Temporarily Lowering Surfbar Timers
This happens all the time, an exchange decides to lower their surfbar timer woo hoo! But is it really a good thing?
I’m not a big fan on altering the surfbar timer. I can see that to those surfing at the time, they get more value for their time surfing. But what about the other people who already spent the extra seconds to earn that view, only to get a shorter view in return. Or even worse, shelling out hard earned cash for a 10 second view only to find out later that it was really only shown for 6 seconds.
Before you say that a person viewing the page for 6 seconds will make the same decision as if they viewed it for 10 seconds, think about this: If that was so, why do they have it for 10 seconds in the first place!
Now I’m not saying one is better or not, because I haven’t tested that. What I am saying is that the changing back and forth all the time without the option of opting out doesn’t sit well with me. If you used an exchange that advertises unique traffic only, but every once in a while decides it’s ok for a special time to deliver non unique traffic, then their would be an outcry. So how is this different?
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January 24th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
For the record, I’m not outraged by this or anything. Just trying to stir up some discussion and thoughts! I have decided to try out some testing on the timer thing, and see which timers get better results. If I see that reduced timers do create reduced results, THEN I’ll be unhappy. But I don’t have data to backup my thoughts at this time, so I won’t take action on them =P
January 25th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Of course it also depend on what kind of site You are promoting… A fast flashpage with 5 words (7 if “click here” is counted) can easily do with a 6 second timer, when a more complex site may need more time.
I myself like the 10 second timer better, gives my poor brain the time to comprehend what I am looking at. :)
January 25th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I have mixed feelings. When I am surfing for credits, I want fast.. get them in and get them out. SX rocks because it is generally fast and smooth. (Totally seperate issue - Since the change to prizes, my average credit per surf is down and so is my spending because under the old system I was constantly reminded what pages were empty.)
Anyway, to restate the first, when I am just surfing for the credits, speed is all that matters to me. I am usually surfing 3 to 5 sites and just going through the motions. If you want my attention, make your page stand out, make it easy to read and —fast loading—.
Second, later in the evening, I tend to surf just 2 sites and I do read tons, no matter what the timer says. If I am in the mood to browse, I do it.
Another unrelated point *lol* and one that Tim has made at SX.. change your ads. You people that use the same add that I have seen, literally thousands of times. I am never gonna stop and read it. Just do it, draw me in and the timer wont matter.
January 25th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Ummm Doesn’t have the option to opt out? Sure you do, login and pause your sites.
I reduce my timer to 5 seconds every Saturday, it is purposely set to happen on the same day every week so that surfers get into the habit of surfing that that day and to allow folks the option of pausing their sites should they choose to do so.
Juli Norwood
January 26th, 2008 at 5:06 am
I don’t think 6 sec is too short with all the splashes out there 10 sec. is nice but 15 or more is just too long for me
Mark
January 26th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I am inclined to agree with you. Surf Bar timig should not be changed. If any exchange site owner wants to reward its surfers, then it should be done by increasing bonus.
After all advertisers are paying to show their site for a certain time.
January 26th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Members expect to get there sites seen too! ;-) One of the busiest and biggest surf days every week is Saturday with the 5 second timer.
Its popularity demands me to give the surfers what they want… I’m not going to argue with them. ;-)
If anyone doesn’t want to participate in it… Easy fix pause your sites Saturday.
Juli
January 26th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Yes but if it’s what they want, then why isn’t it that way all the time? =P
January 26th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
For the same reason Startxchanges bonuses, rewards, cool incentives are not a permanent feature. :-)
Juli
January 27th, 2008 at 5:41 am
That’s actually a really interesting observation. I never thought about the surf timer changes that way before.
January 27th, 2008 at 6:50 am
I think we should see the thing with clear perspective. Surfers want quick credits and if surf bar timing is reduced, surfer can earn huge credits on time base. This,every surfer including me love. Now, think about the Advertiser. He wants his site should remain visible to surfer for a reasonable time so that he can read the site. 5 secs seems to be too less for some site to get loaded properly. Site Owners will do well if they can filter such sites when surf bar timing is reduced.
January 27th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Juli wasn’t Saturday you best day even before you lowered the timer?
Mark
January 27th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
No weekends were slow compared to my best days Monday thru Thursday.
Juli
January 27th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I think it’s different than surfing bonuses and prizes, because it doesn’t affect anyone else. If I give out more credits, that’s not going to make a credit equal less than a hit. Whereas reducing the timer affects the people getting the hits, because their traffic is no longer shown for the time frame that was in place when traffic was purchased or earned.
I really don’t see why it would be put back to a higher timer unless it was because the quality of the traffic really is lower. Otherwise it would benefit everyone to always have it lower.
January 27th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Personally I feel a 30 second timer preserves true advertising quality myself. :-) But the current fad and members have demanded a 10 second timer… I gave them what they wanted albeit grudgingly lol
I guess it all comes down to perception… doesn’t it! ;-)
If you advertise that you have 1 day a week where the timer is set to 5 seconds than you have given heads up to those who want to participate and for those who don’t… it’s very easy to pause your sites. A day that brings in alot of surfers is a day I would want my sites displaying but maybe that’s just me. ;-)
Interesting discussion…
Juli
January 27th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Temporarily? Possibly.
I suffer from a lack time and like many others, appreciate any attempt to assist in that area. And again, (like many others), I have a wont to say, if my interest is not captured within 6 seconds, ya already lost me.
However, I’m one of those rare breeds who actually LIKES perusing others’ sites… so, whatever helps me to do that, then - WOO HOO! LOL
You bring up a good point, Tim - there are those ’shelling out hard earned cash for a 10 second view only to find out later that it was really only shown for 6 seconds.’ … Seems almost like a “Catch-22.” But as Juli pointed out, one option is to pause the sites - for those exchanges where that is enabled.
6 or 10 seconds makes no difference to me. I can bookmark it and go back to it later, if interested. Easy to say when you have several years experience - not so simplistic for those who haven’t.
I will have to consider this a bit more.
January 28th, 2008 at 7:42 am
I think it comes down to if the results are still great, then it’s all good. Has anyone actually tracked the results vs time on the page? I tried looking on Google Analytics but it’s difficult to figure out what the times on pages are because it’s showing overall site (including surfbar) not just the ads. I am working on it though!
February 17th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Hey all!
Old adage from old boy..If it ain’t broke don’t fix it! Leave the timer be! I understand, especially now with my own schedule, what a boon it would be to the surfer. However, fair regards need be given to those whose sites are surfed. 10 seconds is not an unfair amount of time to be given to the advertiser and should be left as is.
ENJOY!
jim
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Maybe instead of reducing timers, traffic exchanges owners could bump up their members to one of the upgraded membership. The owner may even see an increase in upgrades as members see the privileges of the 24hr or so benefit.