Entrecard | Adgitize | CMF Ads: The Big Lie Of Falsely Inflated Blog Stats
Without appearing too hypocritical, let me start out by stating that I am affiliated with all three services — and their widget(s) appears prominently at the lower right footer of this page. Although I am a semi-active member in these communities, I don’t “sugar-coat” the ramifications of what participation actually means.
While each offers its own distinct benefit to bloggers, let’s not ever minimize what they really have the potential of becoming – a method to manipulate and falsely inflate blog statistics — particularly, Alexa Rank. And because Alexa Rank is a frequently used method by so many, there are repercussions here.
It’s sort of an intensive care for blogs…similar to being on life support. Sad to say, out of the confines of Entrecard, Adgitize, and CMF Ads, many of these blogs would fail to exist if the “plug was pulled!”
If you are unfamiliar with these sites or services, after spending some time there, you will see get an idea of what I am referring to. It’s amazing to see sites like this or this with an Alexa in the 60k range. It’s downright…criminal!
Why? because the “Alexa Crowd” is solely made up of bloggers who blog about blogging, internet marketing, SEO, social media, or technology. Neither of those two sites I provided an example for could achieve that type of Alexa rank on its own accord!
Although, bear in mind, there are a small handful of sites that defy the remainder of the quality standards of their network.
Let’s take a closer look at the impact these blogging services have in the blogosphere.
The Value of Blogs
While every blog, regardless of style, content, or purpose has its own benefit (whether direct or indirect) to some degree — as well as its own innate right to exist, I have faith in a “system” that rids (a term more commonly known as flushes) itself of lower-quality blogs. With the recent increase of new bloggers to the blogging world, the bar has been set higher to provide content that is intelligent, relevant, engaging, and…entertaining! Through this process, the lesser, poorly-constructed blogs become exposed.
For many blogs, the largest demographic of their readership — is other bloggers. Miraculously, it only takes bloggers a few short seconds to determine if it is a blog they would ever return to — let alone subscribe to or become involved in discussions there. Thus, readers have become adept at evaluation and quality standards.
I think as bloggers we all share some responsibility that our craft (which is often misunderstood) is portrayed in a positive, creative light. So, we become “ambassadors” of what encompasses blogging.
Incentivized Blog Traffic
Incentivized blog traffic is described as visitors receiving compensation in the form of money, points, advertising, or a reciprocal visit as a medium of exchange for visiting a website. Many sites provide instruction to the reader such as how long to stay on the site and what ads to click.
From Google’s “AdSense Program Policies” on encouraging clicks, enticing visitors is a clear violation of the terms of service. Google’s stance on this is that they expect each and every visitor who accesses your blog to show a genuine, true interest in its content.
And so should you!! Why wouldn’t you?
The Psychological Impact of Entrecard | Adgitize | CMF Ads
Some of the more popular sites on Entrecard can receive nearly 400 visits a day! Can you imagine what that does to one’s Alexa Rank?
Just as you can imagine to what it does to the psychology of the blogger.
-He/She develops a very skewed view of their site’s popularity.
-He/She slowly begin to view the blogosphere as solely existing within the frame of this “micro-community”
-Time is spent obsessing over incentivized visits to other blogs in this community for the purpose of compensation – or writing about it.
-Important elements of blogging such as article marketing, networking, search engine optimization, and content, are badly ignored or in very short supply. Why bother when your site’s visits are guaranteed?
The Real Benefits of Entrecard | Adgitize | CMF Ads
Entrecard is the winner here — The real benefit of these services is exposure. And with the vast number of blogs listed on Entrecard, traffic volume is what you will get. Many of these blogs would not even be aware your blog exists if not for being listed there. Nor, most likely, would you know about their blog either.
Since Entrecard has a steady flow of new bloggers that join the program, your blog is consistently accessed by uniques.
Adgitize is the winner here —The opportunity to advertise on other blogs in the network ranges from $10-$14, which is geared towards a blogger with a smaller expense budget. As we know, conversions that stem from your advertising efforts are not coerced, incentivized visits! ( Yet, it would appear that conversions from advertising on the Adgitize network seem somewhat…guaranteed?)
Networking: Although visiting other sites in the network may seem detached and mechanical, the probability of developing friendships is likely — as I have experienced myself!
CMF Ads is the winner here — What CMF Ads loses in providing exposure, they make up for in the realm of income — both passive and incentivized.
Ben Barden, the owner of CMF ads, has done a phenomenal job in granting bloggers the ability to affordably target advertising on the blogs of their own choosing, by not imposing time-consuming tasks that take away from normal blogging strategies (Adgitize), and by providing a source of income that is fair and equitable.
Most importantly, the level of personal response to your concerns or questions on his behalf, is almost immediate. Professionalism and courtesy is surprisingly rare in the blogosphere — a trait sorely remiss from other site owners. Ben has been very supportive and I consider him a friend to Source Blogger.
Entrecard | Adgitize | CMF Ads: Welfare /Food Stamps/UnemploymentFor Bloggers
Welfare, Unemployment, and Food Stamps were all designed to be temporary “fixes” to short-term problems.
If you are launching a new blog, what better way to provide visibility that becoming a part of these networks?
But, it’s temporary. Eventually, as your blog becomes more saturated in Google/Bing search, social bookmarking, social media, and article marketing sites…you won’t need it!
Eventually, as the greater majority of participants in these networks visit your blog, interest fades, and it becomes a matter of another blogger completing a task on the basis of incentivized compensation.
Plus, all services undermine a blog’s CPM value when other member’s 125×125 ads rotate on the widget the site owner has placed on their site. Many of these blogs have bounce rates above 90% as well!
Most importantly, when considering where to plunk down your hard-earned dollars, what type of reception will my 125×125 ad receive on blogs with a high frequency of incentivized visits.
What Are You So Afraid Of?
Could it be the reality that visitors would not find your blog interesting? Do you need the false sense of security that the community’s traffic provides?
Are you hesitant to admit to yourself that you have not been adhering to more conventional methods of marketing and exposing your blog? When you really look at it, aren’t most of the visits to your site from Entrecard, Adgitize, and CMF Ads? If so, you have some serious self- reflection on what your goals were to be when you became a blogger and what your blog’s direction is.
Look, I use them too. But, my goal is to attract the participants of these services who are truly interested in either my content, interacting with the community on Source Blogger, or networking with myself. To be the most active participant or the “best dropper” would be…well… shameful!
There are far better ways to conduct your time for the benefit of your blog.
The blogosphere is enormous and far outweighs the subculture of Entrecard, Adgitize, and CMF Ads.
Discover it.
If you are a member or know someone who is a member of Entrecard, Adgitize, or CMF Ads, I’d like to hear your thoughts in the comment section below regarding this controversial topic.
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