Dec 28 2008
First Week of Entrecarding — How’s it Going?
Today is a week since I joined Entrecard—a period of figuring out how it works, how to best use it, and of just general tooling around from one blog to another, and discovering some worthwhile ones along the way. I tend to be the person who pushes a button just to see what will happen, so much of my learning has been hands-on rather than reading the FAQs and help files. I save the reading for when I’m really stuck, trying to understand something.
My page views have increased dramatically, but I have no idea yet how many will translate into new readers. The cost of advertising here (EC credits) has gone up surprisingly fast. I don’t know whether that’s normal, but it’s encouraging.
The main thing that I’ve found, to my relief, is that you really don’t have to spend hours every day or drop a huge number of cards. My biggest day so far has been 17 drops, and most days I drop more like 10 or 12. I’m sure my page views would go up faster if I did more dropping, but I’m happy with slow, steady growth that comes from interested readers and not just from droppers who have no interest in my content.
It’s possible to be selective about reciprocating drops, and what blogs you accept as advertisers. In fact, it’s to your advantage to be selective about advertisers since your acceptance rate is one of the statistics available to prospective advertisers, who may also be picky about who they share space with.
I can honestly say that I’m happy with Entrecard, which has never been the case with any social network that I’ve joined in the past. Entrecard’s goals are clearly defined, and you’re free to use it in the way that suits you best.
