Got a call from a PPC & PPM Provider. They offered me banner ads @ $2 CPM for Targeted and $.80 for Run of all of the networks they feed. I thought it was TGTBT so I asked for a list of Publishers. They were reluctant but did provide it. 1/4 were torrent or other media download sites. Others are misc. sites that are questionable and have loads of popups. When starting a web site at what cost should you use services like these for promotion?
You get what you pay for. You should not waste your money on junk PPC and PPM programs like you mentioned. If you want paid traffic then stick with programs like AdWords. Personally I rely on word of mouth and organic traffic. I don't pay for advertising. It's not lucrative but it is profitable.
I have done press releases(With little pop), Started a contest (got a bunch of leaches that signed up from sweepstakes websites but no usage at all). I'm freaking giving away over a grand in stuff and yet no real signup and usage. So I have a bunch of targeted keywords from "Adword Accellerator" so I may try a combo deal with both targeted with Adwords and shotgun style with the other PPM provider and see who works out better.
When I started out I advertised at absolutely no cost to me whatsoever. Article marketing, forum posting, blogging, promoting a squeeze page on the traffic exchanges...all those things are free and effective IF done right. Just my 2 cents.
I like what you are saying. What if I created a new contest on a point system. points will be added based on user participation. More points on inviting a friend and them signing up.