I did the 30DC and in that they advised using traffic bug to automatically send out links so that you have a large backlink list. When reading Google's guidelines, it states that using schemes to increase backlinks that are not real is a no no.
Does anyone use Traffic bug or some other program to automatically send out link requests? I got slapped once from Google for being stupid and I don't want to do it again.
This raises a tough question in my mind that alot of newbies really struggle with, Who to listen to and trust. I have spent alot of time "chasing the shiny penny" trying to find the right person to trust. I tried to do the 30dc last year but in Feb 09 not Aug. I quickly got frustrated and confused and quit on day 17 ish when I couldn't figure out how to put an ad in the blog for the affiliate product. I came to find out in Jul, that the free blog that I set up had been Google slapped in Dec and that is why I wasn't getting any traffic. I watched every video this year but did not attempt the challenge. However, I do believe that Ed Dale is an honest and forthright person and is not trying to lead people astray. He and Lynn apparently disagree about Traffic Bug and for a newbie this is a very tough thing to see. How do I make a decision in this case with little experience to help me??
The question was asked: does anyone use this program or one like it. And my answer was No. That's all.
There are a lot of ways to make money online. There are one-off methods, short term methods, black hat, white hat, grey hat, you name it.
The purpose of the 30DC is to help people make their first dollar online. It says nothing of a promise that this is building a long-term business model. In order to achieve these results in 30 days, short-term methods must be used. They may or may not be meant to last (and I haven't read the description so I don't know what it says on that end) - but one of the big perks is that it conditions people to get in the habit of consistently working on an online business. It gets people motivated to see fast results. It gets them in a routine of learning and taking action.
I do not teach short-term or one-off methods because I don't want someone to find false faith and quit their day job over a great month or two... only to later find themselves broke and without a back-up plan. That is the reason I stick to long-term solid business models with no "slaps" or potential penalties.
That doesn't mean I don't use some of these methods myself from time to time. Certainly not on my "money sites" or sites with my name on them even. But hot markets under a pen name - sure. I just don't teach or recommend it for the reason I stated above.
I lost a revenue stream to the tune of ~$40k/year in a slap several years ago. Fortunately for me it was a side project and did not tank me. But the people reading along here, or at my newsletter & blog, are not in that position. So if/when I mention such methods I mention it along with the warnings.
I hope that helps.
Last edited by Lynn Terry; September 5th, 2009 at 12:07 AM.
This is very interesting because having listened to this years 30dc, I was under the impression that they were teaching business building techniques that they use every day in their business. Ed mentions a number of times that he wants people in the 30dc to build long term lasting businesses. Its absolutely true that the result they desire in 30 days is to make your first dollar, essentially testing a market to see if it is viable. However, there is clearly an intent to monetize what you have done using your own product. This is what Ed is selling in the 30dc plus, and I assume there is a further goal to get people to Immediate Edge eventually. So my take away is that these tools that they are proposing are every day tools they expect people to use in their business not just short term methods. That is why newbies must be so frustrating to experienced marketers . I do like your philosophy of building a long term business model that avoids google slaps et al. That makes so much sense for everyone starting out. The problem for me is knowing what that is? Why would I question something Ed proposes, I have no reason not to trust him and not enough experience to even know what tools might or might not endanger my sites in the future. In fact, that is the purpose of wanting to have a gameplan, to flesh out all of these issues in my own mind and make sure the path I decide to go down will result in success. Thanks for putting up with my newbieness Lynn )
You know far more than I do about it. My disclaimer is this: I have never participated in the 30 Day Challenge. I am not a member of 30DCPlus or Immediate Edge.
Every successful internet marketer has their own set of tools and methods, or preferred strategies. What works for Ed, works for Ed. My methods work for me. There's more than one way to skin a cat as they say.
I'm more cautious after my personal experience with the Google Slap, and am a conservative person by nature.
In the end, you have to decide what's right for you - in regards to what you enjoy, how you want to spend your day, what fits best with YOUR business model and YOUR long term objectives.
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