[Simon]

sayouly - when you look at other "Free Sites" listed on Link Lists you should notice that those special-format, 4-page sites are almost always in directories a level or two (or more) away from the main root directory of the site. Usually you'll want to use the root index page of your site for hub building.

Also, I saw you mention where you send your "no thanks" traffic. Again, if you check the Free Sites listed on Link Lists you'll see many have no Exit link at all. Surfers can figure out how to leave all by themselves.

You also mentioned in the L-O-R rejection thread that having the recips at the top isn't good, and that surfers will go to the sites on those recips instead of entering your site. By now you may have noticed on those other Free Sites that the recips are rarely at the top of the page like on your page. The requirement is that they must be above the Enter link. Only galleries submitted to TGP/MGP sites use recips at the top of the page.

The BIGGEST problem your Free Site has though is that it does NOT sell the sponsor well at all. Banners and graphics will not do the selling for you. And having just one small, hard-to-read block text on one page isn't going to do it either. Your warning page does not sell at all, and your two galleries are just giving away pictures with no attempt at all to sell anything either.

The best thing you can do, if you want be in the Free Site game, is to learn how to sell well on a page. Study advertising and copywriting, and look at the full page ads -- particularly direct response ads -- in magazines and newspapers to see how layout can contribute (or detract) from the sales message.

I hope you don't take my tone as overly-critical. I really am trying to give you good feedback but I'm still on my first mug of coffee here.

HTH