What is "PTP"?
PTP simply means "Paid to Promote". Members of a site offering "Paid to Promote", have a special link which can be promoted at any approved site. For each valid click of your PTP link, you will receive points or cash. A PTP links looks like this:
http://anyprogram.com/pages/ptp.php?refid=membername
It is the "ptp.php?" part that tells you this is a PTP link. Some other sites may offer a PTP link for autosurfs (automatic traffic exchanges), and those may look something like this:
http://anyprogram.com/pages/ptpautosurf.php?refid=membername
The "ptpautosurf.php?" tells you that this link can be used in autosurfs.
What is "CPM"?
CPM means "Cost Per 1,000" (M = Roman letter for 1,000). Programs offering the PTP feature will pay you a certain amount of money "per 1,000" credits earned from your PTP link. Here is an example:
"70 cents for each 1000 credits"
In order for a click to be valid, the person clicking it must let it (the page) load completely. As well, most PTP links can only be clicked on once every 12 or 24 hours. So the person must not only let the page fully load, but they can only click on it once per the minimum time period.
What are "PTP Tier Groups"/"Country Categories"?
Although you earn 70 cents "CPM", your true earnings are based on the location of the people clicking on your PTP link. Each country is part of a tier group. In other words, different countries fall in different Category ratings, based on the advertising demand of that particular country. For example, the United States and Canada fall in Tier 1 (or Category 1). And countries such as Hong Kong and China fall in Tier 5. Notice in the following example, what each hit from those examples are actually worth.
Category 1: Each hit will count as 1 credits
Category 2: Each hit will count as 0.8 credits
Category 3: Each hit will count as 0.5 credits
Category 4: Each hit will count as 0.3 credits
Category 5: Each hit will count as 0.1 credits
Open/Anonymous proxy : Each hit will count as 0 credits
In the PTP section of each PTP program there is a "convert" link, which will appear once you reach the required amount of credits. The convert link will convert all your PTP credits into cash.
Are there PTP restrictions?
Generally speaking, all PTP links will come with restrictions. You will need to visit the Paid to Promote section of each program to check their own particular guidelines, but here are some general rules you will need to follow when promoting your link:
*You are only allowed to promote your link at "approved" sites.
*You are not allowed to promote your link in other PTP rotators (at programs also offering PTP)
*You are not allowed to use any kind of rotators that enables hiding the real http:// referrer
*You are not allowed to promote it at an autosurf site
Again, although the above are pretty standard at most PTR's offering PTP, rules restrictions will vary. As well, not each PTR has the same list of approved sites. Therefore, it is very important to check the approve list before promoting your PTP link at another site. Please also be aware that sites offering a special autosurf PTP link might also have an "approved" list. So again, always check first before promoting.
How to get hits to your PTP link?
In order to get hits to your PTP link, you must advertise it. Assuming the program you want to advertise at is on the "approved" list, it is important not to confuse your regular referral link with your PTP link. (Believe it or not, this happens frequently!)
Here is what a regular referral link looks like:
http://anyprogram.com/pages/index.php?refid=membername
And a PTP link:
http://anyprogram.com/pages/ptp.php?refid=membername
Notice the difference between the two sets of links, as bolded. Those with "ptp.php?" are the ones you will put into the "Paid-Link URL" box when redeeming or purchasing ads at a ptr. They will be found in the Paid to Promote section of the program.
Advertising at a Paid-To-Read site:
Not all PTR's allow PTP advertising, but for those who do, they usually offer special ads just for PTP links. As most PTR's offering PTP will pay CPM (per 1,000 hits), most PTP advertising will be for 1,000 hits (usually there are other options, such as 500 or 2,000, depending on whatever the site).
If you cannot afford to pay for advertising, you can redeem for advertising, by using the earnings (either points or cash) you already have at a site. Do this by clicking on the Advertising/Redemption section in your "Member's Area". The process is typically the same as if you were a non-member buying an ad, and in some cases, will be cheaper.
Advertising at a Traffic Exchange:
Another way to advertise, if you cannot afford to pay for an ad (or simply choose not to pay), is to promote at some kind of Manual Traffic Exchange program.
An example of a site you can get free hits from is View Swap. As with other
exchanges, this program allows you to "swap page views of Your Site or Referral Link/URL with other surfers." However, it does not require you to register at their site. To use View Swap, click the number 3, then enter your PTP link on the following page. Hit enter, and it will check to see if your link is suitable for rotation. Assuming there are no problems, you can continue by surfing the other links on their site.
Other programs, however, require (typically free) registered membership. With these programs, you surf or click paid links, in exchange for hits to your own link. As to how many free hits you receive to your link, that all depends on how much you surf. Traffic Exchanges will tell you what the surf ratio of their programs are (1 hit for every 2 sites you visit, and so on).
