This is a guest post by Karen, the real blogger behind Blazing Minds.
There are so many websites out there now which allow you to add your blog and then go on an exchange system such as [intlink id="5045" type="post"]EntreCard[/intlink] and it’s time consuming dropping on other blogs in the hope that they will drop back on you and spend a little time of your blog instead of doing a “drop and run” which doesn’t help your [intlink id="2939" type="post"]bounce rate[/intlink] at all.
But are these sites really worth it?
It goes without saying that, yes you do get an increase in traffic and you do find some rather interesting blogs to read, but isn’t it better that your blog is found via the search engines or even by commenting on other blogs and utilizing CommentLuv to send new readers to your blog.
I myself have been using EntreCard for quite a while and since laying off the dropping a bit, my bounce rate has improved and my blog is getting traffic from other sources, if you are serious about blogging are the exchange websites really worth been part of?
So the question goes out to all the readers here, do you think these sites are worth been part of or should they be left well alone?
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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: freemanlegacy
I don’t use Entrecard simply because it does have a negative effect on the bounce rate and because the credit cost for blog that have a lot of traffic is really steep. There are way to many time wasters as it is Entrecard is the biggest one.
.-= Ms. Freeman@Baby Steps of an Internet Entreprenuer´s last blog ..Stun’em with an Elevator Pitch =-.
Instead of spending wasting time with these “exchange schemes”, would it be better to go out yourself and actually create meaningful connections?
Taking part in these communities can be awesome if done with the right attitude in mind (ex: BlogEngage), but the “drop and run” mentality doesn’t actually benefit you with any REAL impact – unless you like stroking your own ego looking at your traffic analytics 14 times day.
Many of these exchange sites are gamed to the point that “quid pro quo” between a group of bloggers is the only way to get exposure in any decent way. But it’s all about creating *organic* traffic & loyalty – so you’re doing a disservice to yourself by artificially inflating stats with visitors who frankly don’t give a damn about you.
.-= Jordan Cooper´s last blog ..The Downside of Comment Reciprocation: Are You Lying To Yourself? =-.
Twitter: tycoonblogger
Hi Karen. Nice to see you posting here. I think entrecard is good if you are just starting out but I would not invest too much time in it anymore. The only reason I am still a member is so I can advertise on your blog,EJ, and a few other great blogs
.-= Tycoon blogger @promote your blog´s last blog ..Sunday’s Best = Top Blog Posts 12.20.09 =-.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
@Tycoon blogger @promote your blog, I’m trying to catch up on all my posts and comments
I must admit that my dropping has slowed down a lot lately, but it shows in my bounce rate as it has improved.
Twitter: ShotOfCoffee
I don’t know about the rest, but Entrecard wasn’t worth the effort. I met a handful of great people, but otherwise it was just a waste of time. Plus, I also noticed a decrease in bounce rates when I stopped actively dropping. Plus, I could be doing something that has a lot better return on the effort like writing guest posts, posting on message boards or really just about anything else.
.-= Mike from Daily Shot Of Coffee´s last blog ..Fresh Brews: Coffee Obsessed And Free Wifi =-.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
@Mike from Daily Shot Of Coffee, bounce rates are certainly a problem when using EntreCard
I am not a great fan of these exchange systems when I build a blog, I do some SEO and make it more friendly for search engines so that I get traffic from them on the long run. But I will not say exchange systems are useless as well they can be helpful.
.-= chakkravarthi@wordpress seo´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
Did you track your traffic from Entrecard? Could you add these stats (if they are present..) to this post? That would be nice of you
It’s all because I’d like to test it working.
.-= iWoodpecker´s last blog ..Insane List of 140 Do Follow & Nofollow Blogs with CommentLuv 2010 =-.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
@iWoodpecker, I have my stats for EntreCard on my weekly round up on my blog and though EntreCard does send a lot of traffic it does play havoc with the blog bounce rate.
Twitter: Ileane
Hi Karen,
John is lucky to have you as a guest here.
I don’t have any personal experience with EntreCard but I understand that they were banned from StumbleUpon earlier this year, so I stayed far away. I’m sure it doesn’t compare in any way to the success of Blog Engage (nothing else does).
Thanks for warning me about the bounce rate.
@Ileane
.-= ileane´s last blog ..Fun Twitter Promotions for Your Blog =-.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
@ileane, I didn’t know they were banned from SU, maybe it’s time to remove the EC widget!
Just took off my Entrecard widget. I stopped actively using it since middle of 2008 but kept it there as some friends where still on the network. Bounce rates did improve after I stopped dropping and it was just a matter of time until I made a little house cleaning and removed it.
.-= Jonathan @ Archon Digital´s last blog ..Entrecard Dropped =-.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
@Jonathan @ Archon Digital, I am seriously thinking of dropping my EC widget.
Twitter: ditesco
Hi Karen. Nice to see you here on John’s blog, cool. Anyway, EC is good if you are in the beginning. If you are active an use it to interact with other, maybe you can build some wort of relationship. For initial traffic and for getting that jump start, it is ok, after that, it is really noe worth it, especially now that they have changed too much things since the takeover:)
.-= DiTesco´s last blog ..Merry X’Mas and a Happy New Year =-.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
@DiTesco, Thanks, it seems that there are more negative that positive sides for EC
I used it on one of my earlier sites (what seems like a long time ago) and the amount of hit-and-run visitors I received went through the roof. A blogger wants people to read their content and these Entrecard droppers were just looking for the drop (click).
I think a newbie would be better of using sites like BlogEngage rather than using Entrecard and / or similar sites.
I’m not a fan.
Karl
.-= Karl Foxley@SEO Blog´s last blog ..Do You Want Some Word-Of-Mouth Blog Marketing? Better Get On BlogEngage.com =-.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
@Karl Foxley@SEO Blog, Thanks for the input Karl
I have Entrecard of a few of my blogs [not my main one though] and tend to agree with many others on this subject. I don’t have time to just drop, but if I land on a site with the widget I will drop. I never felt right with the drop and run. I have read where many really like this system and have made some “friends” online through its use. To each his own, I suppose.
.-= Anne´s last blog ..Winner of the $35 Jiffy Lube Gift Card =-.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
@Anne, I’m really gearing towards removing the widget now
That is very useful sharing. Thanks for sharing.
.-= Tech Maish@Blogging Tips´s last blog ..20 Useful Google Wave Tips and Tricks =-.
Twitter: kikolani
I agree with Jordan… you might as well take the time you are spending making the exchanges and doing some blog commenting or connecting with similar minded people on social networks. Getting more hits isn’t as good as getting dedicated readers.
.-= Kikolani´s last blog ..Twitter Direct Messages – Best (and Worst) Practices =-.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
@Kikolani, I have noticed that my commenting has improved on my blog since I have been commenting back on others, so it certainly works better than EC.
I use EC on a regular basis as a rewal quick and super easy way to find like-minded bl;oggers in just about any niche I can think up.
I stopped using the whole exchange/drop thing long ago though.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..The $10 Winner And More Good News….. =-.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
@Dennis Edell, I can see from your blog that you have no exchange sites and you get a good amount of comments
@Karen @ Blazing Minds,
Blog commenting.
My primary traffic source for quite a while now.
200ish posts – 7700ish comments (nope, not kidding) – not too shabby a ratio. Hehe.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Updates – Latest $10 Domain Winner, Latest Move News, and more. =-.
Twitter: BlazingMinds
@Dennis Edell, Awesome
Twitter: gfserradinho
I use to use Entrecard and i saw that my time spent just dropping was way to much that any blogger can afford. I liked Entrecard, but checked my traffic and it was not that great. I know my blog was still small then, but even now I would not opt to drop and waste time.
I agree with Kikolani about traffic and dedicated readers. There is actually a big difference, but I guess it depends on each and every blogger. We all have different goals in blogging and even in our life, we set them and then try our best to achieve them.
.-= George Serradinho´s last blog ..eBook – Delicious Candy Recipes =-.
I think using freehosting website is one of the best way many of us now can’t afford to buy domain
.
.-= Dave Dauber´s last blog ..MLM Marketing Mindset–New Year’s Resolutions? =-.
I would also agree that nothing beats creating genuine, sincere connections. I personally believe that this is the best way to gain dedicated readers and ultimately know more like-minded people. It’s like an investment – get some time going out there and participate in other blogs, then pretty soon the bloggers will be interested and get to your blog. This also helps out in making your blog more visible and in getting an idea about you.
Twitter: extremejohn
That goes without saying, you need long term connections and deep networks in today’s online and offline business age.
This sounds interesting. I guess I’ll be looking more into this. Although I don’t see it being applied to my goals right now, but then again, it wouldn’t hurt to at least delve a bit into it.
SEO
Ian McLovin@SEO´s last [type] ..Lemons Anyone
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