300 drops - what's the point?

Fledgling Blogger just couldn't take it anymore! Once one of the most popular and expensive blogs on the EC network, push came to shove and June Zach dropped --- dropped OUT! Among the comments came one from Marzie, who has three blogs in the EC network: " Mariuca says: October 9, 2010 at 10:08 pm ~ Hey June, yeah I noticed the 404 error and I am not surprised they deleted u without warning. I was deleted once too, cause I had a music player that was on auto and some “friend” reported me and I was immediately deleted without warning… despite the fact that I was totally unaware that having music box on ur blog (on auto) is not allowed. I wrote to them immediately and got my acct reinstated but yeah… no matter how popular or loved ur blogs are on EC, the admin doesn’t seem to appreciate the loyalty of such members.. "

::: WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON ENTRECARD? :::

There are a couple of other 'participant-driven' programs out there" cmfads and adgitize immediately come to mind. There's also a new program out called "One True Fan" that I would hesitate to join because I certainly don't want to add any toolbars, extensions or plug-ins to my system - I've "been there, done that" with disastrous results. I don't want people knowing my 'location' either! Anyway, read what Aldon has to say about it and read Karen's post. Then go back to an earlier article which will give you a bigger picture of OTF and what it entails.

Let me know if you join OTF and what your experience is based on your internet connection, browser and operating system.

The Great Entrecard Experiment

Back in the Spring I partnered with three other bloggers scattered across the globe in an experiment designed to gauge the value of the Entrecard program. The other bloggers do not wish to be identified.

The results are in.

(Blogger A) is actually the one who brought the study to an abrupt end. "I just can't bear to drop another EC. I woke up every morning thinking about '300 drops, 300 drops.' All of my comuter time that I should have been spending writing or networking I was wasting as I hastened to dop ECs to meet the daily quota." (Blogger A) is now inactive in the EC program. Though she faithfully dropped 300 ECs day after day, the cost of an ad on her blog never rose higher than 768 credits, a number reached only once during the time of the experiment.

(Blogger B) hated the idea of 'dropping' from the very start. Some days he'd hit the 300 mark, other days he barely visited three or four other blogs. "I'm glad the experiment is over. I'm leaving the widget on my blog but no more drops for me!" The cost of an ad on his blog ascended as high as 1536 credits!!!

(Blogger C) like Blogger A faithfully made her 300 drops a day. Her blog consistently costs 3072 or more to advertise on.

(Blogger ME - yes, me!) dropped 300 each and every day for days on end. But about a month and a half ago, that dropping business got old, and I resolved to drop only on blogs where I would STAY and READ SOMETHING. The price of an EC ad on my blog skyrocketed! Go figure! (although thie morning, in checking, the price of an EC ad on my blog here is at a low number, representing a great bargain for advertisers - *hint*!)

:::ANALYZING THE RESULTS:::

In my case, although my dropping has trickled off, there are certain "high quality" blogs I visit religiously. I also have a list of ten blogs that monthly publish a "Top 10 EC Dropper's List" that has hotlinks right back to my blog. Since my EC widget rides high "above the fold" on my blog, I appear on several "above the fold" and "top dropper" compilation lists as well as in "EZ dop" data bases.

Most importantly, as I upload any article I've written I ask myself "is there a headline or image I can add to this post to entice the EC visitors to stop and read it?" That has been quite important: almost 45% of my EC visitors STAY FOR A MINUTE OR MORE because something else on my blog has attracted them!

When placing EC adverts, I do so on the "best" (and sometimes 'expensive') blogs, but I also look for an "upstart," an up and coming blog which has been blitzing - his or her ads are showing up on many, many, many blogs... as others click on that blog's ads, 10 to 1 they'll click on YOUR ad if it is displaying on that blog! Out of one such ad that cost me 64 EC credits I received more than 200 visitors in a 24-hour period! Now THAT is what I call "making Entrecard work" for you!

(Blogger C) What do you wnat me to write, Dave? I love Entre and I have no problem making my 300 drops. I leave lots of comments on other blogs sporting the EC badge. I join many of the memes, and always leave a message if I see a shoutbox. Since my blog is my income, I'm online from early morning until just before 3pm. After that, it's all about me, my two children and my husband.

(Blogger B) I concentrated on blogs that published monthly lists of top droppers. My widget is the first thing you see when my blog loads onscreen. I only advertise on blogs that cost FOUR FIGURES.

(Blogger A) Looking back, Entrecard was the biggest waste of time I've evr come across. When I think of all I could have done if not for dropping ECs--- I don't want to think about it.

:::MORAL OF THE STUDY:::

You can enjoy the benefits of Entrecard without becoming a slave to '300 drops per day' if you approach the program with the right attitude and a personal plan of action. Ask yourself "how will this benefit my blog, and what can I do to make it a success?" (As opposed to EC becoming an albatross around your little blogging neck!)

PS : Don't become a victim of “Entrecard dropping carpal tunnel syndrome”. LOL!

Tags: One True Fan, Entrecard, EC, One True Fan. Orient Lodge, Mariuca