In Part One of this series on International Traffic Programs we discussed how different programs are designed to be used in a number of ways, and we provided profile examples on SexMoney and EuroDialer to compare the differences and options to make money on international traffic. In this article we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each so that you can determine which program type and implementation is right for your site.
Several international traffic programs offer what is called "geo-sorting" where an international visitor is redirected to a translated site in the program according to the default language settings they selected in their browser. For example: You copy and paste a snippet of code into the main page/pages of your website. When a visitor from France hits your site, and their default language settings on their browser or computer is French, the program will automatically redirect that visitor from your site to a website in the program that is translated into French. This is beneficial because you get to keep your English speaking customers and customers whom you cannot facilitate a sale albeit due to language or payment options, you have the chance to convert a sale rather than losing the visitor completely.
Different programs have different settings you can select so that if you wish to keep your English, German, and Spanish speaking visitors and direct away others, you can do so, or even select the niche or type of sites (related to your own) that you want the international visitors directed to.
There is a disadvantage to using a java, meta, or other type of redirects on your main pages - search engines tend to give a lower ranking or drop sites that redirect out of the index. However, since the scripts redirect based on language and not all visitors are directed away, the full consequence of this theory has not yet been fully tested. So if search engine ranking is a priority for the page you wish to utilize a geo-sorting option such as the one described above, you may want to consider Direct Linking (explained below), keep the geo-sorting script on a page that is not a search engine ranking priority, or execute the redirect in a number of other ways such as from within an iframe, frameset, or popup console.
Another geo-sorting option is to use server side software such as GeoRedirect.com, which essentially does the same thing but executed from the server rather than from code on your page. Search engines are more unlikely to penalize for a DNS or server side direction script than from code in your page that actually says "redirect" or "refresh".
Direct Linking is probably the easiest way to setup an international traffic program because it works just like a regular affiliate program. Some programs will serve banners onto your page based on the language settings the user has selected in their browser and dynamically serve the appropriate link as well. This is a great option to get an international surfers attention without making them feel bounced or redirected away from where they have selected to surf.
Another option I have found that works well, is to include language flags on your main page(s) or include the most popular languages (English, Spanish, French, German, etc) denoted by flags implemented into the actual design of your site - such as the top bar or navigation bar. This will attract the attention of a surfer looking to view the site in their language and you can directly link to the translated site you wish to promote provided by the program.
For example: If you look at BDSMWorld.com you will see a series of language flags. Each flag is directly linked to a related site (bondage, hardcore, fetish, extreme) in the appropriate language denoted by the flag.
Dialer Programs (Internal & External)
Dialer program can be a little complicated to understand if you have never used one on your site before. Programs like EuroDialer and Goodthinxx are a good start to check out if you are interested in seeing what a dialer program can do for you. Essentially, a dialer can be used as a payment option for your site (internal). You can create a custom dialer co-branded to your site that you can add as a payment option. If a surfer selected to pay by using the dialer, the dialer will accept payment and link the user back to your site where the visitor pays per minute, rate determined by their location. The good part about this is that you do not have to deal with the telephone companies and startup costs and pay a nominal fee, similar to a transaction fee by a credit card processor, to the program that you've co branded your dialer under. A drawback is that is it is difficult to provide your site in the number of possible languages your customers may speak, however in such a media rich environment (pictures and video) many of your surfers may know enough English to successfully get around your site. If your payment processor already provides a dialer option, than adding an internal dialer program to your site is basically obsolete.
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Using an external dialer is more like an affiliate program option where you push traffic to the surfer site that is home to the dialer program by using a banner or language flag link. Your traffic will go to a site like NoCreditCard.com. Here the user selects the language of the site(s) he wishes to access and you simply earn a commission on the sales generated. Some webmasters will directly link their dialer payment option to a program link like this to make it easier on themselves. There are several ways to utilize this option and simple testing will determine which is right for you and your site.
My key advice for using any international traffic program or affiliate program is to ask their sales and support team for the best ways to utilize their program on your site. Most will want the bulk of your traffic to be pushed to their program, however if you explain your goals and concerns for the health of your site and the comfort of your visitors, you can be sure to find the happy medium to achieve your goals. And finally, once you have the program in place, be sure to test it and if you have improvised ask the program to assist you in testing it's functionality to be sure you will get paid on all sales generated from your traffic.
As the Internet economy become more globally based, having the ability to profit from every surfer that comes to your site will become more and more important in the overall success of your site. It will also help your adult business become more stable through changes that may directly or indirectly affect the US market - such as if major credit cards pull out of the adult industry or other regulations force us to find new solutions to facilitate payment to access adult. Regardless of what changes may come, setting up and getting used to the advantages and disadvantages of each international traffic program option will make you revenue streams more solid and successful. Until the next lesson, this is Cyndalie wishing you Happy Promotions!