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Create a Free Blog Visit the forums and you will find that the debate rages on. Is it better to use a free blog service, or pay for your own domain and hosting? In my opinion the answer is both! The biggest advantage...

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The Cease and Desist Letter Saga Image by Getty Images via DaylifeWell, it is over. My best performing domain has been taken from me due to trademark issues. Just a recap if you don't feel like reading my first post on receiving a...

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Free Domain Names: Give Them to Your Visitors and Reap... Kat's recent domain give away made me realize the potential hidden in this kind of offer. After some brainstorming, I came up with a set of tips to help you use domain names as gifts for both your visitors...

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Free Magazine for Webmasters and Bloggers [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="114" caption="Website Magazine"][/caption] I know you probably prefer to get most of your information from the web, but every once in awhile you need to leave...

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I'll Show You the Best Way to Turn Entrecard Users Into Loyal Readers

Posted on : 25-10-2008 | By : Karen Zara | In : Blogging, Marketing

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Most Entrecard users are selfish.

They just access a blog, drop a card on the Entrecard widget and move on to the next blog, where they’ll repeat the process. They couldn’t care less for the bloggers behind the pages they visit. They don’t pay attention to the posts. All they want is to accumulate Entrecard credits as fast as possible. However, when other Entrecard users behave the same way, they complain a lot: “How come all those people come here, drop a card and go away? Why don’t they take the time to click on my wonderful headlines and read my precious articles? How can they be so evil to me?” Talk about incoherence!

But do you know what? There’s an easy way to take advantage of this situation.

It’s very easy to beat selfish Entrecard users

If you’re surrounded by a selfish crowd, what’s the best way to stand out and make a difference? That’s an easy one: do not be selfish. Be generous and friendly. Offer the others exactly what you’d like to be offered.

Do you want interested visitors? Subscribers? More comments? You can get it all if you do one simple thing: whenever you visit a blog owned by a fellow Entrecarder, drop your card and leave a meaningful comment on a post.

By doing this you’ll show good-will towards the blogger, whom on his/her turn will likely return the favour. This could be the beginning of a promising relationship. In the end the blogger may become a regular visitor and/or subscriber to your blog. Of course, I highly recommend that you reciprocate.

“This is too time-consuming,” you might argue.

Let me tell you something that shouldn’t be a secret for anyone: there’s no magic way to generate repeat visits for a blog or site. If a traffic generation method looks too good to be true… you know. All effective promotion techniques require time, effort and persistence. This one couldn’t be different.

Besides, it’s about giving people what they want, as opposed to sitting down and waiting for everyone to serve you as if they were your slaves. Be nice to others and many will be nice to you too. It’s that simple.

How the Entrecard-drop-and-comment scheme works

1. You visit a blog containing the Entrecard widget. Ideally, you want to access blogs whose topics you’re familiar with.

2. You drop your Entrecard, as usual.

3. Instead of leaving the blog right away, you choose a post that catches your attention and read it.

4. Finally, you leave a relevant comment on the article you’ve just read. Since you’re familiar with the blog’s topic, it shouldn’t be difficult to come up with a nice message.

Special tip: let the blogger know you’ve found his/her blog via Entrecard. The reason why you want to do this is to show the blogger you aren’t one of those selfish quick droppers. You use Entrecard as a networking tool and you’re genuinely interested in building relationships.

There you have it: you’ve just made a blogger happier–who doesn’t like comments?–and encouraged him/her to not only reciprocate your Entrecard drop, but also pay attention to your posts. There’s no way a quick dropper can cause a better impression than you.

For more Entrecard tips and blogging advice, subscribe to our feed and read the new posts as soon as they’re published.

Your feedback is welcome. Leave a comment and share your Entrecard experiences with our readers.

Karen Zara is a writer who favours relationship building over selfish promotional actions. You can click here to contact her and/or learn more about her SEO writing services.

What All Entrecard Users Have in Common?

Posted on : 31-07-2008 | By : Karen Zara | In : Marketing, Uncategorized

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In a previous article I mentioned some of the most popular niches among Entrecard users. However, this time I’d like to bring to your attention another aspect of the Entrecard community: something that all users have in common.

I know that trying to analyse thousands of people as a whole may be complicated. Anyone slightly familiar with Internet marketing concepts knows that we should preferably target niches. Still, I insist: despite the several divisions, niches and subniches that you can identify on the Entrecard directory, there is one way to address the entire community’s need at once.

All Entrecard users want traffic

Regardless of niche and personal preferences, what all Entrecarders want is traffic, above all else. It doesn’t matter what they want this traffic for. It may be for money making purposes, or for fame, or just to find more people to exchange views… Whatever they want, doesn’t change the fact that traffic is the way to achieve it.

Entrecard is such a successful site exactly because it meets its users’ expectations. Moreover, it’s reliable, unlike many other suspicious traffic generating offers that you may find all over the Internet.

What can you do about this simple lesson?

1. Use this as a model when you need to analyze large groups of consumers. See what needs they have in common. While smaller groups are easier to understand, it’s always possible to look at the big picture.

2. Leverage Entrecard’s userbase. One site that has been successfully doing it is BlogEngage. It would have taken me much longer to find this site if it wasn’t for all the Entrecard spots that it buys on several blogs. And note that BlogEngage is also another traffic generating site. It’s a perfect match for Entrecarders.

3. Create your own traffic generating service. There are thousands of webmasters and bloggers out there waiting for good promotional tools. Entrecard does have some competitors, but none of them has managed to become as popular. Can you take this challenge and create a better solution?

I have more Entrecard-related tips to share with you. Subscribe to The WebMaster Blog so you don’t miss any future post. And remember that by subscribing you’ll have the chance to win several prizes in our contest. Click here to learn more about it.

Our First Contest!

Posted on : 20-07-2008 | By : Kat | In : Blogging, News

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It is time for our first ever contest here at The WebMaster Blog. Our first two months have been great and we would like to thank everyone who reads the blog. The contest rules are simple:
1. Subscribe to the feed. This is required! Only subscribers will win prizes. 10 Points
Plus, read how you can receive a free e-book just for subscribing.
2. Comment on The WebMaster Blog. Any post. 1 point per comment. Limited to 5 per day.
3. Comment on a contest sponsor’s blog. 5 points per comment.
4. Blog about The WebMaster Blog. Include 2 links, one to the homepage and 1 to any post. 10 points.
5. Blog about the contest and include the list with links to the sponsors. 50 points!
Which prize do you hope to win?

Comment here to let us know what you did.

A secret bonus prize will be given for the best blog post about The WebMaster Blog.
Winner (s) will be chosen by our authors.

Here is the prize list. Be sure to visit our sponsors and comment on their blogs!

My CFO on the Go! 125X125 ad spot for 30 days. $5 PayPal cash.
Get Rich Geek 125X125 ad spot for 30 days. $5 PayPal Cash
Ninja Success 125X125 ad spot for 30 days. $5 PayPal Cash

Susanne at SquidooMagic Free set up of SEO optimized Squidoo lens.
Better Interpersonal Communication 125 X 125 ad spot
WebbieStuffs 1200 EC Credits, Permanent Link (Blog Roll), 2-month ad in side bar, 100 x 100.

Blog Improvement and Money Making Tips 1000 EC credits.
BestJoanne Is The One For Reviews 1000 EC credits.
Rumbling Lankin 1000 Entrecard Credits

TwinsHappiness 250 EntreCard credits.
The Spirit of Blogging 1000 Entrecard Credits and 125 ad space.
The Melvin Blog E-book worth $17, ad spot worth $10.

The University Kid will offer eBooks and 2, 1 hour consultations.
The Smile Guy will donate 500 Entrecard credits and an ad spot. Either 125X125 or 486X60 winners choice!
5 links Blog Promotion Site

Plus The WebMaster Blog is giving away:
5 prizes of 1,000 Entrecard Credits Each
2- 125X125 ad spots for 30 days
5- BlogRoll links for 30 days

More great prizes added!
Indian Devs is offering one non animated banner or logo design worth $30, and one adspot on technoworld worth 15$

With so many prizes you are almost guaranteed to win something!
Contest will end August 24, 2008.