TrafficG

The first one is TrafficG.  It is not the largest or most popular, but  the layout is immediately easy to understand.   Unlike so many sites out there this one does not try to confuse you into clicking on something else.

The main page shows you your current credits (how many you have earned), the sites in which the credits can be distributed, and the Start Surfing button.

The Start Surfing is also available on the left side of the screen, along the menu.  Each page you visit uses a Captcha in the upper left corner, in order to deter automation.  You simply click on one of the three Captcha choices that you see.  Currently it is set to 20 seconds minimum between sites.

Features include:

1. Very simple site navigation and layout
2. One “splash page”
3. An excellent referral program, including contests
4. Many banners to use for referrals
5. A simple to use toolbar
6. 20 second timer

EasyHits4U

EasyHits4U is the most popular traffic exchange around.  It has existed since 2003.  The layout is pretty easy to follow, with a menu bar at the top of the site.

Features include:

1. Earn real money or credits toward more traffic
2. Includes a directory to add your site
3. Includes many prebuilt splash pages
4. Option to create your own splash pages
5. A site rotator to help you to manage, host, and track your sites
6. 20 second timer

StartXchange

StartXchange looks like it will catch up to others because of the founder very aggressively comping up with creative ways of gaining visitors and members.  He also hosts a very popular traffic exchange directory, which certainly helps.  It is the oldest, having been created in 2001.   Many of the traffic exchange sites out there are using a script written by the founder, Tim Linden.  He created the first version of StartXchange when he was 15 years old.  If you’re looking for an innovative traffic exchange then this is it.  They set the standard.

Features include:

1. Chat option
2. Contests and prizes
3. Ability to join various teams of people competing for prizes
4. An active forum
5. A very good referral program
6. Easy to understand layout and navigation
7. 10 second timer

CommentLuv, which is a WordPress and Drupal plugin that allows you to comment and then have your most recent blog post or RSS feed post to be included at the bottom of your comment.  To have this work, just type in your URL into the appropriate URL or URI field.  Once the comment is accepted then you would see a link.

This works very well for any web page, blog, and other sites, such as Squidoo.

The other is a Widget for WordPress blogs that is called Top Commenter.  It allows the blogger to display the most prolific commenters on the blog, over a period of time, often a month.  In the case of my blog, Top Commenter is only on the front page, so the link value is not diluted throughout the site.

Both can be set by the blogger to be dofollow (meaning your link will include the linkjuice from the search engines), which includes this blog as well.

How to Find Commentluv and Top Commenter Blogs

There are various linkbuilding programs out there, free and otherwise:

• Fast Blog Finder *Recommended
  
• Real Link Finder
• Comment Kahuna
• Traffic Kahuna (same author as above)

In addition there are great online search tools and listings:

• Do Follow Diver – Allows you search through a listing of more than 700 dofollow blogs, including many with Top Commenter and CommentLuv.
• A list of over 100 blogs using CommentLuv.
• The official CommentLuv active sites list.

Don’t Spam!

The important thing here is to not abuse these sites.  Spamming hurts everyone and if a blogger finds too many spammers coming from a certain region of the world easily can block an entire IP range.  Also, both of these widgets/plugins allow the blogger to block certain people automatically.

In addition, the spam-blocking plugging known as Akismet and the process of manually authorizing each blog post will eliminate any post deemed as spam.  The important part when posting on blogs using either or both is realizing that its simply not worth taking the time to spam, as your comments will assuredly not be allowed.

Linkbait is simply creating something that sparks peoples’ interest enough that they would create a link to you or use something that you offer, such as an image or a tool. They may knowingly or unknowingly create a backlink to your site.

With Google’s Matt Cutts doing a writeup of linkbait recently and an older one, it made me think more about it. The real thing always serves as the best example, rather than just explaining it. This seems to be an acceptable way of getting links, according to Google.

Here’s his definition: “On a meta-level, I think of “linkbait” as something interesting enough to catch people’s attention, and that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. There are a lot of ways to do that, including putting in sweat-of-the-brow work to generate data or insights, or it can be as simple as being creative. You can also say something controversial to generate discussion (this last one gets tired if you overuse it, though). Sometimes even a little bit of work can generate a reason for people to link to you.”

Examples of Linkbait

www.stclaire.com – PR4 – Links 2,630



Matt Cutts used this “Technical Communications” site that had a clever sign making section.

Ning – PR7 – Links 761,100
Create your own social network for anything
A clever way that allows the user to create their own social network. It reminds me of meetup.com, but that is strictly internet based.

Muglo.com -PR0 (very new) – Links 0
Create your own smiley-faces for blogs, forums, etc

This is similar to the sign making site, but is limited to smiley faces. It has a simple name that is easy to remember.

One Red Paper clip – PR5 – Links 33,000

This guy was inspired by a Canadian boardgame called “Trade Up”. He had a stroke of genius when he decided to try it for real; trading a red paper clip all the way along until he ended up with a house.
He has since written a book about his experience. In addition he runs a forum in which you can try to trade other people for things, including paper clips. I’m curious if it would still work for others.

Road Trip to Oprah – PR4 – Links 1,680

You could do something extravagant like these guys.

We are on a quest to ask Oprah for $1 to join the producers of The 1 Second Film. The 1 Second Film is a non-profit global collaborative art project bringing thousands of people together to make a film that makes a difference. Anyone in the world can help produce The 1 Second Film by donating $1. From Kiefer Sutherland to Kevin Bacon, thousands of producers are already participating. All profits from our finished film will benefit the Global Fund for Women. It’s the start of a 5 Phase Plan to bring the world together, one second at a time.

Maybe it’s a little over the top…

SEO Tools – PR3 – Links 6,040

Search Engine Optimization Tools
If you have the technical skills or are willing to hire someone to create your idea, then you could come up with some useful tool. Other examples would be calorie calculators, sitemap generators, or interest rate calculators.

If you are struggling with how to create linkbait, have a look at this post called Link Bait Kindergarten for some great ideas on how to be creative.

Another benefit of StumbleUpon is the amount of traffic that can find your pages and sites. If you have something that you would like shared, you can add it to StumbleUpon when you or another stumbler discovers it and reviews it. From that point on that page, image, or video is on the StumbleUpon network.

This leads us to the next point.

Ways to improve your network of Fans:

1. Create a StumbleUpon blog and have thoughtful, entertaining, funny, or simply fun content.
2. Use the StumbleUpon PhotoBlog It! option to blog about a great photo that you have found. Do this by Right-clicking on the photo and choose StumbleUpon PhotoBlog It! Then comment on the photo you have found.
3. Join various groups, such as Stumblers, StumbleUpon, or StumbleUpon Tweaks and Tricks (to improve your StumbleUpon layout and add features!)
4. Read the StumbleUpon tweaks on The Prawn website.
5. Also, you can improve you chances of meeting other like minded people by adding various interests to your profile. There are tons of interests to choose!

Interesting Blogs to read about StumbleUpon:

Official StumbleUpon Blog