Entrecard Traffic for the Small Time Blogger
October 7th, 2008 by 
admin
I’ve been thinking about this for months.
Most of my blog traffic comes from Entrecard. Not just this one, but my other two blogs too. They’re not big blogs, they’re not making me heaps on money (in my opinion earning $2 a week is awesome), but they’re mine and I enjoy them. I blog for fun
And since discovering Entrecard, it has been responsible for more and more of my traffic, especially on newer posts. But most importantly, the majority of people who comment on my blogs, or who ‘discover’ me for Stumbleupon, are Entrecard users. They’re the people most likely to care.
The little guys.
For a little blogger like me who doesn’t count subscribers, isn’t trying to sell anything and doesn’t have any delusions about making money online, those comments and stumbles are what really matters. They let me know that somebody is reading.
Seeing a spike in visitors from a stumble is a great ego boost, but in all honesty most stumblers don’t stick around to read, not with their average attention span of 23 seconds. Getting the comments is what makes Entrecard so rewarding.
Sure, most of Entrecard’s traffic is as bouncy as a frog with too much coffee, but that doesn’t matter to me. I’m not trying to sell these blogs, and if I haven’t written a new post for three days then I don’t expect anyone to read the same thing over again. I wouldn’t.
On that note…
… If you’re writing the same thing as other blogs on Entrecard, then don’t expect comments. People only want to read it once. This is especially true for ‘news about entrecard’ or contests that require you to link back to the original post. We read it the first time!
Don’t expect comments from the first spree of dropping you go on. You might not have written anything that appeals to anybody (harsh but true), or perhaps it takes a while for droppers to warm up to you and your blog. It may take a few days for your reciprical droppers to actually say “Hey, who is this guy and what does he actually write? I should probably read their stuff at some point.”
Be patient kids.
The results you’re dreaming of from Entrecard wont happen in a day. They probably wont happen in a week. It takes time to endear yourself to readers, to make them want to come back even if you forget to drop on them. You don’t deserve their attention, you have to earn it.
Who needs a reader?
I have to admit, I don’t subscribe to blogs. I don’t have a reader to do so with, and refuse to give out my email. I use Entrecard as my reader instead, dropping on my favourite blogs as well as discovering new ones. The only blog I don’t visit through Entrecard is icanhascheezburger. It’s fun.
Could Entrecard be better?
Of course it could. I’d love to see more dedicated, small time bloggers in the system (especially the writing category). I’d love to have more regularly updated, interesting blogs to drop on in my field, but that will come with time. For a free service (you don’t have to buy credits guys), it words well for me. You, reading this now, probably got here from Entrecard. Admit it.
Entrecard works for me because I don’t expect it to send me hundreds of visitors with no effort. It sends me a few dozen visitors with an interest in what I write and the ability to find me again once they’re hooked.
And that I can work with.
| 4.0 (3 people) |
Posted in Blogging |
October 7th, 2008 at 2:27 am
I agree with you on what Entrecard can do for a blogger. Since joining, my traffic has increased, I get more comments than before.
I also don’t make millions as some people brag about but at least there are visitors to my blog. I can always work on content and ways of bettering my blog
It makes me feel better as I know people are reading my posts.
October 7th, 2008 at 2:52 am
Great Post! Entrecard has done alot too!
October 7th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Nicely put. The past two weeks, I’ve noticed an upswing in my commentors; some of my regular Card drops are joining the rank of groupies. It’s great fun. (hint!)
October 7th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I am new to all of this and just started using entrecard and was pleasantly surprised at the traffic increase. It took me a little while to get the hang of their site bit it’s pretty cool. I am a die hard writer, have been for years so for me blogging is fun and a way to connect with other writes. I’m not making millions either but that’s fine. I’m in it for the write.
October 7th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Great post! I enjoy “meeting” new blogs via EntreCard and although I don’t have time during my drops to comment on everyone, I do scan every new post and enjoy the diversity available in the world of blogs!
October 8th, 2008 at 3:42 am
There are some wonderful things about entrecard and I’ve found some great blogs out there, as well as gotten new readers. Sometimes I get sucked into the amount of time it takes to drop cards, though, and then it gets to be a bit overwhelming. I also wonder how many people end up actually reading my blog, but that’s just how it goes.
Great post!
October 8th, 2008 at 4:19 am
Well said
I have found a lot of blogs I enjoy reading through Entrecard.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I love what you’ve said and how you said it.
I think entrecard has benefitted my blogging but I continue to blog daily or weekly based on the blog out of my own singular love and passion for it.
October 8th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Jeninifer, I’ve read your blog. I just found some of your posts (like the adoption ones) too emotional to sully with my ignorant comments.
That said, I recognise most of the blogs of te people who have commented so far, just like you probably recognise my card in your inbox.
I should have mentioned in the article that I’ve also bought things from blogs in Entrecard (mainly the Etsy-based blogs). Blogs I wouldn’t have found otherwise. It definitely has value.
October 8th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Hello,
For a beginner, you have a cool blog. and well organized too. Is it okay if I’ll add you to my blog roll? and you write very well too.
God bless and happy blogging.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Nicely written Article which just about sums up Entrecard nicely. I recently went on holiday and was unable to drop for 2 weeks and my traffic plummeted. Once I resumed dropping on my return my traffic shot up again. For small blogs like ours Entrecard is a great boost.
October 11th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Nice article, Entrecard has helped me add to my visitors and also in my amount of comments…its been very helpful to me, but i do get tired of some of the spam blogs i come across.
IM kinda new at owning my own server and URL …what kind of hit count are you getting on an average day? im looking at just over 100 hits, but im not listed in the major search engines just yet…
thanks,
The Raging Rev
October 11th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Just getting around to reading the rest of the comments. It’s great to know that you read my blog. I read a lot of blogs and don’t necessarily comment, either. Sometimes it’s tough to know what, exactly, to write. I go through commenting sprees and periods of silence.
And your point about Etsy is a good one. Now I see all this great handmade stuff out there and think that’s where I’ll concentrate my (piddly) holiday shopping.
October 13th, 2008 at 5:16 am
In my experience most entrecarders don’t stick around any more than stumblers do. In fact possibly less as at least stumblers identify themes of interest.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:18 am
As fun as traffic is to watch on your blog the most important thing to me is people sticking actually reading my blog, not just thumbing up a post, or dropping a card.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:30 am
It seems like you’re using EC the best way possible. For me, most people just drop and leave. I do have some that read a post and comment though and tell me they found me through EC. That’s like getting a pat on the back because something had to grab their attention to stick around!
October 14th, 2008 at 11:23 am
[…] Ferox […]
October 14th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Hey congrats on winning the EC contest…good job on this blog post…and thanks again for helping me with my Ecard
October 16th, 2008 at 3:31 am
What a great post! You really put everything into perspective for the “little guy” and maybe for some of the big guys, too. Excellent writing. I will look up the category.
Your friend, Fisher
October 20th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Wholeheartedly agree with your approach to EC. Would have written a similar article myself if I’d have gotten ’round to it.
Congratulations on winning the contest!!