Can You Buy Traffic?

A recent "Marketing Blog" reader asks, "I will like to read your opinion about those paid traffic services. Actually I'm still selling my products but most of the time I use paid target traffic services, it works nice for me but the only problem that I found is that after two or three traffic orders I have to move to another traffic business since the effectiveness only works for small time." - Pete

Pete, thanks so much for your comment. This is a GREAT topic and one that I'd love to comment on. Paid traffic services can be useful as part of an overall traffic generation strategy. I too have used paid traffic services in the past and believe they do present some value when used in conjunction with Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, and Email Marketing.

So What's the Rub With Paid Traffic?

Have you ever wondered where paid traffic comes from? The services that generate paid traffic do it through a few key methods.

1. Traffic Exchange. Using this method, these sites sell access to their traffic exchange networks where individuals surf for credits. As they earn credits viewing websites like yours, their ads/websites are displayed across the network for others to click on. If this method is being used, you may certainly experience a decrease in performance only because the same individuals are seeing your ad over and over, reducing their likelihood to click.

2. Search Engine Marketing. A great way to generate traffic for others is through search engine marketing like Google, ExactSeek or Yahoo! Traffic generation sites buy keywords in bulk or many long-tail keywords and resell the traffic generated from them. If they can do this at a profit, its a win-win. This is a difficult strategy only because the cost of keywords change frequently based on industry demand.

3. List Marketing. Traffic generation websites also generate traffic through email marketing and house lists. These techniques are usually leveraged through daily, weekly, and monthly electronic newsletters. Driving less traffic than the first two methods, the list marketing option usually rounds out a comprehensive traffic generation strategy.

So to answer your question directly Pete, traffic generation sites - paying for traffic - can be beneficial... it all comes down to how you use them and what it costs. Personally, I prefer to sign up for my own traffic exchange, purchase my own keywords, and manage my newsletters and email lists!

Traffic Exchange - Does it add up?

Traffic Exchange

If you haven't heard about them, you're definitely in the minority. Traffic exchanges are sites that allow you to either install a toolbar or set a start page that gives you credit for surfing websites and/or squeeze pages. Often times you'll earn a single credit or mulitple credits for each site you view.

As your credits increase, the number of times your very own website or squeeze page is displayed throughout the traffic exchange network by other members. Most traffic exchanges allow you to select the specific categories of sites/squeeze pages you wish to see.

So what's the value? From my perspective, its not what you might think. Personally, I've used Traffic Swarm to test my squeeze pages - not for traffic generation. You might be asking yourself, isn't traffic the necessary component of an effective promotional page? Well, there is some truth in that without anyone viewing your promotional pages, its next to impossible to determine their effectiveness. The other challenge is that many users are just surfing to earn credits.

That being said, I find traffic exchanges to be a real tell-tale sign of your squeeze page's effectiveness. If you can stop someone in their tracks to view your page and take an action (free report, download, go to purchase), then you have a winner.

If you want to learn more about traffic exchanges, check out Traffic Swarm, TrafficG, or simply do a Google search. Happy surfing!