My Entrecard Strategy
Given the recent discussions around the validity of the Entrecard traffic I thought I would share my thoughts on the matter, and going beyond that, the strategies I have employed to make Entrecard work for my humble little gardening site. Basically, I am seeing large numbers of traffic coming via Entrecard and a number of those are now turning into valid commenters and regular and valued visitors.
As you can imagine gardening is a very small niche and is often only frequented by those that are keen gardeners. The general run of the mill netizen is not all that interested in the subject, however I am capturing some interest from these netizens. This is by keeping the content straight forward and understandable. Also a smattering of geek and personal news intersperses the gardening articles. This keeps people hooked I have found. Although I do try and stay faithful to my niche and am being careful not to flood the blog with other non-related materials.
The Drop Strategy
The second part of the strategy is the card dropping methods I have been employing. In large this is a bit of a rehash of a comment I left at On Blogging Australia and a summary of a thread at the Aussie Bloggers Forum, for those that have now read this a number of times apologies in advance.
The card dropping strategy is very straight forward and has proven very successful with my site being in the top 3 of the Home and Garden category since about the second week of participation. I am a chain dropper, however I do take the time to scan and read some of the articles. I even comment on a number of these sites and participate in the community. I have discovered many sites of great value to me across a wealth of topics.
- Drop on those network of fellow bloggers that I am familiar with through forum discussions. For me this is a collection of contacts from the Aussie Bloggers Forums and Blog Catalog. These contacts always reciprocate.
- Those that have taken the time to consider my site and are willing to advertise are next on the list. My clients are often more than happy to reciprocate with a drop back or two.
- The next hit list are those fellow Entrecard participants that I wish to, or am, advertising with. Showing them that I do take the time to look at their site, and not simply clicking from the Dashboard is an important step. Often too these sites will be the ones with the more interesting articles, and I will be moved to participate within their blog.
- Return the favour to those Drop on those that dropped on me. As per above, even the chain droppers, have taken the time to visit my site.
- Drop on those that drop on me regularly that are in the top 10 from the details page. Even if these guys do not participate in a discussion, they are constant visitors and my hope is that sooner or later one of my articles will arouse their interest.
- Next on the drop parade are those blogs that threw me the most traffic from previous advertisements. They are also the ones that I am likely to advertise with again.
- Drop on the new arrivals. These are the credit poor people of Entrecard and are often thankful for the credits. Some I also try to advertise on, but these spots are snapped up lickety split.
- Complete drops by dropping on the smaller categories. Those categories are often the ones with <20 members and do not attract much attention from the world. As such they are often more than happy to reciprocate.
I have also begun performing similar drops for Sockos Spot. Again that is reaping rewards with numerous advertising requests coming in from sites that did not know about Sockos Spot in the past. It is building a readership and that in turn is improving the reach of the sites.
Thanking my Advertisers
I am also now sending a personal message of thanks to those that have decided to place an advertisement on my widget. The idea was inspired by the excellent article Entrecard: Social Advertising for Bloggers that in turn was inspired by The Cheap Gourmet. The reason for this thanks is that these are the people that have taken the time to evaluate my site and make the decision to advertise on my screen real estate. The act of thanking will encourage that client, and that is what they are, to advertise again. It also opens up another social network opportunity on Entrecard.
Thanking Those That Allow me to Advertise
By admission I have been a little lax here, but I am making every endeavour to thank those fellow Entrecard members that have permitted my advertisement on their widget.
Remember that Entrecard is a social network of sorts. So be social in its use.
January 28th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Your strategy certainly works for me here, thanks for sharing
Jayne’s last blog post..Trivial History January 28
January 28th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Excellent advice. I’ve been reading a lot of posts from bloggers complaining much of the EC traffic is worthless; just drive by card droppers. I disagree. While many of the hits I get are simply to drop cards, I have been fortunate to gain some regular readers and commenting participants, such as yourself. Building readership takes time.
Herb Urban’s last blog post..Disney Gone Wrong
January 29th, 2008 at 4:29 am
Nice tips. I use entrecard as well and love it. I find its a great way to find other nice related blogs.
Matt Ellsworth’s last blog post..Facebook Ads & Applications: Critical SEM Learning Curve
January 29th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Entrecard traffic can be summed in two ways: people who do the drop bys and don’t comment. And those who comment and/or return to your blog, and participate in the sharing of your blog posts.
Lately, I’ve been attracting more of the latter, my traffic from entrecard rivals my stumbles (number 1) and my organic google traffic. I like this article, I’m going to stumble it!
Teasas Tips’s last blog post..Make Money Off 100% Of Your Blog Traffic
January 29th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Thank you for the 10EC.
I’m a new Entrecard user, I have to chaindrop to earn my EC so as to have enough to advertise in others’ blogs.
I do read posts and comment if they interest me. If you go to my blog, you would find lots of comments on my posts. That because I comment on their posts and they returned the favour.
eastcoastlife’s last blog post..Singaporeans flocking to God of Fortune in Eunos!
January 29th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
You have some great tips and plan to adopt some or all of them. Ever since I discovered Entrecard, I think I have developed “Entrecard dropping carpal tunnel syndrome”. Let me know if you have any advice for that.
AVCr8teur’s last blog post..Alcatraz Series Continues
January 30th, 2008 at 2:37 am
A very nice article with great tips! I too love Entrecard!
Thanks for the info!
Sheri
Sheri’s last blog post..Seed Starting Adventures – Day 2
January 30th, 2008 at 4:44 am
I found you through my Entrecard dashboard. It is a neat tool for bloggers, i quite like it. But to be completely honest im finding out im not as knowledgeable in it as i thought.
I didnt realize that the “advertise price” on blogs is measured by the number of drops one receives. And more. There are all types of “strategies” to make Entrecard work better. Some people just slap the code on their page, and dont do much else with it. (like me) until they realize there’s more to be had with it then just that.
I have found many cool blogs by visiting diff categories within the E dashboard. To me its like a smaller niche Stumble Upon. (for bloggers only)
I’ll work harder at it and try to give back and really show more appreciation for those that advertise on my blog. (and visit)
Missy’s last blog post..Vegetarian Chicken Cordon Melts from Lightlife
January 31st, 2008 at 1:18 am
There are peopl that don’t rate EC Traffic – I’m not one of them however! I ‘m an Entrecard fan!
January 31st, 2008 at 3:33 am
Very interesting article. And I think your site is very nice too. I cover gardening on my blog as well.
Chris’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
January 31st, 2008 at 11:26 am
Well I have to admit that entrecard has brought way more traffic and commenters to my site!
We need a birder here though — know any bird bloggers?
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January 31st, 2008 at 11:49 am
Great article. I’m going to have start dropping on the top ten from my detail page.
Selene’s last blog post..A Letter From A Child I’ve Never Met Is Making Me Appreciate Life
January 31st, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Thanks for the link back and the complement. I am not as good as I should be about thanking my own advertisers. You offer some excellent advice that those wanting to get the most from their Entrecard experience would do well to heed.
Alan’s last blog post..How To Kill An Entrecard Contest, or Boy Did I Mess That One Up!
January 31st, 2008 at 1:25 pm
luckily entrecard contest is not in your strategy.
WTJ’s last blog post..Australians Don’t Sleep Enough
January 31st, 2008 at 3:59 pm
I don’t chain drop but I don’t see anything wrong with chain dropping either. The visitor have every right to click on every link or widget not to mention ads
on our blogs. We put it there for them to click on. Have a nice day and happy entrecard dropping.
Louie’s last blog post..Today Is International Delete Your Myspace Account Day
February 1st, 2008 at 8:22 am
I suppose I could be considered a chain dropper, but I try to leave valid comments on sites I like too. I have found hundreds of new blogs through Entrecard that I might never have found otherwise, so to me that is worth more than Entrecard points. I do appreciate all those who have dropped on me, as well as my advertisers too. And thanks to all who have accepted my Entrecard ads.
webduck’s last blog post..This Miller Genealogy Book Is Totally Worthless
February 3rd, 2008 at 8:04 am
Great post on Entrecard card-dropping.
I never thought of mine as a “strategy” — sometimes I’m a chain-dropper, sometimes I visit the people who’ve dropped a card at my spot. I do try to thank the people who have my Entrecard posted on their site.
Cheers,
mo
Mo’s last blog post..ice ice baby
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 am
Hi there, thanks for sharing this nice article – many useful tips here. I love EC as well, I have met new worlds through it. Btw I came here via Reality is over rated.
Øyvind’s last blog post..New site for my Colibri
February 5th, 2008 at 2:54 am
Hello! I think the things you wrote about entrecard are well said. I’ve had increase in visits and friends through it. And I actually got here through entrecard too.
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February 22nd, 2008 at 8:25 am
[...] Schwoit – You can read about his strategies on dropping and thanking on My Entrecard Strategy [...]
April 13th, 2008 at 3:38 am
I’ve been looking for these kind of tips as I would like to get more traffic to my blog. I noticed that the traffic from Entrecard can help drammatically boost your Alexa traffic rank. Considering that Alexa still matters to alot of advertisers, your tips should come handy.
I’ll give it a try. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers.
Blogging Tips’s last blog post..Sunday Link Love – What’s Up In The Blogosphere
June 5th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I like EntreCard, I mean yes most of the traffic likely will not stay for too long if your blog is not in a niche that interests them or has something they are looking for. But there will always be that percentage, small or modest that will be interested and EntreCard gives those people a door to your world. I try to give everyone some link love as an added thank you for stopping by. Perhaps some will return again or show some “love” back.
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June 21st, 2008 at 12:44 pm
great tips you have there. thanks for sharing mate
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October 17th, 2008 at 12:48 am
This is a great post. Thanks for sharing the strategy.