The Advantages and Disadvantages of Traffic Co-ops

Like a Free Traffic exchange a Traffic Co-op allows you to earn free traffic towards your site or offer. Unlike a Free Traffic Exchange Traffic Co-ops don't receive traffic from just one site but instead from an entire network of sites. This network of sites is created by the users themselves. Each user is given a unique link to share on their own sites or other exchanges. When the link is opened that user earns credits towards the co-op (other restrictions may apply, more on that later). In turn, their site will also be shown in the network.

Advantages of Traffic Co-ops

• Expanded reach. By using Traffic Co-ops you can expand the reach of your offers. Instead of showing up on one site repeatedly you can show up on many different sites without having to join all of them individually. This allows you to use one site as your main driver of traffic while not limiting yourself to that audience.
• Quicker Traffic. Since the offer will be running on a network of sites, that means the traffic will also be faster. This is useful for testing new offers or building downlines in newly launched programs.
• Referral Traffic. Most co-ops will also give you bonus credits for recruiting new members or a percentage of the credits they create. So, by promoting various co-ops you can build traffic credits at multiple sites. Some sites will even let you earn on your downline 5 levels deep.

Disadvantages of Traffic Co-ops

• Less Control. With expanded reach comes the downside of less control, with a co-op you can't pick and choose which sites you want to use. Some sites may have less than desirable traffic in terms of conversions. If you are manually earning credits at various sites you likely want to use them where you know they are most effective.
• Co-op Restrictions. Co-ops may also have special requirements that lessen how many credits you'll earn. For example, a link may only count if it is viewed for 6 seconds. This simply isn't practical on many Traffic Exchanges and many of your credits won't get counted. You have to be very careful about what the restrictions are and make sure you aren't wasting credits promoting a co-op and not getting anything for it.
• Harder to Track. When you use a Traffic Coop it can be hard to decipher where you are getting your traffic from and what traffic is converting. You can try using link trackers and other tools but these can also intefere with affiliate referral systems.

Conclusion

Personally, I do use some Traffic Coops but not all of them. I'm using them mainly to build traffic downlines get more traffic towards my paid offers. Right now, I'm using ClickVoyager to create credits and then using those to promote a new traffic coop from the makers of EzHitz. This one just launched so there is plenty of time to gain referrals and build downlines. You are rewarded for each member in your downline 5 levels deep. Also, included is an adbar system, personal profile page, and downline builder for other programs. There aren't too many restrictions about where you can share your link or how long it must be seen. This is great one to get out there and promote as it just launched last week. I do also use some other Traffic Co-ops, for more about that check the link in the resource box below.

What do you think? Was there anything we left out? Let us know in the comments below!

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