_____FEATURED ARTICLE_______________________

   Viral Traffic Systems: Are They Harming Your Business?

Ads! Ads! Ads!  They're all over the place.

Have you noticed the increase in ads on websites and online 
publications, both large and small?  More sites are using new, 
intrusive ways to get marketing messages across to consumers, 
the most intrusive being pop-up and pop-under ads.

What are they?

If you've surfed the 'Net lately, you've certainly run into 
them.  Those annoying new windows (ads) that pop on top of or 
under the web page you are viewing.

Viral traffic building systems often use these pop-ups and pop-
unders to build traffic to sites.  They also use email and 
newsletter ads.

Having explained some of the tools viral traffic systems use, 
I need to explain the difference between viral marketing and 
viral traffic building systems.  Though related, they are not 
one-in-the-same.

First, in case you are unfamiliar with these terms, lets 
define viral marketing.

While the word viral may invoke a negative connotation of some 
nasty cold, I assure you the term "viral marketing" is nothing 
negative.  In fact, it is a preferred method of advertising 
your products and services.  However, like a virus your 
advertising message will continue to spread from one person to 
the next.

In simplest terms, it's the new, high-tech term for the age-
old, traditional concept of "word-of-mouth" advertising.  
Only, with the advent of the commercial internet, this 
marketing technique takes on a whole new dimension.

Viral marketing is defined as "a term used to describe any 
technique that encourages a person to pass on your marketing 
message to others, with the potential for exponentially 
growing exposure for your message."

The internet provides some incredible tools for "spreading the 
word (virus)."  Ever notice how fast a joke spreads from 
office to office through email?  How about the hoaxes and 
legends that are passed around?  Email, in my opinion, is the 
most powerful viral marketing tool yet invented.

Paul Hancox asserts, "Viral marketing is, in many ways, far 
superior to traditional advertising methods because each and 
every one of your customers, visitors, users, can become 
'carriers' of your message and spread it to others, in the 
same way that if they caught a cold they could spread it to 
others."

Traditional marketing methods like placing an ad in a print 
magazine or a radio spot can get very pricey.  Not only this, 
but you will have a somewhat fixed audience.  With viral 
marketing, your message can start off small and inexpensive, 
and as it spreads it has the potential to reach a far wider 
audience.  You set it in motion, and your initial marketing 
efforts piggyback from person to person.

Now that you understand the basic concept of viral marketing, 
let's discuss viral traffic systems, sometimes called "viral 
traffic-building systems" (VTBS).

What are they?

While there are many ways to virally spread your marketing 
message - writing articles for others to publish, starting an 
affiliate program, joint ventures - viral traffic systems are 
simply third-party programs to facilitate and help you build 
your online viral traffic efforts.  The most common tools used 
by third-party VTBS's are email, banner ads, and 
pop-ups/unders.  They easily facilitate the "You look at my 
website (or newsletter) and I'll look at yours" concept.

With that said, I will tell you that not all VTBS's are built 
alike.  In fact, if you are not careful...

Some VTBS's could actually be more harmful to your business 
than helpful.

There are two approaches to building viral traffic.  One I 
call the "Up-Close-and-Personal" approach.  The other I call 
the "Slip-Shod" approach.

- The Up-Close-and-Personal Approach

To me this method is the most effective way to build traffic 
and/or subscribers.

Well-thought-out joint ventures with one or more partners can 
bring exciting results.  A personal recommendation from a 
trusted source can yield a flood of new subscribers and new 
customers.

Affiliate programs have proven to be an excellent viral tool 
for this very reason.  You suggest a product to your lists 
(and get a commission for doing so), and they, in turn tell 
their lists about the product (you and they get a commission), 
and so on.

Some VTBS's for getting your ad seen in newsletters and on 
website can be very cost-effective (often free) advertising.  
The most effective are those where you have control over what 
advertising goes into your newsletter or onto your website, 
thus enhancing your own products or services and strengthening 
your brand.

However, as I recently mentioned, not all VTBS's are built 
alike.  There are some who would encourage traffic simply for 
traffic's sake.  They present...

- The Slip-Shod Approach

Here's one scenario: you receive an email from one of the 
marketing gurus on the internet.  His message is filled with 
hype giving you every reason why you must sign up immediately.  
Trusting his advice, you run to sign up and place some code on 
your site to allow pop-ups and pop-unders on your website from 
the VTBS.

That same day, your stats show an increase in traffic.  You 
are elated.  "It's working," you say to yourself.

So, what's the problem?

Let me answer it by asking you this question: Do you return to 
sites that open up new browser window after new browser 
window?  What impression is left on you with this kind of 
advertising?  Will you remember this site as a positive 
experience?  Or will you simply close all windows and exit as 
quickly as possible, never to return again?

Although you will gain some customers or subscribers from such 
systems, you have to wonder how many you have also lost.

Allowing some of these viral traffic-building systems onto 
your website often dilutes your brand.  Think of it...
thousands of sites and ads for which you have not control of 
their content, originating from your website or newsletter.  
Is that really what you want?  What are you ultimately trying 
to achieve?

Internet brand expert Rob Frankel of the popular FrankelBiz 
list instructs, "True viral marketing comes from creating a 
brand culture that motivates people to evangelize the brand, 
whether it be a service, product or philosophy."

What you have to weigh are the costs to the benefits of the 
traffic you have received.  I'm not just talking about 
monetary costs.  What are the long-term effects?

Traffic simply for the sake of traffic is a dangerous game 
that could ultimately backfire with a large number of 
unsubscribes and heightened traffic numbers that mean nothing.  
I, for one, am not interested in doing a joint venture with 
someone just because they have high traffic numbers.  I want 
to know where that traffic is coming from and whether I will 
be able to convert that traffic into loyal customers.  It must 
be a mutual win-win partnership.

The Slip-Shod Approach is the ultimate in irresponsible 
marketing.  And, I'm not the least bit impressed with some of 
these so-called gurus that instigate and encourage such 
practices.

My prediction...

The value of viral traffic building programs using the Slip-
Shod approach will likely go the way of Free-For-All Links 
pages.  Not only useless, but diluting one's brand.  They will 
become borderline marketing tools, only attracting the 
desperate and the naive.

The moral of the story...

Don't follow just because "they say so."  Follow because 
you've taken the time to think through what the ultimate 
consequences will be for your brand, your products, your 
ultimate goal.

There are plenty of good traffic-building systems, very 
good, indeed.  But, before hitting the sign-up submit button, 
ask yourself, "Will I end up with scattered, disinterested 
visitors?  Or will I end up with targeted, loyal customers 
through this program?

And, even more important is the question, "Will this traffic-
building relationship strengthen or weaken my brand?"

------
Note: You have permission to reprint this article in its 
entirety with the author's credits below.

About the Authors: 
Heidi and Dave Perry are successful entrepreneurs and founders 
of HomeBusinessOnline.com and PrettyGreat.com.  Sign up for 
their popular HomeBizBytes free newsletter at 
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/nsl.htm?hbb


_____DAVE and HEIDI RECOMMEND_______________

Now that we've given you something to think about in using 
viral traffic-building systems to increase your subscriber 
base as well as website traffic, Dave and I thought we would 
offer one or two VTBS's that we have found useful for us.  
This list is not all-inclusive.  Just one or two we think may 
have some worth.

But, please don't just take our word for it.  Do your own due 
diligence and decide if these traffic builders will work for 
you.

Here goes...

We recently signed up for an all-inclusive traffic-building, 
promotional program that has most everything you would need to 
boost your traffic and for PR.  It's quite impressive.  Unlike 
some traffic builders, this one is not free; however, you 
really can't beat the price...only $4.95 per month for a 
limited time.  If you get in on the introductory offer, 
they'll lock in that price for you.  Here's the link:
http://refer.ccbill.com/cgi-bin/clicks.cgi?CA=912099&PA=226483

One that just opened today that we have not yet had a chance 
to test for you has a pop-up box rotating newsletters and 
checkboxes for subscribing.  I like the idea, but it doesn't 
seem to me that the newsletters are targeted.  That may come.  
We're going to go ahead and sign up and see if targeting is 
added as the program grows.  We will definitely suggest it to 
the owner of this system. Program looks good. Here's the link:
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/preview/subscriberdrive.html

The next program is for placing ads in newsletters.  You'll 
find plenty of these on the internet.  This one has shown some 
fairly decent results for us.  It is an "I'll place your ad if 
you'll place mine" type of deal, and it goes many levels deep 
in order to expand your ad's potential audience.  The key is 
to work hard and fast at building your base of people who sign 
up under you.  These kinds of programs have a life span.  
http://www.HomeBusinessOnline.com/preview/freetraffic.html

The best advice Dave and I can offer is to do your own joint 
ventures.  They usually yield the best results.  Neil 
Shearing's book and Spider software is very good for teaching 
you how to find the the super affiliates that can sell 
bucketloads of your product(s) and how to approach them for 
joint ventures.  His book and software come together in a 
complete package at 
http://www.homebusinessonline.com/preview/shearingspider.html

Dave and I will keep you updated from time-to-time as to what 
is and isn't working for us.  Your own experiences are also 
welcomed.  Please email us at mailto:Editor@HomeBusinessOnline.com


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