My Time Is Valuable ~ Are YOU Wasting It?
Blogging is one aspect of my internet marketing business, and not a hobby or leisure activity. I have used Entrecard to promote Reward Rebel, and consider that it’s made a significant contribution to the site attaining its Google page rank.
Were it not for Entrecard, there wouldn’t have been anything like as much traffic, as many backlinks, or comments. There have been occasions when a comment has triggered an idea for a further post, too.
Reward Rebel joined the Entrecard Community back in November 2007 and although the degree of involvement has fluctuated, for the most part I’ve continued to network with individual members and drop cards routinely.
Recently, I’ve been ‘outsourcing’ card dropping duties to my partner! LOL But, most days I do a ‘personal’ batch of drops, commenting here and there as and when a post snags my interest.
Many sites display the Entrecard widget above the fold, or nearby, ensuring that it can easily be located and clicked.
Sometimes a blog will load without the widget materialising and, when this happens, I try to be kind, and click ‘reload’ but if it fails a second time…. ‘hasta la vista, baby!’
Sadly, too many blogs don’t appear to have given any real thought to the positioning of the Entrecard widget.
When I’m online surfing blogs and dropping Entrecards, it’s as part of the overall strategy to promote my website. My time has a financial value, and I don’t enjoy, nor intend, throwing away my potential earnings while I’m chasing around a website looking for the Entrecard widget.
It’s vital to position the widget where it’s easily – and quickly – located. I’d recommend you position the widget above the fold (on the opening screen, without scrolling down), and
1. Do NOT position the widget in some obscure spot down the page somewhere. Don’t delude yourself that it’ll entice people to read your articles, all it’ll do is make them click out, so not only do you lose that Entrecarder’s drops, you’ll gain a ‘bounce’ on your site traffic stats!
2. Do NOT position the widget amongst a cluster of 125 pixel square ads making it difficult to spot.
3. Do NOT fail to monitor how quickly your site loads – it should not take half a lifetime.
I personally loathe Blinx Ads obscuring site access, and they have instant B-O-U-N-C-E power!
Am I being too harsh? Do I sound like a bitch? If you think I am and I do, I’m certain that you aren’t involved in blogging as part of an internet marketing business.
Anyone managing an online business, or trying to make money online, will appreciate that every moment spent hunting for widgets to click is time that could be spent more productively elsewhere.
So, if you’re wasting my time, or anyone else’s, Stop It! My time is valuable and so is yours! Use it wisely and productively.
Happy blogging.
Reward Rebel
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Filed under Blogging, Entrecard, Internet Marketing |
33 Responses to “My Time Is Valuable ~ Are YOU Wasting It?”
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Spot-on article, RR. If I may add…
I just can’t stand blogs with an endless amount of advertisements all over the place. Then try to locate the E-widget! Not only that, I assume those guys make only a couple pennies per day with all those ads together.
As a rule of thumb, the less ads they have on their blog the higher the value of the remaining spots.
One could easily make at least $50 if not $100/month with a single high profile ad spot. Try to do that with a jungle of 20+ ad spots…
Again, great article. Hopefully, it will wake up some more folks and reconsider how they structure their blog.
It has a reason why my blog is probably the only one constantly delivering up to 300 clicks per 24 hour period to the Entrecard advertiser.
~Marcus
Marcus Hochstadt’s last blog post..24 Hour Special
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Hey Marcus,
I swear I just don’t get it with the approach of some blogs. Why uglify and cheapen your site with “buy ‘em by the metre” ads — that are also plastered over every other blog, so it becomes one of a herd — and for what? A few pennies? Talk about can’t see the wood for the trees!!
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Hope I’M not wasting your time!
I’m still not on Entrecard so it wasn’t me. Phew.
I’m working on making my site load faster though…
Zhu’s last blog post..The Art Of Promoting A Blog (4/10)
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Hey Zhu,
Ah well, you’re safe from my wrath then!!
For the record, I’ve never noticed your site being a slow-loader… or perhaps I just don’t notice cos it’s a site worth waiting for!
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I usually don’t mention it, but I also “outsource” some of my Entrecard dropping. My husband does some of my drops and all of his, because I work full time.
Tina Kubala’s last blog post..Four Foods on Friday: Chocolate Edition
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Hiya Tina,
Heh heh, wonder if we’ll have anyone else ‘fess up’ to outsourcing drop duties?
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Hey RR,
great post. I think most people don’t really think about the value of time when it comes to blogging. There are so many blogs out there that offer little value as far as content is concerned but are plastered with ads. I think most if not all bloggers will not waste any time to locate the EC widget. One other fact too many bloggers seem to be concerned with is quantity of traffic rather than quality of traffic. Like Marcus said, a few high profile ad spots will probably offer more value than a collection of ads. Once again, great post.
Apollo’s last blog post..Bulls fool themselves once again…
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Hey Apollo,
Oh, man, the sites smothered in ads, and even worse numerous blank ad spots offering the opportunity to include your own! Where’re my running shoes!
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Hmm, maybe I can bribe my sister Pixie to do some of my card dropping! It would only take a bananer.
I, too, will reload once if the Entrecard widget does not appear. After that, bye-bye.
Daisy the Curly Cat’s last blog post..Sunday Comics with Daisy!
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Well, Daisy, I trust you’d give Pixie a bananer each day!
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I think the best way to get the most out of Entrecard is to position the widget above the fold like you mentioned. Not only does it keep droppers coming back, but nobody wants to advertise on a site where their ad won’t be seen because the EC widget is “hidden”.
I also agree that a site should load quickly. If it takes longer than about 10-15 seconds to load, I’m outta there.
mikey777’s last blog post..Switching To Night Shift: The Painless Way
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Hi Mikey,
The way I see it is that you want people to drop cards, so you must make it as simple as possible for them to do so!
Good luck with your new site, too.
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Oopps.. Sorry I’m one of the guilty party as you’ve stated. The huge advertisement that I have on my blog has to be placed above fold. So I have not much choices but to place my Entrecard way lower.
Just switched the position of my EC for dear visitors like you.
Thanks for dropping!
Sherxr’s last blog post..Halal Food
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Hiya Sherxr,
I can’t remember where the widget was previously located on your site, but it’s fine now. You’ve got it as high on the page as you can without screwing with other important items. Good on ya!
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Hi Reward Rebel,
Whoa! Ranting like you’re real pissed eh? The advise you have given is really useful, and primarily aimed to help the blogger as well as those who, like us, patronize entrecard.
The advise would be taken much more openly if it didn’t sound like you were berating those guilty, or whoever would admit to it. Besides, if after, they persist in doing as they used to, you can simply eliminate these from your list for them to suffer the consequences of being hard headed.:-)
No need to lose sleep over it or raise your blood pressure getting angry, it will waste not only your time but your good health.:-)
Stay well and keep cool.
–Durano, done!
durano lawayan’s last blog post..Grief for a Gone Generation
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Hi old Friend, Durano,
Wow, you think that’s me RANTING! I thought u knew me better than that. BTW have to add that I’ve just left Zhu’s lovely blog, and was drafting my comment on her site, as you were adding yours! Saucy boy, I larfed!
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I completely agree, friend! I’ve got quite a bit of decluttering of my sidebars to do so I’m guilty of trashing up my blog on regular basis! lol!! I need to schedule time to do that…
Also, thank you sooooo much for your kind words about Gus! You are such a sweetie and I so appreciate your encouragment…you made me cry (good tears!). Very sweet of you!
Jenny-up the hill’s last blog post..Red Clogs Need To Go!
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Thanks, Jen. You’re a star Entrecard widget positioner!
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There are a few points here lol.
1. My site loads speedy for me…I would hope others would contact me if it didn’t…although I know most won’t.
2. My EC is right on top! I o have 6 125’s up…2 are mine, 2 are freebies for people that have helped me tremendously with things and 2 are blank - what’s wrong with blank ones?
And you’re right, the 2 basic reasons people hide them is thinking you will either read an article or 2 (somewhat likely, I do) or hoping you will check out the other sponsors..kinda silly.
Dennis Edell’s last blog post..You Have Spoken - I Have Listened. We Will Have Us An All-In-One Blog Again.
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Hey Dennis,
I don’t think the widget is difficult to locate on your site. It’s not like I’m saying there shouldn’t be ads, that’s not it at all. What I don’t like is when there’s a block of half a dozen 125s and the widget is amongst them somewhere. Not card-dropping friendly.
Blank ads - what value are they to your readers? I thought the ads were supposed to be additional to the content, not the other way around. Why not just include each ad spot once the space has been sold?
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I admit I was just following the herd on the ads lol…I thought the blank ones were good for telling visitors spots were open…no?
Dennis Edell’s last blog post..You Have Spoken - I Have Listened. We Will Have Us An All-In-One Blog Again.
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Nice post
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I hope I’m not guilty but I do agree with you and what
gets me is going to a site and not seeing a widget and then realizing it is one of those full page ad. I don’t have time to hunt and search. Great post and tell it like it is.
Ladyhawkcj’s last blog post..Childhood Memories
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Hi Rx2 :),
Are you talking to me?
I’m not feeling alluded on widget position. Even it’s not located above fold I think it’s among the first elements to load on the page and it’s easily found by scrolling just a little.
Referring to ads, I’m still experimenting, but I strive not to allow them to interfere with posts reading (any feedback is appreciated on this subject
).
In general terms, I agree with your post. Time is money and I’m not fond to spend it trying to find a widget surrounded by other 10 125s and buried under 1 feet of posts to scroll through.
I usually try to scroll down to the bottom until I find the widget, but when (gotcha! you diddn’t stressed this point
) I not only have to scroll down 30 or so posts, but also that posts have auto-play audio and/or video (some have more than one per page, grrrr!!), I just close the tab, run away and note the address in order to never come back.
Anthony at Work-at-home-wealth.com’s last blog post..Look Mom! I’m on Entrecard!
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If the cat had opposable thumbs I would try to line him up as my Ecard dropper.
But, alas, I get the job all to myself. I really liked this post, and agree with all of it. I do much the same when I am surfing blogs.
Carol’s last blog post..A Visit To Old Bordeaux
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Nice post
I agree, that our time is valuable and very imprtant
I subscribe your blog, hope you do the same, subscribe my blog (THE SUCCESS)
The Aries’s last blog post..ENTRECARD IDOL
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I don’t blog for money, and even I get irritated by some of this. I’ve only been a part of EntreCard for a little over a month (maybe less?) and I’m still learning. Searching for the widget, download time, and the blaring music that comes on when you get to a blog. UGH!! It irritates me.
Grandy’s last blog post..How Can I Put This Nicely?
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This should be immediately by anyone using entrecard. Ace article! I hate wasting my time, as you. I tend to do my drops one day, comment on my favorite blogs the next day. usually when I drop, that’s the only reason I’m at that blog.
Chica’s last blog post..Project: Choose your Own
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I completly agree, I am getting more and more frustrated when I can’t find them, and slow loading pages. I put my Entrecard above the fold and without ads just for you, so you could come to drop and comment for me
PagedLife’s last blog post..Blog Posts of the Week
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I have always had my entrecard widget above the scroll, I hope that makes me special!
The most annoying ones are the ones with the widget at the very bottom of the blog or hidden away among the content.
I always have my sound turned off on the laptop so I don’t have to be scared half to death by blaring, usually rubbish, music.
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I agree for dropping, I like the sites with it right at the top. Although on my one blog, I have it lower because I do want people to see some of my blog besides just dropping and fleeing without even seeing anything.
Karen, author of “My Funny Dad, Harry”’s last blog post..I Made the Right Choice!
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Found your blog because you dropped your card on mine. Found lots of interesting, helpful info here. I totally agree with you about the Entrecard widget. One blog I visited today said they had moved the widget to the bottom so you would read their blog. It just doesn’t work that way. I’ll read a blog even with the widget at the top if it interests me but I sure won’t have time to read it if I have to keep searching for the widget.
Emma’s last blog post..Why?
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