Banner links exchange

Web Site Promotion - Banner and Link Exchange Services Benefits

What is a link or banner exchange service?
Simply stated, a banner exchange service is a web site (the banner exchange service) that has assembled a group of web sites for the purpose of sharing visitors.

The links the banner exchange service uses are established through banner ads (rather than text links). When a banner is displayed, clicking on it takes you to the website that paid for the banner.

How do banner exchange services work?
The banner exchange service you use will monitor the number of times visitors "click through" to another member sites. Each time a visitor "clicks through" to another member site, the sponsoring site receives a credit (typically 1/2 credit) toward their own banner appearing on other members sites. The more traffic you generate, the more click throughs to other sites. The more click throughs to other sites, the more credits for your banner ad to appear on other pages. The more times your ad appears on other pages the more click throughs back to your site... you get the idea!

Who are the major link and banner exchange services on the Web?
Here's a partial listing:

1. Cyberlink Exchange 2000
2. Link Exchange
3. Link Trader
4. Smart Clicks
5. Trade Banners
6. Narrow Cast Media
7. Net On Banner Exchange

What are the disadvantages of Link and Banner Exchange Services?
Let's face it. While link and banner exchanges promote themselves as a "free" service, the reality is they aren't. Why? Think about it. Your new web site will take time to generate traffic. During that time you are to earn very limited free credits, so how is your banner going to appear on other members' sites? Of course the answer is you can buy banner exposures! You pay the banner exchange service and they will display your ad on member pages, enough displays you start to get enough traffic and the money machine starts! Right? Well... still not really true. We'll run some math in the next paragraph.

How effective are these services?
Unfortunately, the effectiveness (and the COST effectiveness) of a banner exchange services is highly dependent on a number of factors. What are those factors?:

First - the math. Assume for a moment that you were to consider a "free" link exchange service as your primary vehicle for attracting visitors to your site. Let's assume you started out by buying 1,000 credits for your banner to appear on other members' sites. We'll further assume that your banner generates an exceptional 35:1 "click through ratio" (the ratio of the number of times your banner is displayed on other members sites for each time one person clicks through to your site). So, with 1,000 appearances and a 35:1 ratio you should get approximately 29 visitors. If the member banners on your site also get an excellent 35:1 ratio you now have 1/2 credit left for your banner to appear on other member sites! Bad deal if you think "free" banner exchange services are going to create a tremendous volume of traffic for free!

Here are some factors that will effect the amount of traffic you receive

1. The quality of your banner will effect the click through ratio. Experiment with banners until you get ones that generate click through ratio you want. Don't forget, 35:1 is an exceptionally good ratio.
2. The targeting capability of the link exchange service(s) you belong to will effect the volume AND quality responses you receive.
3. The quality of the member banners that appear on your site will effect their click through ratio and consequently the number of credits you earn for additional exposures. If they do a poor job you lose the benefit of the exchange service!

Provided by: http://www.webexcelsolutions.com/