The EntreCard Traffic Debate

October 10th, 2008 · by Sonnie · Blogging

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

Well, with the recent changes on how earning and selling credits at EC, things got a little ugly among EC and non EC members. They say that the traffic generated by Entrecard are not real traffic. If there is junk food, EC traffic is considered junk or not real traffic.

As an Entrecard blogger, I would say it’s both, depending on your visitor.

If you got the drop and leave type of visitor, then I would say it’s not the kind of traffic you like, in this case, search engine referrers are better visitors because they read your content. However, Entrecard also serves as venue for bloggers of the same niche and interest to form new online and offline partnerships and collaboration. Likewise, EC facilitates back links and increase in Alexa rankings.

While some blog buddies have left EC I will stick it out, the benefits outweighs the disadvantages. However, I will not join the race to be the most popular blog and have the most expensive advertising rate. Though this is not bad and illegal, it’s tiring and meaningless to complete the 300 drops just to expect a return drop when this will just increase your bounce rate.

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25 Responses to “The EntreCard Traffic Debate”

Angel Cuala October 10, 2008 at 10:07 AM

Looks like you hit it on the right spot, Sonny. I think that EC’s principle is good but unfortunately, it is really hard to control people who love themselves only.

I really felt that EC has been abused by greedy members, so I decided to leave.

Fortunately, there are members like you that I cannot leave without.

I may be out of EC, but definitely subscribing to inspiring blogs like yours is very rewarding.

Keep it up!

Angel Cualas last blog post..Blogging tip: Let me write your name in Arabic
Sonnie October 10, 2008 at 10:21 AM

Thanks for the compliment. I still have several thousands EC credits to disposed of. Will use it for good use later on.
ceblogger October 10, 2008 at 1:55 PM

I’ll stick it out with EC too! It helped me when my blog was still new.

cebloggers last blog post..Day Trip in Cebu: A Quick Guide
Chronic Chick Talk October 11, 2008 at 8:14 AM

Entrecard helps you to get diffrent traffic. Right now I am having major issues with entrecard. They must be making updates or something. But all in all its great it’s a great way to visit some wonderful blogging work.

Chronic Chick Talks last blog post..Punching a Time Clock
flit October 12, 2008 at 7:27 AM

Traffic is traffic, y’ask me… the more people see my blog, the more that might like it enough to come back, follow it…whatever.

Sure there’s a lot of drop & go’s ..but how is that a bad thing?

flits last blog post..Pouting
revenue October 12, 2008 at 10:23 AM

I think entrecard is still real traffic, is not done by automatic , it’s a real people who click and visit our blog.
Joel October 12, 2008 at 2:23 PM

I do agree with you. But if someone made the effort to drop on you regardless of intent, I believe you have to reciprocate. I do my share of making 300 drops a day because I get more than that. So I’m compelled to make the same effort. EC should have foreseen this problem early on. They’re actually benefiting from us as well. It cuts both ways and EC I think is being hypocritical about it. They’re reaping the benefits of our traffic as well.

Joels last blog post..Hassle-free Mexican Sojourn
Apol October 12, 2008 at 9:35 PM

traffic by any other name may not smell as sweet as a rose, but it’s still a traffic. hehe!

by the way, I found your blog via EC. and that’s not a bad thing.

Apols last blog post..Pacman plans to retire in 2009
steven wilson October 12, 2008 at 9:40 PM

I will have to agree with you that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages with EC I plan on sticking it out as well.There are way to many people there that are only interested in being at the top of their category,and nothing else.I for one have more important things to do than drop 300 cards a day to rank at the top,and the bounce rate is really bad if you do,and get 300 drop,and leave back.It is a great way to find interesting blogs,and people just like I found your blog there.
Wishing you all the best

steven wilsons last blog post..11 troubled Web companies:
Sonnie October 12, 2008 at 10:07 PM

What EC envisions is not a bad thing, it builds community and with it are back links, referrals and alexa rankings too.

It’s the race to the top that tend to cause the mad dropping or the drop & run attitude.
Apollo October 13, 2008 at 3:30 PM

I agree with you Sonnie. One thing I would like EC to change is that the max you can drop during one day is 200. EC is great if you want to find some good blogs which you would like to visit frequently. I will stick it out but the 1,000 transfer credit between members and their 12.5% tax on it made no sense to me. I know they want contests to continue but it just seems like a less intelligent change on EC. I do hope they weed out those blogs who are worth nothing and just there to get a little traffic in the hope to boost some ad sales.

Apollos last blog post..G-7…but don’t bank your assets on it
Mar Matthias Darin October 13, 2008 at 3:46 PM

I have to agrree that the type of user has a lot to do with the success of EntreCard. For me, like you, EntreCard has been a blessing. I think most of that success is because I spend qute a bit of time reading and commenting on other blogs.

Mar Matthias Darins last blog post..Volume I: Stephen Branchflower, TrooperGate Report
carol at A Second Cup October 13, 2008 at 11:14 PM

When I just started blogging e-card gave me free exposure I could not get any other way. Now I comment, drop and have build some blogger friendships. And I look for new bloggers to advertise on, not because I will get a lot of clicks but to encourage them the way I was encouraged starting out.

For me e-card is a useful investment of time.

carol at A Second Cups last blog post..The Hundred-Pushup Challenge: Join In!
hitsu October 13, 2008 at 11:22 PM

EC is still good for new blogs because it builds traffic, which is needed for new blogs. And I agree with you that it’s tiring to complete the 300 drops just to expect a return drop, but at least I always try to reciprocate people who had dropped on my inbox.

hitsus last blog post..Chimpanzee befriended with tiger cubs
Mountain Woman October 14, 2008 at 8:32 AM

I enjoy using Entrecard. I got caught up in the whole 300 drops a day for a while but I don’t do it any more so my blog ranking has sunk way down but I still have found readers through Entrecard and I’ve found blogs I enjoy too so I’m staying.
I found this blog through Entrecard and I enjoyed your post.

Mountain Womans last blog post..Spotlight on "My Funny Dad Harry"
Sonnie October 14, 2008 at 12:57 PM

I am also making the return drops, but whenever I found a post of my interest, I also leave a comment.
Gem October 14, 2008 at 1:58 PM

There are many who were unimpressed with the way EC generates traffic – to see it as something of a junk traffic. Those users should not see EC as a way to promote site, with the traffic simply as an added bonus.

By the way, I would not easily know your blog existed if not for EC.
earthlingorgeous October 14, 2008 at 10:41 PM

I never understood how EC works. I never had an EC ever but my blog traffic is working just fine. I just found your blog on PBS by the way.

earthlingorgeouss last blog post..Agreement on BJE with MILF Unconstitutional and Other Philippine News
Janette Toral October 16, 2008 at 3:27 PM

I agree with you that Entrecard has its own set of benefits and it is up to each blogger on how they will use that to benefit their blog’s interest.

I have used Entrecard to create awareness about my writing projects, books, and online workshop. This I was able to do for free and got more results compared to spending on pay per click campaigns.
dawn @ iowahippiechick October 19, 2008 at 10:46 PM

I’m new to entrecard … but have had a lot of fun finding new blogs to read.
To me, the value of entrecard is what we as individuals make of it!

dawn @ iowahippiechicks last blog post..Deny Yourself Food And You’ll Start To Taste Poverty …
Sonya October 21, 2008 at 2:09 AM

I agree with many of the bloggers that the advantages of participating with EC far outweighs the negatives. Before EC, my blog had nearly zero traffic. After EC, I have a decent amount of traffic that I would have NEVER gotten without it. Plus, it’s free.

I’m one of those who enjoy dropping 300 cards/day as long as there are no tedious slowdowns. Getting people to look at a new blog with no traffic is hard work. If it were easy, everyone who wanted it would have excellent traffic rankings. The time I spend dropping cards is the small price I choose to pay for not only gaining new visitors but find new, interesting blogs as well.

Sonyas last blog post..Oct 20, I Received An Award…
yanjiaren October 22, 2008 at 5:37 PM

I do 600 drops a day but always every day try to comment on at least ten blogs and I also stumble the blogs as I have the stumble toolbar downloaded so my fellow bloggers may pick up some extra traffic. I also have made nice blogging friends through Entrecard. I believe in the end it’s what you put , you get back don’t you think?

yanjiarens last blog post..ECO NEWS: China and it’s CO2 Emissions.
Matt October 23, 2008 at 12:10 AM

The poor traffic quality from Entrecard is a result of people dropping simply to earn credits. So, if they wanted to increase the quality of traffic you get from adverts, then they’d have to get rid of the “dropping” portion of the site. Instead, they could simply be a banner exchange program, where you still earn credits for selling adverts. Of course the traffic would go wayyy down, but who cares, you’re only losing the ‘drop & run’ traffic anyways, which doesn’t count for diddly.