What is an ad swap?
Ad swaps are pretty self explanatory. Ad swaps are swapping advertisements with other publishers. Therefore, a publisher endorses your products and websites while you endorse the publisher and his or her site and products. Pretty simple, huh? Advertising is normally done through mailing lists therefore you are increasing your personal mailing list by the some portion of the number of people that the publisher you are swapping with has on his or her mailing list. It is always advisable to ad swap with publishers with larger mailing lists but remember that everything counts. You should make your network as big as you possibly can. Since you will be advertised on other people's mailing lists, you want those people to join your mailing list so that your network grows.
Why do ad swaps? Participating in ad swaps can make you more money without having to pay more. You will get free advertisement for your product or website and the only thing in return that you have to do is to advertise the other publisher on your list. However there are opportunity costs when you participate in ad swaps.
Pros and cons of making them part of your list building OR marketing strategy? Ad swaps sounds great and it is great but there are a few things that you should be aware about before going all out in ad swapping. You are a business person. You are trying to cut your costs in advertising so that you can make more without spending more. You want people to branch out and join your mailing list and to buy your products. All of this is achieved with ad swapping and these are your pros to choosing to work with ad swaps. The cons, on the other hand, mean that you may often be endorsing your competition. People may leave your mailing list to be on another publisher's list. In terms of list building, ad swaps work very well.
You do need to think thoroughly before making decisions to ad swap, but it normally ends up being very beneficial to your online marketing efforts. You want to make sure you are not endorsing direct competition and it benefits you to only work with publishers who have a larger mailing list than you. Overall, ad swapping is the best way to build your list and attract a following free of charge.
