One Week Marketers - You Understand me

Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to come and read this.. apologies for a long post, but I hope you enjoy it..

I run an SEO company, not huge, but we are doing ok. (The we being me really, but I say we because lots of different people work on various accounts). I started it from scratch around 4 years ago, and I guess I could say that I am one of those people who has made a system work to a point.. I do over 5 figures a month (I don't profit that - I have to pay resources, outsourcers, software programmes, tax (!) etc.. But I have gone from nothing to that..  just saying it so you know, I don't begin to compare to people like Jennifer or any of the Gurus who do that in a few hours.. but it's ok.

Thing is, yesterday I received a monthly report from one of my outsourcers (a very good and professional resource that I pay well). Now  for one of my biggest clients it reported that their Google rankings have dropped like a stone (not all of them, but around 50% of keywords). Why? I don't know for sure, but I understand that Google have made larger than normal changes to their algorithms in the last week, and when we were on page one, we are now on page 5.. Happy Days! (not).

I have never been in a business that is so dependent on another company (namely Google). You could wake up one morning and find that the whole lot has gone **** up and you don't have a business. You're made to feel like you've failed, that you've let everyone down, having been 'trusted' to do a job.. and in extreme cases, you feel not much better than someone who's committed some sort of crime.

When you think about it, companies (clients) expect to be on page one of Google..  that's one of 10 companies across what is nearly the whole world.. when you  think of it like that.. it's a big ask.. (for a website that's not Squidoo, or Wiki, or Facebook, I mean). And yet.. we do it, and it's expected.. Funny eh?

So, why am I writing this?
1. It's cathartic! But ..
2. It made me think about what the real alternatives to waking up one morning and finding you haven't got a business.. and of course OWM is a real alternative..

I've not been the most prolific of Lens publishers.. (I'll explain why I think that is in a minute), but I have produced around 12 lenses.

First thing is that although I don't get very many visits to my lenses.. (despite using Jaaxy) - *note: this DOESN'T make me think the system doesn't work.. It makes me think what am "I" not doing quite right? But despite this, I have made a sale.. and as Jennifer says..if you can sell one.. you can sell many.

So why don't I produce more lenses? I like writing, I enjoy using Jaaxy to find those keywords and build up to 200 visits and one unit of MMO.. I love it.. truly... I'm disappointed in myself if I don't get the visits that I hoped for, which is currently the case.. but it doesn't deter me..in the slightest.. That's not what stops me really.

The truth is it's the bigger picture.. the fear of "what ifs".. I have this dream that I could be earning a lovely and substantial income, from producing pages on Squidoo.. then on to make some campaigns and maybe then launch a site or two, build a bit of a funnel, grow a list.. communicate, participate.. I have the technology to do this.. I know how.. But then.. I don't.. It's the fear of 'what ifs'.. What if this doesn't work? What if I tried it and it wasn't what I thought..What would I have then? I've got nothing left.. Sometimes isn't it better to leave something on the shelf with the promise of all the things it could offer.. than to prove it won't offer anything?. (I'm not saying that's true.. just saying that is what tends to stop me and other people)..

My old tennis coach used to say to me (by the way I wasn't much good at tennis) but he used to say.. "you win a match by winning one point at a time.. that's all you can do.. One point at a time"  *Actually, he didn't say it just like that..  he just said, "win the point dammit!!" But allow me artistic license here ;-) You get my drift.

And so I know, you win the MMO game one lens at a time..

Now here's the thing.. Yesterday I posted on the Google + group for the first time. I showcased a couple of my lenses, just really to put them up and  ideally maybe get a link back which might help..

When I next logged into my Squidoo dashboard, I was amazed by the number of views that had taken place on each lens, there were some comments, many likes and most of all, I felt part of a community of 'like- minded' people.

Look, I know you're not likely to be buyers, but the fact that you have taken the time to visit, to like, to comment etc.. means SO much.

As Jennifer says, I know it's not a 'like for a like' group.. but you know what? That has spurred me to visit a few of YOUR lenses, I'll like, I'll comment, and I'll participate, because I want to.. not because I feel I have to..

The key thing to me is that Internet marketing (however you want to call it) is a lonely game. It's not that easy to talk to your spouse or partner about it, when you're feeling a little down .. they don't quite 'get it'.. they think you're just surfing Pinterest or Facebook.. You do need support..

I know Jennifer bestows the virtues of  Wealthy Affiliate, and I can see why.. The truth is for me.. I've not made it work.. I tried it and then left.. I think the reason was there was almost too much going on.. Too many ways to make it work.. Too many ideas.. (maybe I'm wrong, feel free to say if I am).. but I feel that the help and support I need *now, comes from OWM people (family).. It keeps the whole thing 'on subject' if you know what I mean.. less distraction at the minute..

Sometimes it's difficult to participate.. you feel it's a waste of your valuable time, and sometimes you do need to just take action.. I know that.. But for me, the support, (by just a few people viewing, liking and commenting) on a couple of my lenses.. has meant the world to me.. The support has spurred me on, to do more..

One Week Marketers.... I salute you!
Much respect to you all.. Darrell Mott

How To Buy Gold Coin

Last week I published a new lens entitled How To Buy Gold Coin, which follows up and expands on a few Squidoo lenses that I have created around my hobby of collecting valuable coins.

I also included some information about the world's most expensive ever Gold Coin, which went for around $7.5 million!

I also included a link to a place where you can Buy Gold Coin at a fraction of the price..

Hope you enjoy!

CONTENTS AT A GLANCE

1. The History Of Investing In Gold Coin
2. The World's Most Expensive Gold Coin
3. How To Buy Gold Coin
4. The BEST place to Buy Gold Coins

Coin Collectors Value

I am now seriously into collecting silver coins. I produced a Squidoo page called Coin collectors value at the end of last week, explaining it in a little more detail.

To summarise the page, I collect numismatic silver coins, American Eagles to be exact.

They are collectors items and what they call MS70 (the highest grade) and they're early releases (that means they are one of the first coins to come off the press).

Not only do I love collecting them, but I am building a very successful business via  retail shop in which I am also selling them, and also I am helping my colleagues to do the same.. it's good fun.

See what you think.

CONTENTS AT A GLANCE

1. Why I Invest In Silver?
 
2. Why Silver and Not Gold?
 
3. Silver Coins
 
4. You Could Make A Lot Of Use Of This Info...

Small Trampolines For Kids

As many of you may know, I am passionate about ensuring that kids have a healthy lifestyle and don't lead sedentry lives. I even started a company up to ensure that very thing. This is why I am a champion of Small Trampolines for kids, as a way of having fun and staying fit.

There are many types available and indeed you can start your child bouncing at a very young age. It wears them out (good news) but keeps them healthy and happy (better news).. which means happy parents (even better news?).

I've put together a small page about the good and the bad (not much bad!) of this particular model which is a

Pure Fun Multicoloured 36 inch trampoline. You can find the page by clicking any of the sections below.

CONTENTS AT A GLANCE

1. For Your 'Mini Trampoline Kid'
2. Trampolines Mean Fit Kids!
3. Pure Fun Multi-Colored
4. Putting Your Mini Trampoline Together
5. Small Trampoline

Perplexus Puzzle Balls

Over the Christmas period, I was introduced at the dinner table, to Perplexus Puzzle Balls.

Now I thought that the Rubik cube was addictive!

I picked up this ball shaped object, with lots of tracks and plastic bits and pieces inside of it, and realised it was a 3d Puzzle ball.

I'd never seen a ball maze toy before, and so, like most people would, I started to try to solve the puzzle.. (which you do by running the small ball over the obstacles etc.. covering numbers so you know what level you've got up to)..

It was the Perplexus Epic that I tried, but if you want to know any more about either the perplexus epic 3d maze brain teaser puzzle ball or any of the other versions, I have produced a page on Squidoo to tell you all about them!

Click any of the links below to take you there!

CONTENTS AT A GLANCE

1. Perplexus Epic 3d Maze Brain Teaser Puzz...
2. A Ball Maze Toy
3. Introduction To The Epic
4. The Original Perplexus Maze Ball
5. A 3d Puzzle
6. These Seem To Go Together Nicely