Entrecard - Quality Traffic or Junk?
My Initial Experience
Entrecard seems to be working well.
I started under the category - Writing and Literature, and quickly made my way to the top, not number one, Inspiring Quotations has that locked, but I hit the number two spot. Not entirely too difficult seeing as how there are only 28 blogs in that category. So yesterday I decided to take a challenge and submit my blog to the largest category - Make Money Online.
My starting position was smack in the middle of row six. Not too bad for a category with 235 blogs in it. But, I want at least row one, if not top 3. Right next to Mr. “I make money online by telling people how much money I make online.” Although, Internet Dreamer is giving him a run for his money; yesterday morning she hit the numero uno spot. As for myself, less than 24 hours after submitting to the new category, I’ve moved up to row three – two more to go.
The Move to the Top Category Placement
Did I mention I have to pass up ProBlogger, yeah, seems tough right? I don’t believe it will be that difficult. Blogs like ProBlogger don’t have to spend much time with services like these since their readership is already sky-high. The smaller, budding blogs like yours truly can theoretically pass them up by working the system Entrecard has put into place.
Getting the top position in your category doesn’t mean a whole lot in the big scheme of things but it does help newer blogs show up on the radar by giving others the impression that you must be offering something people really want and, it boosts your ego a bit which in turn motivates you to create better quality content more often.
Tips For Using Entrecard
Design - The first thing you should do is design an attractive Entrecard. If you’re design challenged there are many Entrecard members willing to design some for you for a few credits.- Advertising - do it like a maniac.
- But, check the blog to be sure they have placement somewhere near the top of the page. Some people put it 15 miles below ground. Right beneath their blogroll that contains the entire internet.
- Advertise in different categories. Sometimes people who enjoy food also like to make money online.
- Comment - Don’t just drop and run. Take a minute. If you see something you like, read it, then comment. After all we don’t write to get dropped on, we write so others will read…at least most of us do.
- Recommendations - I try and make a habit of giving a recommendation to everybody who places my ad on their site. After all I sent in the ad request, so I must like something about it.
- Contests - A lot of people offer different contests with the prize being a certain number of credits. This brings more people to your site and makes people happy when they win.
- Forums - Participate in forum talk. It’s just another way to get your name out there.
Traffic Statistics
- There have been 228 visits from Entrecard since January 4th.
- Visitors look through about 40% less pages.
- The average time on the site is 60-70% less than visitors from other sources.
- The bounce rate is almost 40% higher than other sources.
- I’m getting on average 60 card drops a day.
- My highest referrer is Webatlantis with 57 clicks.
Wrap-up
True, I’ve only been a Entrecard member for less than five days so my numbers aren’t the quintessential rule but, I can make quite an educated guess thus far.
While it may bring a ton of junk traffic (people just coming by to drop their cards), it’s still a free service and will, I believe, get you a few new, loyal subscribers every week or so. And, the community isn’t getting any smaller, so I expect the numbers, good and junk traffic, to steadily rise.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been using if to about 3 weeks now, I think. Or maybe 2, I’m not sure. At any rate, yes, there is a lot of junk traffic but I have also made quite a few “web friends” as a result of it. People who would otherwise not have known about my site.
And here I am commenting. I think the guys behind entrecard (esp with giving the people to then go ahead and be able to change those hundreds of credits into cash/stuff) are brilliant. They really understand how the web works.
I do love Entrecard for myself personally as it is a cool way of getting around to a lot of blogs like yours and read great articles like this.
As for the quality of traffic, here’s my stats:
Entrecard (click from main site):
Visitors look through 25.26% less pages than average
Avg Time on site is 69.51% higher than average
Bouncerate is 17.12% higher than average
Interesting to compare traffic. Not too happy with the low avg time on site though, but I know a few “droppers” spend more time on it, so I’m happy with that.
Thanks for a great post!
soundtrackgeek’s last blog post..What to do when you can’t buy the soundtrack in the stores (or Amazon)?
sure other visitors may sometimes read more things. Or leave more comments. It really all depends. It all depends on what you put into it.
Matt Ellsworth’s last blog post..How To get the new name “keyword spam”
So far it’s fun. We’ll see if the novelty wears off.
Emma’s last blog post..Words To Know Version 3
I think entrecard traffic is about 50% junk.. / spam but at least you have 50% more
Dexter’s last blog post..A Decision to Move Post from Blogspot to WordPress
I have seen an increase in the number of visitors and have noticed similar stats to what your provided.
I think that even if you get a few new subscribers out of 100 “droppers” then you are better off than before.
Whether the traffic is good or not, it doesn’t matter to me as the service is free.
So far the comment rate from Entrecard visitors on my own sight is much higher than average visitors. I am also pretty sure the entrecard crowd will start appearing as “loyal’ readers and return visitors.
So far, that gets me much higher than most sources of traffic even if many people do just stop by for a card drop.
I also promise to comment on one of your entries that has nothing to do with Entrecard soon!
Chris Schaffer’s last blog post..Falacies of Economics
I agree that some of the traffic is junk. But I have got a lot of new subscribers and comments and have found new blogs to subscribe to.
I keep wondering when the honeymoon will be over with this one. I guess not yet.
@Entrepreneur - Yes! Here you are. Commenting on a post about Entrecard…j/k…I’m sure you’ll be back.
@soundtrackgeek - Why thanks for stopping by. Looks like your number are a bit better than mine.
@Matt Ellsworth - True. But, sometimes it depends on what others put into it too.
@Emma - I hope not. If they, Entrecard that is, keep adding new and exciting features it should maintain its novelty for a while.
@Dexter - Please don’t kill me. (sorry, had to throw in the cheesy TV reference). True. 50% more is fantastic.
@Paul - Well said. I agree.
@Chris Schaffer - That is very true. I didn’t address that fact. Entrecard visitors do seem to comment more than average. That is definitely a huge plus. After all conversation is an essential part. See you soon Chris
@Stephan Miller - A great marriage never parts from the honeymoon.
Hey there! I’m here because I saw your EntreCard on another blog and clicked through. I have been using EntreCard for a bit longer, and I have to say I completely agree with your assessment. It will bring a lot of junk traffic, but there are plenty of good bloggers on the service too who actually read the blogs they surf through. I’ve found several new blogs that I now have added to my RSS reader because I like what I’ve seen there. I’ve also seen a number of new readers who seem to be coming back day after day and actually spending some time and reading my blog. Anyway, good luck to you on EntreCard, and feel free to stop by and drop me a card!
BunGirl’s last blog post..Contest: Giving Away Half the Loot
I really like Entrecard. I’m still in the honeymoon phase with it (not even 24 hours!), but I’ve found some great new blogs and had new visitors leaving comments on my blog already.
Erica’s last blog post..Joined the Wave of Bloggers at Entrecard
@BunGirl - Good to know my ads are working. I’ve added a few blogs I found via Entrecard to my RSS reader as well and my subscriber numbers have been steadily increasing.
@Erica - Welcome aboard…all five of you. I love your site design.
Thanks for stopping by.
I hadn’t signed up yet because I was waiting to hear opinions, like yours as to it being “worth it” or not. Quite useful information, thanks.
Stumbled. :o)
Katy’s last blog post..Ultimate Plugins For WordPress
So what, I’m your guinea pig?
It’s a nice little community, and it’s growing day by day. Get in there!
Thanks Katy.
I’ve had fun with it so far, and met some other bloggers with similar interests. I’d have to agree that a lot of people drop by just to drop cards, although I try to comment, and tend to at least read a post or two before moving on to something else. Entrecard can’t be successful if everyone is just dropping cards for the purpose of getting more advertising credits…then it ends up being exactly the same as a traffic exchange, where everyone is there just to advertise. As long as people participating are genuinely taking the time to look at the blogs they are visiting, Entrecard will be a neat community.
Jen’s last blog post..Casio The Tri-Pod, A Tale of One Special Kitty
I’ve been with Entrecard 3 days now. Haven’t figured out quite how to rise as meteorically as you since my only suitable category is personal diary — I don’t limit myself in what I write about, you see :), but I have risen.
You should be happy to know that I’ve also subscribed to your feed. I love what I’ve found here!
Maggie
Maggie’s last blog post..Contests and Give-Aways — Enter this one to win “SQL Cookbook”
@Jen - I agree Jen, Entrecard has so far brought me at least 13 new and returning readers…who comment as well. So I think it’s quite a neat community indeed.
@Maggie - I love you Maggie! Haha ;o)
Thank for the compliment and readership. You may want to think about purchasing one of those “gold borders” that are in the entrecard store…they seem to skyrocket people to the top-most of their categories.
I see you have both Blogrush and Entrecard. I flushed Blogrush because it was useless but Entrecard has been great. My ad is on Problogger today and I’ve had over 100 referals from that ad, and initiated email conversation with 3 new readers. Sure there are some chain droppers but they won’t last - the quality connections will remain. I’m 100% sold on it.
From Fat to Fit’s last blog post..Weekly Update - 1/20/2008
I’m thinking of dropping BlogRush as well. I’m not even sure if they’re still working on it…the blog has been dry for a while.
Nice on snatching a Problogger ad. Along with StumbleUpon, Entrecard is my biggest referrer. I’m pretty much sold on it too.
Thanks for stopping by John.
[…] - I previously wrote about my Entrecard experience and as of late, I’ve tuned down my drop rate and my category position has suffered accordingly. […]
Another tip for using Entrecard. Put a link to your profile in the post you make about yourself on Entrecard. I can’t find you there, must be looking for the wrong graphic. I don’t know, giving up on it now.
Laura’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Nose in a Book
Ha! All this time and nobody has mentioned that. Unbelievable.
Here is it.
Actually, to find any Entrecard user’s profile, simply click on the Entrecard logo on their website. On yours, it’s the big black box that says “Entrecard” but on some it’s just the little yellow box with the E. Anyway, happy card dropping!
BunGirl’s last blog post..123 - A Meme as Simple as Do Re Mi
…and then there’s the obvious way…
Thanks BunGirl. ;o)
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