From first hand experience, by way of testing, revealed by stats, the social wave is more hoopla than anything else.
Hit Exchanges (also known as traffic exchanges) have been adding social elements for a couple of years now. As general rule, when they do so, statistically, we see a decline.
What do we see? Generally, when these advertising exchanges focus on the social, we see a decline in overall traffic, new visitors, and primary conversions (results).
So far, by the numbers, we have yet to see any increase from the social wave.
No, we are not talking about one using Twitter. We think Twitter is great, and use it daily.
Facebook? I do not have it, but my family does. Although, I have run several big advertising campaigns on Facebook recently, and with mixed results. But Facebook and Twitter are not what I am talking about here.
Right here and right now, I am talking about hit exchanges with a focus on the social, and whether or not they are delivering as promised.
They all promise a wave of new people, fresh eyes, an expanded audience, increased results. Well, I am testing, and I am waiting.
So far, again by the numbers, we have yet to see any impressive new visitor stats, from any of the hit exchanges focussing on the social.
Who leads the pack in new visitors? EasyHits4U, Cool-Traffic, TrafficG, WebBizInsider, TS25, and Hit2Hit. And where is those hit exchanges that focus strongly on the social? Consistently, the social exchanges are seen in the middle to bottom of the list.
What about primary and secondary conversions? Similar story. Hit Exchanges such as Cool-Traffic, TrafficG, XtremeHit, Hit2Hit, Traffic-Splash, currently generate the most results. And where is the social focus exchanges? Again, consistently, in the middle to bottom of the list.
But wait a minute! Chat, social connecting, is supposed to generate more of everything. Nope, we do not see it. If anything, chat and the social connecting generate less — less traffic, less new visitors, and less results.
Are we full of it? Sure, we are full of it — full of Hoopla, full of stats, that reveal much, and if used as your guide for your advertising decisions, will lead to increased traffic and maximized productivity — tested, revealed, exposed, proven, consistently, long term, the Hoopla Way works.
Traffic Hoopla is a traffic builder, plain and simple. Our instructions for building traffic, large amounts of ongoing daily traffic, is to join each advertising resource in the Join list, and use them daily to promote your Traffic Hoopla. Do so today, tomorrow, everyday, to get signups, and to earn referral rewards.
If you follow our instructions, do as we do, soon, you will reap a bountiful traffic harvest.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
I COMPLETELY disagree with you. I’m surfing every day, talking with surfers and I know from their opinion this social stuff works.
Mr. Carr, you must be involved and be social to comment on whether or not social works.
As the great Gary Vaynerchuk said…’ROI? What’s the ROI on the relationship with you mom?’
It’s a new world, relationship building does not have a ‘stat’ or numbers you can measure.
You are missing the boat with this blog post.
I love your style of writing, and have been a member of traffichoopla for a while. Your list of traffic exchanges has always been right on the money! I will keep reaping a traffic harvest because of what you do…..
To Your Success And Happiness
Sincerely,
Richard Weberg
Richard,
Thank you. We are glad you are here.
Sincerely,
Bill Carr
TrafficHoopla.com
I agree with you and I don’t.
If I use social TEs in the traditional sense – buying credits and letting it sit. the results are average.
On the other hand, if I get social in these exchanges, I build business relationships that help me in the long term.
It takes time , it takes a different mindset but it pays off.
While mindful and grateful for the Hoopla rankings , I find that I am concentrating more of my efforts now at being actively involved in the Social TEs
Uts about branding its about building -what better way to brand then to be active and recognisable
Traffic may equal stats and if all you looking for is a hit to your site that is fine.
If you want to develop relationships then chatting is the way to do it.
Nothing beats 1 on 1 conversations to convert leads to sales.
I agree with Mark and Tom. For me and my TE interacting in the Chats with many other TE Owners and their members has resulted in so many more sign ups then any other media. Sorry I am not in favor of having to Buy Traffic, to get my sites seen, I much rather tell my prospective customers all about it myself and then let them make up their own minds. If I want to just get hits to my sites? I use some very good Auto Surf sites, with tremendous results and to my amazement have gotten many sign ups from there too.
Monika
The numbers don’t lie!
While I have full confidence in the statistics produced from the Hoopla testing, I also realize it is a result of what page is being tested for response.
Eliminating bias is a serious challenge. It would be impossible when the advertising medium itself is intentionally biased toward a certain kind of advertising or marketing.
In other words, if the Hoopla testing does not take into consideration the built-in bias toward a very personalized approach in a “Social” TE, then we can expect results of the testing to reflect that bias.
IMHO that’s not bad… just different.
I’m not very active in the Social TE scene… yet.
But I do believe it has tremendous potential. For me it will require more time personally to interact with the ‘traffic’ and real people that traffic represents. It will require some growth on my part to step out of my comfort zone.
Social networking in one of the new breed of TEs may not be for everyone. However, I’ve seen some very sociable types who have adapted and made quite an impression via the Social Networking TEs.
As an introverted retired engineer, it’s something I will have to work on. :~)
Sincerely,
Scott
PS. +1 for everything Mark Hodgetts said above.
My results do not match yours AT ALL.
If you looked at the numbers for my splash pages alone, they look like crap. However when you add social conversions in the mix, all of a sudden they aren’t so bad..
I can’t trust your “Measured results” when you aren’t providing the method or what you did social to get these results.. there is definitely some ways to be social that are much more effective than others
I also wanted to throw in that by having this blog and engaging your users and responding to them – you are being social – is this blog post selling anything? nope.. is it relevant content? yes.. are you engaging users? yes..
there must be something about this social thing that you claim doesn’t work if you are using it to tell us it doesn’t work.. a little bit of an oxymoron
I can see why some people don’t like your post as they are trying to hype up their most recent exchanges and ebooks. But the numbers show what their real results are. It’s good to see your take against it and I completely agree.
Traffic Hoopla has opened my eyes and guided me to TE’s that bring results. Keep up the good work!
John,
Thanks for the comment. But I must respectively ask, did you read my post? I am not against social anything. I love Twitter, Blogging, etc. My reference was towards hit exchanges that focus on the social, and whether or not they are best. So far, and we are talking about several years worth of testing so called social focus exchanges, they are not best, and generally, generate far less traffic and results than a normal hit exchange.
The fact is I love and embrace the social.
Bill Carr
Traffic Hoopla
Jon,
Thanks for your comment and opinion.
I am not against social media. I love Blogging, Twitter, etc. My post was about hit exchanges with a focus on the social and whether or not they are best.
What? … must be involved and be social to comment? What hit exchange with a focus on the social am I not involved with? I certainly participate in your social hit exchange, and as a paid member from day one.
And if I am correct, Traffic Hoopla has collected thousands on thousands of hits from your social exchange, referred well over a thousand members, you’ve enjoyed many of rankings, and we continually test it today.
Respectfully, Jon, I think you misread my post. I love the social, it just hasn’t dominate the hit exchange world yet.
Bill Carr
Traffic Hoopla
Mark,
Thanks. I respect and appreciate your comment.
Bill Carr
Traffic Hoopla
Scott,
Thanks. I respect and appreciate you.
Bill Carr
Traffic Hoopla
Jon,
I left this response on your blog,
and thought it would be good to post it here as well.
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Did someone misread my Blog post? I am not against the social. I love Blogging, Twitter, etc. In fact, our home page has been a blog for many years, our Twitter is active and full, and a large portion of our business comes from relationships/friends.
My message, my point, is about hit exchanges with a focus on the social and whether or not they are best. So far, in the hit exchange world, by the stats, they have not dominated.
It is amazing how these things go when from someone who does not like us, with a long history of grumbling and complaining, with all out hatred against anything and everything we do, gets their feathers ruffled.
I have known and worked with you (Jon Olson) since you were in online marketing diapers. We were good friends at one time, but at some point that changed, around the time of Affiliate Funnel, and I am still scratching my head what happen. At one time, we enjoyed a wonderful meal together here in Dallas, talking, laughing, doing the social. Have you noticed the one thing that has not changed? My participation and support of everything you do, and this continues today, and I always bring my wallet. Our relationship story is sad. I sure wish you’d get over your Hoopla bent.
Bottom line, at the end of the day, the success or failure of any business is determined by results, revealed by stats, numbers. I purposely did not call out your social exchange by name. Hit exchanges have added social elements for many years now, and what we see, has been consistent with all.
There is a lot of talk about the social today, especially in the online marketing world. The problem is that it takes a lot of time. From a productivity perspective, we all can buy into it if the results are there. If not, none of us can afford it. Time is extremely valuable, and productivity & results are important.
Ask any seasoned, and successful marketer, who has spent any significant time hanging around forums, chat rooms, conferences. Sure, you may make a connection, signup or two, but often, not anything that will pay the mortgage. At the end of the day, you must get out of the chair, roll up your sleeves, go to work, get traffic, and get significant results.
I speak from experience, and you, Jon, know this. I have been there done that. Spent hours every day in forums, setting records for post, mostly reaching out and helping others with no strings attached. At some point, when evaluating my results, evaluating my bottom line, I had to reorganize my time, get more productive, and decreased forum time. Almost every seasoned/successful marketer I know, at some point or another, has done the same.
On another topic, commented here —
What? Traffic Hoopla not answering support? Are you kidding me? Excellent customer service has been the hallmark of my online career. Even my good friend Jon Olson knows this.
Bill Carr
TrafficHoopla.com
(end copy)
Thanks,
Bill Carr
Traffic Hoopla
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