It seems like recently contests are popping out here and there and even out of my ass. I must say that just a little over a month ago, contests weren’t much of a “thing” for blog owners to establish because as experienced by me, it is very time consuming. The reason for all these contests is the web 2.0 card dropping program, Entrecard, launching. Blogs of all shapes, colors, and sizes are jumping in on this bandwagon with the urge to start a successful contest. What is the main goal of these contests? Blog owners are seeking to get a higher readership, but with so many contests, blogs are going no where with these techniques.
No More Content?
With so much contests being established, blogs are starting to lose value. Contests do not = blog. The main usage of a blog is to vent certain ramblings, but of course blog owners have taken that step further to setting niches in place. Contests are starting to make blog owners lazy by posting nothing, but still receiving visitors. Visitors come to a blog with a contest wishing to participate and that’s the only thing most visitors want. If you’re a blog owner, do make sure you don’t depend on your contests to bring in viewers because it’ll hurt you in the long run by giving you a small spike in traffic, but dropping down to nothing.
Using Contests To Boost Subscribers
RSS feeds are starting to get popular and all blogs are starting to show the feed count no matter what the number is. Of course it is recommended that you show the count after receiving a least 50 subscribers, but hey, you do what you do. Subscribing through feed readers is old news because subscribing through e-mail is what blog owners want. Subscribers through e-mail do not need to view the e-mails to be counted as a “subscriber” on the counter. Therefore, the counter stays at the correct number and does not fluctuate. I certainly use this method because an higher feed count is what viewers want, so that is what I need to give.
Bounce Rate
I’m going to focus this section on Entrecard because they’re mainly the ones that are causing these huge fluctuations in blog statistics. Anyways, if you guys don’t know what a site’s bounce rate is, do not worry because Wikipedia has a well written out explanation.
Bounce Rate - A Bounce occurs when a website visitor leaves a page or a site without visiting any other pages before a certain session timeout elapses.
Ways A Visitor May Cause A Bounce:
1. Close the open window or tab or simply type in a new URL
2. Click Back Button, which would take them away from the website
3. Time-out, where no other action is taken after set time period (usually 30 minutes)
What this means is that if Entrecard users are going to your blog only to drop a card and not read your posts, your rate will become higher. I have experimented with Entrecard and my bounce rate and I noticed a dramatic change in my stats. What happened was I started a contest around January 13th and I watched my rates jump around and noticed that my bounce rate was higher than ever. The reason for this is because a majority of members on Entrecard focuses more on dropping cards rather than taking some time to read my blog posts. Although my blog’s bounce rate increased, there are still good things about it, which I am including right below:
- Pros - Increases Alexa rank
- Cons - Your posts are meaningless
If you wish to get full stats on your blog’s bounce rate, I suggest signing up for Google Analytics. Not only will you get your bounce rate stats, but you will also receive your daily visitors stats and traffic sources.
Are contests running your blog?
After reading all the above topics, it should help you realize if contests are running your blog. Of course you could disregard this post fully if you don’t run them, but the majority does. Think about how a contest is running your blog while your posts aren’t doing what they’re suppose to.
Giveaway…AGAIN!?!?!
I hope that you guys read this whole post before you got to this section, but if you just scrolled down from the top without reading, I spit on you! This is a good read and I hope that all my viewers will abide by these topics discussed and know what to do.
Anyways, if you guys read my “Contest Winners” post, you probably noticed that I mentioned that I have something up my sleeves in the upcoming days. Well, it is time for it and what do you know, it’s another giveaway by Bloggin-Ads. I was planning this contest to be the first ever “Day After A Blog Contest, Contest”, but it didn’t work out as planned. You don’t have to consider this a contest if you don’t want because I’m not going to have all those regulations or rules like my previous contest. Instead, I will only ask you guys to do the following:
- Subscribe to my RSS feed via E-mail if you haven’t ( HERE! ) - 1 entry ticket
- Stumble/Digg this post - 1 entry ticket
- Sign up for Entrecard and start dropping cards with SiteHoppin - 1 entry ticket
- Post about this contest - 1 entry ticket
I assume most of you guys have already signed up for Entrecard, so you basically have 1 entry ticket there, but the rest are not difficult at all. What I’m basically doing is giving all my viewers another whack at trying to win some prizes…especially for the ones that snoozed away and didn’t enter my previous one. Upon completion of any of the above methods, just leave a comment ( you must! ) 
So what are the prizes? There aren’t much to go around this time, but Graham Langdon, the creator of Entrecard, sent me an e-mail and wanted to sponsor a few items that you card droppers might be interested in 
Contest Duration: 2/3/2008 thru 2/19/2008 (the 19th is my wife and my 1 year 8 month anniversary )
- Entrecard FastPass - 6 available
- Entrecard Featured Status - 6 available
- Bonus - 500 EntreCredits - v3online.net
As you can tell, there are going to be 12 different winners again, but one winner will also receive a bonus of 500 EntreCredits courtesy of v3online.
If your blog is about contests, I can understand every post being about a contest. Maybe one contest every couple of months or once a month is reasonable. Most readers are looking for content to read when visiting a blog.
Thanks for the plug, mike. hehe…i was kinda drunk last night, wasn’t i?
Subscribed to your email feed.
Some very good points made there, I am currently running my first very small contest, lol.
Thanks for this post, it was really informative!
Read this entry with interest! Is all this contest for entrecard members only??? Have a nice day!
I am subscribed already - 1 entry.
Stumbled as jix2 - 1 entry.
Dropped a few cards using the tool - 1 entry.
Total: 3 entries
I hope I win!
I am subscribed already! Again another great read, with niche blogs as my http://soul-to-soul.com, I ran a contest with little results, I felt it was quite nice a free print of your choice of sketches.. It brought me some traffic, but not much, considering the amount of time I do comment on others blogs.. on my way to drop and stumble! Pick me..pick me!
Hey there, I have subscribed and stumbled. If you can let me know when i have won it would be appreciated.. lol. thanks
Awh I’m disappointed that this post contained a contest!! I was looking forward to agreeing with you about how every other blog I click on from Entrecard is holding some sort of contest. I mean what ever happened to doing this for fun? I started my journal in 1998, before the appearance of blogs, and though I’m not that surprised (because money makes the world go round), I do still find it a little annoying that everyone is so eager to sell their soul. Or maybe I’m just too old fashioned for this world(the money making blog-world)?!
p.s. Still like you guys though ;P
I think having one or two to keep the fun alive is ok, but if you are running them one after another thinking you are keeping the “readers” you gained, think again.
@Debby - That’s true. I see a lot of blogs now that blog about contests since that’s their main niche.
@Max - yea you were
@Brenda - Thanks!
@Chica - I’m glad this post helped you out
@Horny Ang - Are you talking about my contest here? If you are, it’s for everyone and not just for Entrecard members.
@Mr-Gee - Good luck to ya!
@Sue - To run a successful content takes some work. I had to first market my blog out first before I started my “THIRD” contest. Yes, I did say my THIRD because my 1st and 2nd was unsuccessful.
@Steven - No problem.
@fragileheart - You’re not too old-fashioned. You’re absolutely correct that the world revolves around money now. I admit that I do want to make money, but I still hate it when all the blogs are about the same thing. I love reading those small journal blogs once in a while too :). My wife and I love you toO!
@Sukosaki - Very well said. A lot of people don’t realize this…
Shhesh, I think I already did all that! And I even wrote a good review about ya at my blog!
hmm,
that’s great article
nice to visit here
I agree with you 100%. Most blogs, all they do is have contests, yet blogs who have great content while throwing contests don’t get as much recognition.
Well, that just sucks lol… I JUST started my FIRST contest and after reading this, I almost want ot take it back lol. Thanks a lot Mike!
But don’t worry, my blog isn’t going to be about contests, I’m still going to do me. And it’s not ONLY Entrecard credits, it’s also cash and banner design incentives.
But this was definitely a great read man!
Jay
DatMoney.com
Thanks Mike & Michelle
I agree on the bounce rate and whatnot. A friend of mine has been trying to get me to run a contest “to increase readership” but I just don’t see it working. ( Plus in the US at least, there are all kinds of legal requirements surrounding contests … which I realize most people don’t care about, but if somebody - a competitor, say - ever filed a complaint … )
To be honest I think worrying about Bounce Rate is overrated. I Think more emphasis should be put on the reading time.
I often visit a few favorite websites, and I most likely just read the main page, does that mean I am a bad visitor? No, not at all!
this is indeed very timely, it is the trend now and entrecard is setting the blog-tune at this time, there are a lot of other gimmicks going on around entrecard and it is fun, you can’t help it because entrecard is really creating a good deal of traffic, let’s see until when so for now am here to enjoy it - well it is fine with me if the contest ask me to write something about technology review or what not but contest for the sake of contest I really need to think twice, but lately for sure I’ve been bloging lotsa about technology.
Nice blog reminder !
good wishes,
pete
@Simple Mindz - well then, you’re ready!
@Nyari - Thanks!
@Tony - yea, this is probably going to be my last contest for a LOOONG time. If I do have one in the future, I will have personal items to give away
@Jay - Lol, sorry if this post dropped your confidence. Of course it wasn’t meant to do that, but I mainly want people to understand the concept
@fragileheart - You’re very welcome
@Forrest - oh wow, I didn’t know about that “legal” matter. Thanks for bringing it up!
@Internet Entrepreneur - That’s true, the main page is good ready, but I forgot to mention that it might not count on the bounce rate because you’re being tracked on the site for your duration of the stay.
@peterahon - Good luck to your blog and remember to never lose confidence.
Maybe I missed it, but what what is EntreCard fastpass?
I’m also running my first and last contest. I thought a contest would bring in visitor but it is not doing much for me, and I’m giving away 2000ec…..what more do I have to give to gain recognition? a car?
Anyway I drop by yourself almost daily dropping card and checking what you’ve been up to. First time commenting though.
Hi Mike…I already featured your blog into my blog…check this out
Live Love Life- Jojo
[...] Blog well, has a list of WP plugins that you must use to convert a visitor to a repeating visitor. A good list of plugins and a nice read too. There were lot of contests announced at the blogosphere recently, and Mike Huang has a different take on all of theme. He thinks they are a waste of time. [...]
You’re absolutely right, I’m getting sick of all the contests that I see around the place. AND, it seems as though every blog hooked up to Entrecard is giving away credits through contests.
That really annoys me, and I’m sure, a lot of the long-time readers.
[...] Should Contests Run Your Blog? - I think the link above is the first time I have mentioned a contest on this blog, and I have never run one myself. Mike Huang from Blogging Ads asks us if contests are taking over the blogosphere and offers some practical advice for those wishing to run one. [...]
@Nhuong - The fast pass allows you to move to the front of the line when you advertise on a widget. As for giving ECs, their everywhere now and that’s why I think it’s stupid
@Jojo - Thanks!
@Jylan - Absolutely correct.
I contacted the winner of the ad I sponsored for your last contest. Thanks for sending the email along.
I like to run contests sometimes on my blog.
Hi Mike - contests are ok, if they’re not used to excess. The ones I hate are where you’ve got to blog about the contest, so I never enter them. You wouldn’t want people unsubscribing just because you’d blogged about a contest.
[...] Meanwhile, there’s a backlash going on against contests, and I have to say that I fully sympathize. Hence, this Morning’s Must Read: Should contests run your blog? [...]
I think having a contest every now and then shouldn’t make your blog lose credibility at all. I also think it depends on the niche. Had I not had my standmixer giveaway on my food blog, it would have taken forever to promote but since I did, I went from 17 subscribers to about 300. Have they unsubscribed? I’ve had about 5 unsubscribe. The rest have stayed with me because it’s a good blog.
If you don’t have good content to keep the reader there then fagettaboutit.
@Lori - Don’t forget that e-mail subscribers do “boost” your feed count, but you gotta know if people are ACTUALLY reading your content. I like e-mail subscribers too, but I market my regular feed more, so I know if people are reading my posts.
@Catherine - True. I used that technique on my contest, but it was to help others.
Stumbled it as well!
Been site hoppin! Love it!
I wipe your spit off, kind sir
Seriously though, SOOO many tiny little contests all over the net make it tiresome to even do what everyone is wanting me to do so I don’t bother.
If you’re going to run a contest GO LARGE and don’t ask anyone to do much more than grab your feed. Thats my opinion anyway and it’s spit proof!
Very good post and probably useful for new bloggers.
Good Question mike, once i also conducted such entrecard contest, i win some subscriber, it was wonderful, but as you said, its a time consuming expercise, beleive me when i started it, i know it had eaten my head a lot. it will took another six month when i will think again to start any competition.
One more thing , loot at the left side of your blog, your most popular post is about a blog competition,
I frequent your site often and not only to drop which I do everyday, but I do read and view the entire site. You hit it on the money about how bounce rates increased as people only drop and that is it. I for one write a blog every other day and sometimes everyday.
Thank you for sharing and congrats on your Anniversary!
[...] Giveaway” ContestScratching The Surface Of John Chow’s eBookThe “One Heck Of A Giveaway” WINNERS!!!Should Contests Run Your Blog?An Internet Marketer Gone [...]
Lol it was funny to see the add after that anti-competition rant for traffic :p
But it is a good way to grab some visitors and maybe a few will stick around who knows
Well i joined entrecard, stumbled and browsed…. good luck to everyone who entered
Great I find it on the last day… LOL Good info though on the bounce rate, as I am kinda new at entrecard and trying to learn! Thanks again.
It’s because people are told that it will help them with their page rank and linkage. Yes, I’ve held some, but I’m not in it for the linkage. Just don’t have much else to talk about on my site.
Yup contests should happen once in a while!.Or else,the content takes backseat and finding time to write content becomes difficult!.
And when you hold a contest,you should encourage entries in such a way that they participate in your blog,like posting comments(old fashioned!),asking questions,video making,creative ideas etc.,.
Then again you need to post super good content!.
My last blog post is..Google logo celebrating First ascent of Mount Everest.
I do not think COntests should run your Blog but I do appreciate and enjoy a good contest now and then and I even go blog hoppin to look for a good one.
My last blog post is..Huge Contest MacBook Airs $1,000 Giveaway
I forgot to mention that Im having my very first contest at my new blog at http://dotblogger.blogspot.com and I invite you all to enter the rules are simple. I do hope you Mike do not mind me mentioning my contest. Say maybe youd like to enter? Just for the fun of it!
My last blog post is..Huge Contest MacBook Airs $1,000 Giveaway