I just do not know if I am actually the right person to be writing this post. I do not consider myself an “expert” in the “ins” and “outs” of Entrecard-dropping. I have been getting quite a number of messages from my Entrecard inbox asking me where have I learnt so much. Some were asking me to share some SECRETS for my “success” at Entrecard and requesting me to do a post that could help newbie Entrecarders. I couldn’t just disregard those messages and shrug my shoulders off. It would be lovely if I could get to share some things I know and I hope some people could derive huge advantage from it.
First off, one must understand what Entrecard did for me. It did wonders for my blogs- Our Journey to Forever and Kuerdas (please try to swing by those blogs). It gave me more than 300 hits a day and more than the hits, I came across wonderful blogs and made friends with beautiful people. I couldn’t have done it if not for Entrecard.
When I began taking dropping cards seriously, it’s taking me forever finishing my dropping chores. I read and read blogger’s articles because that’s how amazed I was in encountering these beautiful blogs. That’s where I learned some of the tricks and that’s when I’ve started experimenting changing my techniques.
WHERE TO DROP YOUR CARDS?
I’m telling you, when I first joined here, I do not know Popular blogs existed! I didn’t aimed for my blog’s popularity. My concern is only to drop my cards to fellow Entrecarders with the hope that they would reciprocate. But to my dismay, for about a month of hurdling to drop 300 cards daily, my efforts were for naught. Only about 30% were returning my drops and most of the blogs I was dropping my cards on have long been dead!
What an absolute waste of time!
When we see an EC widget, we would usually click “drop” on impulse. That’s how it is for novice. But let me emphasize here that every cards dropped counts. We need to be sure if the blogs we have just dropped our cards on would return our drops. It’s OK to drop on friends no matter what rankings they have at Entrecard. They would always reciprocate because they are friends!
DROP FROM THE POPULAR BLOGS
You may ask me, WHAT RANKINGS? In case you still don’t know it, I’ve slowly learned that every blog is ranked at Entrecard. ALL blogs are ranked according to POPULARITY. There are 52 categories and each blog is ranked according to popularity in each categories.
Here’s how you can get to know your blog’s rank:
· Go to the CAMPAIGN TAB in your Dashboard
· Choose POPULAR
· Select ALL CATEGORIES
· Order should be by MOST POPULAR
· Choose NO MAXIMUM for Maximum Price.
· Choose 24 rows per page (Top 120 Popular blogs will show on the first page).
YOUR 125 X 125 ENTRECARD WIDGET PLAYS A VITAL ROLE
Out of more than 15, 000 Entrecard members, it will now be very easy to recognize the Popular blogs if you get yourself familiarized with their avatars. Once you see them anywhere, you will get to know they are those blogs who have been doing crazy drops, day in and day out! I know these blogs even when my eyes are closed, haha! Now, I would dissuade anyone from changing avatars every now and then. You wouldn’t want to lose your regular droppers, right?
COLOR CODING
One thing important to know is the COLOR CODING at Entrecard. These are as follows:
· Gold = Featured
· Rose = Favorite
· Blue = Ad purchased
· Green = Dropped
· Dark = Recently rejected
· Black= Not yet dropped
I want you to take careful notice of these colors if you drop from the POPULAR BLOGS. If you have made a drop on a particular blog, the color will turn to GREEN, so there’s no need to go to the site. That would save you ample time. If the color is black, and you want to drop on that site, that’s the time you can visit the site and drop your card.
HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR DROP INBOX?
Very important. The drop inbox will help you keep track who made drops on your blog everyday. If you have made drops from the Popular Blogs category, you will know from who among them have returned your drops.
It should be noted here that most of the popular blogs get more than 300 drops daily. That’s way over the 300 limit. It only means that NOT all the drops they get they could return immediately. The TIP here is to keep coming back.
MAKE YOUR PRESENCE FELT. DROP. READ.
If you think the topic is engaging, you can take part by commenting.
In my case, once I see new EC widgets that made drops on me, I don’t usually return the drops made. If I am that bad, I am sorry. But please understand that I need to prioritize those blogs who have been frequenting my blogs and keeps dropping those cards. I can’t miss returning their drops in favor of a new one which I am not even sure if they could still come back. After a couple of days of persistent dropping, that’s when you will be included in my favorites.
I do not know if blogs in the Popular category have been doing the same technique as I do. You can well ask them, too. These techniques worked well across my three (3) blogs: this blog, Our Journey to Forever and Kuerdas. I will be doing the sharing of techniques in parts since it wouldn’t be possible to do it in one shot.
I will be very glad if this post could help you understand Entrecard more. If you have a better way of doing your drops, please feel free to share it in my comment section.
General Santos Time
Lainy,
Kaya pala nakaka-900 ka in one day ha?
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@ JESSIE:
Kuya,
Di pa nabanggit dito kung bakit ako nakaka- 900 in one day, hehe! Sa susunod na naman…
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Hi. salamat. try ko nga
Dropped an EC by the way!
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@ JEANNY:
Thanks for the drop, Dear!
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once again i would like to thank you for the tips leyn.. you know when I applied this a week ago..my drop inbox have changed to popular once, feeling ko narin popular ako hehe!..there are times that no need to go to my inbox because all I can see are populars and na memorize ko narin ang avatars nila..ang kulang nalang sa returns ay puspusang papansin sa kanila..hehe!!
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@ TWERLYN:
You are most welcome, Lermz.
You will get there in no time. I know how persistent and hardworking you are, hehe! The thing is there would be a lull in your dropping frequency in a few weeks. Ariana is going to see the world soon and the entire Entrecard community is excited, hehe!
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Now, this is a great post! Thanks for your suggestions!!! I am bookmarking this one for future reference girl! As a newbie, I need all the help I can get!!! Thanks again!
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Excellent technique, I use this method myself. I do stop dropping on a site though if they haven’t posted a new post in 30 days or more.
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Very informative, Laine. Will try this one out. Kapuy baya sige click sa mouse oi. Hehe.
Happy Sunday!
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@ LIFE OF A JUGGERNAUT:
Thanks for the drop. I returned the favor. Hope to see more of you soon.
@ LYNNE:
I believe most of the popular blogs are using this technique.
@ LYNN:
Bitaw, Lynn! I hope this post could help you in the long run.
MAY YOU ALL HAVE A FABULOUS SUNDAY
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Thanks for the tip Lainy. Is it okay if I ask how long it takes you to drop 300 cards, much less 900 cards?
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Very informative and really good to newbies. I’m still waiting how you drop 900 a day…You really fantastic my dear.
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Have you downloaded the Entrebar Lainy? Talk about it sometimes. I do have it’s but annoying because when I click like for example the first ten of the popular, any categories, the inbox or my favorites, it keeps me coming back to a page that I already done dropping. Such a waste of time. Oh well, with all my blogs it still helps anyway.
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@ PAULA:
It’s fine to ask that Dear, I actually do not mind. You have been doing great at Entrecard as you have never failed to be in the second page (24 rows) of the Popular blogs.
I have been trying my best to drop cards to 900 blogs for my 3 blogs, and Im telling you, it’s not a walk in the park. But I got used to it. It’s more of an addiction for me now, hehe. I just do not know how I was able to manage it given the time constraints.
I work on a 8-5 basis and there’s no internet connection at work. I only do my dropping chores at noon time and in the afternoon when I get home from work. Mind you, I go home for lunch only to drop cards, haha! And in the evening, it’s drop till you drop, hehe! But I always see to it that I take time to pause and read for content. I never fail to leave comments on articles that piques my interest.
The quickest I could make for 300 drops is one and a half hours, and 3 hours at the most, that is, if I stop, drop, read and comment.
BTW, kindly check your EC inbox, I’ve sent you a message there.
See you around!
@ BONORIAU:
Thanks Bono!
Oh yeah, I am still working on it. Have you checked your Entrecard inbox just yet? You have a message waiting for you there;-)
@ JOYOZ:
Almost a month ago, I’ve tried to update my FF version to FF3 because I wanted the EC Toolbar. But to my dismay, it just wouldn’t work for me, so i’ve uninstalled it and used my previous FF version. Some blogger friends I know finds it very helpful, good for them! Not for me, hehe!
Of course! Entrecard sure did gave us enough exposure. As of this time, your blog Joyspeaking.com was in the TOP 840 Popular blogs. It’s hard to keep up though if you’ve got too many blogs in your cap.
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Interesting tips – thanks for sharing
Cheers, Leet
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@ LEET:
Don’t mention it. It’s always a pleasure to be of help especially to newbies.
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Who doesn’t give this post a 5/5 rating?
Very informative, logically laid down and explains every in and out.
I love it when people are not selfish with their skills.
Cheers!
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This post of yours makes me realize that I need to focus on my entrebar. Considering the droppers in my inbox old or new entrecarders and droppers, diko nakukuha target ko for 300 at diko napapakinabangan husto entrebar ko. To think kaya ko magdrop complete 300 for four of my blogs everyday kasi OA kung lahat eh. Baka diko na magawa ibang kelangan ko gawin. Schedule nalang hehehe. Now I am starting to add my favourites. Those lagi ko nakikita sa inbox ko and I include you. Sayang naman at di nagwork sayo yang FF new version. Bakit kaya?
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@ AZ BLOGGING:
WOW! Thanks, Uncle Che!
Such endless compliments again. SOmetimes I’m looking at the heavens asking myself what have I done to deserve such compliments from you? Hehe!
Anyway, you are one of those people whom I met by virtue of dropping cards, reading and commenting. And I thank the Lord for I was able to know such a very admirable person.
All the best to you and Noela!
@ JOYOZ:
Yeah, since you have been using Entrebar, you have to make use of its advantages, Joy.
If you have enough time to spare completing the drops for your 4 blogs (that would make 1, 200 sites to drop your cards on), WHY NOT? I drop to 5 blogs actually. My 3 personal blogs, I drop a few for EC 4 Religion, which I co-author, and a few cards for my friend’s blog, too (the commenter before you, hehe!), AZ BLOGGING.
It’s good you are coming up with your own favorites, and thanks for including me. I hope I am keeping up on the drops you are making for my blogs. It’s a little hard sometimes because I often ran out of cards to drop. WHen I get to a certain blog, I’ve already reached my limit for a day. Getting an average of more than 400 return drops for this blog would sometimes make me feel bad at one end for not having to reciprocate on all the bloggers who made their drops.
But anyway, I have been used to not using the Entrebar and I think I’m faring well. I would love to use the Entrebar but having an old version of FF won’t work. That’s the reason, hehe!
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I'm fairly knew, so I appreciate the tips & ideas. Thanks!
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@ A VALDESE BLOGGER:
You are most welcome!
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thanks so much for the tips!
i have bookmarked some blogs with their EC widgets on top of the fold, and i drop on them regularly even if some are not posting for more than a month and they’re not returning my drops. tsk… what a waste of dropping time. after reading this post, i realize i have to change my dropping habits and prioritize more on those who return my drops.
i always use the entrebar for dropping. it improved my dropping time very much. what i do is select the “inbox” tab, then “newest”, then click the double arrow (10 blogs) icon and drop like crazy, then click the icon again until i was able to reciprocate all drops. Then to check those blogs that i might have missed, i go to the drops inbox and select the “cards you haven’t dropped on” option to display which sites i need to return the favor.
btw, thanks for being one of my reciprocal droppers. cheers!
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CARRY @ HAPPYSTEPS.NET:
Weolcome, dear. Thanks for sharing. You have been doing great using the Entrebar. You only drop from only one blog?
The ENtrebar I think speeds up the dropping tasks. How long it’s taking you to finish dropping to 300 blogs?
I am not using Entrebar so I couldn’t calculate the speed for the 900 blogs I drop on daily. I have another way though of speeding things up. That will be for my next post.
I hope I could be included in your Top Droppers in a few days, hehe. It’s hard to keep up but I am trying my best.
See you around!
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I am semi-new to entrecard. Thanks for all the great insight!
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thanks for being my top dropper
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Thanks for becoming the top 10 droppers – http://kisahberuang.com/index.php/2008/09/01/top-10-ec-droppers-for-aug-2008/
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Thank you for the tips, I am a newbie,never really pay attention on this before.
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@ JENN P. & SHIEN:
No problem. I hope you could find these tips helpful.
@ ACADAKUT & SHAXX:
WOW!
I am one of the Top Droppers!!! YAY!
It has always been a pleasure dropping those cards in both of your blogs. As you can see from this post, I only drop to those I am sure who will reciprocate my drops.
THANK you too for always returning my drops.
More drops coming your way soon!
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Thanks for this post sis..
I badly needed this one.
I must admit I’m very lazy when it comes to EC dropping..but I prioritize those bloggers who dropped in my site.
Will keep this in mind..will try this trick of yours..
thanks again.. keep up the good work! :]
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Hi Lainy,
I dropped my entrecard on this blog. Even though you may not return the favor, I appreciate the advice…kudos!
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nice post. thanks for sharing. try ko nga tips mo.
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Though I am a power dropper and I don’t maximize fully the power of Entrecard, frankly speaking this is the best article I have seen on the subject matter; probably because you write out of your own personal experience. No fluff and straight to the point.
Great writing style, Lainy.
Yan
WP Beginners
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thanks for the tips, i’m new with entrecard. i really appreciate this
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Good post, I’m using the same technique, and i will favor them, beside that i will choice those blog that had short loading time or the widget at the first loading place, this will shorten the dropping time. Eventually i will check those favorites from time to time to make sure all is active. Your three blog are inside my favorites.
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@ TWINKS, MICHELLE & BLACK CAT:
You are most welcome! I hope it can help.
@ SONYA:
Thanks Dear. I visited your site but you have no Entrecard widget. Cool site nonetheless. See you around!
@ YAN SHALL BLOG:
It is such an honor for me to hear such compliments coming from an expert like you. I love to share my own experiences and I hope more people can benefit as well. Hope to see more of you soon.
@ INTERNET PAYEE:
Thanks for sharing. And thanks also for including my 3 sites in your favorites. You are in mine, too.
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Thanks for the advice, I’ve started using the EntreCard toolbar it great.
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@ KAREN:
You are most welcome! I haven’t been using the Entrebar but I’ve heard it’s doing greta especially in speeding up the dropping tasks.
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Oh my … what patience you have in writing this post. One thing that I have noticed though – when you have completed all of the drops you want from your favourites and inbox … always allow yourself 5 or 10 spare as if you then go onto the ‘Popular’ page as you describe you may find as I have done blogs that you have visited and dropped on have not in some instances turned green. I’m always unsure if this means that the drop hasn’t registered or whether if you then click onto them whether there will be two visit responses in their inbox. If you have the time this is really worth doing although it can be unnerving especially when a click or two you know that you have made is still glaring at you either rosy pink or black.
Lovely post …..
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Thanks Polly.
Yeah, you’re right. it’s time consuming and unnerving at the same time when we do that but as you said, it’s all worth it. I do the same, too. In fact, I drop all the remaining cards to the Popular blogs. All of them turns to GREEN (except for identified blogs who aren’t reciprocating my drops, I have them all marked, hahaha!) when I accomplish the 300 limit for the day.
I think it’s better if you could do another post of this kind to make it more convincing because you have been consistenly in the Top 5 Popular Blogs, unswayed. That’s pretty c00L and I’m happy for you.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Polly. I truly appreciate it and it’s great having to exchange emails with you.
All the best,
LAINY
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This was tremendously helpful – Thank You.
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@ MONIQUE:
You’re welcome!
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Hey that is good info. thanks for sharing. I’m just a starting out.
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@ LEON:
I hope you will find this post helpful.
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Thanks, this helped my EC dropping.
Jason
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@ JASON:
That’s great! I’m glad to be of help!
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hey this was a great post. i learned alot, now i know how to drop it like it’s hot, when i do drop.
great info, thanks for sharing.
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@ NATURAL:
You are most welcome!
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omg so much to learn!!!!
ill save this and finish reading tomorrow. or ill prob just figure it along the way, and smack my head
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@ BOMBCHELL:
Sure thing! It’s good if you could experiment and learn…
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Thank you for the excellent advice. I am VERY new to entrecard and need to learn what’s important. However, I don’t think I have enough time to do 300 drops a day.
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