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Blog, Website, or Squidoo??

by MamaShell
32 replies
My plan is to promote a clickbank product and I am wondering what I should use. I plan on doing article marketing to start with. What would be my best bet to start out with? Should I just write the articles and send them to squidoo lens or direct them to a blog or website?. I am not very tech savvy so keep that in mind. Thanks
#blog #squidoo #website
  • Profile picture of the author genietoast
    If you're not too tech savvy then go with Squidoo, but read Squidoo's terms of service. They have started cracking down on certain products that you can write about.

    On the whole, learning how to use a blog is better...and I don't mean Blogspot. Lately Google's yanked down a lot of Blogspot blogs they've considered spammy.

    It's best to invest in a domain name, web hosting and a Wordpress account. as a whole, it's easier to rank for traffic with it, and it's a better investment in the long term.

    If you have the money, you can always consider advertising your banner ads from your Clickbank product on someone else's high traffic site. Google your niche + "advertise".
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  • Profile picture of the author danielgb123
    Why not all three?

    As said above Squidoo Lens is cracking down on advertising, personally I've never had much success with them anyway. Create articles for Hubpages, Ezine and Articlesbase that lead people to your blog which captures there info via an opt-in.

    After entering their details and confirming, redirect them to the website with the clickbank product you're advertising.

    This is an extra few steps, but the great thing about it is; not only will your main blog be getting good backlinks from the articles you wrote, but you ALSO capture the details of a potential customer. So even if they don't buy, you're starting to build a nice little list for yourself that is TARGETED.

    Not to mention the fact that with articles posted and ranking on Ezine, ArticlesBase AND Hubpages; you'll be getting MORE traffic and more potential customers

    Just something to think about, it can take some work at the beginning but having the extra income stream and building that list at the same time makes it all worth it in the end!
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    • Profile picture of the author kimkitch
      I would definitely start with ezine articles and hubpages and throw some backlinks at them from one of the packages on this forum. These get indexed very quickly and you can easily get high up in the google rankings. Once you are on the first page of google with these then start working on your blog. With regards to Squidoo I have had a lot of trouble with getting these indexed, some of my lenses have taken up to 3 weeks to start showing up in the Google search.

      Regards

      Kim
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      • Profile picture of the author francoza
        Blogs and squidoo are for back links. I will recommend that you make lens and blog and then put the link on them of your website.

        Hub pages will also work great for you as also rank your article well in Google.
        Do not spam

        I hope this helps!

        Best Regards
        Francoza
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    • Profile picture of the author Matthew Duggan
      Originally Posted by danielgb123 View Post

      Why not all three?
      Absolutely.

      The great thing about using all three is that you can do three-way linking between them so they all get some Google juice, without reciprocal links that will kill the page rank.

      There's a great tool for bloggers that I've just started using on my IM blog called OnlyWire (Automated Content & Bookmark Distribution | OnlyWire). It enables you to bookmark your site to a multitude of platforms in a few clicks.

      The blog could also be part of the website and a Squidoo lens could then drive traffic to the blog.

      Barry's advice rocks. Enjoy that thread!
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  • Profile picture of the author guna
    Get it published on Squidoo and then you can distribute to Article directories with slight modifications. Article directories accept good content and if your article is good enough you will get loads of traffic. We have got more than 100000 views on an article at EZA with about 15000 clicks to the website from a single article.
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  • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
    Originally Posted by MamaShell View Post

    My plan is to promote a clickbank product and I am wondering what I should use. I plan on doing article marketing to start with. What would be my best bet to start out with? Should I just write the articles and send them to squidoo lens or direct them to a blog or website?. I am not very tech savvy so keep that in mind. Thanks
    Squidoo has been really cracking down on affiliate/clickbank products lately....
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  • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
    Originally Posted by cjmo75 View Post

    I would recommend Hub Pages. they rank easier and better than Squidoo lenses. also, try lesser known niches. I am using a very effective system that has made me quite a few Clickbank sales in the short time I've used it. Read this post if you want to learn about it:

    http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post1955603
    For now.

    The internet is always evolving, and as IM'ers, we need to stay ahead of the curve...

    I do like HubPages, however, there are a small handful of sites out there that simply offer MORE than they do....

    With time, they will have to adjust/increase their offerings to writes and content providers in order to stay competitive.
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    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Originally Posted by cjmo75 View Post

      I agree that Squidoo has many more modules, but Google likes Hub pages better.
      Squidoo was the very first site I began publishing for. I do love it, it's concept, as well as the genius behind Seth Godin....

      ....it depends on who you speak to, but, some have told me that their module system is "tedious", while others like it....

      I think it's good to go where the money is....however, there are deficiencies in the business models and functionality of alot of websites. For example, as this industry has evolved, Squidoo went from being very loved, to be slapped by Google because of it's inability to ensure quality.

      It has been working on that.

      Unfortunately, I am seeing it time and time again...sites that grow at alarming rates, only to fail to ensure quality of content. The site(s) that best ensure for quality will WIN.

      ...also...just because Google likes HubPages now, doesn't mean they will like them a year or 2 years from now....the same reigns true with any other site....

      It's good to go where the money is...but, it's also good to be ever vigilant in considering and assessing future business models. You can find gaps in offerings, where competition can emerge very easily if you review TOS and offerings of various companies.

      For example, HubPages Do-follow/No-follow linkage system is tied into a points scale relative to quality (a Hub Scale). This is good, in a way, however, it does warrant some criticisms.

      If one's score falls below (i believe) 75 points is what it is now, all the writers link automatically...automaticallty. revert from do-follow...to no-follow....

      As another item of consideration, HubPages offers a 60% revenue share....that is great, however, I'm just pointing out that that leaves quite a bit of room in the industry for other websites to emerge.....

      The website that can be control quality, while giving writers the MOST, will ultimately WIN. It's just business. People gravitate to the places that offer them the most.
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      • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
        Originally Posted by cjmo75 View Post

        Google has like Hub Pages for quite some time, and I think it's because they deter duplicate content and spam. If your Hub is spammish or duplicate content, they'll allow it but it will usually have a rank below 60 and will be practically worthless. Squidoo, however, doesn't allow much of anything lately. I think that's because their controls were non-existent and so a ton of spam ended up on there. I've just always found it easier to get my Hubs ranked and they are nice & simple to make and they look great. Just my opinion.
        Oh, I agree...HubPages is one (of few) that I do like....

        I like how they operate transparently and they've developed a decent community. The only problem is whenever someone creates something great, other people come along and create something a little better by identifying deficiencies and short comings....

        I think HubPages is great, however, I do see them possibly having to pay a higher revenue share as more competitive sites emerge.

        Granted, they do have amazing search engine authority right now, but, like I said, I think a 60% revenue share leaves ALOT of room for some serious competition.....ESPECIALLY if new competition can get their sites ranking for very popular individual keywords....
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  • Profile picture of the author jazbo
    My answer is all of them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Edk
    I'm on Squidoo but I'm getting onto a paid platform pronto. Best way to go...
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  • Profile picture of the author Richard N Adams
    Personally I would send visitors who click on your article bio links to your own blog. This means you build up traffic to a resource which you own and control (unlike many of the web 2.0 sites). You can experiment far more there with conversions and even if a Squidoo lens gets delisted or an article vanished from EZA you still have your main site which you own.

    All the best,
    Richard
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      Any site that you own and control yourself, that doesn't subject you to anyone else's suddenly changeable terms and conditions, that you don't have to worry about waking up one morning and finding that it's disappeared.

      Other people's property (that includes article directories, Squidoo, Hub pages and anything else you don't own and control yourself) is for backlinks, not for building your business on.

      I can't believe some of the replies above.
      "....doesn't subject you to anyone else's suddenly changeable terms and conditions...."

      This happens quite often in the Squidoos, eHows, etc, of the world, believe it or not....

      Warriors should be ever-vigilant about these things before submitting content to ANY site other than their own....

      My recommendation: Track, follow, and assess websites like Squidoo and HubPages and eHow, and see if they suddenly change or alter their TOS, ever so slightly....
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  • Profile picture of the author Barry Unruh
    Mamashell,

    When you boil down all the great advice above, here is the gist of the story...

    Get your own blog, on your own hosting, so you own the highest ranked, money producing end point of your funnel.

    Create Squidoo, Weebly, Hubpages within your niche and drive traffic towards your blog.

    Create articles for the article directories and drive traffic towards your blog.

    Create Wordpress.com and Blogger blogs in your niche and drive traffic towards your blog.

    Use your content from those properties and create videos for YouTube and other video sharing sites, and drive traffic towards your blog.

    Have a Twitter account for your niche, and let people know about all your great content on your blog.

    The big key...YOUR BLOG. (Yes, I chose green for $$$)

    Here is a very important thread you should read, it is going to take a while, but there are some really important things in it from a host of Article Marketing experts. Watch the comments from James - TheRichJerksNet, Allen Graves, Alexa Smith, Steven Wagenheim, JayXtreme, and you'll find a few others.

    http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...=ezinearticles

    Also, watch posts by the group above, and then add in TimG, Zeus66, and Jeremy Kelsall.

    You follow that elite group and read the thread above, you'll soon be an article marketing expert.

    Have fun!!

    Barry
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    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Originally Posted by KansasDragon View Post

      Mamashell,

      When you boil down all the great advice above, here is the gist of the story...

      Get your own blog, on your own hosting, so you own the highest ranked, money producing end point of your funnel.

      Create Squidoo, Weebly, Hubpages within your niche and drive traffic towards your blog.

      Create articles for the article directories and drive traffic towards your blog.

      Create Wordpress.com and Blogger blogs in your niche and drive traffic towards your blog.

      Use your content from those properties and create videos for YouTube and other video sharing sites, and drive traffic towards your blog.

      Have a Twitter account for your niche, and let people know about all your great content on your blog.

      The big key...YOUR BLOG. (Yes, I chose green for $$$)

      Here is a very important thread you should read, it is going to take a while, but there are some really important things in it from a host of Article Marketing experts. Watch the comments from James - TheRichJerksNet, Allen Graves, Alexa Smith, Steven Wagenheim, JayXtreme, and you'll find a few others.

      http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...=ezinearticles

      Also, watch posts by the group above, and then add in TimG, Zeus66, and Jeremy Kelsall.

      You follow that elite group and read the thread above, you'll soon be an article marketing expert.

      Have fun!!

      Barry
      14 page thread over there....but, WELL worth it....

      thanks alot Barry!

      (Still working my way through it!)
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      • Profile picture of the author MamaShell
        Wow, thanks to all of you that shared great information. Last night my head was spinning with what to do, now I know. Have a great day.
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  • Profile picture of the author JonAlfredsson
    hi.. absolutely you can start with squidoo lens.. then you may want to use hub and other article directories to effectively drive traffic..
    as well as: UAW, myarticlenetwork, freetrafficsystem and AMA

    Hope this helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author MarkAse
    I'd say that Squidoo would be your absolute last choice, tech savy or not.

    Why not, act like a professional online marketer, pay $5 a month for hosting and get a Wordpress.org blog and host it at GoDaddy (they'll do literally everything for you)?

    I think it makes sense to expect to be successful and plan for it, instead of being surprised and having to scramble to fix bad planning. In that sense, owning your own domain and blog/site makes the most sense with blogging making the most sense for someone not tech savvy.
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    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Originally Posted by MarkAse View Post

      I'd say that Squidoo would be your absolute last choice, tech savy or not.

      Why not, act like a professional online marketer, pay $5 a month for hosting and get a Wordpress.org blog and host it at GoDaddy (they'll do literally everything for you)?

      I think it makes sense to expect to be successful and plan for it, instead of being surprised and having to scramble to fix bad planning. In that sense, owning your own domain and blog/site makes the most sense with blogging making the most sense for someone not tech savvy.
      I would have to agree with this, Mark....

      Their value in a bigger strategy is debatable....

      It's a shame because that was the very first place I began submitting content, however, it's just so difficult to earn there in my honest opinion. I have about 50 lenses, and, one that I maintained at a lensrank about #100 (It was as high as #2, and on the front page, in the business category, for several months)....

      ....and, that lens, about Facebook earned me very very little...which meant that charity allocations (some choose to do that, some don't) were so miniscule as well....

      I know lensrank doesn't exactly 'matter' in the big scheme of things, besides a pride booster, but I still found it very difficult to earn there....

      There are times where I found it fun....but, other times that I found the platform to be really quite tedious.....they've come a long in some ways, and are still deficient in others...

      "In that sense, owning your own domain and blog/site makes the most sense with blogging making the most sense for someone not tech savvy."

      There IS a reason why sites like Squidoo are so popular and successful....among the highest ranked websites in the world....they do bring along quite a bit of pre-established search engine authority that comes along when a massive amount of users submit a massive amount of content over time.....

      Sometimes it is difficult for people to establish that search engine authority on their own....ESPECIALLY with the emergence of so many varying revenue share models and content submission websites sucking in tons and tons of traffic (that would otherwise go to individual's blogs...)

      There are gaps in Niches and keywords...but, I do think it's a little harder, especially nowadays, for people to secure that search engine authority on their own....
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      • Profile picture of the author Jeff Henshaw
        Why not, act like a professional online marketer, pay $5 a month for hosting and get a Wordpress.org blog and host it at GoDaddy (they'll do literally everything for you)?
        Well I'm not sure how many "professional online marketers" use GoDaddy. Go however, with what you feel comfortable with.

        You can find FREE web hosts that allow you to use your own domain, offer 24/7 customer support, WordPress installation, no banners or ads, and more.
        I would not recommend free hosting for a business. Find a reliable host (do your research) and if you get on with them, stay with them. If you perceive that you are having problems then look at other providers. Unless you are very lucky, it takes time to find a host or hosts that really fit with your business.

        Returning to free hosting - that does have its uses and benefits - which I won't go into here. Don't base your core business on a free host however, ad/banner free or not.

        Just my thoughts,
        Jeff.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
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    I wouldn't put my main effort into a site that someone else owns. Squidoo deletes lenses that don't conform to their new standards. I would build a blog and use EzineArticles to send traffic to it.
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  • Profile picture of the author dberen
    I also agree that you should use all of the above, but your money site should ALWAYS be your own site with your own domain. That way you have control over the layout and the content, and you will be building an asset. Creating a WordPress blog is the easiest, cheapest and fastest way to go.

    You can find FREE web hosts that allow you to use your own domain, offer 24/7 customer support, WordPress installation, no banners or ads, and more.

    I like to use the other sites (squidoo, hubpages, etc.) to create feeder pages and backlinks into my money site. These help boost my money site rankings with the search engines.
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    • Profile picture of the author x3xsolxdierx3x
      Originally Posted by dberen View Post

      I also agree that you should use all of the above, but your money site should ALWAYS be your own site with your own domain. That way you have control over the layout and the content, and you will be building an asset. Creating a WordPress blog is the easiest, cheapest and fastest way to go.

      You can find FREE web hosts that allow you to use your own domain, offer 24/7 customer support, WordPress installation, no banners or ads, and more.

      I like to use the other sites (squidoo, hubpages, etc.) to create feeder pages and backlinks into my money site. These help boost my money site rankings with the search engines.
      Yes, I think that is the BEST, most wise and effective way to go, dberen....

      Catapult your own site off of the search engine authority of those sites....
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  • Profile picture of the author Nicholas Kemp
    Go with setting up and hosting your own Wordpress blog. You should consider it as part of the learning curve you will go through as an Internet Marketer if you are serious about making money online.

    All the best
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