This post is a bit longer than usual, so, what are my points?
- The value of blogging is fast dropping because most Bloggers are caught in the chain of searching for traffic and care less about participating on each other’s blogs.
- Entrecard is a very good system but Bloggers have made it look like a system that pays Bloggers to visit blogs.
- SezWho is a very good system that can help promote Bloggers by exposing their profiles and posts, and at the same time, encourage them to drop better comments through rating.
- Entrecard’s partnership with SezWho, and the plan to reward commenters with credits will greatly increase spam and useless comments.
- Is the Blogosphere loosing shape?
In the good old days when blogging was still “fresh and clean” Bloggers were highly respected by their fellow Bloggers and they actively worked together without the sole purpose of reward. Blogging was a prestigious hobby, and many Bloggers preferred keeping I that way. This love for blogging, for non-selfish or greedy motives, was displayed by the quality of posts that Bloggers wrote. It could also be seen from the interest other Bloggers will show for a post, whether well written or not, and will honestly give their reviews, critics, recommendations and further ideas in the form of comments. Bloggers will hardly even think of spamming their fellow mates.
When blog monitisation stepped in and Bloggers started seeing the dollar potential of their blogs, believe me there was no way things could remain the same. Blog monitisation started with Bloggers being contented with just a few dollars to pay for domain name, hosting, and in some cases their blogging platform (software). Gradually, blogging turned into a business, and like any other business, making the most possible cash became the top priority of most Bloggers. New Bloggers even went into blogging intending to make a living solely on it (and believe me most of them succeeded and are still succeeding now).
Gradually, one step after the other, Bloggers started writing articles and posts that were not as genuine as before. Most of these were written for the search engines to pull traffic (by manipulating keywords) and not for the direct dedicated readers. With corporate blogs, I think this can somehow be considered typical. But with most of us who claim to be “blogging about the things we love”, I think it is high time we rephrased that statement. Most Bloggers started valuing the time they spend on other blogs so precious that they do not want to give it any longer. Sincerity in posts started dropping very fast. Bloggers starting blogging not about the things they love, but for the things that will give them what they love. And what do they actually love? The name and the cash! The name is OK, but I bet you the cash can do certain things you will never like. The value of commenting started dropping. The number of “Nice Post” comments drastically increased. Bloggers started holding back their ideas on the comment fields because they considered those ideas “their secrets” and will not want other Bloggers to compete with them over it.
- Has Entrecard actually taken over?
Amidst the chaos mentioned above, there was, and still is one busy field only the tough can pave their way through; the “Web Traffic Lane”.
Has it ever occurred to you that Entrecard is taking over the Blogosphere, one blog at a time? My blog on Entrecard belongs to the category “Blogging Resources”. I check that category at least 3 times a day and I am very much amazed by the rate at which the stats are rising. With Entrecard, extra traffic for your blog is guaranteed. But one question remains outstanding. Is the traffic worth anything? Yes, No, depending on what you call “anything”.
I really don’t know how Entrecard can function without the credit system. Just a blog directory, maybe! But they wanted to build something far better than just a blog directory. That is why the credit system is there. We all understand human nature. Harvest as much as you can. That is exactly what Entrecarders are doing. To me, the daily drop limit of 300 is too much. Under normal circumstances, I bet you won’t visit more than 50 blogs per day. If you are visiting 50 blogs per day, keeping up with the spirit of sharing love with fellow Bloggers can be assured. Entrecard’s credit system has greatly reduced the already diminishing spirit of blogging. Most Bloggers out there don’t care about your content. They just want to drop their card, earn credits and leave. Because fellow Bloggers want to drop 300 a day, some who feel compelled to comment will just say “Nice Post”. Did I just talk about commenting? Here comes another giant… SezWho.
- Will SezWho take your comments to the next level?
If Entrecard is going to do this, we’re going to do this right, and we’re going to do it the best, by partnering with the best. If you are currently using JS-Kit, Disqus or Intense Debate, you will have to uninstall them and install SezWho in order to participate in our new commenting system. Trust us though, you’ll be glad you did.
I can’t really believe I am saying this, but Entrecard successfully convinced me to uninstall Intense Debate, which I installed just two days ago and I was very happy with it, and replace it with SezWho. If Entrecard chooses SezWho to partner with, then I believe SezWho is the best commenting platform they can lay their hands on.
SezWho is a very good service with but to me, this partnership with Entrecard is not for the good of the Blogosphere. Just my opinion! I can’t believe what Entrecard itself thinks of this partnership
How it Works
The overall plan is to reward you with credits when you leave great quality comments on other members’ blogs.
Rewarding commenters can be a very good idea. People will be pushed to comment more and drop quality comments since they know those comments will be rated. Rewarding commenters with Entrecard credits is way over the other side of the fence. Its like paying people to comment. You might not see anything wrong with it because people are already getting paid to post and review. If we want to degrade everything about blogging, at least we should conserve one – The Comments. That should be the last wall holding blogging against the storm. Entrecard has caused lots of harm by “paying people to visit blogs”. Now, they want to start “paying people to comment on blogs”. I have used SezWho for less than 48hrs now (Friday 18th July 2008, 10:28 AM) and I am just too contented about it. The partnership with Entrecard makes me very sad. The only flaw I have seen with SezWho (without Entrecard being involved).
If Entrecard intends rewarding commenters by giving them points for commenting, then guess what? You might witness an increase in comments on your blog but there is a question mark somewhere. Are these questions genuine or they are just there to tap credits?
- What does AZ Blogging think about this?
Well, no system is perfect, yet we have to use them with all flaws that they present. I have a philosophy; “use the imperfect wisely and unselfishly and turn all its flaws in direct or indirect advantages”. I love Entrecard very much not for what it is, but for how I use it. I love SezWho very much for both what it is and how I use it. I hate Entrecard’s partnership with SezWho but since I love both individually and can’t run away from this partnership, I just have to bare it wisely.
Uncle Che
Popularity: 6% [?]
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=entrecard&category0=
Thought you might like to know Entrecard does pay on ebay. I have seen auctions close in the hundreds