If you’re a blogger, I’m sure you’ve heard of Entrecard.com, the brand new way of advertising on other people’s blog (if they have the widget displayed) by paying with “Entrecard Credits.” If you haven’t heard about it, please read “How to Get FREE Advertising on John Chow’s Blog.”
The thing about Entrecard is the fact that people tend to overlook the purpose of it – to gain exposure, build traffic, meet other bloggers and discover new, yet, interesting blogs. People have to remember that Entrecard does NOT determine how popular a blog really is.
Basically, the more people who ‘drop’ their cards into your widget on your blog, the more expensive it is to advertise there. I started to notice that blogging moguls like John Chow, Darren Rowse and a few others are being overtaken by smaller bloggers who have like 12 RSS feed subscribers.
Also, ‘John Cow’ recently took himself out of the Entrecard loop because he felt the system was getting abused and mentions the fact that it costs more (in Entrecard credits) to advertise on a blog with less popularity than it is on Problogger’s or John Chow’s.
I mean, if people were smart, they probably wouldn’t spend a weeks worth of credits to advertise on those types of blogs, but who am I to judge?
Although, I feel Entrecard is a great way to expose yourself to other bloggers, it’s become like a 9-5 job just dropping cards for credit for some. If you are an Entrecard member, do you just drop, drop, drop without even checking out the content? I mean, I get a decent amount of droppers to this blog but I know for a fact that if ALL those droppers checked out my blog, they would have commented for some ‘FREE Link Love.’
But then again, I think they’re just missing out because dropping cards is all they do. It will get you a decent amount of traffic, but the quality of that seems to have lessened.
So, again, just remember that Entrecard is a good way of gaining exposure, building some traffic and meeting new bloggers and their blogs; but just remember that it doesn’t tell you how popular a blog really is.
Please note: I’m not procrastinating on the ‘Link Love’ just giving some people a little more time before I post it. Thanks!
Thanks for your post. I wouldn’t have turned up here without the Entrecard.
I’m sure glad duncan led the way so I could find the comment button.
I think (I know I’m in this camp) there’s a time for card dropping, and a time for exploring.
Sometimes when you explore, you’re not ready to leave a comment, so you move on… intending to return.
I agree that Entrecard doesn’t really tell about blog popularity. Those that shoot to the top of the list can also fall away very quickly.
Fresh content will eventually determine your return visitors. As in business, once you’ve got the customer, it’s much less expensive to keep that customer than to continually hunt for new customers.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hunt. It means that taking care of what you have comes first.
I’m not sure why some consider it a bad thing that an Entrecard member can work really hard networking in the community, and surpass a member like John Chow who has a bigger blog, but does not participate much at all the community.
All this means is that unlike every other ranking system, if you’re a small blog and work really hard for a week, you can outrank almost anyone.
Duncan – thanks for commenting, feel free to leave your blog link next time so I can check it out!
Shari – I agree. There are times to drop cards and other times for exploring, but I think people are overlooking the “exploring” and just aiming for the card dropping.
Graham – I understand what you’re saying, and I do believe in hardwork. I never discouraged that, I was simply making the point that Entrecard does not tell you how popular a blog truly is and people are overlooking blogs’ content and aim straight for the card dropping.
Jay
DatMoney.com
DatCurious.com
I don’t know what Chow’s complaining about. He’s got it made. He doesn’t need Entrecard. For others it provides valuable exposure, so he should just shut it.
You make a very strong point. Great post.
Hi Jay
I agree entrecard does not really tell how popular a blog is like you mention.It is a great way to bring exposure to your blog on the othet hand.I have gotten a great deal of traffic from it myself,and have came across some very good blogs in the process.
Steven Wilson Marketing
This also means that you can get advertising on blogs with real non-Entrecard traffic cheaply. You just have to look hard and hope that all their spots aren’t full.
After a while chain dropping Entrecards tends to get really boring (which is why I’ve never done those 300 card drop marathons).
I usually try to check what the first couple entries are all about and if they seem interesting, read them through and perhaps even comment, even though that only happens couple times a day.