. This would also widen the TE membership appeal – if “new faces” showed up from time to time and it wasn’t just the same ones. I also realize that there needs to be a pay-off of some sort for the people who take the time to maintain TE Live. If they can’t justify the investment of time, they will stop giving their time. As it is right now, what’s the “pay off”? I ask this sincerely.
Just my 2ยข’s worth!
Being an owner of many advertising sites, I contact my members with deals, free advertising and up to date info for many reasons and yes, I do send out the occasional affiliate offer. But on the other hand……I answer and work with ALL support tickets, hosting issues, site issue’s and just about every other nightmare that’s attached to being an owner. I also send out e-mails for feedback on what my partner and I could do better, so, delete the, read them, use the promo’s that is your choice but in no means should be looked as a negative by members.
Thanks for the insight Tim, I look forward to your daily mentoring!
All the best in 2010,
Douglas J Gregory
It depends on the content of the email and if it’s the same thing we get from 5-10 other TE owners. Usually when I read the same thing over and over, almost word for word, about 3-4 times I skip over it and see if there is anything different at the end, if not, I delete it
As for time management, you might have to rearrange how and when you do things several times before you figure out what works for you the best
Good Luck!
Hi Tim,
You are running a business and should send regular emails to your customers/clients. I am more than happy to receive legitimate contact.
I willingly accept one email a day from those whom I associate with and two or more in exceptional circumstances.
There are some TE owners though that seem to feel that they can send multiple emails each day, and expect them to be read and be effective. Not so IMHO.
There are two TEs to which I have a paid subscription that have really ‘got on my nerves’ over the past few months. One of them sends up to five emails each day – that one now has their emails automatically filtered to the ‘Delete’ folder.
Perhaps some TE owners do not understand the importance of a mailing list and of commanding respect with that list.
This is their long term loss.
Sorry to focus on this as a response to your 2009 review and good luck with the ‘Time Management’.
Regards,
Jeff Henshaw.
While I don’t disagree that Traffic Exchange Live could be improved upon with some additional structure and added features, I must say I have to disagree with the idea that TE Live “will and should die” if (paraphrasing) a bunch of additional things don’t get added and even if it never draws more viewers.
Sure, new features are good – but I think some (and especially folks that don’t attend on a daily or almost daily basis) are missing the point on the fact that it has literally become the water cooler of the traffic exchange industry. There are well over 100-200 people that come to TE Live daily or at least fairly regularly, even if it’s just once a week, that work online from home 24/7 (be they owners or marketers or both) and TE Live serves a purpose in that it’s there as a “water cooler” in an industry where hundreds are generally working in solitude.
I personally have been working from home since 2004 and don’t mind the solitary aspect of it at all, but it’s nice to have somewhere to go for a “break” for an hour or two during the day and socialize (almost as if with “co-workers” at the water cooler), catch up on what’s news, and just kick back and goof off for a little while before returning to the daily grind.
It also serves a further purpose (and this has been stressed since the beginning of TE Live) in that it has become what has turned into a VERY good tool for branding oneself and networking just by simply by being there regularly, even if only socializing. There are a host of newer marketers and online workers whose names are now recognized and familiar around the industry that might not be so branded at this point otherwise had they not simply been attending TE Live on a regular basis. Much like AF (and SWAT conference on a lesser level since it’s not always open to the public), a big key is just to keep attending and being there. With TE Live it’s even moreso because it’s there every weekday. People are branding themselves and networking without even hardly having to do anything.
Those points and that aspect always seem to get missed and are not understood by people that rarely if ever attend TE Live, and I’ve certainly been noticing lately that most of the negative or heavy-on-suggestion opinions about TE Live seem to be coming from folks that have either never or rarely come to TE Live. Those that are there regularly or come in once or twice a week, they already get that it’s the water cooler of the TE industry and what a huge resource for branding and networking it is.
Sure some added features and some discussion topic structure on occasion and guest hosts Q&A sessions and things like that would be nice – but it’s not really all it’s there for and frankly the sheer popularity of it sprung from the fact that it acts as a “water cooler” and place for folks to network and further brand themselves, that’s why it became so popular in the first place.
I’m not saying change is not good, but even if it stays exactly the way it is right now I’d have to disagree that it should “just die”. It has huge potential for education (and let’s be honest, for further marketing resources for those who are in charge, if they want). But it became popular because it was just a “water cooler” place for people to take a break, network, and socialize and if it never becomes anything much more than that, then TE Live will be just fine still.
Those that attend regularly have benefited greatly over the last couple of months not only from the “golden nugget” education that’s always there but from the networking and they already know how valuable it is in that regard, and the people that continue to attend daily or fairly regularly will continue to benefit from the networking aspect of TE Live while those that see TE Live as a waste of time won’t benefit like that at all. But I can guarantee you those that have hung out there regularly, even if doing nothing but goofing off and socializing, are miles ahead in progressing their businesses than they would have been otherwise without TE Live as a networking resource.
As for you guys, Tim – I think you’re being too hard on yourself forcing yourself to be there every single day like you have been lately and starting to turn it into another “job” and it probably shouldn’t be like that. You know (other than weeks like this when something’s happened), Jon’s almost always going to be there anyway just ‘cos he does that, and often for many more hours than the 3-5pm slot. And even days he doesn’t, the world won’t end if TE Live’s only on three days out of a week one week or four days the next week. Instead of the “I HAVE to do this every day”, I think maybe a backup is in order back to the way things were a month ago and back where you guys turned on the cam because you wanted to that day and felt like it – not because you feel like you must. Don’t turn it into another job and just do it when you want to and don’t put so much pressure on yourselves to “entertain the masses”. Jon’s generally going to be there anyway (usually) and folks that come in every day are happy to chitchat with each other while Jon types up HEN, you know? Those who support TE Live regularly and fully understand it don’t really care if a day or two is missed or if all three of you aren’t there every single day without fail.
Don’t turn it into another job with bigtime responsibilities. It should be as much of a “water cooler” for you guys sometimes just as much as it is for others. Like I said, if you pay close attention most of those who insist TE Live needs a plan or structure every single day are never or rarely those who are there day after day or even once or twice a week.
Didn’t mean to write a book but there ya go. LOL.
I truly hope that TE live does not die.
I have been online for a number of years and been doing everything wrong. I found TE live by accident and am so glad I did.
What I have learned from Tim, John, and Jon have set me on the right path. It will not be fast or easy but I am on the right track now.
I am there almost everyday. Sure some days can be not so productive but I am multitasking so I am being productive. But then some days I learn so much and get so excited I can not contain myself.
And I have made so many friends and also been able to learn from them. Sometimes things get toooo over my head and I have to just do something else during those times. But I am there listening to learn all I can.
Yes maybe some more structure would help but I hope it is never just totally structured, maybe some days with topics and some days open discussion.
It is a place where we can learn, laugh, mentor, and just relax and have fun.
Lynn, that was a great spirited defense of TELive, and I think reflects the essence of the show. I am a regular viewer and find it oddly compelling. No, I haven’t learned much there, and I do think it needs more focus, but I use it as a bit of a break and for a good laugh here and there,
But it is also a distraction, and I would suggest that perhaps 3 shows a week would be enough.
Tim, take breaks way more often! I’ll miss you, but your mental and physical health matter more! Get out and take some more gorgeous photos! (Loved the RI lighthouses)
Lynne Sherman aka crowknows
Thanks – TELive isn’t going anywhere. I like the idea of topics but it’s hard enough to have a weekly topic at SWAT, so coming up with a daily topic really isn’t going to happen. And doing so would make it more of a work thing.
Lynn, your points are well taken. I’m a newcomer to TE Live, so I missed out on the first broadcasts which may have helped me understand the “water cooler” aspect of it.
I probably shouldn’t have used the words “can and should die” – what I meant was, anything that becomes a burden for busy, productive, analytic people will be trimmed from the daily agenda. When the moderators tire of doing it, it will go away. Tim says it’s not going away, so I must assume he’s not tired of doing it, and I’m GLAD! I enjoy TE Live.
So I’ll continue to visit the TE water cooler. It is unique.
That’s awesome, Karen, we’d love to see you (and anyone and everyone) there! The more the merrier! :)
Receiving the email are ok, however
I feel maybe the owners should give a
percentage of the profits to the person
that referred the applicant.
I haven’t written for days. In fact I do’t think I have communicated with anyone until today since new years eve. I looked in to TE live for the first time yesterday.
I did not sign in just watched and listened and it did not seem to have any point at all.
Lots of names came up that I recognised and some people who I know by e-mail or chat box.
It took me a while to understand what Lyne McCutchen meant by the water cooler. When it suddenly dawned on me that is where people in large offices congregate to chat though it can be just as common to all collect at the photcopier.
Having been a lone worker for about 30 years I have been used to communicating by phone and e-mail.
Now people will realise why I make friends so quickly by e-mail. I find it so much easier one to one.
As for owners sending e-mails from some they are very welcome often amusing and I count many adexchange owners as my friends but there are some owners and one TE owner in particular whose e-mails mostly go unread. I do miss the odd important thing but most are pointless. When you end up getting 7 e-mails from him in one day can you blame anyone for deleting them.
Tim your two or three a week never get deleted.
I am not including those who chat for a while via e-mail rather the impersonal letter that goes out to everyone. i stopped to read you blog today while deleting such e-mails from the day.
Until I can get a split screen to my computer and have all three open at once I will continue to do this at the end of the day.
I did try once to have to in boxes open at once Google crashed.
Before I write a book I had better continue in my deleting.
Yep, you’re right, Jean – folks congregate at the photocopier too! I just used “water cooler” because it’s kind of the standard American reference to those type things (the entertainment industry in the US for years has referred to things like “talk at the water cooler the next day” of popular TV shows, etc.). :)
ps I’m proud to say I have never deleted a Tim Linden e-mail either. :)
Hi Tim,
I don’t mind getting emails from admins of sites. It’s their website they can send us emails which almost everyone agrees to get when they signup. One thing I don’t like is getting emails from admin pushing a product or something. As long as they keep it related to their site I’m fine.
As for time off that is a most. Without time off you’ll only hurt yourself and your business. I give myself the weekends off :)
Chris.
I think you should work 4 hrs. a day between Christmas and New Years. Answer and fix problems on your Startexchange.
Put up that FAQC link on the front page for reaccuring questions from members. I personally do not like the “back office” part of exchanges.
I too am very busy. 35 blogs and 2 websites and 2 biz. I do 4 hour days between the hollidays.
your friend Mary Bird
Hi, Tim, everybody needs a brek. Nobody’s robot. We use to forget our families and are working 12-14 hours/day. So we miss them…
Think about it…. I know for myself, i’m in such a position!
All the best and have a break!
I’ve lurked around TE Live a bit and I think it’s a fun diversion. However I think SWAT is the better place for actual “learning” because it’s more focused on business aspects and more interactive (anyone can grab the mike!).
Personally I think TE Live should remain a “water-cooler” place and leave the learning/teaching to the SWAT seminars…..that’s what they are there for!
(We were posting at the same time & I just saw this so I thought I’d reply and agree while I was still here LOL)
I absolutely agree with you on that, Jackie! The SWAT upgrade is worth a million dollars in that regard (as is the freebie Affiliate Funnel).
Whoever mentioned going on a vacation with the family… Tim’s wife thinks that is a lovely idea ;)
Great job Tim, another fruitful year, I love you!!!
Re: TE Live…
Just wanted to thank Tim and John for holding down the fort when I was away this week.
I will be back on Monday =)
And I do agree, I would love to find a topic every day and talk about it. Trust me, I can talk for hours about traffic exchanges…
If you guys and gals want something discussed, let us know. I know we would love to ramble on a topic =)
Thanks to everyone for making TE Live such a success, keep the feedback coming!!!!
Hey Tim
Just letting you know that I personally do not mind getting emails from you.
It shows me that you are at least trying to keep in contact with your followers. Sorry to say that I had joined another te based on your recommendation and have now left because I was not happy with them. You had sent me a thank you for joining, but the owner of that te NEVER said thank you, sent emails NOTHING, and his splash page CLAIMS he has great customer service!! I appreciate your emails because even if I have no time to surf I am kept informed
Hello Tim -
Thank you for provoking a few thoughts here.
1. Concerning emails from traffic exchanges. I like the idea of a newsletter that you can either opt in or out of in order to remain on the leading edge new developments with the exchange and other information the TE owner cares to share with it opt in subscribers.
If an exchange doesn’t offer a subscriber newsletter (by the way I think the content and frequency of the StartXchange newsletter is about right), I also like the idea of a weekly admin email that summarizes high value content.
2. Concerning TE Live. I think TE live has the potential to do something great to educate current and potential TE users as to dispel many of the misconceptions that exist among marketers about TEs.
Although I love the occasional chatter that is largely unrelated to exchanges, I think that three really talented guys are investing a tremendous amount of time and depriving their audience of their expertise. I have often asked a questions and gotten a 3-5 word response on a topic that you guys could run with and really teach everyone for 15-20 minutes if you chose to do so.
Ultimately you have to decide what TE Live is intended to be. I along 500 other people at a time tune in to watch Chris Pirillo’s live stream waiting the few times he actually says something because you know it will likely be a true gold nugget.
So my point is that I do not think TE Live needs to be a scripted and rigid hardcore training show, but I do think it would be nice to reward yourselves and those who tune in with some actual training that goes deep into helping the viewers become better TE users.
I love this blog and StartXchange, I have read a large amount of Jon Olson’s work and John G has created something special with ThumbVu – there is no doubt you guys are the masters, so share some of that knowledge with us in debt.
3. Concerning life balance. Tim, I imagine that you are like me… I love what I do and could (sometimes do) spend 16 hours a day on my computer and my list of things I want to do with my info products and website just grow and grows.
I have committed myself to cycling for fitness and to create mental space to process ideas and get into a creative thinking mode while I tick off the miles. I applaud you stating personal fitness as a goal, it will make you more productive in many ways.
I appreciate you and admire what you have created. I hope to be a member of StartXchange for years to come and I will continue to tune into TE Live with the hope of learning from three really amazing guys!
Have a blessed weekend!
James
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