This is the beginning of the parts that require you to be a member to really know what's going on. The first 4 parts will give you good indications, but the next parts will make it clear. You should be looking at the overall picture not just singling out an exchange over one of the things mentioned.
Email Sending Rate
Before going deeper, you have to realize that some exchanges (ex: StartXchange) make it optional for you to get the weekly newsletter. So before you ditch an exchange over not getting any emails, check the members area for a subscription form. Many members have told me they are subscribed to my newsletter, when in fact they aren't. So stick your email in there again to double check! It should be easy to find, and it should tell you if you are already subscribed.
Now that we have that done with, do a search in your email and look at all the emails this exchange has sent you. Note how many are contests or actual news about the exchange. If you aren't getting one every week or two, then the owner really isn't up to anything with that exchange. Now don't count any auto emails (eg: Thanks for Referring/Purchasing) or emails that just want you to buy something. You can decide for yourself how many of those you allow, but the point I'm getting here is that a good owner will make sure there is a constant buzz around their exchange. Email is crucial to communicate this buzz to the members.
Getting Help
Next look at how hard it is to find help. Is there a ticket system, email, live support, phone numbers, forum, etc? And how long does it take for you to get a response?
I'll be the first to admit I take a way long time to respond to PMs and emails. Sometimes I get lucky and reply right away, but normally I'm much longer than that. So does that make me a bad owner? No, because I hired a support guy and setup live help! Richard helps alot with support, and live help I can leave on while doing everything else, and when someone gives me a ring I can help them right away.. Live! For me, it works great.
In the Industry
While our industry might be small, there is much happening. The exchanges worth using will have owners who are part of that happening. Whether it's in a forum, or in a conference room. I goto the Swat Traffic conferences, and also the Affiliate Funnel conferences on Saturdays. I know there are other conference rooms out there too. The key here is a bad exchange will be run by a person who isn't recognizable in the industry.
But I can't do all that?
If you haven't figured it out by now, I like to give some pointers to new exchange owners at the end. The goal isn't to bash other owners, but to give the users the tools to spot the exchanges where their time or money will go wasted. With so many newer owners subscribing, I think it's crucial they get some help to better the industry as a whole. So my tip this time.. If you can't be on top of everything at once, hire someone to help you out!
{ 5 comments }
Another excellent post! This is really a great series! Anyone who wants to know about TEs should certainly be reading this blog!!
Tim,
Awesome content. I’ve been reading along to learn a few things to share with my own subscribers. But… I have decided to simply refer them to your blog. An excellent resource for anyone who is serious about building their business using traffic exchanges.
Thanks for being such a great example of what an industry leader should be!
All the best,
Scott
I have always felt that I should only email members when there is something important to say, I understand what you are saying about “buzz” but do members want more mail in their inbox? my average mail out is about 3 time a month.
graham | YourProHits.coms lastest blog post..Watch TV on Your PC.
I agree with Tim on this point. From a surfer’s perspective I think it important that Exchange owners regularly communicate whether it’s to mention contests or what’s happening next weekend, there needs to be something otherwise it’s easy to lose interest in an exchange. Additionally doing so does make it a little more personal which can only be a good thing, after all the relationship between an Exchange owner and Surfer is a working one in that they both need each other to achieve their separate business goals. The personal aspect of this type of relationship should create a trigger to prompt action because of regular communication. As a member of dozens of Traffic Exchanges simply because I enjoy reviewing them, I find myself surfing regularly at the ones whose owners contact me equally regularly. What should not be ignored by TE owners is the power of personal contact as a motivator that draws people to an exchange. An increase in the number of Traffic Exchanges today will likely make this even more important, because personal preference will arguably be swayed by the way we feel about individual owners.
Hi Tim;
Another good tip on finding the owner of a Traffic Exchange is to use the utilities at domaintools.com.
One can easily find out if a TE owner is hiding a private domain registration (Very bad thing to do) or doesn’t have a real address listed by hiding behind a PO box or some such.
Private domain registrations and PO boxes are a good indication the webmaster is trying to hide something and care should be taken before proceeding.
Take Care,
Phil
Comments on this entry are closed.
{ 1 trackback }