Entrecard is making a difference
Posted by Theda K. on 09 Mar 2008 | Tagged as: Blogging, Marketing, Websites
I mentioned a while back that I joined Entrecard, and I thought it might be time to tell everyone how much I like it.
Entrecard Pros
One of the best things about Entrecard is that I’ve met a lot of other bloggers. I’ve made some new online friends, I’ve found some really great blogs, and I’ve even made some money.
With the influx of traffic comes clicks on my sidebar items, so I’ve made a few sales and some Adsense money. I’ve also written several guest posts, which has brought me even more traffic. Recently, a cool site started a contest that featured my blog. (Thanks Leisa!)
I’ve also decided on an Entrecard philosophy for dropping cards. I don’t drop cards on blogs that I don’t want to support for whatever personal reasons. I like the idea that Entrecard popularity could wind up being a democratic process, so I do my part by not “voting” for some.
Entrecard Cons
Entrecard can take a bit of time, because you have to visit a lot of sites to drop your card (which earns you Entrecredits). And if you’re like me, you can’t help but read some of the posts as you go along.
Besides the amount of time it takes to maintain a high position or to grow your site, I have one more complaint. Though Entrecarders do visit often and even leave comments, my subscribership hasn’t budged.
I also gave up offering my writing service for Entrecredits. For now. I wound up taking on too many projects, and I wasn’t sure that the amount I was “charging” was really worth my time and effort. I wound up refunding (plus interest) several buyers’ credits. My time is probably better spent trying to get new clients that pay real money. Now that Entrecard is starting a service for buying and selling credits for real money, I might start again, but I’ll only do one project at a time.
Have you tried Entrecard? If not, why not? If so, have you noticed any particularly good or bad things so far?
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I too love Entrecard simply because I have been able to find so many really great blogs that I bookmark into my favorites and check out daily. I found your blog by returning a card drop you placed on my website. There are a lot of blogs that are not of the highest quality, but there is also a small community of blog owners who are serious about sharing knowledge or making their readers smile–it is that group that I enjoy interacting with. I love your blog and have just bookmarked it into my favorites, so I will be dropping by daily to see how things are going and to click an ad or two every day
Theda, is Entrecard really worth it? I mean, I haven’t really checked it out, but is it worth the effort? I’ve been planning to increase the time I spend on writing projects, and I was looking at ways to expand.
Triphow Ling’s last blog post..Traveling Without A Map
I guess it depends on what your traffic is like right now, and whether or not you feel like you need to connect to the blogosphere. If nothing else, I think it’s great for the short run. You’ll meet some folks and it’s another way of getting your blog out there and noticed. You can always stop participating once you feel like you’ve accomplished whatever you think you can.
My traffic was dismally low, like maybe 30 visitors a day. Now I average more than 100 a day, so it’s worth it for me. I used to get maybe one or two adsense clicks every few weeks, and now I get at least one a day (and often more).
I didn’t do a good job marketing at all, so if you’re already doing great, it might not be worth the time. But if you’re starting a blog or trying to get it off the ground, I think it’s a great tool.
Try it for maybe a week or two and see how you feel. You’ll notice I never give Entrecard a link, so there’s no affiliate program (that I know of). It’s just something to try if you want.
Entrecard is totally worth it. We’ve got to do networking stuff or we might as well write in a notebook even if the investment of time is painful at times. Entrecard is one of the better ways I’ve found. I love that I can control which blogs are featured on my blog. I love that I know who is visiting so I can visit back. Most notable, I’m here via Entrecard.
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I don’t know how people drop 300 card a day - I read too many of the blogs to be able to do this! Like me, now.
Nicola Pedley’s last blog post..Oilily Folding Shopper at Quirky Bags
The first time I heard about Entrecard. It sounds interesting. I will try it.
Entrecard is too…addictive
And as you said, I’ve made a lot of new blogger friends as well there
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Hello, thanks for dropping your entrecard. That’s how I get to know about your blog. I agree that you can discover new blogs and even make new friends in the blogosphere through Entrecard.
Apple’s last blog post..Aching Back
EntreCard is definitely worth it.
my subscribership hasn’t budged.
There you go, I just subscribed via email.
I don’t drop cards on blogs that I don’t want to support for whatever personal reasons.
I am seeing your EntreCard in my Inbox so I guess I am not on your “not support” list!
Whew!
Well, for me, I still reciprocate an EntreCard on those blogs that I do not quite fancy.
I wont spend much time on them though. -_-
I also gave up offering my writing service for Entrecredits.
I have many pending “purchase orders” that I have yet to complete.
Going to jack up the prices or else it is not going to be worth my time. -_-
Entrecard can take a bit of time
Damn straight you are right about this! EntreCarding takes much much hours per day, for me. -_-
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I’ve upped my daily hits by about the same amount as you, Theda, but I’ve also increased my commenters by far more than that.
The main benefit for me of Entrecard has been finding new blogs (including this one) that I wouldn’t have otherwise found. Ok, there’s a downside to this as well in that I spend too much time reading! I don’t tend to subscribe though, because I know I’ll be stopping off at the blog most days anyway to drop my card, so perhaps that’s why your number of subscribers hasn’t risen? (Mine hasn’t either.)
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I’ve been using entrecard for awhile and for the most part I agree with you on everything you said about it. It has brought more traffic, more readers, and even more comments. Lately there have been some issues with it as they do maintenance, but I think those will be fixed soon enough.
It’s actually how I found your blog.
I also don’t drop on sites that I don’t agree with, although I haven’t found many that I am so against I won’t drop, only a few.
I just got some great ad space for my new blog on one of my personal favorite blogs for practically free (at the moment I don’t consider EC Credit in monetary terms) and also I wouldn’t have found your blog if it weren’t for EC.
Nice blog and will keep visiting
Entrecard is a great service. Free publicity and a great way to discover blogs you may have not found other wise…like this one
The traffic jump was fantastic!
Now the task is to get those new lookers to become readers.
Oh I love Entrecard. I have found SO many interesting blogs and people. It’s fabulous.
And my blog traffic has definitely gone up.
I also don’t drop cards on just any site. I have to enjoy their work or think that they have something special to offer. It doesn’t necessarily mean I agree with them 100%. But I refuse to drop on sites that are pointless, poorly laid out, cursing for no reason (cursing has its place), etc.
Other than that I love it!
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I recently joined Entrecard also, and realized that my number of visitors increased quite a bit. I’ve found lots of great blogs, but truthfully, I don’t have the time to build up my e-credits the way some have.
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