Should We Boycott Squidoo?

57 Comments

1. Personally I’ve never been fond of free sites like Squidoo since I don’t want to completely rely on someone else. Sure, Google is my best friend.. But with free blogs and hub pages there’s always a chance that you will get banned one day and then all of your income AND content will be lost. What then? You have to start over from zero.

   I’m sure there’s method around this but I still feel a bit insecure when it comes to trusting big companies.

2. That’s a great post you made there potpiegirl.

   I saw quite a few (very lousy) wealthy affiliate promoting lenses over there browsing the top categories… 14,000… yikes. No wonder they want those gone! That’s way more than anything about acai berries or other popular spam 😮

3. So, I’m reading through your post and I’m still confused as to whether you are recommending that we don’t use Squidoo or not? I am knee-deep in learning the OWM method and I don’t want to put effort into Squidoo if that is not the right way to go.

4. Jane – I am still 100% PRO Squidoo.

   Thank you for asking!

   Jennifer
   ~PotPieGirl

5. @RandomGirl –

   “That’s a great post you made there potpiegirl.

   I saw quite a few (very lousy) wealthy affiliate promoting lenses over there browsing the top categories… 14,000… yikes. No wonder they want those gone! That’s way more than anything about acai berries or other popular spam”

   Thank you! Oddly, WA lenses are not the ones with the most pages on Squidoo.

6. Hi Jen,

   Great article, with some good points.

   I’m still using Squidoo, even with the changed policies, as it’s still one of the best free sites around, in my opinion.

   Not that I have many lenses, but hey, everyone has to start small.

   Keep writing those articles – go girl! 🙂

   Jean

7. All I have to say is beggers can’t be choosy. If you want to stay in the guest house then you have to live by the rules of the host. If you don’t like it, get your own house. Then you can do whatever the heck you want. We are all over analyzing a very simple concept. I must have overlooked the fine print on Squidoo’s TOS that stated they exist solely to help internet marketers profit. The internet is a very big place and there are alternatives to Squidoo.

8. Am not surprised on any action that is taken by Squidoo due to lenses being created that are not of quality but for the sheer purpose of selling.

   Unfortunately, some innocent people have their lens not accepted if it is in the list that Squidoo has decided not to accept.

9. When we are in business, whether it’s offline or online, we are always dependent on some things.

   We depend on Google for free traffic. PPC marketers depend on Adwords, etc

   Even for Squidoo, we also depend on it for traffic and backlinks or affiliate links.

   Just diversify and don’t put all the eggs in one basket.

10. Great feedback, all – thank you and keep it coming!

    Just a quick note…

    I am heading out early for the StomperNet Live8 event here in Atlanta.

    These guys are AWESOME – so when they offer a weekend to sit down and learn from them, you sit your tail down and listen. I am super excited!

    This is who StomperNet is -(Just their monthly magazine is absolutely AWESOME! ) and here is some great free training they offer.

    ANYWAY, I will do the best I can to moderate comments while I am gone this weekend. If you comment, and your post doesn’t appear right away, please don’t worry. I’ll approve them just as soon as I get a chance.

    Have a great weekend…and keep the comments coming!

    Thank you!

    Jennifer
    ~PotPieGirl

11. If you think Squidoo tightening the screws will hurt, imagine when Twitter outlaws affiliate links… 😉

    You have to admit, any service that allows affiliate links on a relatively high authority domain is gonna be targetted by crappy affiliate marketers filling the place with rubbish content just so they can throw a few links in. I’d say that’s why Squidoo became popular in the first place.

12. I totally agree with what Squidoo is doing. Too much of a good thing is still too much. So many people just blindly post without the research and end up repeating the same tired old spiel and wonder why they don’t get results. If Squidoo’s policies force people to think outside of the box and create unique quality content then that’s gotta be a good thing for all involved. Especially for those that actually work full time in this industry.

13. Ok… What changes have come about with Squidoo? What did I miss?

14. What a wonderful way to put everything all into perspective! You are so right and I love the way that you said it!

15. I just try to do good research as outlined in your OWM method (reviewed here) so that I don’t end up writing on topics already covered by someone else.

    When I do find a good topic, I write like the dickens about it until I’m sick of it.

    I browse article directories and other free content sites and amazed at how much really bad (and obviously spun or sp*mmed) content there is out there. I tried the spinning thing but it was more effort than just writing good content (for me).

    I write each and every article I put out. I don’t get jealous of spinners and sp*mmers because I firmly believe that when the hammer falls 99% of my content will be spared. The 1% that doesn’t probably wasn’t getting page views anyway… so good riddance.

    Shortcuts don’t work. Slowly and methodically building an immense library of good content does.

    If Squidoo wants to ban topics or whack lenses wholesale… it’s outside my control. Unlike you Jennifer, I don’t have a personally vested stake in Squidoo marketing. You and WA are fully aware that you have had an impact in the popularity of the Squidoo site. Unfortunately stopping people from using Black Hat tactics are beyond your control – so Squidoo has to get out the hammer and broom.

    Sorry for the verbose post… I am very grateful to Squidoo, WA and OWM. It’s working for me.

16. Well Jennifer, you’ve left me feeling a bit puzzled. I understand why Squidoo wants to cut out the crap and actually i am still planning my first Lens to match their policies and your guidance – what I’m not clear on is what you really recommend?
    You sounded clear that you thought we should boycott Squidoo, but then you also said you were 100% pro Squidoo. So are you just trying to highlight that we should select little-used areas/niches and avoid the over trafficked topics that Squidoo is trying to sort out?
    Or are you also saying that it’s now difficult to use Affiliate Links so it’s got to be used for traffic only and stay away from the addition of Affy Links?

    Have a good “Break”. One of these days I hope to be able to go to a Stompernet event, I admire their work (but I have to make a small fortune first!!).
    John O’York

17. It’s always dangerous to build other people’s properties instead of your own. Sooner or later the day always comes where they will do things that you don’t like. It’s their site and you have no rights. You can take your content and go if you want, that’s your only right. If you use other people’s sites then you should always do it in a way that you don’t have to regret anything once the party is over.

    Gunter

18. Thanks for a balanced perspective on this. I like the comparison with Ezinearticles.com We tend to overlook the restrictions that this site places on us (re affiliate links, no of links, article length, resource box size, etc) because they give us high search engine exposure. Squidoo too can get us very quickly onto the first page of Google results, but we tend to focus only on the restrictions. If you sit back and really look at what tools, traffic (internal and external), innovation and community connection that Squidoo provides, their restrictions seem minimal…and as you point out ,Jennifer, they have every right to impose those restrictions. But we just have to look around – Twitter imposes restrictions re “following” to “follower” ratios (and comment length), YouTube and Flickr limit file size for videos, Clickbank won’t give you your first payment until you meet their initial, demanding start-up tests…enough said.

    I think another consideration is that Squidoo was not invented just for affiliate marketers to make money. Seth Godin stated that his primary driver was to donate $100 Million to charity …and Squidoo has a strong charity orientation. I think the Founder has every right to protect what he has created and to make decisions in line with his goals.

    I, for one, will continue to contribute to Squidoo and its ongoing goals of revenue raising for charity and income sharing for contributors. I am very happy to pursue OWM within Squidoo’s constraints.

19. I have seemed to “luck out” during this entire fiasco with the Squidoo lenses being locked, etc. However almost from the start of my IM career I’ve focused on niches that were unique to what other people were promoting due to both a love of what I was writing about as well as a lesson I learned long ago – never “follow the pack” – always go my own way. Especially when it comes to financial matters or other important life-changing activities, following a crowd can be more than a little dangerous. (In my own experience.)

20. Your analysis and comparison between Squidoo and Ezine is impressive.

21. Hi Jen. I too am a bit confused. You started off your post making it clear that you are indeed going to boycott squidoo. You said it is the right thing for you to do. So my initial impression was that you’re totally going to stop creating lenses now. But as I continued reading, i find that you are defending squidoo’s move. So I was left actually confused rather than clarified with your post.

    I have a copy of your OWM ebook. I actually already made a few sales from squidoo before bumping into your product. The fact that my first sales from IM came from a squidoo lens that really didn’t have much, I thought having your ebook would definitely give more info to boost future campaigns.

    I have started creating other lenses following your ebook, but got a little derailed because of this Squidoo policy changes and the effects it may have for my campaigns. So I look to you to help clear the way for me again. Should I continue with squidoo or boycott them too?

22. Nice analysis. I think what angered me most with the couple of lenses they banned, was the form letters that were vague and insulting.

    Dealing with hundreds of thousands of lenses can be a problem, but it still takes just a second or two on their side to click a box that limits the discussion to what the real problem is. It is a bit too much like a manipulative traffic cop to ask me, to tell them, why I think my lens was blocked.

    Both my lenses were reinstated, but the e-mail stating that said I needed to improve quality by providing original content. All 100 or so of my lenses are full of original content – it was another inaccurate form letter.

    That said, I’m still writing new Squidoo lenses.

    I looked around,tried some other sites, and found nothing that works as well for me. I did put everything to charity as you mentioned in another post, and stopped the link and glam ads. My content is what is important to me, not the dollar or so ad revenue each lens averages. Why not do good with it?

    (hey, brevity is not my specialty either…lol!)

23. Great article. Very astute observations. I’m new to IM. I have purchased OWM and am in the process of creating my first Squidoo lens. Because of all of the help offered through forums, blogs and such, I believe Squidoo is the best business model for someone such as myself just starting out. However, I can see why you feel it’s time for YOU to leave.

    It seems like you’re saying that Squidoo is like a giant internet business incubator. You know, those companies that provide start-up businesses with phone, fax, mail and telephone services for a low monthly fee. However, there are rules and regulations for using these services AND there is a time limit on how long you can use them. As your business grows and starts to profit, business owners want to flex their muscles and start to make their own rules. It’s then time to move on.

    It seems that you have reached that point. I think it’s very professional of you to acknowledge all the help they’ve provided to you and to not trash them just because they are not a “good fit” anymore for your business.

    Since I’m a complete newbie, I’ll probably be with Squidoo for a while. But one day I hope to spread my wings and leave the nest too.

24. Hi PPG,

    I would just like to know before I go to the trouble of writing content for Sqidoo is there a list someewhere of what type of content is not allowed anymore for what type of sites.

    Maybe trying to help newbies on your site isn’t allowed anymore. (I know it is but this is an example of what I’m asking so the unknowing amongst get it straight) It would be good to have some clear definition of exactly what is and isn’t left on their agenda.

    Thank you, Maureen

25. Jennifer,

    I too am confused (not hard for me). I spent $47.00 and get a week into OWM wholly based on Squidoo lenses. And now, a week later, the author says we should boycott them. I believe you’re more ethical than that, but whats a newbie to think. Please respond.

26. Does this ban apply to Wealthy Affiliates only or is it ALL affiliate links?

27. Here is a link that may help from SquidU.

    http://www.squidoo.com/squidoo-policy-update#module39736822

28. Hi Jennifer,

    I just wanted to share a little tip. I have noticed that when I put affiliate links in Squidoo, I use the nofollow tag and I have not run into any trouble at all.

    Cheers,

    Dipankar

29. I changed all my Wealthy Affiliate lenses to One Week Marketing lenses, and haven’t had anything banned.

30. @Dipankar,
    I also use Nofollow for all my affiliate links, cloak it with tiny url, and don’t find any real problem.

31. I can see where squidoo is coming from with all of this. And it really is just part of the evolution of this business. It’s just a new wrinkle on top of an old wrinkle, people.I personally have found squidoo to be a great place to learn about internet marketing and SEO and keywords and promotion……I find that much of the information on squidoo is actually pretty good and I will often look there first before googling some obscure/off the charts topic. Most of the lensmasters are passionate about their topics and offer good content and links. Now that is not always true about the rest of us…..

32. What a great analysis, PPG. I’m sure Squidoo is just doing what is best for the site as a whole and, end the end, that will be good for all who market there.

33. Oh, and I re-read your post and I’m missing the part where others think you said to boycott Squidoo. Seems like it was just a rhetorical question to me and your answer would be ‘no’.

34. Does anyone know what has been blacklisted? That’s the only thing I really don’t agree with. Can anyone help out with specific blacklisted sites or topics, so others aren’t wasting their time writing on them?

35. If you go to the

    squidoo-policy-update#module39736822

    at squidoo there is a list of the blacklisted and whitelisted sites.

    Michael

36. This states that Squidoo will NOT publish their Blacklisted domains:

    “On the flip side, there will also be Blacklisted domains, and that list will be growing as well (but not published publicly). Even 1 link to a blacklisted domain will get your lens locked from view. Sites that consistently show up on lenses that are consistently spam and overt junk and take advantage of readers, domains and programs that have earned a bad reputation because of spammers… we’re putting them on a no-no list. This means: Blackhat SEO sites. Reverse phone lookup sites. Paid people finder sites. Lots of dating websites. Many affiliate websites that have proven to be a community of spammers. Like that. Even 1 link on your lens to those domains, and your lens will get locked. You’ll know it when it happens, and if you’re caught by surprise, we’ll give you a chance to edit your lens and remove the blacklisted promotion.”

37. I have read all the comments above and it was nice knowing this information. I have also encountered squidoo but I still don’t know if i will go for them, so for now I stick with google and yahoo. Now I don’t know if I should go with them, based on your experience, I already have a doubt.

38. You’ve really set a cat amongst the pigeons. (lol) I’ve been reading some of the comments about your post on SquidU. Some feel you’re promoting a total ban on Squidoo and some don’t know if it’s just your kicky sense of humour.

    I understand what you’re saying and agree with most of it. You’re making a choice that’s right for you. I too will make a choice that’s right for me.

    Thanx for your views. Keep’em coming.

39. I too am now following OWM and have read about Squidoo’s policy changes. What i am worried about is that everything I look at already has loads of Squidoo pages. The smallest I found had 32 pages (through Google). Is this too many articles; how many IS too many? Is it really possible to write unique content on something that has 130+ pages on Squidoo, or will my new lenses be locked or deleted?

    It all just seems so woolly to me and that there are not enough ‘rules’ to abide by….just some fluffy guidelines!!

    Finally, is OWM still relevant, or will you be updating it to reflect Squidoo’s changes?

40. I think you make some very good points. I actually wondered in the past how Squidoo managed to be so lenient – it can be an advantage and a disadvantage as well. Like anyone, they have to find a proper balance!

41. Great post, Jen. I’m sure there will be some disappointed affiliate marketers out there, but I believe Squidoo has to do what’s necessary to survive. I just started on your OWM program and have made a sale…even before I finished all my lenses. I don’t think there will be a problem with legitimate marketers, but I’m working on my own website anyway. Thanks for your insight.

42. I have been a member of wealthy affiliate for over a year now and love it. I highly recommend it to everyone I know.

43. I LOVE Squidoo – I always have. This current mess that they are in, however, has caused me to rethink how I use it. It’s made me realize that having my own sites is much better. So I still use Squidoo for backlinks and I link to my landing page blog. I used to use free blog sites, hubpages, goarticles, etc for the sole purpose of linking to my affiliate program but I don’t do that anymore. I think this is a better long term strategy.

44. Nice post and info..Thank you for shairng:=)

45. Thanks for sharing this Jennifer. It helps when you have someone who seems to keep her eye on the ball!!
    Just started to use Squidoo and I have several friends just starting as well they need to know this information to get the best out of the system in the right way!
    Great stuff – have an excellent weekend
    Mike

46. I’m a member of WA and I think it is a shame that squidoo’s rules are simply one sided.

47. I have never been fond of squidoo, but have been forced to use them due to its popularity and the fact that search engines love them. I have now decided to boycott them altogether and go elsewhere for the same, maybe even better quality backlinks now.

    thank you for this post.

48. That is a pretty good business analyses Jennifer. If you provide good content wherever you place it and use affiliate links to assist your effort that benefits all of us. yes free sites get a lot of spammy stuff though. I appreciate your comment about using the free sites to fund you while you are developing a business.I likeSquidoo and Weebly and Hub Pages to assist white hatters.

49. You didn’t say it Jennifer but I guess that you are saying that you are bailing on Squidoo? I don’t blame you, I only use web sites owned by someone else to link to my own properties. Lots of work involved in a post? Only going to be posted on sites I own.
    Rick

50. Well I have ben going with OWM for 6 weeks now – and made 2 sales. I can see the rise in traffic to my lenses and articles which is all good – that is until last night when I went to check in on some of my campaigns. Low and behold all 25 of 30 lens have been removed due to spam – all beenlockes and had accouts removed -I emailed them and I guess I will have to wait and see. I am so peed off right now – as I put so much work into them! and they all original! So for now I have to go into all my articles (50 of em!) and take out the links to my lenses! What a hassle!

51. Sorry about my terrible spelling in the previous post!

52. I’m really new to affiliate stuff, and selling online, and have only recently been following ‘Pot Pie Girl’
    I have been following jennifer’s advice and bought ‘squidoo profits system’ etc.
    The advice and tips are fab- for all online stuff, not just squidoo.

    But like many here, I am confused because of squidoos new policies.
    I am trying to stay within the guidelines at squidoo (I only have 3 lenses) but I’m still running into problems with ‘too many links to same site’ even though they are to zazzle mainly- a whitelisted site.

    Of course, I want to sell and promote products, but this surely isnt breaking squidoo’s guidelines, is it? What is the point in a shopping section, if you cant have links to the shops to buy?!

    I wanted to invest in the OWM, mainly to help with squidoo,but like a previous post above has queried- will it be updated t reflect the new policies at squidoo?
    I see the reasoning with squidoo’s change of policies,(it is their site, fair enough) but it doesnt help answer my question-
    ‘will I , and should I continue to build lenses to make money on squidoo?’
    sorry I’ve rambled on a bit-
    Mabel
    pink pig illustration

53. To be a successful internet marketer one has to have a thick skin, so when Squidoo adopted its censorship policy and blocked thousands of Squidoo lenses I just moved on to where free speech (including commercial free speech) was respected and welcomed.

    Initially, it appeared to be just another moonbat, Seth Godin, acting as a dictator who decides what people can write about and what will be censored. Although this was indeed true, Godin built Squidoo so he can pretty much do whatever he wants. However, it doesn’t explain why Squidoo did this.

    Squidoo’s censorship policy is really about hypocrisy and greed.

    The hypocrisy is that while Seth Godin and Squidoo deride and disparage you as an affiliate marketer pushing weight loss, dieting, health products, card games, cash gifting, credit card debt, mortgages, currency trading, Forex, ringtones, adult lenses, lyrics and much more, Squidoo earns millions of dollars hawking all of these affiliate products (and many more) directly from Squidoo lenses through an affiliate agreement with Google Adsense, Amazon, eBay, Cafe Express, Kontera and others. The behavior of banning certain items with the Squidoo TOS (no lenses on weight loss, Forex, health products, adult products, credit cards, etc.) and then blatantly selling these exact same banned products themselves (through ebay, Kontera, Amazon, Adsense, etc.) on your lenses is hypocrisy on a colossal scale.

    So the greed is monopolizing the affiliate income from products you are not allowed to write about. Seth Godin and Squidoo can make money from all the banned topics, directly from ads they place on your lenses. But because of their censorship policy, you cannot even write about these things on a Squidoo Lens.

    Squidoo has no cozy relationship with Clickbank. They can’t make a cut of the money you earn promoting Clickbank products on your lenses. Therefore they pretty much cut Clickbank products out of the picture by using their censorship policy. Just more greed.

    I know Squidoo donates money to charity and that’s nice. Boss Tweed from Tammany Hall donated money to charity as did Al Capone. Did that make them any less corrupt; any less hypocritical; any less greedy?

54. dude, do you have right-click disabled? and links open in the same window? it makes surfing your site difficult: when I see an interesting link I can’t just right-click, open it in a new tab, and keep on reading where I am. and if I left-click I leave your site, which I don’t want to do. kind of a pain

55. Interesting post and I really like your take on the issue. I know have a clear idea on what this matter is all about. Thank you so much.

Comments are closed.