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I don’t really remember how I came across Entrecard, but I’m definitely glad I did. While it’s a little too early to make any definitive conclusions on how effective this blog network is, I can safely say as of yet things have been pretty good - easily much better than expected. Entrecard is practically a virtual business card which is specifically intended for bloggers. By ‘dropping’ your business card to other blog owners, or by simply receiving drops, you are awarded credits which may then be used to purchase advertising space on any blog which permits advertising. You may also sell, trade or give away your Entrecard credits. Other blog owners need to access your site and click on your Entrecard widget in order to send you a drop, consequently yielding traffic. Now I know what you’re thinking … everyone knows this isn’t going to work out because any blog owner visiting to submit a drop will probably spend about five seconds on your website before bouncing off to the next blog on his list. In one sense, your thoughts are correct - but lets try and take a look at this from another angle. You’ve got a whole range of fellow blog owners visiting your website, often every twenty four hours (one drop per twenty four hours). I see a window of opportunity here, especially if your blog is of any direct benefit to fellow blog members. In my opinion, offering your Entrecard referred traffic some sort of incentive to engage in some sort of activity in your blog is the first step. But before we jump the gun, lets focus on how we’re going to visually capture their attention first. Setting up a widget next to your Entrecard, in a of bold, eye catching colour, detailing your bid to have these five second readers converted into loyalists, is in my opinion a very sound idea. Better yet, you can insert this text inside the Entrecard widget, therefore placing it in their faces. Seeing as Entrecard allows you to give away credits, running some sort of credit give away in exchange for some sort of involvement would be absolutely ideal - especially as the webmaster is really only on your blog because they’re seeking to up their credit count in a bid to purchase some advertising. Encouraging these webmasters to contribute a genuine, 10 word comment usually means their going to have to at least skim through one article on your blog - and if worst comes to worst, you’ll still be remembered as the blog that gave them free credits. I’m very interested to hear how Entrecard is performing for you.. Are you raking in much traffic, whether it be from advertisements you’ve dropped or card drops? |
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| Posted in Blogging | |
(2 votes, average: 3 out of 5)
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December 19th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Thanks for the info. Its very interesting…
December 20th, 2007 at 6:22 am
Yes, I’ve been using entrecard for a few days and am pleased with the traffic I’ve got with no financial outlay. The tricky part is deciding which sites to advertise on as the value of a site is not related to traffic or pr, only to entrecard activity.
December 20th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Its my first day with EC and I am still evaluating it. Only thing is as it’s beginning for me, I am spending much more time in dropping cards to get me some credits to spend on advertising.
I want to see how effective it would be to sit idle and only advertise. Yes it’s possible, because more you advertise, more people will visit you and drop their cards increasing your credits anyways. But for this, I will have to reach at a stage before I start doing it.
I would keep dropping cards though in between to visit interesting blogs.
December 20th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Entrecard is something fantastic! I think is one of the best way to increase your traffic. And to discover interesting blogs!
All the best
December 20th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
agree with steve, entrecard send me many visitor in a day.
but is it really also make any coin for me? still a question for me.
December 20th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
One of the things that I’ve really noticed about using entrecard is that I am actually learning and interacting from/with cool blogs in my niche!
I try to drop cards everyday in the IM/Make Money Online categories, so as I’m doing this, I take a look at the newest blog posts. So far I’ve only made it about 1/8th down my dropping list, and already I’ve seen some interesting posts (this one included :D)
I’ve only been using entrecard for 3-4 days, so I don’t really have any traffic results so far, but I am already enjoying the experience!
December 21st, 2007 at 3:44 pm
for me, entrecard is a very good way to gain more traffic… however, i fear that this could only be a fad… the way i see it, clicking on so many websites just to earn credits is time-consuming… it’s worth it though but i don’t want posting articles to suffer so i’m not so active in entrecard
December 22nd, 2007 at 12:13 am
I have only been using Entrecard for about a week now and even though there seems to be a great deal of activity with this service as well as a lot of exposure throughout the world of blogging there are some things I think that they can and should improve on. It is too easy for people to earn credits especially when all they have to do is drop their cards on someone’s blog. They should define it and reward for relevancy when earning credits. ie. Reward only for dropping your card on another blog that is relevant or closely similar to your own and even rewarding a higher amount if not only for purchasing advertisement time on a relevant blog.
Entrecard is a great business model, however I believe in a short time it will start to flounder if they don’t make some changes and tie up some loose ends.
December 22nd, 2007 at 9:42 am
I’ve been using EntreCard since last week and the traffic has been pretty good. I haven’t even bought an ad spot so all the traffic is coming from people who want to drop their cards on mine. And the traffic quality hasn’t been as bad as some people say. I like the concept pretty much and I must say, it’s addictive. ‘
And nice idea there: to offer 10 credits for a 10+ word comment. Cool! I’ll be using it on my blog too
December 22nd, 2007 at 5:19 pm
While a lot of the traffic is drive by card drops, the ones who do stop by to read some things are always friendly. I’ve found running a contest with the credits is a good thing. I was able to get some links back to the blog, as well as some subscribers. How many of those will stay after the contest I’m not sure, but having an entry that only requires a card drop + comment basically funds the whole contest itself.
December 22nd, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I am pleased with entrecard’s traffic so far. I think a lot of people tend to look to drop there card and off they go.
I like the promotions related to entrecard like the 10 credits your offering just for leaving a comment.
It will be interesting to see how this all pans out say 2-3 months from now.
Great article.
JB
http://www.fam5.com
December 27th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
I came across Entrcard a couple weeks ago and didn’t have time to check it out. However, as soon as things slowed a bit… I was on it like white on rice.
It will be a while before declaring it a fad, or a success, but I know I’m enjoying it.
Without Entrecard, I’d never have found your blog!
Shari
December 28th, 2007 at 2:04 am
I just recently joined entrecard as well. I am having a wonderful time dropping off my card. And I really do try to read a post or two and leave a comment. Haven’t tried to advertise my site yet, but I am still a fairly new blogger. Thanks for all the good info on your site. Take care.
December 28th, 2007 at 4:39 am
Um first off, is there a way one can leave a comment without getting the 10 credits, cause its causing some guilt.
I have a new post on my blog on
- Blog Reading via RSS vs Entrecard -
that I think you might want to read. I wouldn’t leave a link here just in case your moderator is on and you are still on holidays ok, check it out when you’re back.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Um first off, is there a way one can leave a comment without getting the 10 credits, cause its causing some guilt.
I have a new post on my blog on
- Blog Reading via RSS vs Entrecard Dropping/READING -
that I think you might want to read. I wouldn’t leave a link here just in case your moderator is on and you are still on holidays ok, check it out when you get back.
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 am
A simple competition worked wonders for me. Small incentives like the one you’re running now give people more of a reason to comment, so they’re staying on your site a bit longer. While a “card dropper” might move on quite quickly, I’ve had some great results from Entrecard in the month since I joined.
January 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Entrecard is an excellent tool but the top blogs are not needed the best. How I use entrecard? I visit everyblog and check their pagerank and alexa rank. Also, I look for the feed readers counter, and if a blog have 500 daily readers and it cost 20 credits, why don’t advertise there ?? Also, there are blogs with a cost of ~200 credits and only have 10 readers, will you advertise there?? I think you not.
So you need to be clever and search the best blogs with good mount of readers, not the most expensive or cheap.
By the way, I’m doing an Entrecard Contest, I’m giving away 600 credits. See you there
January 9th, 2008 at 4:56 am
very interesting.
i’m adding in RSS Reader