Over recent months Entrecard has seen the membership decline after a number of unpopular changes to the service. Entrecard's traffic has dropped 31% after reaching a peak of 1.7 million page views in March 2009. Graham posted about the sale on his new blog, Ontrapranore, quoting conflict with the community among his motives.
It is unclear as yet what changes ZipRunner intend to make and what effect this will have on the community. Until ZipRunner's intentions are known I would advise the following:
- don't spend too much time dropping cards until ZipRunner's intentions are clear
- if you have excess credits consider using them before any changes are implemented
If you have any thoughts on the sale and it's effect on the community, please let me know.
You may be right. I don't know anything about this new company or what they will do... there is no info on Google about them. I thought about cashing out already (I just have 6000 credits, was saving them up for cashing out eventually) but it appears that the cashout option is gone. Not that I expected to get a cashout anyway, since people have been waiting for 2 months... hm. Maybe I should buy lots and lots of advertising.
ReplyDeleteThe cash out system was pretty much confusing. The paid ads I've accepted doesn't seem to decrease in number over the past months since the program started making my dashboard sidebar clogged. I guess I just have to use my credits to buy more ads.
ReplyDeleteWait, wait, wait ... I thought that we were supposed to embrace the negativity. Now you're telling me that we're supposed to turn tail and run?
ReplyDeleteYou raise some pretty good points there. I think there has to be an explanation as to the new owners' vision, plans, and reforms just to enlighten it's members of what's happening. I'm guessing they'll (Ziprunner) will come up with an announcement within the next day or two. Until then, ... I guess speculation would drive people to advertise more, spend their credits more, and as you mentioned, Drop Less.
ReplyDeleteLOL, embrace the negativity sounds like something Graham would say. I hope my 9K credits are safe :( I haven't been dropping much since the paid ads fiasco anyway.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna take a wait and see attitude.
ReplyDeleteWell - I make those drops so other bloggers will know that I've stopped to visit. Also so they might actually come by and visit me.
ReplyDeleteI want visibility - not cash.
I'll keep dropping and using my credits to buy ads.
I never heard of ZipRunner until now. Anyway, too bad i lost my ec account
ReplyDeleteWell, right now it won't change anything for me. I'll continue dropping as usual and spending everything I have every day on advertising, and rejecting all paid ads.
ReplyDeleteIf at any point I start getting less for the work I put in dropping or if I am forced to carry paid ads in which I receive no direct compensation or I don't have control over what gets advertised on my blog, the widget will be gone.
I have an Entrecard widget but I don't drop any more and have no plans to start again. The widget is there as a courtesy to my readers who have Entrecard. I wasted so much time dropping cards and that wasn't the way to blogging success. There are way better ways to promote your blog without dropping your life away.
ReplyDelete