43 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
43 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Squidoos New Rules - Got my first heads up warning email

by cjshu99
36 replies
They're about to delete 3 of my lenses. No matter these weren't doing much anyway, but one has been there for 3 years and gotten numerous likes and good comments. As I am into some other projects I just dont have time to work on these. Oh well. Anyone else getting notices?
#email #heads #rules #squidoos #warning
  • Profile picture of the author luane
    What did the warning say, if you don't mind?
    Signature
    How I Made $1,050.53 With Simple, Silly Little Videos and How You Can Too!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7891843].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author marketingva
    I just checked my account and found most of my lenses were deleted. I deleted the two they left. I'm not giving anymore of my original material to anyone but myself!

    Bonnie
    Signature

    Magic Wand Author Services helps writers polish their manuscripts and connect to readers.
    http://www.mwauthorservices.com

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7891882].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author RogueOne
    Originally Posted by cjshu99 View Post

    Oh well. Anyone else getting notices?
    I got one on an old MMORPG lens that said it was a doorway page. I just deleted it. I still have four that make money after almost five years.
    Signature
    Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
    All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7891901].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author clever7
    This warning is only for those who have spun content in their lenses.

    I had received a message a few days ago about this change because I’m a giant squid. They said that they would lock the lenses with spun content but that we would have the chance to correct these lenses and publish them again.

    For me every lens is very important, even if it doesn’t have a good lensrank because it may send visitors to my pages. Of course your lenses are important for you too. Don’t let them delete your lenses! Tell them that you will rewrite everything whenever you’ll have the time to do so.

    Now I noticed an irritating change in their system again: they are showing us where they believe we should promote Amazon products in our lenses. This new suggestion appears only in our dashboard. In the beginning I thought I should delete it… Later I saw that this suggestion appears only for the lensmaster and we don’t need to do anything about it if we don’t agree with the idea to have an Amazon product at the point they suggest.

    They don’t send us a message explaining how we should behave with the new change and advising us about that. They send us messages about whatever they may desire, but they don’t send us warnings advising us that something has changed in their system and what we have to do. This is ridiculous.

    Now I’m only talking about Squidoo’s negative sides because I had many problems with their system and their support team didn't help me.

    I used to help everyone learn how to create Squidoo lenses and I even created a special lens with this intention, but now I’m so sad with the problems I had with Squdoo that my words are not encouraging. I even regret having created 82 lenses, which I don’t have time to update…

    I had sent them many support requests because many pictures were disappearing from my lenses, but they never helped me. I had to find new pictures all the time… Anyhow, I loved creating lenses, but I hate depending on the Squidoo system and their support desk. I even published my opinion at the lens I created to help everyone learn how to create lenses.

    Wish they were polite human beings, but they are not.

    Signature
    Join my Affiliate Program and Sell Original eBooks
    Scientific Dream Interpretation – A Solution to All Problems

    How to Be Extremely Successful in Life
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7891914].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author RogueOne
      Originally Posted by clever7 View Post

      This warning is only for those who have spun content in their lenses.
      That's not true at all. I've never used spun content.

      The warning said it was overly commercial because it promotes an affiliate program exclusively. It's a doorway or "bridge" page. It didn't mention the quality of the content.

      Checking the validity of information before you post it as truth is a good idea.
      Signature
      Get Off The Warrior Forum Now & Don't Come Back If You Want To Succeed!
      All The Real Marketers Are Gone. There's Nothing Left But Weak, Sniveling Wanna-Bees!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7891946].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Stefan Shields
      How many times do you need to hear "Don't rely on third party properties"? You will always be at their mercy, they can do WHAT they want, WHEN they want. Put YOUR content on YOUR domain and you will always be in control. At anytime they can change their tos and all your hard work is down the drain.
      Signature

      Please contribute to my university research into how generative AI is transforming digital marketing strategies

      Survey Link

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7891975].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Alan Eight
        Originally Posted by Stefan Shields View Post

        Put YOUR content on YOUR domain and you will always be in control.
        I really wish all of this 'stuff' was that simple...... No matter where my content is, on my own site or on a third property site, my experience has shown me that all *I* am in control of is writing the content in the first place............

        As for everything else... it seems that I am at the mercy of someone, something or some algorithm....

        To the OP:
        I haven't gotten any notices, lenses locked or anything like that.....

        I feel like my lenses wouldn't be on their radar... but then again... it's their site, not mine!
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7892026].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Jason_V
        Originally Posted by Stefan Shields View Post

        How many times do you need to hear "Don't rely on third party properties"? You will always be at their mercy, they can do WHAT they want, WHEN they want. Put YOUR content on YOUR domain and you will always be in control. At anytime they can change their tos and all your hard work is down the drain.
        That's cute.

        Too bad when you put it on your own page you're now at the mercy of Google. Unless you happen to be Larry Page or Sergey Brin, (which if you were, I don't think you'd be giving a flying eff about putting up "niche sites" anyway.) you're still relying on a third party site.

        By the way, if you're not using other mediums to drive traffic to your site, such as:

        Pinterest
        YouTube
        Twitter
        Facebook
        File sharing sites
        Press Releases
        etc...

        Then I just say good luck on your "just post it on my site and they'll come" theory. Again, considering you're at the mercy of Google to bring you the traffic even with that strategy.
        Signature
        "When you do something exactly wrong, you always turn up something."
        -Andy Warhol
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893359].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Jason_V View Post

          I just say good luck on your "just post it on my site and they'll come" theory.
          I don't know where you've been reading, but nobody here has expressed such a theory (I'd think most people here would be too embarrassed to say anything quite as misguided as that, wouldn't you?).
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893408].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author Jason_V
            Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

            I don't know where you've been reading, but nobody here has expressed such a theory (I'd think most people here would be too embarrassed to say anything quite as misguided as that, wouldn't you?).
            If you read what I quoted he explicitly said:

            Put YOUR content on YOUR domain and you will always be in control.

            In control of your content maybe, in control of your traffic, nope. Like it or not you still have to rely on third party sites, including Google on your own site.
            Signature
            "When you do something exactly wrong, you always turn up something."
            -Andy Warhol
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893419].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
              Banned
              Originally Posted by Jason_V View Post

              If you read what I quoted he explicitly said:

              Put YOUR content on YOUR domain and you will always be in control.
              Nobody's disputing that. It's just that you've mistakenly taken that as meaning "just post it on my site and they'll come".

              Originally Posted by Jason_V View Post

              In control of your content maybe, in control of your traffic, nope. Like it or not you still have to rely on third party sites, including Google on your own site.
              For the record, I don't rely on "Google on my own site" at all. And I think you're confusing "publishing on your own site" with "publishing only on your own site". The difficulty with Squidoo is that it requires previously unpublished content. This is the point you seem to be missing.
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893436].message }}
              • Profile picture of the author Jason_V
                Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

                Nobody's disputing that. It's just that you've mistakenly taken that as meaning "just post it on my site and they'll come".



                For the record, I don't rely on "Google on my own site" at all. And I think you're confusing "publishing on your own site" with "publishing only on your own site". The difficulty with Squidoo is that it requires previously unpublished content. This is the point you seem to be missing.
                What I'm saying is you better be posting original content to your own sites and sites like Squidoo but now more than ever social media sites.

                No matter what, you are at the mercy of a 3rd party, as it always was, as it is, as it always shall be forever, Amen.
                Signature
                "When you do something exactly wrong, you always turn up something."
                -Andy Warhol
                {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893446].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author butters
          Originally Posted by Jason_V View Post

          That's cute.

          Too bad when you put it on your own page you're now at the mercy of Google. Unless you happen to be Larry Page or Sergey Brin, (which if you were, I don't think you'd be giving a flying eff about putting up "niche sites" anyway.) you're still relying on a third party site.

          By the way, if you're not using other mediums to drive traffic to your site, such as:

          Pinterest
          YouTube
          Twitter
          Facebook
          File sharing sites
          Press Releases
          etc...

          Then I just say good luck on your "just post it on my site and they'll come" theory. Again, considering you're at the mercy of Google to bring you the traffic even with that strategy.
          The difference here is, if squidoo deletes your lens, you loose all your content. If you get blacklisted from facebook, you have a multitude of others places to gain traffic from but your site/brand is still intact. It's all about diversity. (I'm not saying don't use squid, you should, but just use it with caution knowing that they can take everything away within a second.)
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893452].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author Jason_V
            Originally Posted by butters View Post

            The difference here is, if squidoo deletes your lens, you loose all your content. If you get blacklisted from facebook, you have a multitude of others places to gain traffic from but your site/brand is still intact. It's all about diversity.
            Correct, but read my above post. If you don't want to be at the mercy of a 3rd party, get out of IM, this game isn't for you.
            Signature
            "When you do something exactly wrong, you always turn up something."
            -Andy Warhol
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893454].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author butters
              Originally Posted by Jason_V View Post

              Correct, but read my above post. If you don't want to be at the mercy of a 3rd party, get out of IM, this game isn't for you.
              Sure, we have to use a third party medium, I am not disputing that in the slightest. We can also mitigate the chances when one of them platforms messes us up that our business will only take a small hit. That is what I am getting out by diversification and not relying solely on one or two mediums.
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893467].message }}
              • Profile picture of the author Jason_V
                Originally Posted by butters View Post

                Sure, we have to use a third party medium, I am not disputing that in the slightest. We can also mitigate the chances when one of them platforms messes us up that our business will only take a small hit. That is what I am getting out by diversification and not relying solely on one or two mediums.
                Definitely, I know that we're in agreement. I'm just saying far too many people give off the impression recently that "post on your own site, and you're free from 3rd parties"

                This just isn't true at all. My last post wasn't so much directed towards you as it was to those with that kind of attitude that your site is the be all end all and that's all you have to do.

                Fortunately/Unfortunately (depending how you look at it) this isn't 1998 anymore.

                Can you throw up little niche sites with some backlinking and rank? Yes. Will they survive? Who knows?

                Should you build authority sites that you truly have a passion in the niche about and build up a following on multiple social channels? Most definitely! will they survive Google's whims? Who knows, but the caveat is if you have a good social presence on multiple social sites and lots of quality original content, most likely.
                Signature
                "When you do something exactly wrong, you always turn up something."
                -Andy Warhol
                {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893483].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author PotPieGirl
            Originally Posted by clever7 View Post



            ...What is really sad about the way Squidoo works is that suddenly lenses that were working for years have to disappear for a certain reason that didn't exist before.

            They should simply help all lensmaters get adapted to the necessary changes because of Google or whatever reason, instead of locking lenses in a violent style. This is not the right way to solve problems.
            While that would be awesome if HQ would help everyone individually, or give more EXACT info to the group as a whole, it ain't gonna happen. To me, it's like GOOGLE "violently" changing things and causing what "used to work" to slapped into oblivion. Perhaps that's happened 'round here lately?

            Squidoo - like Facebook, YouTube, and any other popular and powerful 3rd party site (including Google as well in that list) will change rules - break 'em and you're out. No hand-holding...no sorry's....just see ya.

            At least Squidoo is giving a week to fix things (and 3 weeks for Giant Squids) - to me, that's not as "violent" as other 3rd party sites.


            Originally Posted by butters View Post

            The difference here is, if squidoo deletes your lens, you loose all your content....
            Just want to clarify on that one point... the content is YOURS - it does NOT belong to Squidoo. If Squidoo deletes your lens, they are basically saying they don't want your content on their site - so be sure that content is backed up and take it with you somewhere else.

            Jennifer
            ~PotPieGirl
            Signature

            These 15 simple tips worked wonders for my Amazon affiliate earnings =)
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893682].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author JDIZM
      Originally Posted by clever7 View Post

      I had sent them many support requests because many pictures were disappearing from my lenses, but they never helped me. I had to find new pictures all the time... Anyhow, I loved creating lenses, but I hate depending on the Squidoo system and their support desk.
      I know how you feel, they really need step up their support in order to keep some real writers or they are just gonna have to keep deleting spun content
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7892322].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author cjshu99
    The email stated I have lenses that have content against their terms of service. Then it said:
    We run regular and periodic reviews of lenses to enforce our policies, including (but not limited to): acting against known spam content, locking lenses on topics we can't support, 'doorway' lenses that exist solely to promote an affiliate program, and most recently we have also increased our systematic intolerance of aggressively duplicated (unoriginal) content, article spinning (yikes), keyword stuffing, and plagiarism.
    None if my content is spun, but admittedly I have little of it and most of my lenses are there to send links to my affiliate sites. So I kinda expected it. Like I said, I wasnt making any money off these lenses anyway. Im surprised they only targeted 3 of my 24. Maybe because I have a rank of 50?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7891958].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author RogerMayer
    Banned
    lucky I don't have any spun content.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7891967].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author PotPieGirl
    Originally Posted by cjshu99 View Post

    They're about to delete 3 of my lenses. No matter these weren't doing much anyway, but one has been there for 3 years and gotten numerous likes and good comments. As I am into some other projects I just dont have time to work on these. Oh well. Anyone else getting notices?
    The new filter over at Squidoo is not running full force. I believe it started sending notification emails about 9pm my time (Atlanta/New York EST time).

    Now, did the email say they were LOCKING your lenses or that you have a week to fix them? If you look on your dashboard, is there a yellow icon next to them?

    If it's the filter warning... it's pretty easy to fix.

    Jennifer
    ~PotPieGirl
    Signature

    These 15 simple tips worked wonders for my Amazon affiliate earnings =)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7892047].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author DarioMontesdeOca
    I'm surprised people are still using Squidoo, I think that website has slowly faded off into oblivion like MySpace
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7892048].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author PotPieGirl
      Originally Posted by DarioMontesdeOca View Post

      I'm surprised people are still using Squidoo, I think that website has slowly faded off into oblivion like MySpace
      Well, spamming on Squidoo has sure faded into oblivion like MySpace...lol!

      Jennifer
      ~PotPieGirl
      Signature

      These 15 simple tips worked wonders for my Amazon affiliate earnings =)
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7892054].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author DarioMontesdeOca
        Originally Posted by PotPieGirl View Post

        Well, spamming on Squidoo has sure faded into oblivion like MySpace...lol!

        Jennifer
        ~PotPieGirl
        No doubt Jennifer!
        Signature

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7892117].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Stevie C
    I think that Squidoo are attempting something similar to Google's Penguin update at the moment and a few of the casualties won't have deserved getting their lenses locked or deleted.

    Touch wood I haven't had any lenses locked as yet, but I have noticed their filters for new lenses are a bit overly fine tuned at the moment and I have had to amend lenses a couple of times before they were excepted which was never an issue in the past.

    Alexa must be sleeping at the moment LOL

    This is certainly a warning though for those who rely on Squidoo as their main income source
    Signature

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7892136].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Stevie C View Post

      Alexa must be sleeping at the moment LOL
      Noooo ... I appreciate that "the smoke hasn't cleared" yet; I'm just sorry for the people "caught out" by this development.

      I'm also wondering how/whether the current ban on transferring lenses between accounts will be resolved.

      Originally Posted by Stevie C View Post

      This is certainly a warning though for those who rely on Squidoo as their main income source
      Yes, true enough. To be fair to many of the Senior Warrior Squidoo enthusiasts and those promoting Squidoo-related services here, they do keep on advising people not to depend on Squidoo as a main source of income - and this isn't their fault at all.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893328].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author clever7
    That's not true at all. I've never used spun content.

    The warning said it was overly commercial because it promotes an affiliate program exclusively. It's a doorway or "bridge" page. It didn't mention the quality of the content.

    Checking the validity of information before you post it as truth is a good idea.




    I’m sorry if this information was not accurate. This was what I understood from the message I had received. The spun content seemed to be the biggest problem for Squidoo. Of course, other problems related to the content were also a reason for locking lenses.

    What is really sad about the way Squidoo works is that suddenly lenses that were working for years have to disappear for a certain reason that didn't exist before.

    They should simply help all lensmaters get adapted to the necessary changes because of Google or whatever reason, instead of locking lenses in a violent style. This is not the right way to solve problems.
    Signature
    Join my Affiliate Program and Sell Original eBooks
    Scientific Dream Interpretation – A Solution to All Problems

    How to Be Extremely Successful in Life
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7892299].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Danny Shaw
    I only have 1 warning which is surprising. I have some shoddy lenses, the ones I made first, years ago should be deleted. I have not made a lens in ages and do not bother to update them so it should be interesting how many go.
    Signature
    **5 DAY FREE TRIAL** - The ultimate social media bot (FB, Instagram, Pinterest & G+).........
    Grab it >> HERE
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7892337].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Sandra Martinez
      They are doing whatever they can to get rid of marketers. Their intended members are people who do not make a living through the internet, but use the platform as a fun way to talk about their passions.

      If it is not in this wave, in the next one they will go over Amazon links out of their system. They want part of that pie. The fact that they are encouraging people to optimize the lenses to increase Amazon revenue for them is an indicator.

      I think the only reason why they haven´t banned affiliate links at all is because of the All Posters links, it is a great way to add beautiful images for free with no copyright issues. Maybe there are other programs, that is the one that comes to mind.

      Overall, it is a business with lots of expenses. Their offer is: give me some good content, I share my earnings from your content with you. Everything else will be ruled out sooner than later.
      Signature
      Coloring book niche? I have a proposal for you.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893288].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author clever7
    While that would be awesome if HQ would help everyone individually, or give more EXACT info to the group as a whole, it ain't gonna happen. To me, it's like GOOGLE "violently" changing things and causing what "used to work" to slapped into oblivion. Perhaps that's happened 'round here lately?

    Squidoo - like Facebook, YouTube, and any other popular and powerful 3rd party site (including Google as well in that list) will change rules - break 'em and you're out. No hand-holding...no sorry's....just see ya.

    At least Squidoo is giving a week to fix things (and 3 weeks for Giant Squids) - to me, that's not as "violent" as other 3rd party sites.




    I understand that Squidoo is not different from Google and other big companies we depend on. However, they could politely send a message to all lensmasters who have problematic lenses explaining what they have to do to improve their lenses and save their work, instead of locking lenses this way. A general message to all lensmasters with problematic lenses is not so difficult to be sent.

    On the other hand, why can't they wait four weeks or so, to give to all lensmasters the chance to improve their lenses? Why this urgency?

    I also believe that we should be protected from Google, Facebook, YouTube, etc.

    Why should we bear their changes all the time without any protection, or be violently banned, have our accounts closed without explanations, and similar problems?

    The violent behavior of these companies is absurd. They are strong bosses, and they are covered. But what happens to us, the workers? Shouldn’t our rights be respected?






    Signature
    Join my Affiliate Program and Sell Original eBooks
    Scientific Dream Interpretation – A Solution to All Problems

    How to Be Extremely Successful in Life
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893829].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Jason_V
      Originally Posted by clever7 View Post





      I understand that Squidoo is not different from Google and other big companies we depend on. However, they could politely send a message to all lensmasters who have problematic lenses explaining what they have to do to improve their lenses and save their work, instead of locking lenses this way. A general message to all lensmasters with problematic lenses is not so difficult to be sent.

      On the other hand, why can't they wait four weeks or so, to give to all lensmasters the chance to improve their lenses? Why this urgency?

      I also believe that we should be protected from Google, Facebook, YouTube, etc.

      Why should we bear their changes all the time without any protection, or be violently banned, have our accounts closed without explanations, and similar problems?

      The violent behavior of these companies is absurd. They are strong bosses, and they are covered. But what happens to us, the workers? Shouldn’t our rights be respected?
      No matter what, you are at the mercy of a 3rd party, as it always was, as it is, as it always shall be forever, Amen. If you don't want to be at the mercy of a 3rd party, get out of IM, this game isn't for you.
      Signature
      "When you do something exactly wrong, you always turn up something."
      -Andy Warhol
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893874].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author PotPieGirl
      Originally Posted by clever7 View Post



      The violent behavior of these companies is absurd. They are strong bosses, and they are covered. But what happens to us, the workers? Shouldn't our rights be respected?
      Well, we DON'T work for them.. we volunteer to contribute there. Based on that, we don't really have rights.

      Heck, even Google is a volunteer-type situation - we can totally block their bots and don't HAVE to let Google index our pages on our own sites.

      Sorry, but to me, that's just how it is. We are not forced to contribute to those sites - we aren't owed a thing.

      Jennifer
      ~PotPieGirl
      Signature

      These 15 simple tips worked wonders for my Amazon affiliate earnings =)
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893919].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Janice Stacy
    Personally, I never took squidoo as any kind of income source. I know there are huge potential to earn from squidoo but they are upgrading their system frequently now and any lens can be in danger at anytime. I have read a post here at WF about a person's squidoo empire became vanished within minutes. It is really scary.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893900].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Hostgator Coupon
    I have tried to submit 3 articles I have written to squidoo and they never accept them. They always say "duplicate content" even though I wrote them myself. Maybe it was because there was alredy articles on the same subject not really sure but its annoying to deal with them lately.
    Signature

    Please visit www.asmallorangecouponcode.weebly.com for A Small Orange Coupons.
    Please visit www.hostninecouponcodes.com for Hostnine Coupons.
    Please visit www.hostgatorwebhost.com for Hostgator Coupons.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893911].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Eutaw
    Are you guys still making decent money on Squidoo?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7893933].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author buyersolomedia
    It's funny how they chose to delete my lenses. I have about 30 lenses and of those only 3 were written without any kind of financial goal in mind (i.e. I didn't have any affiliate links on them). I had written those 3 in my attempt to try to get a lens of the day nomination. Guess what? They deleted exactly those 3 lenses! The other ~27 which actually promote products and make me money are all still standing!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7894109].message }}

Trending Topics