Are Traffic Exchanges Worth It?

If you are really in need of traffic and you have extra time AND money try a traffic exchange. The money comes in when you have just about as much as you can stand looking at other members sites trying to earn "viewing" credits. I'll explain.

The basis of a traffic exchange program is simple: your site is shown to someone else (another network member) each time you view another site or two other sites. Some exchanges work on a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio that is for every three sites you view they will show your site once on their network. All of this is free because you are participating in viewing other member's sites as part of the program. The criteria for getting page views of your own site is that you must stay on each site you view for a specified time say 15-20 seconds in order to get your viewing credit. Each time you do this, you receive a credit. Remember though that you are viewing sites in a network and that those credits you are accumulating are being viewed by members just like you who are in just as much of a rush to get to the next site as you are.

What's the problem with this you may ask? Simply that the page views that you are working so hard to get are not being viewed by potential buyers of your products but by other members whose sole interest, like you, is to accumulate as many credits as possible. Not an especially great use of your time unless you consider getting high traffic to your site is your only concern. It could very well be that your only consideration is to have a high ranking in the traffic ranking sites. Then utilizing a click exchange will get you there with a lot of hard effort on your part.

A traffic exchange can be helpful if your target market is other website owners in your niche as they will have to view your site for at least 20 seconds. If your product is worthwhile and you have a compelling message you may get sales from those views.

As I stated above, utilizing a traffic exchange may get you more traffic, however some search engines discount the traffic in their assessment of your site, so be careful. You might want to consider taking the time in developing your site through SEO instead.