I get emails about Squidoo pretty frequently. Most of the emails have some version of the same three questions. Here’s the questions from an email I received yesterday. I’ve taken out the hi, how are you’s, and just left the questions.
1. How long lens will be indexed and get ranking on page 1 google? 3-6 months?
2. Sorry this is quite to the point, but do you think we are able to get decent income from Squidoo lenses alone?
3. If now I start to make new lenses to prepare Christmas time, do you think I can make it? I am thinking that the time span it’s quite short to promote the lenses and get rank on Google.
1. How long will it take to get to page 1?
This completely depends on the keyword you’ve chosen ~ the level of competition the keyword has and how diligently you build backlinks to the lens.
I’ve had lenses indexed and ranked in a day. I have lenses that were indexed in 24 hours and STILL don’t rank for the keyword.
There is no set answer to this question because there are too many variables, between the keywords you choose, and the action you take.
You can certainly choose keywords with minimal competition and get them indexed in a day or two ~ if you do some basic linking.
It’s possible to get them ranking on the first page in a week, to a couple months ~ again depending on the competition level of the keyword and how diligently and consistently you build backlinks to the lens.
2. Can I Create a Full Time Income from Squidoo?
You probably can, but why would you want to? I love Squidoo, don’t get me wrong. But I would never create my entire income from a site I don’t own, where someone else makes the rules. The thing is… your lens could be locked or taken down at any point, simply because Squidoo decides to change the rules.
The other thing about Squidoo is it’s going to take a LOT of lenses. I’m not talking 5 or 10 here. If you’re trying for a full time income you’re going to need at least 100 lenses (probably more than that) … researched, promoted, backlinks built, the whole process done for EACH and EVERY lens.
People do make a good income from Squidoo. (You can see here how many lenses Capt Squid has) I would not personally use it as my main income source though. It is a perfect place to get started, to learn SEO, to learn about creating content, to learn about conversion ~ and what it takes to get people to click through and buy. It’s great to earn your first dollar ~ or your regular $500 a month. But at that point I would take some of my earnings and reinvest it into a hosting account and start building sites I own ~ using all the things I learned from working at Squidoo.
3. If I start now, can I make it before Christmas?
If you don’t start now, you’ll never make it for Christmas. The first year I did the Christmas Cash Blueprint I started in the beginning of October. It cut it close ~ and I had to work my ass off, but I did get some of my lenses to page one and made some money.
The next year those lenses had some age on them and they did quite well again.
It’s not all about “today” or “this Christmas”, these product lenses are products people are using throughout the year. People buy stuff all year long, they happen to get into a bit of a feeding frenzy the last couple months of the year, but the work you do on these product lenses doesn’t end the day after Christmas. These lenses will continue to work for you for sometimes years to come.
So… in conclusion:
1. You’ll never get to page 1 until you decide to do something and do it.
2. You’ll never get to a full time income until you decide to do something and do it.
3. You’ll never get something ready for Christmas until you decide to do something and do it.
I truly appreciate your questions… I truly appreciate the doubt and the fear that is involved in getting started, in making a decision.
But really. If you don’t decide and get started you will not reach any goals.
What’s your decision? What are you going to do today? Pick something… (just about everything will work, so pick something) and start doing it. Daily. Consistently. Persistently. Today.
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(resubmitting my comment because they seem to keep getting *poofed* for some reason)
Hi Jackie
I downloaded your blueprint yesterday and took immediate action by registering a domain name and setting up my own holiday blog. (Initially to link to the Squidoo lenses I was planning to create).
However, now that I have a holiday site set up – would it be smarter for me to focus on that – or should I try the Squidoo approach this close to the holiday season?
Thanks!
Trish@Add Keywords Here´s last blog ..7 Great Ways to Repurpose Content
Ahhh… the question every web owner has.
Here’s my thoughts.
1. Squidoo is a well established site with a very high PR and google pretty much spiders it 24 hours a day.
2. Your new site is not well established, has no content, and Google doesn’t even know it exists.
3. A general topic is much harder to rank for than a very specific keyword.
Is the answer coming clear? Stick with Squidoo ~ it already has authority ~ which is why we use it! You are much more likely to get your lenses indexed and ranked on squidoo than posts on a brand new out of the box site.
I personally would NEVER have a “gift” site as my money site. Too hard. Too broad.
Your blog looks really good. Why are you dividing your time away from it?
Hope that helps.
Completely understand where you are coming from with Squidoo – my question actually came from reading another post of yours that said you wouldn’t recommend pursuing Squidoo as a FT income oppty (I’m not, btw) – mainly because you don’t “own” it or control what Squidoo does.
Thanks for the compliment re: my blog – that is my business site and it is my primary hub. However, I do this full-time (as both my livelihood and a hobby!)
and have been meaning to create a holiday-themed site for some time (not just a ‘gift’ site – and not just Thansgiving/Christmas/NYs). (I prefer to create “broad” sites over small niche sites – just personal preference, I guess).
I will stick to your Squidoo approach for specific products, though. Great report – thanks for sharing it!
Trish@Add Keywords Here´s last blog ..7 Great Ways to Repurpose Content
The age old question of deep vs. wide.
I find it’s much easier to get traffic for narrow topics ~ and to each his own.:) That’s what makes IM so fun, there’s a way that works for everyone.
I concur with Mike about getting a kick in the butt! I needed that – I started 5 lenses today and was feeling overwhelmed just thinking about completing them and at the same time wondering if it would do any good …
Thanks Jackie
Fran@Powerful Life Guide since 2006´s last blog ..Sampling 100 Healthy Raw Snacks & Treats
I agree with Jackie, once you learn Squidoo, proper SEO and start making some $$ you should compliment your lenses/accounts with your own websites and even blogs. Ultimately, everything ends up working together
Kiki Johnson´s last blog ..Top Halloween Costumes 2010 updated Mon Oct 4 2010 12-01 pm CDT
Great stuff as usual Jackie.
Taking action is the key, or should i say consistant action.
Is it me, or does all the best IM advice come from women.
Ha ha, I don’t know about that. Maybe it’s the maternal instinct in us that just wants people to succeed?!
I started late last year with my lenses – it was the end of September when I first found the CCB (I just passed my 1 yr anniversary on Squidoo – yay me!)
Even though I started late, I still made about $300 between my Nov/Dec sales. I’m not saying everyone will earn that much, but I think that was a great start.
And those lenses have kept earning me money all year.
And I expect them to do MUCH better (with all their new brothers and sisters that I’ve built over the year!) over the next couple of months.
Kelly @ My Life in Peru´s last blog ..Best Hashbrowns Ever
Great Post Jackie, I love the way you always seem to inspire me when I start feeling down( and kick me in the butt when I stop moving – LoL) Thanks Mike
Mike @ Headpiece Costume´s last blog ..New Princess Jasmine Halloween Now Available