Reserving 15% Network Inventory for Sponsors
Written on September 22nd, 2009 by Cindy
We are pleased that many members are taking advantage of Entrecard services and that Entrecard is able to help users increase traffic to their blog. However in order to continue providing this free service, we will be taking 15% of our entire ad network inventory for sponsors as of Sept. 28, 09. This is a standard business model used by free advertising networks. The revenues generated by our sponsors will help cover overhead expenses and keep our service free to all our members for years to come. To keep things simple and fair, all ads will be distributed evenly in our network. We are currently working on a feature that will allow users to disable sponsor ads that may conflict with their blog. This will be available in a few weeks.
Please be assured that we will screen all sponsor ads to ensure that they meet our guidelines. All sponsor ads WILL be family oriented, and will not promote nudity, violence or anything illegal.
We thank you for your support and understanding. We will continue to make improvements to our network. Our goal is to deliver more traffic to your blog, increase your readers and comments, and let you network with other bloggers. We will focus on fine tuning every aspect of our business to ensure that our users are happy in the years ahead.
Cindy U.
Entrecard.com
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:58 am
If I understand this right, my blog with 20,000 page views per month will show your ad 3,000 times. Another blog with 10,000 page views will show your ads 1,500 times.
I’m showing your ad 1,500 times more per month. What extra benefits am I getting for giving you the additional 1,500 impressions?
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Larry -
Think about this. How do you suggest they make enough to justify the service? This is a real question. We demand the system work, get fixed, issues addressed speedy quick, but on what business model?
A 15% tax sounds reasonable, so long as we some (limited) rejection power. Limited as in rejecting a direct competitor. I’d prefer ads to run by category, but that’s another request.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Entrecard needs a way to recompense users for views of sponsored ads. Other free ad networks automatically run their users ads across the network, whereas Entrecard users need to drop to be able to advertise.
Please do not run ads promoting anti-religious sites or money making scams.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:58 pm
My main objection is that I’m being taxed more than most members. I’m also concerned about ads containing religious content which may be rated G but not conform to my religious beliefs.
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:24 pm
thanks for support… it’s good news for me..
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Larry, I also have a concern about our ability to keep the adds on target and in line with our beliefs.
As far as the 15% goes, do we all see the analogy to the Federal taxes? Here, they announce a 15% flat tax, and you are not liking it. I am now over 5000 views per month, hoping to pass 10K in 5-6 months, so am near your situation. What do you suggest as an alternative?
I know I sound like the broken record, suggesting a dual 125 widget. Other 125 square sites have this as an option, so EC is losing eyes they can ad for free. Me, I chose to sell the extra squares myself for a month at a time.
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Huh? Don’t quite get this though.
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Joe,
My Non-EC Traffic has nothing to do with EC. If they wan to tax my EC traffic, fine. But why should I give the 15% of my other traffic to show their ad to my visitors? It doesn’t make sense. I’d rather pay monthly dues.
Perhaps they give us the option of paying not to have ads shown.
Larry
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Here we go again! lol
“Please do not run ads promoting anti-religious sites or money making scams.”- John.
– In that case – also please do not show religious ads.
September 23rd, 2009 at 12:22 am
“Please do not run ads promoting anti-religious sites or money making scams.”- John.
“– In that case – also please do not show religious ads.”- Chinaren
I only have a problem with sites which devote themselves to debunking the beliefs of others. Some of them are no better than hate sites.
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:52 am
Entrecard’s using my blog for taking 15% of its entire ad network inventory for sponsors is NOT fair and equitable.
Why not equitable? Here’s the reason: My site is high-traffic, getting 21,000 page views per month, with an average 700 daily visitors, not all coming from Entrecard but from other referring sites like Adgitize, Project Wonderful, CMF Ads, and search engines.
Another blog, with only 50 visitors daily, which some EC members’ blogs are, will also show 15% of the sponsors’ ads.
This is unfair to my blog because both my high traffic blog and the low-traffic blogs of other members are getting the SAME service from Entrecard.
This is a case of unjust enrichment, unjustly enrichment the sponsors and other members at my expense.
My alternative to keep Entrecard stay in business?
Charge each member $ 3.00 – $ 5.00 a month for taking advantage of Entrecard services and for Entrecard to be able to continue helping users increase traffic to their blogs.
But not with 15% paid sponsors’ ads showing FREE on my blog.
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:12 am
Ah, but I find sites promoting religion just as offensive!
Anyway, off topic.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:25 am
Members have ALWAYS had full control and full veto power over ANY ad.
Except of course when the paid ads came around LAST time… Unapproved ads were run without approval and were ‘hidden’ from the dashboard.
Good luck with this, New!EC. Just remember the debacle of last time and don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. Luckily it seems we’re getting a better deal this time around.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:11 am
Thank you for all your feedback. I would like to address some of the concerns:
What is the difference between “Sponsor ads” and “Paid ads”?
They are the same in that we serve ads to “Sponsors” as a revenue model. The big difference is that we’ll take up to 15% inventory as to 50% with the paid ads. Also, we are going to keep a limited number of “sponsors” running at a given time. We’re not sure what that number is. But, you won’t see 20 to 30 ads running at once like before.
I don’t want Sponsor ads running on my blog. What can I do?
You will have an option to decline any Sponsor ads that conflicts with your blog, religious beliefs or any other reasons. However, you just can not decline ALL ads. This make it unfair for other users that running them. If you really want to NOT run any sponsor ads at all, we will explore the option of having users paid a small monthly fee as suggested by some of our users.
Why are you doing this? Everyone hates it!
Every business has their own revenue model. We can charge users a small fee for using it, or keep the service free and let sponsors help pay for it. Option 1 is never an option.
I’m canceling my account. This is not worth it.
We value each and every member and we hate lose anyone. We hope the explanations above will keep you aboard. If you do chose to cancel your account, please understand that our door is always open and you’re welcome back anytime.
We understand that taking 15% ad inventory to serve sponsors to will help keep our service free for years to coming is upsetting many of you. But there will be options if you really want to opt out. I hope this clears things up for you. Thanks everyone!
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:37 am
Larry – understood. I hope they offer you that option.
I just read your profile, and I am jealous, you lived right in the city, and now are still a short ride from Zabar’s. For me, near Boston, I am 8 hours round trip. Nothing to do with the topic, but for this alone, we should charge you extra. (kidding of course) Happy New Year to you and your family.
September 23rd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I guess I understand the reasoning, but please be careful with sites that get approved. If a site contains disrespectful or derogatory content, please don’t include this in the lineup. I don’t want that on my site.
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
Cindy, thank you for being open-minded and considerate on the feelings of other users who really want to NOT run any sponsor ads at all.
I do hope the EC management can devise a doable option of having users who do not want to run sponsors ads, pay a small monthly fee. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Somebody always pay for it.
I am willing and ready to pay a small monthly fee for using the services of Entrecard, but I do not want to run any sponsor ads on my blog, for the reasons that I have already cited in my previous comment No. 11.
I know Entrecard must also survive, financially, since it incurs monthly administrative and operating expenses to serve thousands of its users. It must also generate a healthy return for the owners’ investment.
But running sponsors’ ads 15% of the time would be UNFAIR to my advertisers who are EC members, since their ads exposure will be reduced by 15% on my site. They also paid hard-earned credits for their ads.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 pm
We are currently working on a feature that will allow users to disable sponsor ads that may conflict with their blog. This will be available in a few weeks.
It doesn’t seem right that you would implement the program in a few days with only the promise of a way to determine what can be shown on the users blog. Our blogs are very important to us. They represent who and what we are. I don’t want anything showing up on my blog unless I approve it first. Please don’t implement the program without the ability to choose which ads we don’t care to show.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Here’s an alternative suggestion:
Do not take 15% of ad space on a daily basis. Every time six normal Entrecard ads are queued on a blog’s widget, queue in a sponsored ad. That way a sponsored ad runs every 7 days for an entire day. (14.29%, close enough?)
Benefits:
1) Entrecard advertisers don’t lose 15% of their ad time.
2) Sponsored ads can be cancelled like a normal ad. Depending on how popular a blog is, the blogger will have between 2 days and 12 days to cancel the ad before it runs.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:07 am
3) Bloggers get paid (in EC) for running sponsored ads.
(sorry, forgot to mention that one)
September 24th, 2009 at 11:06 am
The main differences Cindy with showing sponsor ads or other members’ ads are:
1. I have COMPLETE control over who’s ad appears on my blog.
2. By running ads on each others’ blogs, we are building relationships with each other
3. I receive credits for advertising on my site
John’s latest idea sounds interesting.
If I see one religious ad or other objectionable ad on my blog, I’m going to do something drastic.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Clara (18) is spot on! Without the ability to veto potentially unwelcome ads already in place, it is not right to implement this proposed change. Unacceptable!
September 24th, 2009 at 9:33 pm
Do any commenters here use adsense? and do they approve all the adsense ads? in fact you don’t even see what adsense puts on your blog when viewed from different locations and countries. just a thought.
September 25th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I removed the EC widgets from my two high traffic sites the last time there were paid ads and was just thinking about adding them again. Now I won’t.
Perhaps entrecard could offer a premium service? Charge a buck or two/month (you probably won’t succeed in more than 3-5), and in exchange, premium members don’t get paid ads on their sites and perhaps get some extra credits each month. I would pay $3 or so/month for that.
September 26th, 2009 at 11:51 am
At this point I have not canceled any ads that are already set to run even after the 27th. But, if I am understanding this correctly, even if I am set to not accept ads, I will still have sponsored ads on my widget before I have an option to approve or decline. I simply can’t do this.
I too think the pay as you go is a wonderful idea. I would pay a small fee to stay. But, in return, I think the paying customers should also get some compensation. Perhaps a lower daily drop minimum?
There are other similar programs and if you drop a certain number of cards each day and it’s no where near 300 then you earn enough credit back to make the program very affordable and in some cases even earn money.
If you do not have a new post up before midnight of the 27th, I will have to move forward and cancel all of my ads and remove your widget. This is very regrettable and something I really don’t want to do.
You should have the approve or decline ready to go at the same time you launch!
To force us to add content to our blogs with no way to control the content is simply unacceptable to me as well!!
I will be looking for a post in regards to a new plan. Other wise, I will be canceling all ads in queue through the 27th and will remove my widget entirely.
Come on people get it together back there before you totally collapse this entire program!!
Sincerely,
Jackie