How much do you benefit from post exchanges?

Not sure how many of us have done post exchanges, but if you have, how much did you benefit from it? Did the posts generate activity, more registrations- what has the exchange done for you?

Personally, I have done plenty exchanges. Usually, I do them when I first launch a site. They have worked for me. Generated plenty of activity as well as new member registrations.

On a scale from 1 - 10, I say 9.

 

It really depends on the other poster. Many of them only post generic threads completely unrelated to your forum.

 

While I agree, I also disagree.

I try to make sure that the other exchanger has a full understanding of my forum's genre. I do like to make sure that they will also post in my main-content forums but will also populate others.

 

I tried the post exchange thing several times, and it didn't work. Most of the time the other guy was not willing to full fill their obligation. When posting in post excahnge forums, the people just talked a lot. They always had some kind of excuse as to why they did not want to exchange post.

 

I agree.

I prefer to post with those who are personal friends, or those who I know well and can trust that will fulfill their promise.

However, sometimes post exchanges are impossible. Especially if you are just launching a community or are trying to revamp it.

 

I've never really done post exchanges, because I think they are ineffective. I don't think 10 posts really add to your forum if the person isn't sticking around.

 

I wouldnt bother with it myself for the same reasons Nick has given, a few posts and theyre gone, it may even have negative effects.

 

New forums, a lot. Old forums not so much.

 

Never heard of it until this thread, but no, I don't plan on it either, for the same reason as Nick.

 

I don't like post exchange or anything along the lines of "you post x posts on my forums and I will post the same" for the reason is that it might die or go back to the same state as it was before the poster was there. I'd prefer my content to be genuine.

 

We started off pretty fast out of the gate having split from another site so I'm not sure that post exchanges would've been a good idea for a smaller forum and us.

 

Well, if you do manage to find a good person to exchange posts with, I would try renewing the exchange. Otherwise you know never to exchange with that person again.

 

I don't think I've ever had any luck with post exchanges - I've gone through with one once and it was quite horrible. The posts made by the other individual(s) involved were of low-quality and eventually, each post made (by them) consisted of three words or less.

 

Lol, that's quite the nightmare, Chris. I really don't think there is anything beneficial from post exchanges or paid posting.

 

It was absolutely horrible - I've never seen so many "SPAM-like" posts in my life.

 

Yeah, that's pretty bad. I once had a "post exchange" where the other guy basically posted ads for his own sites. Had to delete pretty much everything.

 

I think that if I were to ever do a post exchange it would be with very specific guidelines.

 

That's the only way to go about doing so, and I did - unfortunately, the other individuals involved decided to ignore them entirely. Needless to say, the exchange didn't last long... I cut it short.