New theme and some thoughts on how we can all help each other
- Mike in category: blog marketing
Well, there you go.
I was just not feeling it with my previous theme for some odd reason. Just wasn’t working for me. I think that’s in part because I’ve been working on my new blog and the current theme on that one isn’t working for me either. It’s not ready for EC yet due to the 5 posts in 3 months rule and I’ve only posted twice up to this point (yes, I’ll post again today, maybe a few posts) and I’ve still got some widgets to add, directories to submit it too, things like that. But it is live if you’d like to go visit. You can check it out here. That orange theme has got to go. But I haven’t found one yet that suits me.
Thank you all who’ve commented on my post about what’s going on with EC. I think for the most part (at least, most of those of you who left a comment), we are all basically on the same page on this subject; A. Peeps can’t expect everyone who visits to leave a comment, and B. Let’s hope that this algorithm Graham’s been talking about doesn’t turn EC into a glorified manual traffic exchange. Here’s an idea that might bring down the bounce rate. According to what I’ve read, we might (and I emphasis, “might”) be able to drop the bounce rate a bit by just staying on a blog’s home page for more than 5 seconds. That’s one of the beefs people have about autosurf traffic exchanges, many of them run 5-6 second timers and while that counts as a page view, it isn’t enough time to count as a unique visitor (there are some that have 30 second timers and those do count as unique’s, I’ve been keeping track of that through my web host and cpanel). Yes, I do use a few autosurf’s to help drive traffic to my blog and believe it or not, I do get a little return traffic from them. In fact, I have considering running a autosurf traffic exchange exclusively for bloggers like you and me with a 30 second timer, that would give everyone a chance to scan the blog and click the permalink, if they want more time to read and/or comment, combined with a forum where we could all interact with each other (there would be a requirement to post in the forum from time to time to keep your spot as a member) but that’s still just in the idea stage. I’ve actually run that by a heavyweight traffic exchange owner I know but have yet to hear back from him about that, I’ll let you all know when he does. Let’s hope he doesn’t steal my idea.
Well, that’s it for today, my friends. I hope this finds you well and having a great day.
Stacie 9th July 2009 2:05 pm
First of all I love the new theme! Second of all this sounds like a good idea! Count me in. Only thing I don’t understand as it’s foreign to me so forgive me for asking if it’s stupid but what is auto surf? I don’t think I have ever heard of that before. I too look in my stats and alot of people stay less then 30 seconds. Or should I say the majority. LOL Not sure exactly what to think about it. Have a great day! Off to check out the other blog.
mkyd1963 9th July 2009 3:22 pm
An “auto surf” is a site where you receive hits to your site for viewing other sites without having to click anything (unlike EC where you have to click the widget or a manual traffic exchange which requires an action from you before you can view another site)….I know 30 seconds may sound like a long time to sit and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Graham has already thought of this, but it would help reduce the EC bounce rate….My idea is that, as long as you make an effort to stop and chat in the forum from time to time….it would be ok for a “surfer” to run the “autosurf” without having to actually view the blogs if that’s what they wanted to do….of course, everyone would be encouraged to actually view the blogs in the rotation, but I’d not have that as a requirement…like I said, this is just an idea at this point, so just how this would actually be implemented is up in the air….thanks for the complement…took me a few days to find it, but yeah, I like it too
PJ 9th July 2009 9:38 pm
nice baby, you are doing a fine job here. love you very much!
Stacie 9th July 2009 10:23 pm
I think I understand now. So many things I have yet to learn. I like the forum idea. Will wait to hear more.
from tankianann 10th July 2009 12:33 am
Your new blog theme is nice! I’m visiting this site for the first time, so haven’t had a chance to see your original theme.
Anyway, I’d recommend against AutoSurf programs – its a waste of time. The numbers don’t matter. Why would you want to have a thousand visitors a day that comes here for the sake of clocking 1 visit?
What you want are visitors that come here because they want to, or at least, people who come and click your ads, or buy some stuff.
Not all traffic is equal.
Cheers,
KA
Buzzing J 10th July 2009 3:24 am
I like the greens of the layout. But don’t you think the words are a bit small? They make it a bit hard to read – well, for me anyway.
Just thought you’d like to know.
mkyd1963 10th July 2009 9:13 am
Thanks for the compliment and welcome……You’re right……Not all traffic is equal, but following your logic, Entrecard, with it’s high bounce rate, would fall into that category…..Heavyweight marketers spend a pretty penny on different types of advertising, all in the hopes of getting a 1-2% conversion rate, with 2% being considered high….These marketers do exactly what you suggest I don’t, the difference being they pay large sums of money what I’m able to achieve for free (although not at their level)….Putting money first when it comes to blogging is a mistake and that’s not just my opinion…….I’m curious as to what you would suggest, seeing as you are quick to criticize (which is fine), yet offer no alternative?
mkyd1963 10th July 2009 9:14 am
Thanks for the compliment…..Yes, they are a little smaill but the color contrast makes up for it, I think
RE Ausetkmt 10th July 2009 8:26 pm
mike the type is so small I can hardly read your blog.
and the dark background with mint type – not reader friendly.
hope you decide to become more involved in blogging and
remember that some of us do actually want to read your blog
mkyd1963 10th July 2009 10:27 pm
“mike the type is so small I can hardly read your blog.
and the dark background with mint type – not reader friendly.”
Perhaps.
But this is a comment better suited for a EC message.
“hope you decide to become more involved in blogging ”
I’ve been involved in blogging for nigh on 4 years, I’ve just gotten more serious about it lately.
“remember that some of us do actually want to read your blog”
People DO read my blog.
Just saying.
derekpm 12th July 2009 5:48 pm
Rather interesting. Has few times re-read for this purpose to remember. Thanks for interesting article. Waiting for trackback
mkyd1963 12th July 2009 7:14 pm
Fixed
mkyd1963 12th July 2009 7:17 pm
No, not all traffic is equal. I will grant you that.
But neither will you get or should you expect 100% participation/conversion on organic traffic.
4% is considered good.