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Docstoc disaster!! A lesson for all newbies.

by Kvn
9 replies
  • SEO
    • |
A few months back I figured out that google loves docstoc (way more than articlesbase and scribd). Some articles I put on docstoc were ranking on the first page of google without any backlinks at all and still continues to stay there while the same articles I first submitted on articlesbase were ranking on the 3rd and 4th pages.

So I decided to experiment on docstoc for some low and medium competitive keywords with pretty decent search volume. I submitted several documents and started building links to it.

Within a month many documents were dominating the first 3 position on google and started generateing sales.

And finally the disaster happens. Docstoc deactivated all the outbound links, which means none of the links in the documents were clickable anymore! The situation still continues...

The lesson learned is that, do not put all your hard works in someone else hands. They can change the policies or take down your sites at any time. This goes true for everyone completely relying on blogger, squidoo, hubpages etc.

So get a domain and hosting, and put all your efforts in ranking your OWN sites higher!

Thanks.
#disaster #docstoc #lesson #newbies
  • Profile picture of the author ajbarnes777
    Amen to that! I learned my lesson plenty of times before relying on 3rd party sites!

    Article syndication, building MY OWN sites, e-mail lists, etc. is all what I'm more focused on now. It's also a whole lot less stressful... to say the least!
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  • Profile picture of the author The Mysterious Marketer
    Wow. I never heard about that...

    Thanks for sharing. :O

    Just shows that putting your all into your own website is your best bet
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  • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
    While this is obviously a backlink bummer, there's still plenty
    of value in having high-ranking, fast indexed content up in
    directories and file sharing sites like this.

    Just have to be more creative and purposeful in your approach.

    Just achieved some stellar results with an offline client, an
    industrial components manufacturer - about as boring and
    non-IM a business as there is.

    Their line card and product catalog pdf's are PURE GOLD
    in Scribd right now - seriously... money in the bank.

    How? Well, think about it...

    There's more ways to get an "action" from a prospect
    than a click. Ring ring?

    Brian
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    Brian McLeod
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    • Profile picture of the author Kvn
      Originally Posted by BrianMcLeod View Post

      While this is obviously a backlink bummer, there's still plenty
      of value in having high-ranking, fast indexed content up in
      directories and file sharing sites like this.

      Just have to be more creative and purposeful in your approach.

      Just achieved some stellar results with an offline clients, an
      industrial components manufacturer - about as boring and
      non-IM a business as there is.

      Their line card and product catalog pdf's are PURE GOLD
      in Scribd right now - seriously... money in the bank.

      How? Well, think about it...

      There's more ways to get an "action" from a prospect
      than a click. Ring ring?

      Brian
      True if you want to establish as an authority in the niche or already an authority. But for an affiliate it's not worth the efforts building links for a medium competitive keyword for someone else site IMO.

      And I'm sure that the vendor is benefiting more now. He and his products are getting more popular.
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      • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
        Originally Posted by graphicswarrior View Post

        True if you want to establish as an authority in the niche or already an authority. But for an affiliate it's not worth the efforts building links for a medium competitive keyword for someone else site IMO.

        And I'm sure that the vendor is benefiting more now. He and his products are getting more popular.
        If you're a bit-slinger, what I posted is not likely to make sense,
        much less appear as profitable as it is.

        However, if you think beyond clicks, even affiliates can immediately
        benefit from the strategy (Hello? Pay Per Call?)

        PS - and by YOU, I don't actually mean YOU... you know? ; )

        Brian
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        Brian McLeod
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  • Profile picture of the author Mohamad Latiff
    Originally Posted by Kevin Kuriakose View Post

    A few months back I figured out that google loves docstoc (way more than articlesbase and scribd). Some articles I put on docstoc were ranking on the first page of google without any backlinks at all and still continues to stay there while the same articles I first submitted on articlesbase were ranking on the 3rd and 4th pages.

    So I decided to experiment on docstoc for some low and medium competitive keywords with pretty decent search volume. I submitted several documents and started building links to it.

    Within a month many documents were dominating the first 3 position on google and started generateing sales.

    And finally the disaster happens. Docstoc deactivated all the outbound links, which means none of the links in the documents were clickable anymore! The situation still continues...

    The lesson learned is that, do not put all your hard works in someone else hands. They can change the policies or take down your sites at any time. This goes true for everyone completely relying on blogger, squidoo, hubpages etc.

    So get a domain and hosting, and put all your efforts in ranking your OWN sites higher!

    Thanks.
    Perhaps Docstoc saw all your outbound links as efforts to heavily promote your links (were these direct affiliate links by the way?)?

    You could try directing the Docstoc traffic to your own website on your own domain by having the cover page or last page of your document saying, "Love the info in this document? Get more like this at YourSite(dot)com (doesn't have to be linked, the readers can just type in your domain)"

    There, you should know what to do, capture emails, then promote your offers, etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author Yeeee Ha
    Tough luck mate.

    I learned the lesson the hard way too.

    1 - Built a nice looking lens on Squidoo
    2 - Worked hard to rank it.
    3 - Soon it was #1 on G for a pretty competitive term and helped me get a lot of sales each day.
    4 - One day woke up to see no sales for that product and found that guys at Squidoo decided to lock the lense. ..bam...all the hard work and any potential $$ gone down the drain.

    Lessons learned     - Never put all your eggs in one basket and never depend on third party sites to bring home the bacon.
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    Dirt Cheap SEO
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  • Profile picture of the author danlew
    Oh my. I have used Docstoc once to rank my articles on Google. But now its useless due to the removal of outbound links, so get your own high quality site and let it rank well!
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    http://virtualhelper247.com
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    • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
      Originally Posted by danlew View Post

      Oh my. I have used Docstoc once to rank my articles on Google. But now its useless due to the removal of outbound links, so get your own high quality site and let it rank well!
      Useless?

      The post above that I made a year ago is now SIX FIGURES LATER for the client.

      Don't jump over dollars to pick up dimes, folks.

      It's about STRATEGY, not tactics.
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      Brian McLeod
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