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Is there such thing as a perfect traffic exchange? Here's something to think about, there are literally thousands of hit exchanges online today. Some have 5 members, some have tens of thousands. Some are very easy to understand, others are more complex. Some deliver traffic, and most don't. So how can you avoid the clutter and find the perfect hit exchange for your business or website?

The easy answer, there is no 'perfect' exchange. There are so many factors involved in determining a successful traffic exchange campaign, no one traffic exchange can claim to be perfect. However there are some that do a VERY good job. And that is what should be featured in this article.

Here's a few tips on finding yourself a quality program;

The first thing I would suggest is to check out some of the 'rating' sites for different traffic exchanges. I operate a newsletter, entitled Hit Exchange News that has a weekly rating of the top performing exchanges online. Another very valuable resource online is the Hit Exchange Report developed by two very active members of the exchange industry, this has some very useful information and focuses on the statistics. These two resources should be used as guides only, by no means are these programs the 'end all / be all' of traffic exchange success.

The second thing to consider, how active is the membership? Do you get results from the system? Does traffic get delivered in a timely manner? What are YOUR results from the system? This is so important, because no matter what anyone tells you, or what I say, you have to find out for yourself what works. Case in point, track your ad's! This is a great thing to start doing for all your online business or websites. By tracking your advertising, you can see what works and what doesn't.

Another thing that makes be decide where I will spend my time and money, is this, support. How is the system's customer service? Does the owner send e-mails to you every few days, asking for you to buy traffic? Do they respond to your requests? Are they professional? This can determine which hit exchange owners are building a real business, their hit exchange, rather than trying to make a quick buck. A solid traffic exchange will put customer service / user satisfaction above and beyond anything else.

Perhaps something that could be included in the above paragraph, that shows which exchange owner is serious about their business, is site design. Does the website look like it was put together in a minute? Does it look like someone spent a good deal of time and effort designing the site? A quality page design again, sets apart the great exchanges from the so-so programs.

Next things to consider, surf ratios, timers and referral levels, OH MY! Now something to remember, you have to go with what works for you, however site settings such as surf ratios, surf timers and referral levels, can determine how 'happy' you are with a program. A good surf ratio is only as good as traffic flow. If a site has a 1:1 surf ratio, but cannot deliver traffic, that would not be a hit exchange that does no deliver what is promised. An exchange with a low ratio like 5:1 or 4:1, that delivers a strong traffic flow, is delivering. Again, you have to go with what works best for your needs. Surf timers are not as important as people would like to think. Some would argue, the longer someone is at your site the better chance you have to make a sale, wrong! The website viewer has made up their mind in while surfing the exchanges, in about 2 seconds, whether or not you have their attention. This goes back to the importance of WHAT YOU PROMOTE, rather than where you promote.

And finally, the most important factor when determining the perfect exchange is which program do you feel most comfortable with! Again, what works for some people, may not work for others so it's very important you trust your own judgement. If a program delivers and feels right, use it. If not, don't use it. No matter what I say works, or someone else tells you, find out for yourself. Trust yourself and your business sense.