Two major updates

I have two important updates to share with you all.One is the google adsense requirement of having a privacy policy for blogs.This has become a requirement as adsense has decided to give more importance to the type of sites that the users have visited earlier,thus providing a more appealing and relevant advertising.Users can of course opt out of this if they don't like it.

All bloggers can easily create their own privacy policy using this free online tool,and its better to add the following lines beneath it,thanks to Michael :)

We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you.

Google’s use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to you based on your visit to this site and other sites on the Internet. You may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.

Another major update which I would like to share is that Entrecard is going to buy all your Entrecard credits for money in a week.For this and also to account for the server costs,Entrecard has decided to implement the usage of 3rd party advertising on EC widget 50% of the time.Of the money got from this,75% will be used to buy ECs from users,and the rest 25% for server costs.

This sharp change in Entrecard has come with some strong criticisms from bloggers,due to reasons like

1. Entrecard is using your adspace to make money,and you probably won't get any money for the 3rd part advertisements.
2. Less exposure to blogs who advertise,as their ads are shown only 50% of the time.
3. Some are afraid that this may result in banning of entrecard on Today.com as they don't allow other 3rd party advertisements to be shown.
4. Entrecarders will have to spend credits(exact amount not known) if they wish not to show any 3rd party advertisements.Update:This has been removed as requested by most people :)
   
5. EC widget above the fold rule was initially implemented,but was subsequently withdrawn(nearly) after some requests.

I can understand why bloggers won't like this change.Many bloggers felt Entrecard as their personal site friend and not as any other monetizing for blogs,and they don't want it to become one.Many bloggers are already thinking of dropping out of Entrecard.I think its really not justifiable to reject the change outright.I think monetizing on 15%,instead of a drastic change of 50% would have been a more feasible and smooth change.What do you think?