The Nexus Connection

Text link ad seen on another excellent manual traffic exchange

Meet Jimmy Adames

Click on the link, and you actually get to a page where you learn more about Jimmy Adames, complete with a photo.

Now THAT is branding, baby!

Like just about everybody else, I’ve had to tighten my financial belt. For awhile, I didn’t even look at anything that wasn’t free. Well now I am looking at offers again. I found one to improve my business with 17 different reports on various techniques. 17 reports!! and the cost … a mere $17. Guess what? I passed.

The sales copy was good. It said all the right things. Just $1 per report. Out of 17 reports, there HAD to be something there for me to learn. And who can’t afford $17 to skyrocket their business? Such a tiny investment for a huge return.

There probably is a lot in those reports that I don’t know. But at a buck per report, I figure I can get the same information from Google on my own. I’ve been online long enough to do that much by myself. For me, the price is right, but the value didn’t come across.

Think I’ll go look research “how to price your product or service” …

I am pleased as punch to report that yesterday was a stellar day for surfing at Nexus Exchange. The number of hits to sites in rotation skyrocketed over 300% compared to the day before. My members absolutely ROCK!

What caused this amazing jump in activity? I sent out an email, which I have been know to do from time to time. But yesterday surpassed even days during the recent weekend promotion for which I did email a couple of times.

Maybe it was what was IN the email message. I simply wanted to remind members to assign their credits so that their sites will be seen in rotation. Maybe it was the helpful advice on how to use the exchange.

Maybe it was the free stuff I included in the email. I included a link to a rebranded ebook, so members could get a copy without registering their email address on another list. I also pointed out where in the members area they could find a free download on what I consider need-to-know information, again, without need for giving up an email address. Maybe they liked that.

Or it could have been the old fashioned surf incentives: guaranteed bonus credits and increased view ratio for free members. But I do that a lot.

I would love to figure out what exactly in yesterday’s email actually made people login and surf like they did. The only way to do it is to test. And the only way to test is to change things one thing at a time in the coming emails.

If you don’t test, you don’t know what works, and you can be spinning your wheels forever. Knowing what works for you is what will get you where you want to go.

Had an interesting reply to my most recent mailing to members. An Expressway member asked, “Where do I belong?”

I am basically lazy in nature. I don’t write special emails for each membership level. I write one email and send it to everybody. Since the bulk of the Nexus Exchange membership are Freeway (free) members, that is who my emails are geared toward. I basically do the same thing with my blog posts.

My thinking is this: if Freeway members are getting such-and-such benefit, it’s obvious that upgraded members are getting better. I assume that it’s obvious, but is it?

This weekend, Freeway members are getting 24 credits for viewing 25 sites IF they click the bonus credit link in the surf bar. I expect that tidbit to get Freeway members to surf. What about upgraded members?

Interstate members, with this promo, are getting 18.75 credits plus 14 bonus credits or 32.75 credits for viewing 25 sites. Expressway members are getting 25 credits plus 14 bonus credits or 39 credits for viewing 25 sites. Upgraded members are getting better than 1:1 view ratio.

Ya think mentioning THOSE tidbits would get some more members to surf, or maybe get some free members to upgrade? When was the last time I mentioned that the price of upgrading has been reduced by a dollar per month? Did I tell people who didn’t have time to surf this weekend to buy credits so that their sites could be seen? Cardinal rule of marketing: Ask for the sale.

I know that many traffic exchange users are annoyed by email from owners promoting the latest and greatest product or service. Does that apply to specials within the traffic exchange itself? Of course not. I hope. Maybe I assume that it does. Should I?