I have been reading a little negativity from certain sites regarding EntreCard. You say that it’s “junk” traffic and cry because someone with fewer RSS subscribers is more “popular” than you. You know that the system is being gamed because you can’t fathom that ECers don’t like you as much as the next guy. You sob that it’s too much work trying to get your card caught up to theirs; that you don’t have time to “chain drop”. Boo hoo hoo.
There was a minor kerfluffle regarding Saphrym, because he’s at the top of his category. He can’t be that good, can he? He’s got too much time on his hands and must spend 22 hours a day dropping cards… blah blah blah. He’s also very active in the EC community. He’s more visible and so more likely to get cards dropped by those of us who don’t really give a flying monkey’s butt about Internet marketing. He’s not preaching to the fanboi choir anymore, because bloggers outside of his niche are noticing him. This is not a bad thing. It’s a result of his effort within the community. Not only on EC forums but other blogs.
Now, ask yourself this. Do you participate on other blogs? Leave comments? Stumble anything1? Do you respond to comments in your own comment area? I know I left a comment on a naysayer blog and that thread is still without a response from the author. Do you consider yourself so much better than the rest of the community that you can’t even bring yourself to welcome them to your blog?
What about your content? Are you writing about the same kinds of things the Marketing A-Listers are writing about2 or are you tap-tap-tapping something new and interesting into your post box?
I’ve got to say that I didn’t think my stuff was that interesting. I just blog about what the hell I feel like blogging. I’ve noticed quite a few ECers going through my archives and reading my old stuff (why? Ugh!). Besides making my head swell to gigantic proportions this tells me that there’s something worth reading on this blog. Shoot, I’ve learned through the grapevine that sometimes my comment area is more interesting than the post. That’s fine by me. I don’t consider that “junk” at all.
It’s kind of like telemarketing. Most people either don’t answer or hang up on telemarketing calls. So why do telemarketers keep at it? Because there are sales conversions in those huge numbers. If they phone 100 people and 2 actually listen and buy then that batch was successful. Of course, if you’ve got all the readers that you can handle, why bother getting more?
I have subscribed to some blogs and added some to my links list. I try to always acknowledge my commenters and engage them in conversation. I always reciprocate3 when someone drops in my widget (some of you naysayers don’t bother with that, I’ve noticed.). I try to make my content a little bit interesting. Of course, I don’t make any extra effort (except with posts such as these) because then I’d be losing my personality and bah! Who cares about the Jinxed One without the “personality”?4
Instead of looking for boot licks, you should consider making your blog more like a community. Welcome newcomers, give them something to read, and get down off your high horse. If you’re looking to convert readers to cash, I’d stop visiting the other MMO blogs and think of a different “niche”5. Get out among the lower beings and show them that you’re not as snooty as you come across. You might then find a real benefit to EC.
For the record, I’ve found the following blogs to be full of interesting material to read:
About Every Little Thing
I like Lis because she likes me. And stick figures are cute. What else can I say?
AntiBarbie.net
Somehow she makes really interesting posts without all my the gratuitious swearing. I love it.
A Strange Life
Karen is funny and a little insane. She reminds me of me. *sniff* Well, she’s more interesting than me, but that’s not the point. Check her out.
Delusions of Grandeur
Mcangeli has some interesting content, but best of all he’s been Jinxified. I’ll read anyone that has good things to say about me. Really.
Gorilla Sushi
I just really like the name. Oh, and the caption contests. Plus they use Drupal. (I won’t mention Jason’s a hottie, ok? That totally has nothing to do with it. I’m a married woman, dammit!)
Station Atomica
This site has the most bomb-diggity cartoons. Honestly, check out the alien getting murdered by an insane homeless guy. Priceless. Plus I like the name.
Of course, I still read my blog buds Miz UV, Joe, O’Tim, Sydwynd, and Sour Grapes. You should visit them too. You might find something more interesting to talk about than making money online. And if you do then you might find yourself getting more readers.6
P.S
If your theme background is black and you have dark green links you’re an idiot. STOP IT! The end.
I stumble one post from each of the ad on my widget- each time the ad appears [↩]
Dear EntreCard Naysayers,
I have been reading a little negativity from certain sites regarding EntreCard. You say that it’s “junk” traffic and cry because someone with fewer RSS subscribers is more “popular” than you. You know that the system is being gamed because you can’t fathom that ECers don’t like you as much as the next guy. You sob that it’s too much work trying to get your card caught up to theirs; that you don’t have time to “chain drop”. Boo hoo hoo.
There was a minor kerfluffle regarding Saphrym, because he’s at the top of his category. He can’t be that good, can he? He’s got too much time on his hands and must spend 22 hours a day dropping cards… blah blah blah. He’s also very active in the EC community. He’s more visible and so more likely to get cards dropped by those of us who don’t really give a flying monkey’s butt about Internet marketing. He’s not preaching to the fanboi choir anymore, because bloggers outside of his niche are noticing him. This is not a bad thing. It’s a result of his effort within the community. Not only on EC forums but other blogs.
Now, ask yourself this. Do you participate on other blogs? Leave comments? Stumble anything1? Do you respond to comments in your own comment area? I know I left a comment on a naysayer blog and that thread is still without a response from the author. Do you consider yourself so much better than the rest of the community that you can’t even bring yourself to welcome them to your blog?
What about your content? Are you writing about the same kinds of things the Marketing A-Listers are writing about2 or are you tap-tap-tapping something new and interesting into your post box?
I’ve got to say that I didn’t think my stuff was that interesting. I just blog about what the hell I feel like blogging. I’ve noticed quite a few ECers going through my archives and reading my old stuff (why? Ugh!). Besides making my head swell to gigantic proportions this tells me that there’s something worth reading on this blog. Shoot, I’ve learned through the grapevine that sometimes my comment area is more interesting than the post. That’s fine by me. I don’t consider that “junk” at all.
It’s kind of like telemarketing. Most people either don’t answer or hang up on telemarketing calls. So why do telemarketers keep at it? Because there are sales conversions in those huge numbers. If they phone 100 people and 2 actually listen and buy then that batch was successful. Of course, if you’ve got all the readers that you can handle, why bother getting more?
I have subscribed to some blogs and added some to my links list. I try to always acknowledge my commenters and engage them in conversation. I always reciprocate3 when someone drops in my widget (some of you naysayers don’t bother with that, I’ve noticed.). I try to make my content a little bit interesting. Of course, I don’t make any extra effort (except with posts such as these) because then I’d be losing my personality and bah! Who cares about the Jinxed One without the “personality”?4
Instead of looking for boot licks, you should consider making your blog more like a community. Welcome newcomers, give them something to read, and get down off your high horse. If you’re looking to convert readers to cash, I’d stop visiting the other MMO blogs and think of a different “niche”5. Get out among the lower beings and show them that you’re not as snooty as you come across. You might then find a real benefit to EC.
For the record, I’ve found the following blogs to be full of interesting material to read:
I like Lis because she likes me. And stick figures are cute. What else can I say?
Somehow she makes really interesting posts without all
mythe gratuitious swearing. I love it.Karen is funny and a little insane. She reminds me of me. *sniff* Well, she’s more interesting than me, but that’s not the point. Check her out.
Mcangeli has some interesting content, but best of all he’s been Jinxified. I’ll read anyone that has good things to say about me. Really.
I just really like the name. Oh, and the caption contests. Plus they use Drupal. (I won’t mention Jason’s a hottie, ok? That totally has nothing to do with it. I’m a married woman, dammit!)
This site has the most bomb-diggity cartoons. Honestly, check out the alien getting murdered by an insane homeless guy. Priceless. Plus I like the name.
Of course, I still read my blog buds Miz UV, Joe, O’Tim, Sydwynd, and Sour Grapes. You should visit them too. You might find something more interesting to talk about than making money online. And if you do then you might find yourself getting more readers.6
P.S
If your theme background is black and you have dark green links you’re an idiot. STOP IT! The end.
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