Earlier tonite I wrote a response in the comments to this post on Entrecard.
I'm sure I'll be put through the shredder for the hard stance I advocate. but my honesty should not be a suprise to any of my regular visitors.
I am totally against Paid Posts Blogs being in Entrecard; as well as Clickfarmers - who only live to hit the magic 300 on each of their many accounts daily, without any regard for the bouncerate or content of the bloggers they rob daily. Please take a moment and read grahams post by clicking the link below inorder to get clarity on my response below. I know it may suprise many of you that I am taking this tone,
Graham: just a few thoughts after giving this a few days to digest more fully:
IMHO, the real problem is that EC's are being treated like Money; and they're NOT.
if people could learn that; we'd have Less "300 click a day" Clickfarmers; and a whole lot less splogs in the categories. Quite Simply, paying people to cash out in cash; instead of recycling the ec's back into the system is what really feeds the problem..
The Remedy is Simple
1. Return To a Non Cash for ec buyout ; and stop selling EC's.
2. reduce the maximum amount of clicks per day to a more managable maximum for the system; closer to 50 per account.
3. hire some behind the scenes techs to clean up the splogs and eradicate the dead blogs in the categories -
get it back to what it should be if you really want to count your Active population, Accurately.
4. Remove any duplicate or paid post blogs immediately, since they are not blogs inessence; and are the biggest pay-out items.
This is especially a conflict of interest with bloggers who blog for the love of writing; and they see the problem clearly, since these splogs are ADS, and that is a direct violation of the existent tos.
A Paid Post IS An AD there is no way around it
Then Graham, you can put entrecard on the auction block as a clean and lean social networking machine. that's what makes a sale, not consistent policy changes that do nothing to stabilize the economy or political structure of the unit itself.Remember to Listen to the People; As They Support Themselves. To Put the Spark back in - Make it once again about the members, instead of CASH OUTS.
End the payouts and you will be making the first step toward strengthening the whole.
then stop approving multiple blogs which are clearly splogs, that dilute the pool of quality blogs. those splogs drop the value as quickly as the clickfarmers.
IMHO, then - entrecard can recover and rebound as a member driven and fed unit.
this post is all about defining the term Blog v. Splog
Many of us don't use the words Splog, or Splogger when we should and today we are aiming to define and clarify that fine line between a Blog and a Splog
"Splog" is short for Spam Blog. Spam blogs are blogs that don't provide any real content for users. They exist solely to game the search engines. These splogs may exist just to have links to other websites or, they may have ads on the blog itself. The content on splogs are auto-generated, either from some other source or a list of useless keywords.
The simplest definition for splog is as follows:
SPAM + BLOG = SPLOG
Splog is a terrorist to our blogosphere and needs to be stopped. This site was created for “good willed” bloggers to report splog in an effort to help to clean up the blogosphere of splog. It was spurred by the called to arms of Mark Cuban here and then followed up by a post on Somewhat Frank.
Okay now we know that Entrecard is a Chief Splog Unit.
Why ?
that's what we are trying to get to the bottom of this week. Why do these UnBlogs seem to clutter the Blogosphere ?
In the case of Entrecard - it's for the Points and Cashout system.
this is the worst way to destroy a blog - add cheap cash or loads of unrelated ads. there are so many ads on some of these Splogs that their pages take forever to load, and when they do, it's hard to even locate the Entrecard Widget on the page; tossed in with all the various and assorted cash generators.
"Splog" is short for Spam Blog. Spam blogs are blogs that don't provide any real content for users. They exist solely to game the search engines. These splogs may exist just to have links to other websites or, they may have ads on the blog itself. The content on splogs are auto-generated, either from some other source or a list of useless keywords.
What is Wrong with Splogs?
Splog clutters the internet with useless content. Web search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN, and blog search engines such as Technorati, IceRocket and Bloglines serve to manage the huge amount of information available on the Web. Splog makes it much more difficult to find the useful information.
When reading Blogs are you bothered by all the miscellaneous clutter ?
Oh I am - and I am going to give a few examples of blogs that have this very issue - so that we can see from live examples what Is a Splog -
these are randomly chosen droppers from my Entrecard Inbox from today, that are SPLOGS;
I suggest You take a look at them and decide for yourself, as I am not going to link to them and give them any additional fuel to burn out a real blog. the problem is these folks are doing this because they don't care about the value of real blogs. they are just using any vehicle to get a few pennies out of real bloggers by dropping cards enmasse on Blogs to fill their accounts with cash out credit. the articles, if you call them that are all about One Link to a Paid Article Generator - Am I Wrong ?
We can't say that entrecard is wrong for trying to monitize. it just seems that the monitization rules, have increased the spam load on entrecard at least 5 fold; in the most recent months. before the cashout policy was announced - there were splogs, but not the amount we see now.
When these sploggers gather enmasse to attack a blog - they normally use one viewpoint and post remarkably similar comments; indicating that there is a Herd Mentality in Play.
wouldn't it be better to go to other splogs instead of blogs, for these folks ? I surely think so, since most of them in the case of entrecard spend less than three 3 seconds on your page- Wham Bam and no thank you mamm.. and sadly they admit that's their only plan.
Spam blogs, sometimes referred to by the neologismsplogs[1], are artificially created weblogsites which the author uses to promote affiliated websites or to increase the search engine rankings of associated sites. The purpose of a splog can be to increase the PageRank or backlink portfolio of affiliate websites, to artificially inflate paid ad impressions from visitors, and/or use the blog as a link outlet to get new sites indexed. Spam blogs are usually a type of scraper site, where content is often either inauthentic text or merely stolen (see blog scraping) from other websites. These blogs usually contain a high number of links to sites associated with the splog creator which are often disreputable or otherwise useless websites.
There is frequent confusion between the terms "splog" and "spam in blogs". Splogs are blogs where the articles are fake, and are only created for search engine spamming. To spam in blogs, conversely, is to include random comments on the blogs of innocent bystanders, in which spammers take advantage of a site's ability to allow visitors to post comments that may include links. In fact, one of the earliest uses of the term "splog" referred to the latter. [2]
This is used often in conjunction with other spamming techniques, including spings.
In the blogging world, Reading Is a Must and Commenter's are Winners
these sploggers don't bother to read anything, that requires any length of attention or thought to process. this is evidenced by their quick hit and run attitude coupled with their excuse for attitude responses :
" me for example : I have four(4) blogs so I need to hurry up to four drops in one of your blog, so.. the ending should be comment time but sometimes your topic is not my interests , sorry.. but that is what i feel , so.. in consideration that you drop EC I'll dropped you back and thats all..but.....if you left me comments I'll comments you back..my english is not good but I understand very well and I'm trying to be good."
yes this is an actual comment left on one of our blogs. Can you Imagine ?
such curt rudeness, and lack of simple consideration for the blog and the time the blogger spent to compose their thoughts.
then there is this similar comment - also actually left on one of our blogs:
I question to you? do you always Leave a comment on all the Blogs you visit? Lets say 100-300 blogs. I find something time is limited and it is hard to do this. However I have visitors who have never left any msg, but I know they read or leave my EC to buy ads. I know it is hard to feel rejected but some of us are not rejecting just reading and moving on.:-)
Co'mon, You Come Here for One EC and don't have time to read ? what kind of nonsense is this ? you come to a blog but not to read or comment ? ooiiiiii,,,, damn. (sorry I had to get it out)
one of our Real Readers left this very smart comment in the same post, so we realize that the content was very commentable:
Tis I once again....after reading everyone's comment...I think it is safe to say that we all have our priority list and we all have that right...no matter which order they are placed.
We have all sorts of Bloggers with different reasons for blogging.
Some of us feel that leaving a comment is in fact very important and a show of respect. Some feel that just dropping in is also important and a show of respect. Some blog strictly for the $$$$bling. Some blog for return hits. Some blog to learn. Some blog to share. Some blog to copy and paste :)(naughty) Some blog to meet new people from all over the world. Some blog out of boredom. Some blog to feel good that they have done their 300 ec drops. Some blog to see how many followers they can get. Some blog for the fun of the contests. Some even blog just to get someone to say hello in their shoutbox.
I have seen also groups that basically just visit one another and keep a circle of friends going on. All of these reasons are acceptable as they should be because everyone has a right to blog.
We also have a right to voice our opinions on who comes into our blogs..similar to who walks into our homes.
This commenter put it on the plate, and made it as clear as water. I think we have seen the parallels clearly enough to know the difference between a Blog and a Splog.
This is a BLOG, Not a Splog. there are no teats here to milk; and this blog will not instantly begin to follow anyone who leads it towardpopup coated; ad and virus laden pages, filled with graphic overload, akin to a bad disco nightmare - masquerading as a blog, but no real content.
Content is KING and We are the readers who decide if that's a fact or just a hack. for us, it's a fact. we don't dilly dally with these splogs anymore and when they litter our cbox on our other site, we erase their comments and make sure to ban them. it rarely helps as they find it to be a game to come back and again spam in a foreign language. WHY ?
that is the biggest question of all, Why do they do it ?
My Theory is simplistic - they are unable to comprehend their level of disrespect and or curtail their actions due to their addiction to of all things the US Penny. yeah, penny because each drop is equal to less than a penny; because of their proliferation of splogs.
Have they even considered their part in the desecration of the blogosphere or the ec economy ?
Sadly I lament, the answer is apparently NO.
they are Hit and Run Accidents happening simultaneously all over the blogosphere. truly it's sad.
what can you do to prevent them from treating you like a Goat ?
well there are those who think that leaving Entrecard is the answer. maybe it is in some extreme cases; but we think the real answer is to Read Good Blogs, Comment and Fill your Friends Queue with Real Blogs and Forget That Inbox - because that's the green pasture of these sploggers.
So Today we call on all good entrecarders to Skip That Inbox; and Forget about the Sploggers.
Form Real Reading and Commenting Relationships with BLOGGERS. let the sploggers choke themselves on pennies; and eventually they will have a cheap gas attack. then hopefully those pennies will shower back into the global economy, instead of more cheap splogs.
*note to sploggers - forget commenting and making stupid remarks as I am going to monitor this post for such, and will just delete them since they will undoubtable be worthless space wasters. if you have a constructive discussion item then add it - otherwise, copy the post and share it in your circle so you know who's aware of your hive, and isn't phased by you at all.
Some of you may recognize this letter as one I've sent and posted before - if you see yourself in this role - then put your name in that space.
BTW, This note was inspired by My Fellow Entrecard Blogger Bob Gold, who is also tired of his pr and bounce rates being faked out by NON READERS;
Hello Rolling Dropper: - who has 6 exact copies of the same blog - and drops 6 cards a day on each of my blogs; but never spends more than 10 seconds on my blog; according to what my stats show me from their visits.
I am hoping when you read this you will keep an open mind. I have received your drops for a few weeks now and to be honest, never one comment.
there is nothing on your 6 blogs that to be honest I can comment on except that your pics are all the same on all your sites; and you seem to be catering to the pinay crowd.
1. I am not Pinay; but I like Pinays. 2. I am not interested in Family Parties; I am a Political Blogger. 3. I am not interested in people who care nothing about my blog and only want to get One EC from my Time. never bothering to even read a story and or leave a single comment, on anything.
I have three blogs in Entrecard, and you've never left a single comment on any of them, but you keep making my bounce rate higher. NOT NICE.
please don't misunderstand, I think blogging is great but I want READERS; I do NOT WANT droppers, Who Leave me with a high bounce rate.
So Rolling Dropper, it would be so nice if you would pick one of your blogs to drop on me ONLY. Because your drops make the bounce rate rise, and never a comment makes it even harder to swallow.
so, from now on when I see your card in my inbox, I will only return ONE DROP A DAY. Please consider my words and think about what you are doing to the bouncerate of other blogs when you Hit and Run that way.
if you think I am being Hard - then dont' bother to drop at all. sorry but I am so tired of the return drops to non commenters, who purposely do not read or care about what is on a blog - only the ONE EC DROP.
trust me there are better ways to make friends and to get money, on the internet.
btw I will be posting this to my blog tonite so you can see it when you DROP - and Yes It will be clearly written to you, so you know.
Earlier tonite I wrote a response in the comments to this post on Entrecard.
