EntreCard Therapy
For those who don’t know: “Entrecard enables you to advertise your own Entrecard on any blog in the network. You pay for this advertising with Entrecard Credits, that you earn for free by networking (a.k.a. visiting blogs and dropping (via clicking) your card for other bloggers).”
I find bloggers either love EntreCard or they hate it. When I first signed up, I didn’t understand it, but most bloggers use EntreCard to: increase traffic to their blog(s), find other blogs or increase their Alexa ranking.
A while back, I commented on this blog1 that it was just a matter of time before we needed Blogtherapists to sort out issues some of us face as bloggers. I played out a conversation in my head as a possibility of what might be discussed regarding EntreCard and blogging. Listen in….
Blogtherapist: So you have EntreCard on the brain, but you’re not obsessed? Can you give me an example?
Blogger: Well, my inbox at work has the word “Drop” taped to the front of it. As people drop things in, I respond by saying: Thanks, Go! Go!, Alright, Yeah, Wicked, Awesome. I don’t think it’s obsessive, but people look at me funny.
Blogtherapist: I see and what do those sayings have to do with EntreCard.
Blogger: They’re messages that are equivalent to Thanks! and are shown at various numbers of drops per day. The more I drop, the more I move up in “Thanks.” It’s cool and I could use the encouragement because sometimes I can’t even find the widget I’m supposed to be clicking. I scroll up and down a blog, scanning every freaking banner, button and badge hoping one of them will peek-a-boo me the word “Drop”. It feels like an online version of Where’s Waldo. Very frustrating.
Blogtherapist: Okay now tell me about this new toolbar you mentioned.
Blogger: Oh the Entrebar! I like it because I can open multiple browser tabs for faster dropping.
Blogtherapist: That’s a good thing, no?
Blogger: Yes, but what bugs me is when bloggers add music to their blog and now I have these 10 tabs opened, I don’t know which one it is, I have to try to find the offender, turn off my own sound or click all of the tabs closed that I just opened.
Blogtherapist: I see and how does this make you feel?
Blogger: I feel annoyed and insulted because I have a radio. Maybe EntreCard can come up with a category for fast loading blogs, with widgets above the fold and no music in their network.
Blogtherapist: Well let me ask you this, do you want to end your relationship with EntreCard?
Blogger: [insert your answer here]
Back to the post. I happen to like EntreCard, not because of the dropping and traffic, but because I’m able to find some great blogs that I probably would not have otherwise found on my own.
I’ve read several complaints about EntreCard’s “hit and run” traffic, that people are only visiting blogs for the drop, and they don’t stick around. This is where I get confused. Once EntreCard brings you the traffic, isn’t it the bloggers job to get the reader to stay?
There are a gazillion blogs out there all screaming for attention and if you’re catering to drive by traffic, there is very little time for foreplay in posting. You kind of have to get in there, state your business and pull out. Perhaps a quicker and more effective technique may be needed to make them come again.
I don’t know how much of my traffic comes from EntreCard, but I can’t depend on it to do everything. I’m thinking I have to go out there and get some of the traffic myself. Personally, I think the best way to build traffic and readership is by commenting on other blogs. What about you?
Do you have a love/hate relationship with EntreCard?
Have you seen an increase of traffic since using them?
How do you build traffic to your blog?
Comic by By arthur.wneir
Caption by Me.
- I think [↩]
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My name is Valerie aka Natural and I will be writing about whatever is on my mind. I love teaching, dialogue, sharing and making people laugh. I never know what I'll share here but this is me, Thinking Out Loud.
Let me answer the questions:
Do you want to end your relationship with EntreCard?
Nooooooooooooo.
Do you have a love/hate relationship with EntreCard?
I love EntreCard.
Have you seen an increase of traffic since using them?
Yes I have.
How do you build traffic to your blog?
One of them is using the EntreCard.
Personally, I’m very agree about your thoughts. We can’t depend on EntreCard to do everything. Nice!
THANKS for this Natural! I see I’m going to have to come back to see what people say - because I want to know if I should get one of them things. I’ve tried lots of networks, but commenting on blogs seems to be the best way to bring the “right kind” of traffic, for me. LOL at the therapist.
Robin’s last blog post..Feelings Are There To Be Felt
I use Entrecard to enable me to advertise on other blogs, and get my blog “out there”. Whether people click on the advert is up to them.
I do find that Entrecard traffic just means an increase in page views, and little else. I’ve gained exactly no consistent commentators by using it.
Hi Natural,
Just yesterday I had a comment on my blog from someone who tested Entrecard and said it works great. I’ve never tried it.
For me, commenting on other blogs is what bring people back to my blog and helps me to build my community.
I might have to give this a try.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Mini Meme - Open Mic - Free Ebook
Oh you hit it out of the park with this one, Natural!
I, too, have recently set my mind to drop 250 to 300 cards per day. I’ve done that for the last six weeks or so. Then I noticed at the Y, on the elliptical machine, there’s a warning that says if you feel dizzy step off the machine.
But the box has a yellow bar on the top that says WARNING! in white type. Then the rest of the message is inside the box. It’s like a reverse 125×125 EntreCard.
Now every time I get on the elliptical I think about EC and review how many cards I’ve dropped that day and assess whether I need to drop more after my workout, or if I’ve hit my daily allowance before the workout.
Obsessive? Oh obsessive is in the eye of the beholder (coughs then runs away).
HI Natural
i am totally in agreement with your about Hit and run traffic.
Entrecard is delivery system for me which deliver reader on your blog
its your duty to make sure, that reader stick to your blog, now how you make them stay longer on your blog is your problem, entreard have done its job. now its all up to you
SUnil Pathak’s last blog post..How To Make You Reader Fall In Love With Your Blog
“Do you have a love/hate relationship with EntreCard?”
I don’t use it.
“How do you build traffic to your blog?” Commenting on other blogs and social media (mostly Stumbleupon).
Do you want to end your relationship with EntreCard?
No. I have met some of the most amazing people because of Entrecard.
Do you have a love/hate relationship with EntreCard?
love and hate.
Have you seen an increase of traffic since using them?
Very much so… in ways words can not describe.
How do you build traffic to your blog?
Right now, it’s just Entrecard. People like what they read and they SU it or Digg it, which then brings traffic from there and other places. Oh and my google/yahoo searches. Those bring me all the freaks.
Monique’s last blog post..Guaranteed To Gain 25 Pounds By Winter
Hi Valerie - I always cry with laughter when I read your posts. They kind of come alive and I can actually see you searching through all those open windows trying to find the music culprit.
I guess there’s so many ways to get traffic to your blog that I haven’t tried and Entrecard is one of them. I think it’s time, more than anything that’s built up my traffic. But I am going to start marketing my blog a bit more and I think I’ll give it a whirl.
nice blog! i enjoyed reading it… i got inspired from ur last post and have posted a similar one on my blog hope you dont mind and i strongly hope you dont have lawyer friends!!!! kidding newez!
parv kaushik’s last blog post..IF MY LIFE WERE A MOVIE
You Cheeky Monkey Youuuuu !!!
what a clever way to get hits, blog about entrecard.
I’m advertising on your site just because YOU Did That !
Take That You EntreBlogger
I don’t have the time to drop. I use to have the entrecard on my site but I removed it.
Chris’s last blog post..Previously From Car Chronicles…
Holy crumpets, another blog toy…sorry, marketing tool? I just figured Twitter out! And who are all these people following me on Twitter? I mean it’s great, but what made them decide to follow me? Of course, my Twitter profile pic is stunningly beautiful…yes, that must be it.
Urban Panther’s last blog post..Food, friends, and life lessons
Something freakishly strange about me — i love the comments but don’t really count. also I’m techno challenged in many ways sk
sandy’s last blog post..I must join this guy today !!!
I need the twelve step entre card program…:)))
robert bourne’s last blog post..It Just Is
Can I get a referral to your therapist?
Lynne’s last blog post..Remembering 9/11
I mostly love Entrecard and I think it’s improving more every month - it’s improved significantly in the year it’s been up and running - can you believe it’s only been a year!!!!
Due to Entrecard, I’ve come into contact with some great blogs and their blogger(s). Of course I drop many more ECs than I comment on but there are days when it takes me forever to drop because I comment so much………just depends on what’s on people’s minds.
I do want all the music on blogs to stop or have ways to block those blogs. I understand it’s in the works with EC to be able to block those blogs - YEAH!!!!
I’m an Entrecard fan, though my use of it has changed from when I first started. I used to use it just in an effort to spike traffic. However, that got old fast. Now I use it more so to find blogs that I actually enjoy reading. Once you wade through all of the crappy/marketing/for profit blogs,there’s actually TONS of great content out there.
TOPolk’s last blog post..Somebody’s Watching Me
Mr. Soleah, glad things are working for you and Entrecard. It’s free if you don’t count the time spent glued to the computer. No wait, I would be there anyway.
Robin, EC doesn’t fit what I think I know about you, : ) but give it a try, I could be wrong. Let me know.
Solomon, I agree, it’s a chance to get your face out there, there’s no guarantee anyone will click the ad. Many may drop, but may not visit the blog advertised.
Barbara, I already know what you’ll decide…hehehhe. Go ahead, give it a try. It doesn’t hurt to have it up there, even if you don’t drop to earn credits and exposure.
Cardiogirl, thank you. I think I’ve dropped 300 like 6 times since I’ve had it. I’m EntreCard challenged when it comes to dropping…I was NOT a dropper, but I’ve gotten a lot better at it. It still takes me forever, but I can only do 300 about twice a week. I can’t worry about reaching 300, I can buy 300 faster, but then I wouldn’t find the blogs or get drop backs. Yeah I feel dizzy after 25 drops. I just know there’s a disease out there coming from the clicking, what about “The EntreCard Claw”.
You are so funny, you know that right? Obsessive? Oh obsessive is in the eye of the beholder (coughs then runs away). Thanks CG. ROFL.
Unil Pathak, yeah it does what it’s supposed to do, it delivers traffic..the rest is up to us.
Vered, sometimes I think about taking it off. I gave up on SU, Digg, and all the others, I got a lot of emails I just could not Digg them all or keep up. Once in a blue, I’ll be moved to Digg something if it’s on a blog I read and I want to keep track of that post.
Monique, I have the love hate thing too sometimes. I like it though, mostly for finding blogs, next for advertising, which I am doing a lot more of.
I’m not curious enough to know how much traffic EC brings in. I don’t want to check, if it’s too good, I might not be able to control myself.
Wow! thanks Cath. Oh yeah I don’t like the music, I could remember to turn off my sound if I plan on dropping, but come on. Okay give it a whirl and let me know when….well I’ll be over.
Parv Kaushik, thanks and welcome. I read your post on your blog and left you a comment. No I don’t mind at all, there is nothing new under the sun, glad you did. I enjoyed reading what you wrote.
Ausetkmt, greetings and welcome. I’ve had that conversation in my head for a few weeks and I wasn’t sure what to do with it. Unfortunately it revealed itself to me late last night. Hey, I think EC owes me some referrals.
Throw me some credits EC!
Chris, it is time consuming. I had an almost free summer, so I was able to drop, but now with school starting and my other life, hello, I will beg off and not drop as much.
Urban Panther, oh okay, um….make sure you go to pre EntreCard counseling should you decide to join. People are following you on Twitter? Tweet a restraining order, that should fix ‘em! Yes, that’s it, stunningly beautiful dahling. Lol You’re funny.
Sandy, you’re doing okay over there. You get those great pictures up just fine.
Robert Bourne, uh yeah, 12 step program, uh huh. Tell me about it.
Lynne, you sure can get a referral, right when I’m done with him.
I have a few more issues.
Mamaflo, I can’t even remember what EC was like before the changes. Yeah, I’m like you, I’m reading blogs at the same time. I hope they do block the music, sure we could turn off our PC speakers, but….we won’t. I won’t. I don’t. I should.
TOPolk, it’s a cool tool. It does send traffic my way, so thanks EC, I can advertise for “free” that’s good and I can find nice blogs to read. I wonder what it would be like if the dropping maximum was 100 drops.
i’m still a relative newbie to EC, but I enjoy the card-dropping [even if I start at 11pm and find myself at my 300th drop at like 3am... aarrgghh!] as a way to discover new blogs. It takes me so long because I like to explore! Sure, some places I might drop and run, but usually I stay to read, and, more and more, as I see getting-to-be-familiar blogs, I not only read but comment… and assuming others like comments just the way I do, I figure good karma will come my way in the form of similarly-minded EC surfers who like what they see on my site
*lynne*’s last blog post..heartsick
Funny and fantastic post about a topic that we all can relate to. Darn right I have a love/hate thing going with Entrecard. It is a necessary evil, at times, since it sucks up a lot of my vital time. But, I thouroughly agree with you that it is the content of the blog that keeps traffic coming back and reading, I like to say that content is king, and social networking is queen. Your blog, by the way, is one that I take the time to read while dropping, one of several.
peace,
mike
livelife365
Mike Foster’s last blog post..Is It Just Me?
I agree Entrecard can only do so much ie. getting people to click onto your blog. After that, whether they stay or leave depends on your blog. I believe the best way to get people to stay and read and leave comments, and possibly come back again and again, is to …..
1.have very good quality contents
2.comment on other people’s blogs
foongpc’s last blog post..101 Ways To Eat Durians
Hi. I was Barbara Swafford’s commenter that just created an Entrecard account. It has brought many hits to my blog. Some just drop and others stick around. Some even ask to advertise on my site. I think it is my responsibility to get the droppers to stay. I won’t get them all but it’s a challenge I’m will to tackle.
Stacey / CreateaBalance’s last blog post..Revisiting Life Passion - Part One
Dropping my card … hope your therapy is going well
ha haaaaa !!!!!!!
Eric “Speedcat Hollydale”’s last blog post..Morning News & Reveries of Simply Jacy
I don’t do EntreCard. I don’t do much to promote my site at all, really. It’s just a hobby for me & I don’t want to have to keep up with all kinds of things. Do you use Google Analytics? That might tell you more about your EntreCard traffic (hits, how long they stick around, how many posts they vist, etc.)
Lana’s last blog post..New Painting; Louisiana’s State Bird
Never heard of entrecard, but now that you mention it I think I do recall having seen banners like the one you have at the top right around the blogosphere. My traffic comes from commenting, stumbleupon, and links from other blogs. I’m becoming obsessed with twitter, which has been bringing me some traffic, I don’t know if I can handle another obsession right now
Marelisa’s last blog post..Four Creativity Lessons From the Impressionists
Ha! Very funny, and TRUE!
“Once EntreCard brings you the traffic, isn’t it the bloggers job to get the reader to stay?”
Um Yeah!
I haven’t signed up for this yet…Im not sure I will be able to keep up with MORE bloggers as I already have a ton of FAVORITES, but, its always nice to find a new blog every now and again.
meleah rebeccah’s last blog post..Friday Funnies: Public Restrooms
Entrecard addict here. Since joining, I’ve only once failed to drop my max 300 cards and I wasn’t right the rest of the day. I’ve found some great blogs via EC, but some crummy ones too. I’ve memorized the graphics of the ones that open with music, so that I don’t drop on them. I sometimes want to leave them a comment and say “If you stop playing music, people might stay and read what you’ve written” but I’m too chicken.
My traffic has doubled since signing up with EC. But more importantly, some of them have become regular readers. And I agree that commenting on other blogs you like is the best way to build traffic. Also, responding to comments left on my blog builds community. EC brings me readers, but it’s my job to keep them.
p.s. Laughed about your drop box at work!
Kathy’s last blog post..This is Not a Cat Blog, but …
HA! I love using Entrecard as an analogy to “real” life.
Do you want to end your relationship with EntreCard?
No! At least not yet. I thought I’d get bored by now, but it hasn’t happened.
Do you have a love/hate relationship with EntreCard?
LOVE!
Have you seen an increase of traffic since using them?
Most definitely.
How do you build traffic to your blog?
EntreCard, Blog Catalog, Humor-Blogs, commenting, Stumbling
JD at I Do Things’s last blog post..I Make a Good Thing Better so you don’t have to
you are something else. I love your blog. Period! I too have tried Entrecard and I like the idea or concept it’s based on. The only problem I have with it is that occasionally some of the sites I try to drop on ….cause my computer to go crazy, bonkers, freeze up, etc. That scares me. I’m not sure whether these sites are legit or just designed to lure in unsuspecting bloggers in an attempt to spread those dreaded viruses we all know are out there. So, lately…I’ve been approving advertisements for others but I don’t drop anymore at all.
Roschelle’s last blog post..Step ‘n Fetch Yo’ Obama Waffles
hey, the posts are really beautiful. thanks for every reply and every thing you did to help me out
jaky’s last blog post..Belly Breathing
hehe I loved the post
love the drop part go go
keep it up.
make a pound’s last blog post..Handy FireFox plugins
Lynne, wow, 4 hours later. The first time I hit 300 I thought I was doing something, took me forever, about 2 hours…I was really browsing and commenting at the same time. I’ve gotten a lot better at dropping these past few weeks.
Mike Foster, thanks. It does take a lot of time. I had to change the time I drop, less distractions…I can reach the max now, something I thought was inconceivable…..it’s always nice to stop by your blog too.
Foongpc, hi and that reminds me I might be changing my EntreCard avatar a little bit. Anywho, I agree, get out there and comment on other blogs, good content doesn’t hurt either.
Hi Stacey, I’ll have to go back over to Barb’s blog and read the comment you left and stop by your blog as well. It is a challenge and I’m sure we don’t expect everyone who stops by to comment, but if we stay visible, keep posting, they just might nexttime.
Eric Speedcat Hollydale, hello and slow down, where ya going? Oh wait, you dropped your card already. Okay see you around then, next time? Ha haaaa!!!!!!!
Lana, well in a way you do promote your blog when you visit other blogs and leave a comment. I don’t think I would have found you had you not stopped by here first and I’ve enjoyed reading your blog, you’ve tapped into the artist in me through your paintings and photographs. What is Google Analytics..okay I don’t use that, I won’t even Yahoole it, I’m scared. Oh, they give me stats, I don’t want to know, I’ll pass, thanks.
Marelisa, oh no, never heard of it? My little widget is up top, it was at the bottom for a while because I was like, puh-leeze, but it slowly worked itself up to the top. Now twitter is something I can’t do. Most people tweet from their phones right…I hate the phone. I do have a Twitter account for my sports blog, but that’s just for sports talk, not what I’m doing. How do you use Twitter to bring in Traffic, you tweet about your blog posts?
Carol, what’s funny and true, come back and let me know. I thought this was spam. Is it….I don’t want to delete your comment, people get mad at me when I do that.
Meleah, okay so are you going to sign up for it? You said it takes you 4-5 hours to visit all your favorite blogs? oh my, I would have to check into a retirement home to log that kind of visiting time, I surely wouldn’t have a job. You don’t have to put much time into it, I don’t care about dropping with my other blogs, and I get a lot of request to advertise on them, some I deny, but to see the maximum results, dropping helps.
Kathy, An addict!?? You know, I could be your supplier, if you need to get your fix on, you can have my EC password
. You drop 300 everyday! Wow. I was proud if I could do 50, I will say however, I changed my dropping time to early morning and I’ve been dropping 300 in about an hour. Like you, I trained myself to know where the widget is on some blogs, the music ones I don’t know ‘cause I go into a scramble trying to close the tabs or smash my speakers. I’ve seen in increase in comments around here, I don’t know who to say thank you to, but I’m sure EC helped.
SIDE NOTE : I asked EC if they would have a category for fast loading blogs, with widgets above the fold and no music. I got a reply back saying: “this would encourage people to drop a card without reading any of the content on a blog.” Well when I read that I stepped out of my body, looked at myself and said: Do you want to tell him or should I?
On those drop phrases? I thought bloggers controlled that and wanted to email any blogger asking them how they got that little gold bar to say different things. I didn’t know it came with various dropping levels, all I usually got was a half-hearted thanks from it, sometimes I can’t believe me. LOL. Lack of sleep.
JD, can you please drop my 300 so I don’t have to? Well here’s to another 20 years between you and EntreCard.
Roschelle, you are a sweetheart, thanks. I feel so much energy coming from you….I get that from your blog as well. Wow, I don’t know why a blog would make your computer do that unless they have so much stuff loading on it that it crashes your computer. I’ve been cleaning out my temp files, recycle bin and not loading programs that don’t need to be running on my computer so that my computer funs faster so that it can open up all of the tabs quickly.
Jaky, thank you and you’re welcome. I’m sorry and thank you for not calling me a presumptuous donkey. I thought you wanted what the others want so I just had to say “not looking/available” up front. Gee, I felt bad afterward, I’ll hop on over to your blog later. Later.
Make a Pound, Glad you loved the post…really, that’s not my inbox at work. I don’t have an inbox, but it would make for interesting antics. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Natural - well I got one! (as you may have noticed, as you were the first person I dropped on)
I’m really liking it so far - but can I ask you a question?
What I can’t figure out is how to advertise on a blog I visit. I can only see how to advertise from the campaign page. Say I wanted to advertise on your blog - I would have to search in the categories for it - which could take ages and I still might not find it. Surly there must be an easier way? Ta.
Robin’s last blog post..Feelings Are There To Be Felt
Hey Robin, the most efficient way to advertise by going here
http://entrecard.com/page/ec_toolbar
and download the EC toolbar (ONLY from entrecard’s website). You need to be using FireFox’s browser, as the toolbar does not work with IE. Once you do that, log into your account using the toolbar…as you come across other blogs with the widget, you will see a green button that says Advertise for ____ (credit amount)…if you don’t have enough EC credits, it will say “insufficient EC, click that button and you’re all set.
If you advertise from the campaign section, click the link describing the category (there is also a number next to the category that tells you how many blogs are listed there)…then you will see the ad prices for each blog.
i made you my first drop this morning…now I shall go look for your widget in EC so I can add you to my favorites. ♥
i sure hope this makes sense. if you need additional help, email me anytime or post back here.
NaTuRaL WoMaN’s last blog post..EntreCard Therapy
Hah! This cracked me up.
Thanks for the laugh as well as the EC ad. Have a great week.
CrAzY Working Mom’s last blog post..Ike’s Wrath
Just wanted to let you know you’ve received the Blogging Star Award! Congratulations!!!
Roschelle’s last blog post..The Real McCain…coming to a White House Near You
Natural: You do tweet about your blog posts but also if you leave interesting tweets people will want to know more about you and they’ll read your bio. I have my blog URL on my bio so they’ll click through. I don’t use my phone to tweet, I just use a desktop application called twhirl. I just leave it on for about fifteen minutes a day while I’m working on my computer. It really doesn’t bother me.
Marelisa’s last blog post..30 Things to Do in the 100 Days Left in 2008
Crazy Working Mom…thank you! Laughing is good for the soul!
Marelisa, I just signed up, now will you be my Tweetcher? LOL. I gotta find some tech savvy friends….I get a lot of blank stares. I’ll have to look for your Tweet info and add you.
I will do as you suggested with my blog URL….I’m not sure I’m a tweeter, but I’ll give it a try. Thanks.
I gotta go find something interesting to tweet about.
Id rather quit my job to have all the time I need to visit all of my favorite blogs.
(Have you seen my blog roll? Yes. It really does take 4-5 hours at night to see EVERYONE in the blogs I read everyday section)
I dont know if I will / should sign up for this!! But since I am in the business of signing up for new things online as of late…I just might!
meleah rebeccah’s last blog post..Taking The Plunge
ha ha I just tried to advertise on you but you are far too expensive for me! I’ll have to lower my standards a little.
(got the tool bar - but no green button - just a depressing grey one. Made you a favorite, though!)
Robin’s last blog post..Insects Versus Mother Theresa
Meleah, I hear ya on that one, but cardboard boxes don’t get an internet connection…as soon as they do, I’m going to live under the bridge and surf the web all day. Yes I have seen your blogroll, I just cleaned mine out. Want to keep it short.
If you decide to give it a try, let me know or I’ll see your widget. I just signed up for Twitter (thanks to Marelisa and Vered for helping me). Valerie’s a Tweet ‘n? Oh My Word! My first night wasn’t bad either.
Robin, yeah that’s one thing about EC…the newbies don’t get a chance to advertise on high priced blogs, I like to keep my price in the 250’s, make it affordable for everyone, but sometimes the ad request come in quick…I don’t want to hold up people’s credits for too long until the price goes down, so I approve them….repeat ads are auto approved.
Glad you got the tool bar, you are in my favorites, dropped on you this morning and I’ll see you later.
Cool post. The 10 tabs of the toolbar and the loud music playing on blog is really annoying. I experienced the thing fining which of them is it and then drop immediately or turn off the volume of my unit hahaha. But I enjoyed entrecard because it really bring lots of goodness for my multiple blogs.
Joy’s last blog post..My Flicker
Ha ha… i know just what you mean
Entrecard rocks…its impossible to ‘end the relation with it :)’
La Pensive’s last blog post..Updates of previous prayers
Interesting! Thank you!
Mark Salinas’s last blog post..Music and Health by Andrea May
You know, I never really understood what entrecard is until this point.
Thanks for clearing it up.
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..A Little About Me
Joy, thanks and welcome. The music is disturbing, but I try to remember to turn off my sound if I plan to drop. Somebody did get me this morning with their music and I went into frenzy trying to stop it. Funny.
La Pensive, EC is cool. Sometimes I have thoughts of pulling the plug on my internet life. I don’t do it only because I would wake up the next morning mad as all get out. I could get rid of EC, I think.
Mark, hey, welcome.
Bamboo Forest, glad to do so.
Roschelle, I was reading your blog at work and I came across the award, I’m honored. It made me very happy and proud! Thank you.
I think i must meet your blogtherapist. thanks
I love EC. I don’t hate it one bit. You are right when you said EC brings us the traffic but it’s up to the bloggers to keep the reader there. Great post.
ImitationAngel’s last blog post..I’m Rich Now!
Good news! I just read on the EC blog that blogs with auto-playing music are banned!
“No autoplaying audio: This includes music that plays automatically when you visit the page, or short audio ads that come up unannounced.”
Here is the updated quality standards list: http://entrecard.com/blog/?p=546
I’m not sure why I use it. I let others advertise on mine but I rarely have enough credits to ad on the ones i love. I don’t have time to drop cards though- so I bring that on myself. I think I should stop using it but people keep advertising on mine and I don’t want to deny them that ONE person who will visit their site! LOL
Did I mention I’ve been drinking?
HA!
Corrina’s last blog post..Why Recycling Is Bad
This is the first I’ve ever heard of EntreCard. I get my traffic from commenting on blogs. Stumble, Digg and the others are so time-consuming that I never use them. I’ve read that doing guest posts on busy blogs is another way to get traffic. Mostly I try to find blogs that interest me, because I figure then the bloggers and I have something in common and might share the same readers. Drive-by readers aren’t really what I’m looking for.
Am I the only one who thinks you’re contradicting yourself? On the one hand, you want to visit a jillion blogs very quickly (”maybe EntreCard can come up with a category for fast loading blogs, with widgets above the fold and no music in their network.”)
On the other hand, you say, “Once EntreCard brings you the traffic, isn’t it the bloggers job to get the reader to stay?” If somebody’s going to hit-and-run 300 blogs a day, what chance do we have of expecting that they’ll read anything in their mad rush to find the place to click?
Faiz’s Father, we’ll go as a group…:)
Imitation Angel, it’s a nice way to bring in traffic and I do think it’s up to the blogger to get them to slow down and look around. Thanks.
Kathy, is that right? Whoa, score 1 for EC. I have to go read that post. Thanks for the update.
Corrina, I don’t even remember how I found EC, but I signed up, didn’t get it, took it off and then added it back. If you’re committed to using it, it’s not a bad way to get your blog out there and find some new stuff. You’ve been drinking, oh goodie!
Dot, hello again. Really, you haven’t see the widget on any other blogs? How do you get traffic from Stumbling and Digging…you Digg a post, then what happens. I’ve Dugg a few posts myself mostly for my benefit.
I guess if you are unfamiliar with EntreCard, my comment could be confusing. I don’t see it as contradicting myself, but it depends on WHY a blogger uses EC. Sometimes when I use EntreCard it’s JUST to drop, period….I’m not in the reading mood, my M.O. is to plant seeds in inboxes about my blog, say I saw your blog (maybe I read it, I might be back later). I’m dangling bait, I’m collecting ECs to advertise on other blogs. In the evening when I use EC, my motive is different. I can spend more time reading and commenting on blogs.
My comment “maybe EntreCard can come up with a category for fast loading blogs, with widgets above the fold and no music in their network” was facetious (okay I thought it was funny too) for when I’m only concerned about dropping…even though I did ask them, I already knew there would be no such category.
So it depends on the blogger and why they use EC. “If somebody’s going to hit-and-run 300 blogs a day, what chance do we have of expecting that they’ll read anything” I think most of the commenters of this post found me through EC…
we have 2 seconds to get their attention.
EntreCard come up with the dropping system = the MORE blogs you drop on the MORE exposure you get. Who doesn’t want exposure for their blog and if dropping is one way to get that, then most people will drop and run…. The more you drop, the more people get used to seeing your “face” or avatar. It’s like building a brand. You don’t have to buy (comment) anything today, I just want to get my blog (avatar, name, brand) into your head. If you don’t drop or only drop a little, your blog doesn’t get as much exposure…. Personally I think the 300 drop maximum/limit a day is a lot (and should be lowered)…that quota alone encourages the need for speed, (some bloggers – myself included - can be competitive about being on top or prominent) but I don’t make the rules, I just play the game…sometimes.
I hope I was able to clear this up for you. THANKS for giving me the chance to better explain, got me thinking, maybe someone else thought the same thing.
This was too funny! I feel this way about a lot of the blogging things that I do. Ultimately though, I like social networking and surfing the internet while unwinding at night. I still learn a lot just from looking at other people’s sites, so maybe entre would be a fun thing to try.
Dr. Nicole Sundene’s last blog post..Zen Please? 20 Things to do on Your Day Off
Hi Dr. Nicole Sundene, I like to use it at night time myself for surfing, it’s fun. Like you I have learned a lot just from looking at other people’s blog as well. I’m going to check to see if you signed up for EntreCard. Later.
I like entrecard because it has taken me to meet some very interesting people. I don’t have any need to increase traffic to my blog - what for? I wrote for myself; because I like putting my thoughts down in black and white. I started my blog 3 years ago - I posted intermittently, now I write almost every day - it’s good for me; I do it for me and if other folks sometimes peek in and find what I write of interest - well, that’s just lovely.
Broadway Matron’s last blog post..And isn’t it a blessing
Its all about content after you get your visitors via Entrecard. They see something in the first 10-15 seconds while dropping and they normally stay around longer. My regulars are all entrecard droppers!!!
trench’s last blog post..Fist of Legend (DVD)
Broadway Matron, yeah it’s nice being able to find new blogs, it’s nice to be able to get exposure too when you feel you want it. You write everyday now, wow, I tip my hat to those who can, will have to check you out, thanks for stopping by.
Trench, agreed. You know people, most not all, are there to drop, gotta be quick or just stay visible. They’ll be back if we keep at it. The majority of my visitors are probably all from EC as well. Thanks!
i love the setting for your piece, you know one can just get obsessed with dropping cards rather than content ! it becomes more frustrating when a site takes time to load and the widget is somehow hidden!
Hey Nairobian! Oh yeah, it can get obsessive, sometimes, I’m just a dropper other times, I drop and read. It depends on my day, mood and what I want to do with EC. Oh yeah, I’ve been trying to get my blog to load faster. I don’t mind waiting the first time, but as a repeat visitor, I don’t want to have to wait too long for your blog to load.
I miss the widget all the time, sometimes, I have to refresh. Somebody told me I didn’t even have a widget on my blog and I’m like, huh?
Thanks for the visit!
I still am not sure whether I hate it or love it yet. I do know I have found some cool blogs that I would have not ordinarily found.
Dan N´s last blog post..Verizon tactics in adding services to your bill
Hey Dan, it’s fun to me, most times. I do find some great blogs and I get a chance to pimp my blog.
All this blogging is way overrated… this is just a medium for people to blow off steam… i guess for some it’s like ‘therapy’ or whatever… some of these folks need to get a life!! - just messing with yall… don’t take me too serious because i don’t!! -
Under the Desk, blogging is not overrated, writing is an outlet or therapy for some. You have to try it sometimes and you know who to call for help too.
Before answering the questions, Entrecard is good for exploring other blogs and read them and not to praise the idol of 300 card. So my answers are as following:
Q. Do you have a love/hate relationship with EntreCard?
A. Neither love nor hate
Q. Have you seen an increase of traffic since using them?
A. Yes actualy.
How do you build traffic to your blog?
A. Commenting over other people’s blog + sharing over online communities + telling my offline friends
Hicham´s last blog post..To Blog or not to Blah?!
Hey Hicham, it’s wonderful for finding other blogs, I can’t remember how I found blogs in the past then I remembered blog catalog…with EC at least there is an incentive to participate.