I Don't Know Which Way To Market

19 replies
I earn an income online primarily from selling ebooks and drop shipping, but I wanted to expand into promoting additional products by building a list, or affiliate marketing.

I checked out Hub Pages, Squidoo and a few others and soon discovered they all have been penalized; I have seen a legion of their members complaining about much lower sales and their articles being removed or locked.

I only considered Hub Pages and Squidoo because I have found that today it is very tough to get blog posts indexed by Google.

Let me explain:

I started two sites in the last couple of months and diligently filled them with my own original content. Unlike it was a couple of years ago, Google only indexed a couple of the articles and ignored the rest. I used social media and pinged all the articles.

These were not spammy articles. They were unique and well written, each 900 to 1,000 words. So, although I read on this forum that many are getting their articles indexed quickly and getting tons of traffic, I am at a genuine loss as to how this is being done.

What vehicle do you suggest I use to promote my new products? So far, Hub Pages, Squidoo and personal blogs haven't worked.

I even tried adwords and Facebook ads spending $1,600, which generated only $345 in sales.

Please, no pie in the sky answers, or telling me to keep trying the same thing. I am looking for candid answers. If the marketplace is as tough as it appears to me to crack, please let me know your experiences.

Thanks.
#market
  • Profile picture of the author tooAlive
    Originally Posted by lastreporter View Post

    I even tried adwords and Facebook ads spending $1,600, which generated only $345 in sales.
    Alright, so you have some experience with paid ads.

    Based on the data you collected with that test, were you able to identify which ads, keywords or demographics generated those sales for you?

    Chances are those sales came from only a handful of keywords (AdWords) or a specific age/gender/interest group on Facebook. That test may have failed pretty bad, but you did make some sales. So something you did obviously worked. It's just a matter of finding out what it was.
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    • Profile picture of the author lastreporter
      Originally Posted by tooAlive View Post

      Alright, so you have some experience with paid ads.

      Based on the data you collected with that test, were you able to identify which ads, keywords or demographics generated those sales for you?

      Chances are those sales came from only a handful of keywords (AdWords) or a specific age/gender/interest group on Facebook.
      Yes, I was able to identify the keywords. But when I used them again, the prices where bid so high, I still couldn't realize a profit.

      In addition, several of them didn't perform at all in subsequent tests.

      It this just me? Or are others finding that their original articles aren't being indexed and that adwords and facebook ads don't pay off?

      Have you found a sure way to get indexed, that is White Hat way?

      Thanks.
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      • Profile picture of the author tooAlive
        Originally Posted by lastreporter View Post

        Yes, I was able to identify the keywords. But when I used them again, the prices where bid so high, I still couldn't realize a profit.

        In addition, several of them didn't perform at all in subsequent tests.

        It this just me? Or are others finding that their original articles aren't being indexed and that adwords and facebook ads don't pay off?

        Have you found a sure way to get indexed, that is White Hat way?

        Thanks.
        Well, AdWords click prices aren't cheap at all to begin with. Other marketers may have the advantage of being with them for a long time, which gives their accounts have a better "reputation" in Google's eyes, and consequently end up paying much less for clicks than a new guy with no account history. It's like a quality score at the account level.

        So AdWords may not be the most newbie friendly place to get started advertising. Have you considered Bing Ads? They're not as competitive as Google and their click prices are a lot more affordable. They're also not as strict, which gives you some more room to be creative.
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        • Profile picture of the author lastreporter
          Originally Posted by tooAlive View Post

          Well, AdWords click prices aren't cheap at all to begin with. Other marketers may have the advantage of being with them for a long time, which gives their accounts have a better "reputation" in Google's eyes, and consequently end up paying much less for clicks than a new guy with no account history. It's like a quality score at the account level.

          So AdWords may not be the most newbie friendly place to get started advertising. Have you considered Bing Ads? They're not as competitive as Google and their click prices are a lot more affordable. They're also not as strict, which gives you some more room to be creative.
          I think you are correct. Google is charging me the highest rate I also tried Bing, Yahoo and Facebook and made no sales. I spend about $600 before I pulled the plug.

          It's pretty tough. Maybe, I already have my answer, I just can't accept it.
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  • Profile picture of the author NatesMarketing
    The main thing you need to remember is - people.

    If you're to go with a blog/article style website, you need to please the masses!

    Content can be unique, 900 words, etc - but if people don't care about it...the almighty Google won't either.

    Blog/article/authority sites are hard man. Your site needs to entertain or provide some sort of value unavailable anywhere else. Just having a site with a bunch of "unique" content won't do it anymore.

    These types of sites are not for everyone.
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    • Profile picture of the author lastreporter
      Originally Posted by NatesMarketing View Post

      The main thing you need to remember is - people.

      If you're to go with a blog/article style website, you need to please the masses!

      Content can be unique, 900 words, etc - but if people don't care about it...the almighty Google won't either.

      Blog/article/authority sites are hard man. Your site needs to entertain or provide some sort of value unavailable anywhere else. Just having a site with a bunch of "unique" content won't do it anymore.

      These types of sites are not for everyone.
      I hear you. But how does Google know the content isn't of interest to the masses, if they don't even bother indexing it? No one will ever see it. I am finished before I even begin.
      decided.

      Thanks.
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      • Profile picture of the author NatesMarketing
        Originally Posted by lastreporter View Post

        I hear you. But how does Google know the content isn't of interest to the masses, if they don't even bother indexing it? No one will ever see it. I am finished before I begin.
        decided.

        Thanks.
        Do you have your site in google webmaster tools? With a sitemap submitted?

        I'd do the same with Bing's webmaster tools as well.

        How much time are you giving your pages to be indexed?
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        • Profile picture of the author lastreporter
          Originally Posted by NatesMarketing View Post

          Do you have your site in google webmaster tools? With a sitemap submitted?

          I'd do the same with Bing's webmaster tools as well.

          How much time are you giving your pages to be indexed?
          I have google webmaster tools. The sites were submitted and they are indexed, but many of the original articles are not.

          Plus, even though the site is indexed, it doesn't show up on the first page, even when you type the entire address into Google's search engine.

          Both sites have been up for about three months.

          It's a joke.

          Several years ago, I would launch a site with good, original content and it was indexed within a couple of days.

          I see that things have changed.

          I'd to hear from others who may be experiencing the same and how they are overcoming this.
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  • Profile picture of the author hometutor
    I don't know enough details, but you could add your signature to your forum posts.

    A few others

    Blog and forum commenting using your signature when available
    Press releases
    Business cards
    Radio talk shows
    Youtube


    Rick
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  • Profile picture of the author Bellerine
    Hey Lastreporter,

    A few questions whose answers might help you get improved feedback:

    How competitive are the keywords you're targeting?
    What is the demand for your product?
    Are people leaving your funnel before a sale or never getting there?
    Have you experimented with different ad copy?
    Is your traffic to sales ratio acceptable?

    My experience with e-commerce has been slow, but consistent, growth. I was thrilled when, a few months in, I averaged 6 sales and roughly 70 visitors a day. I don't know what your expectations are.

    Your adwords experience leads me to believe the ads were at least somewhat effective if you spent that much on a CPC basis. Without knowing details, that points to an issue with the sales site/product.

    Remember that people are pretty web-savvy nowadays. More or less so depending on your target audience. A newly registered domain, lack of feedback, and appearance play a role in confidence - though I'm sure you're aware of that with successful drop-shipping sites.

    Posting in related forums and answering questions on Yahoo, Ask, etc helps, if your product is a solution. Other people doing so for you organically helps even more, once that starts to happen.

    If possible, a YouTube video can drive traffic. So too can social media besides Facebook. Reddit, Digg and Delicious all result in traffic spikes when someone active posts a site.

    If you're drop-shipping and ebook sales are doing well, I'd suggest going over your data from them and replicating the avenues that drive those sales.

    It sounds like you have experience, so I don't know if any of the above will be helpful. I hope so. If you're open to sharing the links, I'd be happy to take a look. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes can be valuable.
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    • Profile picture of the author lastreporter
      Originally Posted by Bellerine View Post

      Hey Lastreporter,If you're drop-shipping and ebook sales are doing well, I'd suggest going over your data from them and replicating the avenues that drive those sales.
      They work because they are being sold from major players like Amazon and eBay.

      What I am asking is why is it that Google no longer, in my case, even bothers to index original articles on a newly launched marketing blog?

      I'm asking this hoping there is an answer and a solution. I am beginning to think, though, that blogging is a waste of time and a dead issue for me.

      Thanks.
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      • Profile picture of the author mrkitty
        Originally Posted by lastreporter View Post

        They work because they are being sold from major players like Amazon and eBay.

        What I am asking is why is it that Google no longer, in my case, even bothers to index original articles on a newly launched marketing blog?

        I'm asking this hoping there is an answer and a solution. I am beginning to think, though, that blogging is a waste of time and a dead issue for me.

        Thanks.
        Possibly because there's a technical glitch that's telling them not to index them. Why don't you post the sites here so we can give you a more informed answer? It could also be because those pages have no links to them, which will be required if you expect to rank for anything. If you're expecting to just throw some pages up and have them magically rank, then yeah, it is going to be a waste of time for you.

        Several years ago, I would launch a site with good, original content and it was indexed within a couple of days.
        You can do that right now. I did it last week. If your sites have pages that haven't been indexed in 3 months, there's something wrong with your site.

        And for goodness sake, don't get sucked into the article syndication crap being peddled in this thread by the fake woman and the fake half-billionaire.
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  • Profile picture of the author tooAlive
    I moved away from SEO for the same reasons you just mentioned. It takes time to see results and even then you're at Google's mercy to keep you ranking high.

    You could go the authority route but that takes time and a lot of dedication; unless you're really serious about it and willing to spend money to outsource most of it.

    Perhaps you could release your own product about how to become a successful drop-shipper?

    Just throwing ideas out there.

    But if you want fast results, SEO probably isn't the best route.
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    • Profile picture of the author lastreporter
      Originally Posted by tooAlive View Post

      I moved away from SEO for the same reasons you just mentioned. It takes time to see results and even then you're at Google's mercy to keep you ranking high.

      You could go the authority route but that takes time and a lot of dedication; unless you're really serious about it and willing to spend money to outsource most of it.

      Perhaps you could release your own product about how to become a successful drop-shipper?

      Just throwing ideas out there.

      But if you want fast results, SEO probably isn't the best route.
      Thanks for the candid answer. I agree with you.

      Just checking my experiences with new blogs with others.
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      Consider abandoning Google entirely and getting your articles regularly published in outlets which are read directly by your targeted audience. This method has worked astoundingly well for me in some of the most hotly competitive niches for over 16 years. Google is actually an insignificant factor in the leverage potential of this time-proven concept of article syndication. For any given commercially viable niche, there are hundreds or perhaps even hundreds of thousands of suitable publications for submitting articles. IMNSHO, there is no other marketing model that can so quickly and consistently generate torrential floods of highly targeted traffic.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        ^^^ This. I was typing a reply while Paul posted, just above, but now all I need to say is "I entirely agree".
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      • Profile picture of the author AZMD
        Originally Posted by myob View Post

        Consider abandoning Google entirely and getting your articles regularly published in outlets which are read directly by your targeted audience. This method has worked astoundingly well for me in some of the most hotly competitive niches for over 16 years. Google is actually an insignificant factor in the leverage potential of this time-proven concept of article syndication. For any given commercially viable niche, there are hundreds or perhaps even hundreds of thousands of suitable publications for submitting articles. IMNSHO, there is no other marketing model that can so quickly and consistently generate torrential floods of highly targeted traffic.
        This is excellent advice. If you can write articles that provide good information and are enjoyable to read this method can provide more and better targeted traffic than expensive PPC's or energy spent trying to please Google.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bellerine
    While article syndication is certainly viable, I think a point I made earlier should be reiterated:

    If you spent $1,600 in PPC ads for $345 in sales, there is likely something wrong with your sales page, product or ad. These numbers show that, regardless of the traffic you get through organic Google results or article syndication or any other means, you're not likely to see a decent conversion rate without some changes.

    While I don't know how many sales $345 is for you, or what the profit margin is, even at $.50 a click that's 3,200 visits. What's your bounce rate and where is it happening are questions you may want to ask.
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    • Profile picture of the author tooAlive
      Originally Posted by Bellerine View Post

      While article syndication is certainly viable, I think a point I made earlier should be reiterated:

      If you spent $1,600 in PPC ads for $345 in sales, there is likely something wrong with your sales page, product or ad. These numbers show that, regardless of the traffic you get through organic Google results or article syndication or any other means, you're not likely to see a decent conversion rate without some changes.

      While I don't know how many sales $345 is for you, or what the profit margin is, even at $.50 a click that's 3,200 visits. What's your bounce rate and where is it happening are questions you may want to ask.
      Or the product he's promoting doesn't convert well. Or both. Split testing similar products would be a good idea.

      Or maybe that traffic requires a bit more aggressive pre-selling.

      Or his landing pages could be taking too long to load.

      It could be a million things.
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