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So
typical daily cycle is (a) let Zeus run for a while (a full day, perhaps) looking for sites, (b) examine what it finds and accept or reject sites and assign to categories, (c) send emails to webmasters, (d) update status of sites as webmasters respond, and (e) upload your new link exchange pages with updates. If that's really all you want to do, then Zeus is an excellent choice for you.
Zeus is very good at things it does. The robot is excellent (if properly trained) at choosing web sites for your exchange. The email organizer is excellent for keeping a record of webmaster contacts and page creation system lets you create a very nice looking link exchange program. The templates are complex out of necessity, but they are very functional and can be heavily modified without much trouble.
On other hand, I've found that using Zeus is a major headache at times. The program is difficult to train and very difficult to correct later if you happen to train in a pattern which you do not like. It requires constant attention, and robot is exceptionally slow (my system is a 2-gigahertz, dual processor monster and program runs sllloooooww).
Perhaps major problem with Zeus is a huge feature that it does not have. Zeus does not check links for you. This is an issue because it is important that link exchange sites maintain a link back to your own site, and it is a serious drawback to program. You must check linkbacks manually.
Another issue is a choice that developer made - he uses an Access database. Access is infamous for data corruptions and other issues, especially as databases get larger and more complicated. In addition, Access databases tend to be exceptionally slow. There are many better choices for databases which are faster and more robust.
I think my final hesitation towards this program is extremely confusing and frustrating user interface. Program controls are in strange places, they are poorly explained and difficult to find. There is an incredible amount of data presented which is probably very thrilling to designer, but to most of us it simply doesn't matter. I would highly recommend to developer that next version do a complete redesign, and this time field test it with some actual users.
There is a free version of Zeus, but you will need to purchase PRO version if you want to make it's link pages match your site. Check out free version, but be prepared to spend several long days learning system and training it to know what you want.
Would I recommend Zeus? Well, it depends. Zeus is a valuable tool and it is useful in a link exchange strategy. On other hand, I've found that Zeus tends to turn a daily activity which is a chore into an organized chore. The major drawback, and my main hesitation, is exceptionally poor performance. I purchased tool and I do use it on a regular basis - however, even on my monster machine it is annoying slow. So I would hesitantly recommend this program, with above-mentioned caveats.
Richard Lowe Jr. is the webmaster of Internet Tips And Secrets at http://www.internet-tips.net - Visit our website any time to read over 1,000 complete FREE articles about how to improve your internet profits, enjoyment and knowledge.
