Banner exchanges are one of the simplest and potentially most valuable methods of free promotion an arcade webmaster can employ.
If you’ve never come across these services before, read on for more information.
What is a banner exchange?
A banner exchange is a service through which you can arrange to have your banner displayed on other peoples websites. The number of times your banner is displayed externally is determined by the amount of credits you have with the exchange service.
These credits are typically acquired in two ways. First, is simply purchasing credits, or as some may label it - “Buying impressions/traffic/clicks”.
The second method is by earning credits through displaying other peoples banners on your own site. Every time another arcades banner loads on your site, or is clicked, you earn credits which are used for the display of your own banner.
Confused?
Simply put, Site A shows Site B’s banner on their site - this earns Site A credits to show their own banner on Site B.
Buying impressions, traffics and clicks? Isn’t that a little questionable?
This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of banner exchanges - particular when expressed as buying traffic or clicks.
Firstly, you are not actually buying traffic in the general understanding of the word - if you purchasing impressions, you are simply paying for more exposure, which in turn will most likely generate more traffic for you. Secondly, traffic is not guaranteed - paying for impressions does not guarantee that anybody will actually visit your site. This is no different for buying traditional CPM advertising, however the way in which it is “labelled” by some gives a bad impressions.
Similarly, “buying clicks” is no different from undertaking traditional CPC advertising.
Miswording and misunderstanding occasionally leads to scorn being poured on this promotional method within professional webmaster communities; owing to the confusion with actual traffic-purchasing services, where you pay for a certain amount of people to visit your site, click on your advertisements etc. These services are highly questionable and can land you in hot water.
So what else do I need to know?
- Most arcade banner exchanges deal with 100px x 100px banners. Only a few deal with other sizes such as 125px x 125px or the standard 468px x 60px banner size.
- Always be sure to read the rules of each exchange. Some will require you to place the banner code “above the fold” (ie in the top half of your website). Be sure you can meet the requirements before signing up.
