This is a little how to on how you can get more traffic from using the service
known as Entrecard. For the purposes of this discussion I am going to assume
you already know what Entrecard is all about and you are just looking to drive
more traffic to your site.
The first thing you need to realize is that not all traffic is the same. In the
Entrecard community you have many different dropping techniques and everyone
thinks their technique is the best. I am not naive enough to think these are
the only methodologies, just some good things to think about.
Popular Entrecard Dropping Strategies
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Drop only on blogs that drop on you, using the Entrecard InBox.
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Drop on blog A, then click the Entrecard and drop on the new blog presented.
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Create a list through Bookmarking your browser of blogs that you want to drop
on regularly.
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Drop on cards in the forums.
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Go to one of the power dropping sites and use their list
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Create your own power dropping list that others aren't aware of.
Now, before you get all excited about these different ways to drop you need to
ask yourself why do you drop Entrecards? Some answers might be to drive more
traffic to your blog. To score Entrecard credits so you can advertise on other
blogs and drive more traffic to your blog. To accumulate Entrecard credits so
you can sell them for cash or barter them for other services.
Why Use Entrecard for Traffic?
What are you going to do with the extra traffic coming to your web site? Are
you looking for non-active bloggers in Entrecard that only drop on people that
drop on them? Are you looking for readers to your blog? Are you looking for
subscribers to your feed? Are you looking for commenters to your posts? Knowing
the answers to these questions will help determine your dropping strategies.
Entrecard in some circles has a reputation that you receive garbage traffic.
This means traffic that is not reading your blog, traffic that is not going to
other pages, traffic that is not commenting and even traffic that never clicks
on your ads. But, I am here to tell you that there is good traffic from
Entrecard, too.
If you are looking for commenters, feed subscribers, readers and good traffic
then you have to do some things on your blog first before you begin to use
Entrecard. One, I recommend you write some content. You should set a schedule
of writing so long term readers come to know when you post and the style of
your writing. You can post once a week if your writing is great, otherwise plan
on writing more often and hope you hit a great article once in a while.
Nothing Drives Away Readers and Subscribers Faster
Nothing drives away readers and subscribers faster than inconsistent or poor
writing. Nothing makes a writer better than writing consistently. Well, I
suppose learning how to write might help a little, too. If you want to get
commenters then you have to be a little provacative in your writing. Take a
position and then argue for that position. Then let people feed off the other
side by writing comments. Otherwise the best you can hope for is "Wow, great
article dude."
Okay, you have some great articles and you are committed to writing regularly.
Now, go drop some Entrecards. Where to start? Well, if you are looking for
commenters find some Entrecarders that like to comment. Where might that be?
Try the Entrecard forums as a starting place. Choose a thread and drop on every
Entrecard on the thread. These people might drop back on you. If your content
interests them they might come back another day. Depending on each article they
might comment or subscribe. Then again, they might not.
Join in on The Conversations in Entrecard Forums
Don't be afraid to join in a conversation within the Entrecard Forums. Once Entrecard
members get to know you they might visit your site more regularly. Especially,
if there is something of value for them. At the very least you will make
friends, educate us or piss us off. All very worthy goals.
Next, try dropping on your inbox. Go to your dashboard and click on the folder
labeled inbox. These represent the people who have dropped on you. Click on
each of the images and drop your card. Be sure and read each article and
comment and subscribe as appropriate.
Entresurfing - Evil or a Blessing?
Have you reached 300 drops yet? I didn't think so. Some people use a strategy
called, Entresurfing. Actually, I don't know what it is called. But, you can
click on one image in your inbox and drop your Entrecard. You see the "Thank
you" message and then you click on the image or the Entrecard advertisement for
that page. When the next blog loads up you do it again. You keep doing that
until you reach an image you have already dropped on. Then find another image
to start all over again.
Some people frown upon people that Entresurf, but if your goal is to get new
readers and visitors to your blog, then this is a great way to do it. It takes
a while for all the blogs to load and you can burn 1 to 5 hours to reach 300
drops. But, you can do this for a week and you might reach 1200 or more new
people. That is a great way to get new traffic to your web site.
After you build up Entrecard credits then you can begin advertising. Choosing
the right advertising for your blog is enough for another article. But, the
goal is to find blogs that have entresurfing going on so you can get more "NEW"
traffic to your site. Remember, in this scenario we are using Entrecard to get
traffic. Ideally, unique traffic. I am assuming you aren't just looking for the
same traffic over and over, but you are looking for solid new traffic that
might become readers, subscribers and commenters.
Quick Dropping Techniques
If you are looking to just advertise then there are ways to decrease the amount
of time it takes to drop 300 cards a day. There are many articles on how to
drop faster. Basically, bookmarking your browser and opening many bookmarks at
once is one methodology. Building an html page that contains just your special
fast loading Entrecard members links. Then just go down the list and open. This
would be a list you can maintain and change; adding and dropping members as
things change.
Why Did You Join Entrecard?
Why have you joined Entrecard? Have you been swayed in other directions from
other member's methodologies? Did you join to get more unique traffic? Did you
know that Entrecard had over 10,000 members? So, why are you dropping on the
same 100 blogs everyday? What are you gaining by your current strategy?
Sometimes you lose focus of your goals. Today is a good day to reevaluate your
drop strategy or to find a new startegy.
If you are looking for additional strategies then read,
Why Do I Drop Entrecards and What is My Strategy.
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