squidoo vs ezine articles

Has anybody else noticed its getting harder to get ranked on the Google 1st page with squidoo lens in the past 2-3 months.....hardly see any top 10 squidoo lens lately..

Maybe overall traffic has dropped at squidoo...thoughts please?

Squidoo isn't the only Web 2.0 revenue share model around. It is a VERY crowded and competitive industry, with subtle (and not-so subtle) differences among sites. It was mentioned earlier that these two sites have completely different models, however, they are similar in the fact that they allow anyone, who desires to, to publish a lens or article, free of charge, and catapult their own site/personal brand/ etc off the inherent pre-established search engine authority that has been developed by their collective userbases, over time.

Someone, earlier, mentioned that Ezine Articles can be a way to gain "Instant traffic". The truth is, on any PR7 to PR4 Web 2.0 revenue share (or non-revenue share, like EZA), content aggregation site, if you do your SEO right, you CAN get 'instant traffic'. Each platform offers a plethora of possibilities for what and how you can actually use it to divert those visitors, that you gobble up from the search engines, to better yourself, your website/your personal brand.

There are some who will swear against using Web 2.0 sites, citing the argument that it isn't your own piece of real estate online. I can name over 20 Web 2.0 revenue share (or non-revenue share) models and arrangements, and more and more seem to emerge with each day. I've seen revenue share models range from giving writers 0% (Ezine Articles) to as high as 100%. (Unfortunately, this is where one is unwise to only consider the revenue share aspects of a site, when making a final determination whether or not to write for it. I would much rather write for a PR8 site that offers tons more pre-established search engine authority, and less revenue share, as opposed to a PR2/3 site that offer 100% revenue share.)

For years, Squidoo has been an affiliate marketers heaven, however, their revenue share arrangement needs a complete overhaul, and, I'd LIKE to see Ezine Articles share revenue, as well. Granted, both have businesses to run, however, there is emerging competition that completely mop the floor with their revenue share arrangements.

There is a bit of a Catch-22, with Squidoo, that I have noticed in my own lensmaking and experiments. With their inherent affiliate moduldes (Amazon, etc), if a sale is made, the lensmasters split that commission with Squidoo, 50%/50% (Unless this has changed recently, this commission is not subject to the tiered payment Co-op arrangement). When a sale is made, via a Squidoo module (in which they earn revenue for their company, as well), it always appeared like a lens would be catapulted in terms of pagerank. A higher consistent pagerank mean that people would have a better chance of competing for the monthly tiered payment, as well. The 'catch-22', and people have to determine what is truly "worth it" for them, but had you NOT used Squidoo's own affiliate modules, and used your own affiliate links, you would earn 100% of revenue generated. Of course, your lens wouldn't necessarily incur as great of a benefit in lensrank.

Getting Started With Squidoo: Payment FAQ

"....The first thing to know about tiers is that not all lenses are created equal. We work in a meritocracy, where lenses earn royalties based on how well they perform. We believe in paying our best people, who make the best lenses, more...."

My major criticisms of Squidoo is founded on the fact that, although their tiered revenue share arrangement was established essentially to prevent click-fraud, with increasing competition (tons of lensmaster, creating tons of lenses, all vying to get into the top tier), it is becoming nearly impossible to qualify for a miniscule tiered payment. In order to do so requires nothing short of daily updates and alot of hard work. Had one not updated their lens for a day, lenses are notorious for slipping in lensrank, significantly (100's to 1,000's of places) seemingly overnight. In theory, it is meant to foster competition allow the BEST lensmasters to surface, however, it is really quite tiring to do....leaving the BEST lensmasters fatigued, with a small tiered payment to show for it each month.

I'm sure some do well, there, with their own affiliate links. Once again, though, it makes sense that Squidoo would internally favor lenses that are consistent and proficient with making sales through their affiliate modules. (Afterall, that is a major means by which Squidoo earns it's revenue). It's all about striking a balance between what is good for yourself, and what is good for the community.

To those who use EZA or Squidoo (I apologize for the bump, although I did spend ALOT of time writing some of my responses here....)

....I'm actually quite interested in the specifics of your experiences in both places. In October 2009, Squidoo did announce that it's highest earning member earned $1,300. Unfortunately, little is ever said about earnings that go beyond the tiered/Co-op/50% affiliate module commissions.

How are your earnings/business with your own affiliate links? How about on EZA?

Do YOU get a significant amount of traffic in both places? Do you not use either platform? Which do you prefer as an alternative? Lots of questions....

I actually use other article directories more than EZA, as for the time it takes for the approval. However, yes I benefit with more traffic, when I submit the URL to social bookmarking. In return it makes more money.

In my eyes, they are two totally different things. I view Squidoo as more of a way to build a minisite (or at least you can if you want) and EZA as a way to publish an article. You can use a Squidoo lens like an EZA article but you can't create an EZA article similar to a lens. Squidoo definitely has a lot more flexibility.

With that said, they are both very powerful ways to drive traffic and generate sales as they are both authority type websites. A little promotion can take either platform a long way in terms of what you are trying to accomplish (which I'm going to guess is making money ).