Traffic exchanges, also known as hit exchanges and start exchanges, are a very simple means of driving traffic to a website.
Being in a traffic exchange is like being in a club. You surf, using a specially designed surf bar unique to the traffic exchange in question, and view the other club members websites. Every time you view a website you get a credit, or a point, and these are exchanged for visitors who view your website. Normally there is a ratio involved and – for free members – it is often one return visitor for every two websites that you view.
Most exchanges are free to join but many have a pro upgrade option where you can get a better view/return view ratio (say 1:1) for a monthly fee, typically a few dollars a month. The large majority of members in the typical exchange are free members.
Traffic exchanges are much maligned there are many who will tell you that they dont work. One of the main reasons cited for this is the fact that most of the traffic exchange members are members of the exchange primarily because they are already promoting a business opportunity or product of their own.
Whilst this is almost certainly true it...