What is the best way to change directions with Squidoo lenses?

[John Dilbeck]

I didn't exactly know what to use as a title for this discussion and I'm not entirely satisfied with the one I chose. Maybe it will spark some discussions.

I have a little over 70 lenses and plan to delete some of them, but I don't want to drop below 50 and jeopardize my Giant Squid status, so I'm having to do this a step at a time.

There are several reasons for this.

One of the main things I've been doing for the last 13 years is promoting products on Amazon.com as a member of their associates program. In the last week of June, I was dropped from their program after sending them thousands of visitors and helping them sell many thousands of dollars worth of products -- all because I live in North Carolina. All affiliates in NC were dropped in anticipation of a change in the state tax laws.

Now, whether this is just their attempt at a showdown with the state legislatures or a legitimate business concern I don't know. No matter what, though, I'm done with Amazon.com. If they ever invite me back, the answer is no.

The same is going to be true for any other affiliate program that drops me just because I live in North Carolina.

I have several lenses that are built around promoting motivational and inspirational books and movies and each of them has a plexo list of products at Amazon. Some have polls and duels, as well.

I want to find a new home for them. I think the information on the lens is good, but I won't promote Amazon.com.

If you are interested in taking over one or more of these lenses, reply to this discussion and let me know. What do you plan to do with it?

You can see my full list of lenses on my lensmasters page.

I also plan to delete several lenses that promote affiliate programs I no longer believe in. I also tested some lenses when trying various ways to build traffic to my various sites over the last few years. One thing that was effective -- for certain things -- was traffic exchanges, but they are effective only for a very narrow group. I'm going to delete these lenses, but have to offset it by building more lenses so I don't drop below 50.

One of my main marketing thrusts for the rest of this year and next year will be promoting locally owned businesses in Murphy, NC.

To that end, I've created a new Murphy Gold website and a new Murphy Gold lens. This is also tied in with my Murphy Connections social networking site (powered by Ning.com, as is this community).

So, that's my story.

What do you do when you want to change direction and some of your Squidoo lenses no longer fit within your marketing plan or personal opinions?

I've looked to see if any of the lenses can be repurposed, but I don't think it would be worth the effort.

What would you do?

Act on your dream!

JD

[GypsyOwl]

Hello JD,
Have you seen my lens recycle lens? It would be a way to reuse your lenses (especially if the URL's are cool). http://www.squidoo.com/howtorecycleyoursquidoolens

I am so sorry Amazon is putting affiliates through this. Even needing to showdown...they could have figured out a way to make their point without putting the bystanders (those who have been doing all of the WORK) in a negative position.

Also... before you delete (not your affiliate ones "that you no longer believe in") just any you are not going to be able to recycle put alist together and email me (or Private Message here in the squidoo marketing community),

I'd like to bid on them

OR... just thought of this. Put that list on the marketing board on squidU forum and have an auction there.
and if I win the bid I'm going to donate them to the Traveling Lens group (it is a charity lensmasters account where Giants take turns working on lenses just for fun and for Charity). Whatever charity you have selected for them will continue with them forever and 100%. also, you will have a link to your lensmasters profile as creator of the lens.

Brightest Blessings,
Deb

[John Dilbeck]

Good evening, Deb.

I don't know how I missed seeing your response. I'm sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

I just read your lens recycling lens. That's a great idea, but better for someone with a fast broadband connection than for me. As Squidoo adds more and more high-bandwidth ads and stuff to our lenses, I find that it gets more and more difficult to load a lens. What used to take five minutes can now require 15 to 20. Some lenses never fully load on my slow dial-up connection.

I'm not trying to sell my lenses, just to find a good home for a few. Some of these lenses are linked to from dozens of sites, and even if they don't get a lot of traffic, I don't want someone to completely change them or reuse them for something I would not want to promote.

I understand that when I transfer one that it's out of my hands from thence forward, so I want to be careful who I give them to.

Two lenses that heavily promote Amazon.com (but don't earn much) are about things I really care about...

http://www.squidoo.com/favorite-motivational-books

http://www.squidoo.com/Favorite-Motivational-Movies

I like both of those lenses and they're currently ranked in the top 25,000 lenses without much attention from me, lately.

I earn my living from marketing, so I have all my lenses set to 100% cash instead of a charity, so continuing to donate to a charity would not be an issue and I have no preference what a new owner might do with any money they may earn.

Plus, the new owner would want to change a couple of modules that syndicate my RSS feeds and search my sites via Lijit.

What do you think of those two lenses? Are you interested in adopting them?

Act on your dream!

JD

[GypsyOwl]

Hi JD,
Yes, I would be honored to adopt the lenses you have listed here. I would like to keep them in my personal collection, and if it is ok with you, I'll leave your RSS feeds intact.

How does that sound?
Deb

[John Dilbeck]

Good morning, Deb.

Sounds great. We have a deal.

Now, I have to learn how to transfer a lens, which is something I've never done.

Do you know how?

Act on your dream!

JD

[GypsyOwl]

Good Morning,
Thank you.

Yes. I'll send a private message with my email and how to transfer a lens.

Deb

[John Dilbeck]

Good morning, Deb.

Got your message and the transfer is started.

Thanks for adopting two of my favorite lenses.

Act on your dream!

JD

[Sylvia Mayfield]

Something I plan for the future is to add a second account with a more personal focus and transfer lenses between the two accounts - very carefully, so as not to endanger the giant or top 100 (*crosses fingers*) status of the first account. This first account was originally intended as a 'commercial' type account, yet I'm having a blast with my crafty side and my hobbies. LOL

That could be something to think about; creating a second account to go with your Murphy Gold focus.

Hope this helps & Blessings for your success,
Sylvia

[John Dilbeck]

Good evening, Sylvia.

That's a good idea and is probably better for others than it may be for me.

For years, I've been doing my best to build a brand around "John Dilbeck" and "johndilbeck" and I don't think I'd want more than one Squidoo account.

Some people get a bit annoyed with me because I mix personal and business communications on my various accounts, but that's okay. There are plenty of other people they can follow/read/befriend/etc.

I have thought about setting up multiple accounts at Squidoo and Twitter to segment the various things I'm doing, but decided last year that I really don't want to do that. I have seen it work successfully for others, however.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Act on your dream!

JD

[Melissa Gilbert]

You know I had tried multiple accounts on squidoo, but now I am transitioning back to only one. Some people can handle having multiple account. I noticed though with my two is that they were intertwining with each other.

[Linda Martin]

I'm shocked to hear Amazon dropped everyone in NC! I wonder how many other states that has happened to.

My plan is to put some of my niches into separate Squidoo accounts, but this hinges on my being able to keep at least 100 lenses in my main account at all times. Right now the main account is cluttered with too many niches... you know what I mean? I have lenses on writing, herbs, Bigfoot, family rights, politics, education, etc. And I'd like to develop those niches while having a bio page that reflects each specific interest.

Honestly, I don't know why you're removing your Amazon modules. Aren't they exempt from the NC ban? I wouldn't be angry at Amazon for their NC decision while you still can be making money with their modules at Squidoo. If they banned my state I'd take my Amazon links off my blogs but then re-direct that traffic to a Squidoo lens where people can get the products I recommend. I think that with the volume Squidoo processes, they get more per purchase than I can get on my blogs, so I might do this anyhow.

[GypsyOwl]

Interesting, Linda said; about Squidoo Amazon modules not effected by the Amazon NC (and others?) situation. That makes sense because Squidoo is not in NC.

And... Good strategy idea for people in NC "...move ads to Squidoo" ~Linda
I saw my traffic stats all on one page yesterday and Squidoo traffic for one month takes about 1 and 1/2 years for all of my other webpages combined to match Squidoo.

Just random thought before coffee. ;)

Brightest Blessings Everyone,
Deb

[John Dilbeck]

Good morning, Deb.

I'm in the opposite situation regarding traffic stats. It would take all my Squidoo lenses years to match what a few of my websites get in a month. When I combine the stats for all my websites, Squidoo falls pretty far down the list.

I really like Squidoo for what it offers, but it will never be my primary marketing vehicle.

More random thoughts, after only one cup of coffee -- not nearly enough to get this big old brain of mine cranked up and thinking! ;)

Act on your dream!

JD