While many bloggers using Entrecard get so happy and proud of the thousands of traffic they receive every month, others who are keen and conscious of their blog metrics on quality get disappointed and end up leaving. Entrecard may provide a blog with 300 visitors a day but nonetheless, it would still screw up a blog’s bounce rate.
What is bounce rate?
Bounce rate (totally different to Exit Rate), used mainly for website traffic analysis, is the percentage of single-page visits in which the person left the site from the landing page. The term “bounce” is given because such actions depict a bounce in a viewer’s visit. Take for example this blog (www.bryankarl.com). The following are considered as bounce and will be added in the bounce rate:
- Clicking on a link to another blog or website e.g. clicking on “Follow me on Twitter”
- Closing the tab or the browser window
- Typing a new URL
- Clicking on the Back button
- Session timeout, usually 30 minutes i.e. being idle in this page for 30 minutes or up is considered a bounce
Entrecard’s part in the process
Entrecard is all about dropping. Sounds related, right? Dropping and bouncing. Imagine yourself as the Entrecard dropper, the floor the blog, then you drop a rubber ball, and obviously it bounces back. You then proceed to other floors. Clearly a big bounce. Because many of the Entrecard-ers care much only about dropping, dropping and more dropping, bounce rates of blogs that take part in the said community have near 100% bounce rates. Terrible. Some may argue that bounce rates depend only on blog content, usability and layout but inside the Entre-community, it’s not.
So how do we deal with this one?
I’m not suggesting we leave Entrecard. I’m not a hypocrite; this blog is also part of the Entre-community. To reduce bounce rates, find other sources of traffic where visitors will not only care much about dropping on the widget. Here comes content. Writing attractive posts with equally attractive titles could steal your EC-dropper-of-the-moment’s attention. This is a way to lower that figure (bounce rate). But never expect a low number on your bounce rate especially if you are still with Entrecard. There are just those droppers who are frenzied with dropping.
Final say
Bounce rate is a figure every blogger must be attentive to. Fluctuations in it may be good news, but a regular increase may prove to be a threat. That is why regular updating and optimizing is an essential task.
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13 comments:
Saturday, January 3, 2009 4:10:00 PM GMT+08:00
The main issue I have with Entrecard is the fact you end up with loads of adverts from none relevent blogs.
The main site I run (the one with the most traffic!) ran the Entrecard system for a little over a month, yet recived 2 or 3 relevant ad requests.
Given the content of that site I came to the conclusion that Entrecard had to come down as the entire site depended upon good quality relevant content!
(also added you to my blogroll)
Saturday, January 3, 2009 5:28:00 PM GMT+08:00
I'm new to the term bounce rate.
I was using Entrecard on my blog (jpanganiban.co.cc) until I deleted and remade my blog. I don't think I would gain a decent traffic if I have a blog talking about personal stuffs. Drop-frenzy people might just drop and skip my blog.
Sunday, January 4, 2009 12:12:00 PM GMT+08:00
By commenting on a lot of other Entrecard-er blogs, I end up with a steady number of them leaving comments on my blog daily. I guess this may help to keep the bounce rate down--leave comments and others may reciprocate.
Davida
Monday, January 5, 2009 4:42:00 AM GMT+08:00
Commenting is the traditional form of getting a decent and long term traffic. But with people from EntreCard doing the drop and go, it's really frustrating. With most members of the community doing sponsored reviews, the blog content has been sacrificed. I can't really blame most of the members doing the drop and run because I can see more paid reviews than quality posts.
Monday, January 5, 2009 8:14:00 PM GMT+08:00
To attygnorris: Good suggestion. I hope everybody reads your comment.
To Lainy: Yeah, the reason why a lot of those bloggers doing the paid post scheme is in Entrecard is because of the immediate traffic it gives so their blogs can be eligible for opportunities. Yeah we can't blame those who hate paid posts. Of course. Thanks for the comment. :)
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 6:58:00 AM GMT+08:00
Thoughtful post, Bryan. I agree with focusing on a strong community that comments often. Though it's nice to have people stop over and give a new blog a chance to win them over.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009 7:20:00 AM GMT+08:00
Hi Enduring Wanderlust,
A strong community like you've mentioned is what all the blogs need, I suggest. Thanks for the comment. :)
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 5:22:00 PM GMT+08:00
I'm new to the whole blogging world and to Entrecard (it's been about a month).
Of course, I would love to have thousands of people checking back every day to read my posts, but I understand that's pretty rare...especially for someone new.
So, for now, I'm enjoying the traffic I get from Entrecard, doing the best I can to reciprocate if I want to, and continuing to write quality content.
Eventually, I hope there's a decent balance between "droppers" and "readers" and maybe even a time where I'll remove Entrecard, but until then, I'm going to appreciate the traffic it's brought me and the opportunities I've had to see other blogs.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 11:46:00 PM GMT+08:00
That is what we can expect from social traffic like Entrecard, just a quick view.
The only way to get visitor to stay longer is to post quality and relevant content.
Thursday, January 8, 2009 1:35:00 PM GMT+08:00
@Great Blogging Tactic,
Yup! That's the number one solution! And why is the period on your comment a link? :)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 9:28:00 AM GMT+08:00
I will stop and read blogs on entrecard that are interesting so even though most of the traffic is going to be junk if you can capture just a few new readers it is well worth it.
Sunday, January 25, 2009 3:25:00 AM GMT+08:00
My EntreCard experience has been much like Attygnorris above. In fact, I found this site through EntreCard.
To me it's a cost effective way to advertise (by using credits to show up on others sites) especially if their widget is in a good spot on their site.
Sunday, January 25, 2009 8:03:00 AM GMT+08:00
@Dan_N,
Yeah, a small amount is better than nothing it all. Entrecard helps in that way.
@Market Secrets Blogger,
That's quite true -- the positive side of Entrecard. I agree. It's just that some EC users are powerdroppers and care only about dropping and running away after. Thanks for the comment!
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