Traffic exchanges have a bad reputation online, and I think it's time we clean it up. But the only way that will happen is by fixing the things that are broken. It's time something is done about it, and I want to know.. are you with me?
As I write this, there are 4,347 readers to my blog. I think that many people can make a difference and can influence change in the exchanges. So, I'm asking you to join the cause! Maybe you won't agree with me 100% on everything, but you do agree that our reputation has to be good in order to increase results right?
I'm going to start going over topics that drive me nuts about the industry, and I'll try to do it without naming names. I think the whole problem with the way I've been posting is mentioning specific exchanges. All that does is get that specific person to come in and defend themselves, thinking I'm out to get them.
There is a motive here folks, I want more people to use traffic exchanges! They either join my exchange, my blog, or a service I offer! And to get more people in, we gotta keep the people we have here and improve the reputation!
So in my future posts, please see them as a goal for the entire industry not an attack on someone. If you know of an exchange that is at fault, contact the exchange yourself and ask them to fix it! I think if enough of us contact them they'll see real members are concerned and actually fix it. So again, are you with me?
{ 32 comments }
Keep naming names. That’s why this blog has become so popular because you do not hold anything back.
I think it’s great and if some people get named and don’t see how it’s done to actually bring attention and potential fix the problems….Well.
Great job man, keep doing it!
Jon Olsons lastest blog post..Issue 234 – There’s Gold In Them Numbers
I’m with you Tim.
Judith
Yes , TE industry need to be cleaned up !! Big Clean Up !!!
Yes , I am with you !!!
Congras and thanks for your blog !
Christian
Kafka
I’m with ya, Tim! I think it’s great that you are wanting better traffic exchanges for us to use. By the way, I LOVE StartXChange!
I think I have to agree with Jon on this one too. Name names and don’t be afraid to say what you think.
The fact that there are “arguments” on your comments after your posts is a good sign of healthy discussion and debate. It shows that your readers care about what it is that you have to say. If you say that my traffic exchange is in the toilet and have the facts to back it up I might be offended, but it might also make me think about what I can do to make it better. In fact, I have made a few adjustments to my exchanges based on comments you have made on this blog.
Healthy discussion with a little controversy can only improve the readability of this blog because you are going to get people that are passionate about the topic to come out and start posting which will continue to raise awareness of traffic exchanges as an advertising medium.
I’m not a big fan of Howard Stern but one of the statistics I have heard about his show is that the average person that is a fan of Howard Stern listens to his show about 1 hour a day. The average person that HATES him listens to his show 2 HOURS a day. A little controversy can make for opportunity as long as you don’t let it get out of hand.
Mike
Tim,
Love reading your blog and all the great advice that you give.
I agree with Jon that naming names brings attention to problems. But instead of getting their knickers in a twist they should just work to fix whatever it is and not spend so much energy defending.
No one is ever gonna agree 100%, but constructive criticism should always be listened to!
I agree with Jon Olson, as with naming the different TE’s it is good that they become “defensive” as it brings out strong points from both sides of the point being made.
This is what will keep the conversation going until the reputation for the TE’s improve.
However, there should be a way to include many of the other TE’s on the net now as they are cropping up everywhere. I do not necessarily mean to “attack” other TE’s but to get more of them included.
It is fine that everyone learns to agree to disagree as long as progress is made to help everyone involved meaning the owners and the users.
Getting more people to use TE’s is good and if pointing out the bad suff makes that happen keep going! The TE industry needs a better image to really grow and that ain’t gonna happen from outside.
Don’t stop now, Tim. If there are problems with TE’s, they need to be addressed and names need to be named. Any TE owner worth his/her salt would, or at least should, want to know what others really think about their exchange. This is their livelyhood, their business, and if something is wrong, they should want to fix it. No one likes to hear negative remarks about their business and their first response to get mad and fight back. But, once they get past the anger, they may realize there is a problem. Let’s continue to make TE’s better for everyone, owners and users alike.
Hi all
Amen very well put James.
I do not post often but have to say this is one of the best I have read yet.
This whole string of coments, I mean.
I do all TE’s mentioned above,but do not have any negitive fb yet; I also think the negitives should be directed to the indevidual first.
Thanks Dave
Have a Great Day
Congratulations Tim!
Traffic Exchanges are a useful advertising Venue, if used properly and Managed properly by the Owners.
We encourage our BMC students to subscribe to the “Fav” List…
StartXchange of course being number 1
Yes please be Candid as usual, and don’t worry about being “politically Correct”
I’m definitely on the side of the “name names” crowd. This is only being done to improve the TEs, which is good for all of us.
Side note – bad grammar and misspellings make me crazy…especially in some TEs big headlines! I’ve dropped a few TEs just because they can’t be bothered with proofreading!
Love this blog! Keep up the good work!
Tim,
I look forward to seeing topics that drive you nuts in the TE industry. Specific examples would be great.
But are we barking up the wrong tree here? I’m not sure how any TE owner is at fault for giving their customers what they want.
If the bad reputation you are referring to is that traffic exchanges are “crap advertising” then doesn’t the fault lie with the advertisers themselves?
Can someone advertise their “lotions and potions” website in a traffic exchange and make sales? Sure. But is it worth the effort? Is it cost effective? Probably not.
How can a TE owner improve the response to such advertising? Mind control? Encourage surfers to buy products from each other? Certainly not.
The traffic exchange network provides a melting pot of people who want to make money by selling something on line, yet have little or no knowledge of effective marketing.
Is this a bad thing? No. Quite the opposite. It presents an incredible opportunity for anyone who is willing to learn how to market effectively in this arena.
Keeping people in this market requires teaching them how to get results. Plain and simple. The market’s reputation has very little to do with retention. I don’t care what people think of the industry if what I’m doing is working.
“It’s not WHAT you sell… it’s HOW you sell it.”
I’m with you on this, Tim. Name names if necessary as long as it’s not respectfully, after all we should all be here to learn and improve.
Nick
Don’t you dare give up your most important right as an American!
Freedom of speech made this country
and if it does bring us down atleast
it will be by our doing. Say what you mean! Mean what you say! By the way.
I have already noticed changes in several exchanges,Are they linked to
this Blog? Keep up the good work Tim
Don’t let anyone else influence your
mind or your words. Have a Nice Day,
“The Leprechaun”
Timothy Millars lastest blog post..Blogging for Traffic?
Well here is my 2 cents – and maybe some subjects that you should touch on.
I say keep naming names – it helps knowing.
TE owners should stop abusing the email system to benefit themselves also – I delete any that is promoting another site – we surf your site to look at ads there- don’t need to get them in emails also
Another one that gets me is all the TE owners teaming up to offer you a special (credits, etc.) – I feel that is just another way to get us to sign up for another TE and I am at my max – I don’t need another TE
and I don’t need to be forced to surf another TE if it is not working for me just to get some extra credits or a bonus. If you want to bribe me with those incentives – then let me win from YOU and YOU along.
The TE’s should work harder on new splash pages, updated banners, solo ads etc – get tiring seeing the same ole same ole.
Guess I have said enough – felt good to get some of that off my chest. Thanks Tim for what you do – have to admit that I like what you are doing – keep up the good work and keep posting your blogs – nice to hear someone tell it like it is
“TE owners should stop abusing the email system to benefit themselves also – I delete any that is promoting another site – we surf your site to look at ads there- don’t need to get them in emails also”
Hmmmm, abusing? Seeing that members agree to the terms of service that clearly state that members will receive promotional emails from owners…Don’t think that’s abuse…
Jon Olsons lastest blog post..Issue 234 – There’s Gold In Them Numbers
BUT…(I forgot to put this in)
It can be very annoying when owners do not do it properly. Just sending email for the sake of it, gets on my nerves too.
But I will always read sales pitches from owners….Some of them teach me things and give me ideas on how to market to my lists.
Jon Olsons lastest blog post..Issue 234 – There’s Gold In Them Numbers
It is not abuse since we did agree to receive emails but it gets tedious to see the same email from 7-8…12 or more different TE owners. I had a couple of owners I thought gave good advice and I would try what they promoted, but have just quit since many are promoting the same thing.
And yeah, the promos to surf 3 or 5 different sites to maybe win 200 credits or something. You gotta join those sites and I am maxed out too. One piece of advice I see is to surf a few good TEs constantly to get signups, yet we are sorta encouraged to signup for this and that and the other TE so we can surf just to win something. I quit bothering with that too.
I will surf one site with a promo like “surf 100 pages, get 100 banner imps…no need to submit a ticket” ;)
Oh, and do name names.
Julia :D
Keep up the good work and name names. I am starting a new internet business and have joined a lot of new exchanges. I feel some changes need to be made. I cant wait for your first post. Thanks dave1938
I gotta go with the consensus here Tim. Don’t hold back. People will either get mad, OR they will reflect and think about whether they can improve or not.
I look forward to reading your thoughts on how to improve TE’s.
Hi
I agree with cleaning up the traffic exchange industry but make sure it isn’t a crusade to rid the industry of the good “up and coming”ones. Some of the older TE owners would like to see the industry become closed to the elite few who have been in it for years. I personally advertise on quite a number of the small exchanges with great results. Be careful in naming names, it has a habit of coming back to bite us.
I also agree whole heartedly with wisgrandma above about traffic exchanges that team up for giving bonuses. Maybe they think they can’t make it on their own, I don’t know. I do however like getting the solo emails (not too many) as it helps me increase my hit reserve more quickly.
Regards
Mike
That’s funny. Big guy trying to keep the little guy down.
Capitalism, it’s a beautiful thing LOL
Honestly….There really isn’t much ‘keeping the small guy down’. It’s really big guys just trying to improve their business…nothing wrong with that.
It’s a free market. Small guys have just as much potential as the big guys did when they got started.
Jon Olsons lastest blog post..Issue 234 – There’s Gold In Them Numbers
Hmm.
I don’t own a traffic exchange so have no axe to grind on this. I have, however, spent 40+ years in the business world and am always cautious when I see “naming names” promoted as a policy.
Very often it means a few who consider themselves to be the elite condemning those who do things differently, and especially those who are smaller (but growing) and who could become serious competition in the future.
It is also all too easy for the “big boys” to forget that they once were small and experimental.
So if you’re going to name names, do it cautiously, and remember another point. My Bible includes a parable about someone who was enthusiastic to deal with the speck of sawdust in someone else’s eye but couldn’t see the plank of wood in his own. Being someone who spent fifteen years as an international business ethicist it’s a parable about which I’ve often had to remind myself.
Best wishes,
- David Murray -
I agree 100%. I try to run a clean exchange that offers active members a safe and valuable place to market. I think one of the first things that needs fixing, is the mentality of the memberships. Way too many think they can get away with things on the exchanges. And even worse, they think that that is the way to make money. Far to many, and for far too long, exchange admin’s have neglected thier duties, and in thier own desperation for members, have allowed this to go on.
Hi Larry (and all):
You said:
“I think one of the first things that needs fixing, is the mentality of the memberships.”
Yes I agree…and in so doing I iwould like to pose a question to ALL of the TE owners who take the time to read this blog:
Are your marketing efforts attracting the kind of members you REALLY want to have in your exchange? Why or why not?
Sharon in Mississippis lastest blog post..Are YOU Prepared? Ask Your Heart …
I agree, naming names, should keep the other TE sites honest and improve their credibility.
I say keep naming names too. I think it’s important.
Also, please let me know soon if you want me to add or change anything next to your name in my book.
Thanks.
Paul Livingstons lastest blog post..How to Make Friends with Influential People
Tim,
By all means name names! How are we going to clean up a industry if we don’t know who the offenders are!
Rich Morris
Way to go Tim, I agree with Jon Olson. If there is something out there you dont like with good reason then put it up here for ppl to discuss. Thats how we all learn. Cheers Martin
You’re darn right to name names!
Nothing changes unless the guilty are pointed out.
Have we already forgotten the guilty gas station owners gauging the public with higher prices over and above what had been assesed by the gas companies themselves? What happened to them? They were identified and people stoped getting their gas there.
How about john’s visiting brothels and the like. Identifying the customer as well as the establishment shut them both down.
I have stopped using TE’s that make it nearly imposible to contact. If TE owners want/need us to be involved they need to respond to our needs as well.
One in particular I have been with for several years. I have attempted to add additional sites to promote but could never get him to approve my site. I have sent emails through the “proper” channels and I even have his personal email, none of which he responds to. Needless to say I have stopped using his site. The down side was that I had accumulated a lot of credits and some cash that I will never see again.
I only visit sites now that have an automatic approval format.
Setting standards for TE’s should be at the forefront of the industry.
More and more we see that a number of sites support each other by having it’s members “supper surf”. That concept needs to be expanded to the point where the user can assign credits from one to the other partner sites as well.
Keep up the good work. I’ll be watching!
Ernie
Improving the entire traffic exchange industry on your own is nuts, it will take alot of effort from everybody.
Why has the traffic exchange industry been getting a bad rap all these years?
Lots of reason.
One thing is the amount of new TE popping every week and all of them promising quality targeted traffic.
Imagine if there were similar Google search engines every week? how will that effect the overall advertising revenue?
In the same token, why are so many people spending thousands of dollarsthere and Google is making millions of dollars in advertising revenue and Yahoo isn’t.
Yet, there are just as many get rich quick schemes in search engines as there are in traffic exchange.
So why do you think that marketers have labelled traffic exchange programs as a waste of time or they don’t work?
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