Aussie Bloggers using Entrecard

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[guera]

I was worried about the same thing, Lightening. I have only rejected one advertising request - because the site and the card was just pictures of semi-naked men! I noticed when you apply to advertise it gives you the percentage of ads that that site has rejected and says that a higher percentage means the blog owner is more discerning, so it seems to be encouraging you to be picky about who you allow to advertise on your site. I have a queue of unrelated websites on my site at the moment but next time I think I´ll pick and choose a bit more. I can´t see the point in advertising on a site that is likely to have a completey different type of reader to you. As others have said here, people obviously race to get on the list when you first join because you´re cheap (your advertising space that is  ) regardless of what your site is like.

[swollenpickles]

Oops I should have checked the forum before doing my daily drops.  Sorry guys, I am though going to compile a list of regular drop sites.  Yours are on it!

I'm trying to go down the list every day or so. I figure if I'm dropping cards anyway, I may as well drop them on other aussie bloggers sites.

[FormerAdmin]

Hi,

I've finally found the flaw in entrecard for me - apart from the fact that my site is only worth 2 credits a day to advertise on, and it will take me months to save up enough credits to advertise with anyone else - the categorisation scheme (such as it is) doesn't allow me to find anyone to advertise with that is related to either Australia or metablogging.

In other words, there is no potential payoff for me within the space I'm using it in.

I'm inclined to let the current run of ads run out then ditch it from onblogging.com.au - maybe it would be of use in some niche that does match their bass-ackwards categorisation scheme. This is what put me off blogrush.

Cheers, Andrew

[Lightening]

Thanks everyone for your responses re rejecting ads.  Will work on that today.  I did find an advantage to leaving them in my queue though.  It seems like there is a maximum number that can apply for advertising at a time.  In the meantime my spot is now worth 5 points rather than 2 points.  Still getting my head around what it all means but having fun playing in the meantime.   

Andrew - would you not be better off advertising your blog on a variety of sites?  After all, your blog is relevant to pretty much ANY blogger.  For instance, it took me about 8 months or so before I really found many sites about blogging.  There are heaps of smaller bloggers out there who have no idea how large the blogworld really is.  I would have thought you'd do better advertising on some of those personal blogging type sites and picking up readers who don't already have too many blogs about blogging they already frequent.  Am I making sense?

[ShadowKnight]

Guys,

It wont take long to build up Entrecard points.  I bounce between <100 and about 500 per day.  All that is needed is to do some card dropping.  You get 1 credit per card dropped with a maximum of 300 card drops per day.  You also get 1 credit when someone drops a cad on you.  So it does not take long to build up the piggy bank.

Your advertising costs are also derived from the amount of dropped cards on you.  So by getting out there and dropping cards people will scratch your back in return.

[Lightening]

And I guess spreading the word to those blogs you already visit so you can drop cards on each other while you're there.

My advertising rate is up to 15 points this morning and I really haven't done too much to "earn" that.  I guess it can kind of snowball then can't it because you're getting more points for the spot on your site.

Now I just need to write a post to explain to my readers what is going on in my sidebar!

[FormerAdmin]

Hi,

I am still not sure that I understand. I know of seven blogs using Entrecard, and can drop a card with them once every (US) day - so that's seven points a day. I can have one advertiser per day at 2 points. So far, I've had 6 cards dropped on me, total. This makes nine points possible a day with the possibility of 6 more every so often - at this rate, how long will it take me before I can get one ad placed with the more popular sites that charge 100 points plus per day?

How do I raise my advertising rate? "By continuing to participate" doesn't seem to be working.

Thanks, Andrew

 

[swollenpickles]

How do I raise my advertising rate? "By continuing to participate" doesn't seem to be working.

I thought the same thing for the first day or two, but then the cost of someone advertising on my blog went up. It'll happen. Just keep dropping a few cards, leave a few recommendations for other entrecard sites, and that's a good start.

[Lightening]

It seems like the rate goes up by others dropping cards on you.  I'd try doing some random dropping around the place and see if people return the favour.  I've dropped on you again today.   

[swollenpickles]

How do I raise my advertising rate? "By continuing to participate" doesn't seem to be working.

Thanks, Andrew

 

I dropped some cards on you again today from a couple of my blogs. For some reason you can't have more than one site attached to the account so for each new blog I had to create a new account. It was a pain in the ass but I guess it helps with the card dropping.

[swollenpickles]

Here's another idea (and you could debate the ethics of it if you like, but I'm sure a lot of people have given it a try). Cancel/reject all ads and don't accept anymore until the amount of credits it costs for someone to place an ad on your site increases.

[FormerAdmin]

Pickles and Lightening,

thank you for your cards and for your encouragement

I just dropped 90 cards on the top blogs in the categories pages, and sure enough, my price has now risen to 3 points, and I have some more points to spend on advertising - I can't wait to get enough to advertise on JohnChow.com for free - I will send him an email thanking him for it afterwards just to get up his nose

Pickles: I'd feel bad cancelling the ads I've already accepted, will keep them going for now.

I have had some reciprocal card drops from non-forum folk already - a regular program of random drops might do the trick. It just takes time that I don't have a lot of at the moment.

Best regards, Andrew

[Lightening]

I have had some reciprocal card drops from non-forum folk already - a regular program of random drops might do the trick. It just takes time that I don't have a lot of at the moment.

Best regards, Andrew

Yes, the old "time" factor is a tricky one isn't it.  If all you ever wanted to do was write a blog post each day and be content with a few readers, it really doesn't take up that much time.  I never realised how much time it takes to network, promote etc etc in order to have a more "successful" blog.

[FormerAdmin]

Thank you folks for your recommendations

I'm now up to 6 points to advertise, and I feel much better about it

Best regards, Andrew

[swollenpickles]

I just dropped 90 cards on the top blogs in the categories pages, and sure enough, my price has now risen to 3 points, and I have some more points to spend on advertising - I can't wait to get enough to advertise on JohnChow.com for free - I will send him an email thanking him for it afterwards just to get up his nose

hey mate,

I wouldn't bust a gut just to get on JohnChow.com, I did it last week, and the results weren't exactly overwhelming. In summary I got 47 clicks in the 24 hour period. I was kinda disappointed and expected more. Maybe I was too greedy?

I posted about it here: http://www.swollenpickles.com/2008/01/01/following-up-to-the-john-chow-experiment/

[FormerAdmin]

I just dropped 90 cards on the top blogs in the categories pages, and sure enough, my price has now risen to 3 points, and I have some more points to spend on advertising - I can't wait to get enough to advertise on JohnChow.com for free - I will send him an email thanking him for it afterwards just to get up his nose

hey mate,

I wouldn't bust a gut just to get on JohnChow.com, I did it last week, and the results weren't exactly overwhelming. In summary I got 47 clicks in the 24 hour period. I was kinda disappointed and expected more. Maybe I was too greedy?

I posted about it here: http://www.swollenpickles.com/2008/01/01/following-up-to-the-john-chow-experiment/

It is more that I would be getting something from that particular gentleman for free - I know that it would annoy him - so there is a certain poetic justice in it given the amount of stick I have given him over the last several months for having a low level of social consciousness

Petty, I know, but it would be satisfying My guess is that he probably won't approve the ad.

Best regards, Andrew

[Lightening]

How many credits do you need to advertise on John Chow's blog? 

I was reading that post you wrote swollenpickles.  Found it rather interesting.  I'm still waiting to see how many clicks the first ad on my blog gets.  So far we're up to 12 according to my dashboard.  I don't think that's too bad for 2 credits.    

I would think that some of the higher end blogs you would have a lot of advertising competition so would perhaps not get the same value.

ETA: and I've had 45 visits to my blog from entrecard users (and I haven't had any ads placed on other blogs yet - Andrew's will be my first ).  I figure that's not too bad for doing not a lot yet.  Don't know if any will become readers (which is really what I'm after) but it's a start.

[Lani]

I'm enjoying watching this unfold. Now I just need to get off my butt and make a logo myself.

[Lightening]

I'm enjoying watching this unfold. Now I just need to get off my butt and make a logo myself.

 :yes:  At least you've had a practise run on mine!   

[swollenpickles]

I'm enjoying watching this unfold. Now I just need to get off my butt and make a logo myself.

Use your gilmore girls profile pic and I'm sure you'll get some clicks.

[Lani]

You mean the jodie foster/reese witherspoon/gilmore girl one?   I was thinking of a simple logo and some text.

I've noticed that many of the cards are photos only and I'm not sure why.  Are people more likely to click on something when they have a vague idea what it's about, or do they just get curious when they see only an image?

[ShadowKnight]

A lot of the cards demonstrate a lack of creativity.  The standard picture without text ones are often stock photos.  These characters are reliant on the drop and runners that do not appreciate the effort and forethough.  I am with you though Lani, a simple graphic with some text, aka mine and Lightenings, conveys more information.  Mine, attached below, is proving rather successful, though I am thinking of tinkering with it further over the coming days/weeks.

[Lani]

(Note: I've just removed a duplicate reply.)

Yeah, I like that your's and Lightening's tell me what you're all about.  I've been looking at others but because the hover just tells me the entrecard url and not where I'm actually going I am very hesitant to click.  I assume many people behave the same way.

[swollenpickles]

I've noticed that many of the cards are photos only and I'm not sure why.  Are people more likely to click on something when they have a vague idea what it's about, or do they just get curious when they see only an image?

I'm guessing that a lot of people employ the "hot chick" method. Use a photo of an attractive lady, and hope it cuts through all the other advertising.

[swollenpickles]

How many credits do you need to advertise on John Chow's blog? 

I was reading that post you wrote swollenpickles.  Found it rather interesting.  I'm still waiting to see how many clicks the first ad on my blog gets.  So far we're up to 12 according to my dashboard.  I don't think that's too bad for 2 credits.    

Currently it costs over 300 credits to get a spot on JohnChow.com. When I did it it was 250, so it does fluctuate.

Based on my experience with the JohnChow spot, I couldn't recommend it. The cost/benefit just wasn't there. You could advertise on six 50 credit sites and get a better return IMHO.

I'm not sure how he can justify charging so much to advertise on his site (in terms of his cash paid ad spots). I guess he has a stranglehold on the Lemming market!