Monday, January 5, 2009

Completely Off Topic - Entrecard

I've been using this traffic program for a couple of weeks now, and I really like it. There are a few things I would like to say to all those who are using Entrecard, and for those who are thinking about it. (Click on my widget to the right if you have no idea what this is).

First, I personally think it's really fun to use - and I have run across several interesting blogs which I have bookmarked. Dropping my card is easy, for the most part, and being able to advertise for free is a nice added perk. I spend about an hour every day while drinking my coffee just checking out blogs, commenting and dropping my card.

There are just a couple of constructive criticisms I would like to offer other bloggers who are using this program - maybe it will help you increase your traffic and the usability of your blog.

1. It's a huge pet peeve of mine to click on a blog from the Dashboard at Entrecard and have it load fully and not be able to find the widget at all. If your widget is no where on the landing page, I can't drop my card, and I will likely not take the time to read your blog. Please, put the widget somewhere on the landing page. Even if it's at the bottom - that's fine. *Especially if you participate in the web rings or special lists for Entrecard users.

2. Do not automatically load sound or video on your blog! Nothing makes me want to leave it faster. It not only taxes my system - it's rather annoying, because I am often listening to something on my own system. If you want sound on your blog, give the user the option of playing it or not.

3. If you have so many widgets, advertisements, images, etc that are randomly scattered all over your blog, I will likely leave without dropping my card. Too many widgets and ads reduce the effectiveness of the ads anyway. It's mind boggling to me why a blogger would want to clutter their pages up so much that it's hard to find anything. I won't stay and read your posts if I am overwhelmed by the sheer volume of distractions.

4. Make sure your scripts all work and that your blog actually loads. I've clicked on many a blog link only to find that script errors are making it impossible to load. Please make sure you check to see if your blog is actually loading.

Now, with the criticisms, I would like to add a few positive things.

I love blogs which.....

1. Are pleasing to the eye. Pretty images, organized pages, subtle but interesting graphics - these all make me want to stay and read your content.

2. Have interesting and engaging content. Posts on how to make money online are so prolific that I often just leave. But posts which contain information that draws me in and makes me think will often get my bookmark. I realize this is a personal thing, though. Just, you know, blog about something you think might interest the masses.

3. Are updated more than once every few months. I struggle with this too, but I promise to work on it if you will!

4. Have contests - I love entering contests - just make sure the rules are clear!

5. Have a graphic Entrecard and not a text Entrecard. No real explanation for that one - it's just my preference.

That's pretty much it! And if you have never heard of Entrecard and you have a blog, I highly recommend it. Even if you don't have the time to drop your card, etc., you can buy the credits to advertise. There are a lot of art/hobby/fashion related blogs there, which really is attractive to me as an artist who likes to keep up on art-related discussion. And the color inspiration on some of these blogs is astounding. :)

29 comments:

  1. I agree it's really frustrating when there is no Entrecard widget on a blog!! But I do like clicking and seeing where I end up!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree on all counts *smiles* Especially the few sites where I cannot find where to drop. Just annoys me *smiles*

    ReplyDelete
  3. So far I've found most sites to be enjoyable but I'm with you, if it is very cluttered and messy, I'll leave immediately. I'm trying to be very selective in who I allow to advertise on my blog, as well. It it isn't relative, I don't approve it. Anybody else have ideas, thoughts, suggestions on who to allow to advertise on your site?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you for the wonderful article. I think, each and all should check out their blogs in the light of your post. Your remarks should be labeled as the ABC-book by each blogger.
    I would greatly appreciate your visit to my humble blog. I hope you will have a good time with my pictures, and your feedback will help me to see what is still lacking on my page.
    Welcome to http://artmirror.blogspot.com/ and all other my online art galleries.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I found you through Entrecard and agree with everything you said!

    What does this mean?
    "Especially if you participate in the web rings or special lists for Entrecard users."
    Am I missing something I should be participating in?

    ReplyDelete
  6. I agree...especially with the music on blogs..It drives me crazy and I can't shut them down fast enough!

    ReplyDelete
  7. i agree with everything you said! i like to open 20-30 pages at once, and knit a little while waiting for them to load, and when the sound starts, i just want to close my laptop and give up.
    -nicole

    ReplyDelete
  8. I completely agree! If I can't find your entrecard widget, I'm totally turned off. And, when loud music comes on, I shut the site down immediatly. Yuck!

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is new to me and I hope I'm doing it right, but your post helps a lot ... thanks for sharing ... I dropped on your blog and hope I've done things properly so you can too ... lol :-)
    Thanks !!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Forgot to mention... I have two giveaways on my blog .. and I hear you love giveaways!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am scared to ask, but I found your blog thru Entrecard and would like for you to visit my blog to crtique it - please leave me a comment or something with constructive feedback :-) I am new to blogging & enjoy hearing tips.

    ReplyDelete
  12. great observations and i did experience the same but just keep mum about it. i just try to remember whose blogs are annoying so i never go back to visit them.

    thanks for the visit days back. i hope my 3 blogs still qualifies your ideal blogs to drop. all my widgets are up although they are not at the top most of my sidebar they are at the middle of my sidebar.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks for the comments, guys!

    Five Star - what I meant was those little lists people make - such as the Entrecard Generator (graphic to the right) and the Entrecard Ring Surf ring. If you sign up for those, you should really have your widget easy to find. Many, many sites that have signed up to be on those lists don't even have the widget on their pages at all - that's frustrating. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. As for those who asked - I don't really have the time to critique the individual blogs of everyone who asks - but I haven't seen any here that I would not visit again. :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. You took the words right out of my mouth!! So glad I happened upon your blog, and all because of Entrecard! BEAUTIFUL work!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Totally agreed! Today I spent literally 3 hours visiting blogs, bookmarking, commenting, dropping cards and I've seen quiet a lot without any widget. Whats the purpose of that? I exit right away and dont even feel like reading anything - even if it was an amazing page! I feel like I've been cheated

    ReplyDelete
  17. Well said! I absolutely HATE those blogs that have autoplay music. Another pet peeve of mine is having to search for the widget. Put it at the top or the bottom, not in the middle of one post you wrote 3 months ago!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I agree! My pet peeves are missing EntreCard widgets, music, & clutter!

    I do love a blog with pretty pictures and interesting reading, though!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love your likes and dislikes list! Mind taking a look at my blog? http://boulderglassmonkey.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I agree totally. I keep the card above the fold on mine and also no music. Feel free to check out my blog. I try to drop 200+ for the one I am working on right now.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow! I love you. You said exactly everything I have been thinkig about entrecard and blogs. Oh how irratated I get if i cannot find the entrecard widget!! Thanks for a great post.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for the excellent pointers from an Entrecard noob :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. It's funny that so many not-new bloggers either ignore or don't understand recommendations like yours. It makes so much sense that you'll attract readers by making your blog attractive and accessible, yet there's certainly no shortage of poorly organized, poorly written blogs, and some of them do have readers. I guess that's why heaven made chocolate AND vanilla.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh I like what you post and it is really good to know what you want in a blog. Thanks for the information. Happy weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yey! Glad to see all you Entrecarders stopping by. :) I don't have time to check everyone's blog, like I said, but if you are close to what I said in the post, I am sure you are fine. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Here's my 3rd attempt to comment...so that's annoying ;) Blogspot doesn't like me today on your blog...I'm fine everywhere else...I think it is the Google option for commenting, instead of the Blogspot sign-in, who knows?

    But since my reply was a few paragraphs and I am tired of typing it over and over...I will just say "Hi" instead ;) If you want to know what I said, just email me back :) Nothing bad.

    Nice to meet you and I hope the 3rd time is the charm with this comment going through ;)

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm with you in not liking all those making money blogs. I just joined Entrecard myself and now find that I'm just declining ads for blogs that will "help you make money with your blog" blog poop I say....
    I love color too, as you can tell from my art stuff...

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks guys! Oh, you know what also irritates the heck out of me - blogs which load some sort of ad before you can look at the blog, or blogs which redirect you somewhere else after you leave or while you are looking. Eeesh! Thank goodness there aren't many of those around.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I can add to the list of annoyances: blogs that have too much glitter and flash images. My sister's MySpace page unfortunately suffers from this problem--pink, flashing, glitter images everywhere. It's so distracting that it makes it hard to spy on her. Another pet peeve of mine is when someone puts a patterned or dark background behind black text. You can't read it without your eyes crossing. I'm not going to stay at a site that gives me a headache.

    Thanks, BTW, for stopping by my blog and dropping your card. I'm new to Entrecard, and I was scared no one ever would visit and drop.

    ReplyDelete