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Rochelle
It has now been over a month since I started my test of 30 Minute Backlinks, a test I started on April 19, 2008. This has been an interesting test and I think enough time has passed for me to end this test and come to a conclusion.
First, though, I will share the most recent stats for each site:
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Site #1 - Minimal Promotion |
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| Date URL purchased: 04/07/2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date toolbar submitted to shareware repository: 04/19/2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of first backlink: 04/19/2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of backlinks (as of 05/27/2008): 56 (increase of 47) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of site pages indexed in Google (as of 05/27/2008): 49 (increase of 48) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics for robots/spiders from Awstat (as of 05/27/2008): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Site #2 - Moderate Promotion |
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| Date URL purchased: 04/07/2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date toolbar submitted to shareware repository: 04/19/2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date toolbar submitted to 30 software directories: 04/19/2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of first backlink: 04/19/2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of backlinks (as of 05/27/2008): 53 (increase of 46) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of site pages indexed in Google (as of 05/27/2008): 95 (increase of 90) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics for robots/spiders from Awstat (as of 05/27/2008): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Site #3 - Maximum Promotion |
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| Date URL purchased: 04/13/2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date toolbar submitted to shareware repository: 04/19/2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date toolbar submitted to 800+ software directories: 04/19/2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of first backlink: 04/19/2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of backlinks (as of 05/27/2008): 581 (increase of 531) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of site pages indexed in Google (as of 05/27/2008): 23 (increase of 23) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Statistics for robots/spiders from Awstat (as of 05/27/2008): | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Now that I have data I am going to break down this information to come to a conclusion about 30 Minute Backlinks. But first I will refresh your memories on what promotional methods I used.
How did I promote the toolbars I created?
When I created the toolbars I had several options for letting the various software directories know I had something they could list. Here are the methods I used:
Minimal Promotional Method = Doing nothing more than submitting the PAD file to the PAD file repository and letting the many software directories find my software on their own. If you purchased 30 Minute Backlinks you will learn all about this. I will not go into details as I don’t want to undermine the efforts Michelle MacPhearson did in creating her 30 Minute Backlinks.
Moderate Promotional Method = I used a software program that submits PAD files to about 30 software directories.
Maximum Promotional Method = I used a software program (this program was different from the one I used for moderate promotion) that submits PAD files to about 800 software directories.
Did the promotional method make a difference?
Here is a breakdown of each method:
Minimal Promotion - 56 backlinks, 49 site pages indexed in Google (I’m not sure how to determine how many pages my site has, but according to Google Webmaster Tools my sitemap has 34 URLs submitted).
Moderate Promotion - 53 backlinks, 95 site pages indexed in Google (per Google Webmaster Tools my sitemap has 201 URLs submitted).
Maximum Promotion - 581 backlinks, 23 site pages indexed in Google (per Google Webmaster Tools my sitemap has 106 URLs submitted).
Yes, I think the promotional method definitely made a difference. Clearly the site with the maximum promotion has the most backlinks. But, has it made a difference in how my niche stores are doing? I’ll look at some additional statistics to decide this.
Are the sites earning money?
Minimal Promotion - 63 unique visitors, 62 clicks, 25 bids, earned $9.06 (as of 05/27/2008)
Moderate Promotion - 18 unique visitors, 43 clicks, 15 bids, earned $7.72 (as of 05/27/2008)
Maximum Promotion - 33 unique visitors, 23 clicks, 0 bids, earned $0.00 (as of 05/27/2008)
Isn’t it interesting that the site that had the least promotion for the toolbar has the most unique visitors, clicks, bids, and affiliate earnings? Looking at these stats, it seems that the promotional method really didn’t matter. In fact, I can’t help but wonder if Google dislikes the large amount of backlinks the site that used maximum promotion and is punishing it.
Do I recommend PAD promotional tools?
No. I first started 30 Minute Backlinks around the time eBay changed their affiliate program from Commission Junction to EPN. At that time (early April, 2008) I created toolbars for two of my niche stores that are almost a year old. The first site I added it to is my best site, meaning it brings in my best commissions, and I used the maximum promotional method for this site. Almost immediately traffic disappeared from this site, and I wondered if it was because of the huge increase in backlinks or had something to do with the new EPN system.
The other site I added the toolbar to was one that also consistently brings in commissions, but for that one I did the minimal promotional method. The traffic for that site did not drop. In fact, it has increased, and become my second best site.
Based on this test and the two other sites I created toolbars for I have concluded that you do NOT need to purchase PAD promoting software. In fact, I think it may hurt your efforts to do so.
What are the sites I used for this test?
Now that I’ve concluded this test I will share with you the sites I used. I purposely chose created three sites that were as similar as possible, without being the same, so I could be as fair as possible with this test. As you will see, these sites are in niches that are rather saturated:
Minimal Promotional Method = Toys Boys Want
Moderate Promotional Method = Toys Girls Want
Maximum Promotional Method = Kids Want These Toys (gender neutral toys)
Do I recommend 30 Minute Backlinks?
Yes. These three stores are less than two months old and the only promotion I’ve done is to submit them to Google Webmaster Tools (something I do for every store I create), and create the toolbars and submit them to various software directories. Honestly, the revenues these stores have made in the one + month since starting this test is more than some of my other sites have made that are several months older.
Following the instructions in 30 Minute Backlinks to create toolbars is extremely easy. Once you’ve done a few you will be able to create them even quicker. I still haven’t had the time to create any of the other four tools Michelle discusses but hope to soon.
If you decide to purchase 30 Minute Backlinks I strongly suggest you make toolbars that will actually benefit people. In other words, make your toolbar something people will actually want to use. You never know when people will find it useful and actually use it.
Rochelle
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Thanks for sharing this, Rochelle - I’ve been watching your progress with interest. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to use the PAD tool; instead I’ll look up software directories and submit to them individually.
Kay
Michelle, Thanks for the update on this.
I noticed the links to the site you used are not working. Giving a not found page. Looks like it has this domain and then that domain tacked onto it.
Keep up the good work!
GrinningFool,
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Which links aren’t working? They all seem fine on my end but I have been having problems recently with my links.
Rochelle
Edit - Never mind, I figured out which links weren’t working and have corrected them. Again, thank you for telling me about this.
Thanks for sharing the results - Interesting results!
Jamie
Rochelle,
I bit the bullet and purchased this membership and submitted my first toolbar two days ago. (I submitted my second one last night.) I checked this morning and have five new backlinks for the site I submitted. Hope this brings the additional purchases as well. I hope you get some credit for the purchase.
Yael
I don’t see any benefit here. The toys boys want website is automatically going to make more money than the others just on the proximity the domain has to “big boys toys” and the popularity of that term.
To me the payback on 30 minute backlinks is not near what Michelle was suggesting a month ago. If I’m going to pay $100 for a method to increase my traffic I would expect it to at least do better than conventional keyword phrase methods or “Bum Marketing” I can get just as many backlinks by posting comments to a few well placed do follow blogs.
Am I missing the point here?
By the way, don’t forget Quassia. It is helping me get a few Google backlinks.
Paul,
Regarding my boys toys store, I actually think the popularity of that term will make it more difficult for this store to get traffic because it has a LOT of competition. So I disagree that this store will naturally have more traffic/sales because of these keywords. Plus, it is close enough to ‘boy toys’ that it may get unwanted visitors who are looking for toys of a more adult nature.
As to the benefit, the way I see it is this: Search engines, such as Google, look to see how many relevant backlinks any given website has. If a website has few or no backlinks then the search engines think the site isn’t important and will rank it low in search engine results.
If, however, a site has many relevant backlinks then the search engines will see that site as both important in its topic and popular among other sites who must also think it is important in its topic. The search engines will then rank the site higher in search engine results, which gives the site a much better chance at getting visitors.
The key word in what I just said is ‘relevant.’ When I say relevant I mean the other sites that link to the site you created have information that is similar to your site’s topic. Search engines see relevant backlinks as a way of other sites validating the information your site has.
Yes, you could achieve similar results as 30 Minute Backlinks by posting comments on blogs but that takes longer to achieve. The method Michelle teaches is very simple to do and takes, well, 30 minutes of work. BTW, if you choose to promote your sites by commenting on blogs don’t ignore blogs that use ‘do not follow’ links as search engines may think you are up to something by only posting on ‘do follow’ blogs. Sorry I can’t give you a source for that but I’ve read in many places that you are better off posting on both types of blogs than just ‘do follow’ blogs.
I’m not sure if you are missing anything but it sounds like this may not be the promotional method for you.
Rochelle
Yael,
I’d love to hear how this method works for you and if you think it is worthwhile in the long run.
I checked my stats and I did get credit for your purchase. Thank you
Rochelle
Yes, I was being too simplistic…. you need do follow and no follow links.
And I did miss the point. I was only looking at the number of backlinks in your report and forgot that you need RELEVANT backlinks whenever possible. If 30 minute backlinks helps you get relevant links so much the better.
Rochelle,
I’ll keep you posted. So far, I think I am seeing results. I would like to see that translate into $ in the long run. I think this method has potential. I am interested in using whatever method or method that work as long as it’s kosher and not spreading myself too thin.
So far, I am starting with my sites that get the least traffic, but plan to work my way up the line. Right now, I am doing a site a night. And just think, all I was doing on your site was looking for instructions on how to install Wordpress….boy did I get distracted! Still haven’t looked up the Wordpress instructions.
Yael
Rachel, which web log analyzer are you using for your statistics?
It seems like I am having trouble of finding a reliable one..
So I wonder if you can point me to the site where I can get the one you are using…
Thanks,
Rita
Rachel, which web log analyzer are you using for your statistics?
It seems like I am having trouble of finding a reliable one..
So I wonder if you can point me to the site where I can get the one you are using…
Thanks,
Rita
Yael,
I look forward to hearing how this works for you.
As to wordpress instructions, that is one thing I don’t have on here. Yet… I plan on writing about wordpress blogging and niche stores soon.
Rochelle
I look forward to your insitght on Wordpress. In the meantime go to http://www.JTPratt.com JT has been VERY successful using Wordpress and explains all he does to make his blogs successful. For example, read “20 Things Wordpress Doesn’t Do Out of the Box”
Paul,
JT’s blog is one I’ve definately learned from! I highly recommend it.
Rochelle
Rita,
I used Awstats for the stats you see here. This is the choice I like best of what’s available in my cPanel.
Rochelle
Rita,
Sorry, I forgot to mention above that I also use http://StatCounter.com for statistics. I wrote about how to add their counters to your sites at http://www.nichestorestrategie.....your-site/
StatCounter shows much the same information that Awstats does, but I like that I can access stats to all my sites in one place.
Rochelle
Rochelle,
Thanks for letting me know. I am totally baffled by Wordpress’ instructions. I will keep trying, but right now I am trying to finish all of my other toolbars. So far I have had modest numbers of backlinks, with a new one being added per site every day or two. I used some of the promtion software similarly to your moderate promotion model. The one thing I have found is that Avangate has rejected most of my toolbars and I have no idea why (other than hey may not like ones that are clearly promotional). Have you had a similar experience with them if you submitted through them?? I did send them an e-mail asking what would make them acceptable for them. We will see.
Yael
Yael,
Apparently Avangate is rejecting a huge number of submissions. My first attempt was rejected and I, too, emailed them to find out what I did wrong and how to correct it. That was over two months ago and I’ve yet to hear back from them. If you email you please share what they say.
Rochelle
Rochelle,
Well, at least I am not the only one who has had files rejected. I have had three more rejections now. I have not heard back ont he first e-mail. I am almost done submitting toolbars and will safe up my rejections until the end before I send another e-mail. I’m not holding my breath.
Hi Rochelle,
First of all, thanks for reviewing this product and sharing your results.
I just did a quick check on your backlinks and found these results compared to your figures from May 27th.
Backlinks from “software related sites” are:
toysboyswant.com = google 0 - yahoo 2
toysgirlswant.com = google 0 - yahoo 8
kidswantthesetoys.com = google 0 - yahoo about 54 +/-
So, for $97 (not including the submission software), and your time and effort, do you still think after 2 months this product is worth it?
What I’d be interested in knowing is, do you have any stats to determine how many visitors you have received from those who have downloaded your toolbar? If you eventually don’t get many links for SEO but get visitors from those who install your tool bar then MAYBE it’s worth it…maybe.
Any other thoughts? Are you still building with Michelle’s other techniques and seeing any positive results? Have you made your $97 back yet?
Sorry for all the questions, still on the fence with this one
Cheers
Scott
Scott,
I’ve had no luck using the ‘link:url.com’ in Google so I didn’t come to my results using that. I’m probably looking at this differently than you.
The way I arrived at my figures was by searching for the keyword phrases I targeted for each site. For example, for one site I targeted the term, “gender neutral toys.”
However, if you simply search for “gender neutral toys” you will get results for my site, as well as any others targeting that term. To see only results for my site I searched for “gender neutral toys toolbar” 1.0. The last time I checked for this there were over 500 results in Google.
None of those links to to my site but to the software sites. On each of those sites there are backlinks to my site.
Now, the next question should be, am I actually getting traffic from these software sites? The answer is, “Yes.” I can’t show an image here so what I’ll do is create another followup post showing where I’m getting traffic from.
But, to answer your question, I do think it is worth paying for this. It really is an easy thing to do and it does work (for me, at least).
Rochelle
Hi Rochelle,
Thanks for responding. You’re right, the main thing is getting traffic and hopefully sales.
The more I thought about how this works the more I could see the potential more in people downloading/installing a toolbar with info (ie affiliate links lol) that would appeal to them rather than purely backlinks.
I suppose if you can manage both you’re onto a winner.
Glad it’s working for you though! Would be interesting to see if you are getting much traffic from those who installed the tb.
Cheers
Scott,
I don’t think there is a way to tell if any of my traffic is from the toolbar I created (and, yes, I do add affiliate links to my toolbars!). If someone did come to my site from the toolbar then my stats would show that someone simply showed up at my site, there would be no referring URL, because the toolbar isn’t a URL. So, who knows? I do have stats that have people simply arriving at my site, which could be from toolbar users, or it could be people typing my site’s URL into their URL bar (I can’t remember what this is called).
I do know, though, that people are installing the toolbars. I have no way of tracking installations that are done from the software sites, because those toolbars are installed from my site. But I have links on my niche stores that will allow people to install the toolbars I made. These installations are done at Conduit.com, and they track installations. So I’m able to log in to Conduit and see if people are installing and using the toolbars, and I’m surprised to see that they are.
Rochelle
Hi Rochelle,
Thanks for sharing! I don’t know if 30 minute backlinks is within my budget but I took a look at Conduit and can see much more benefit than just backlinks…such as people downloading your toolbar and buying from your site.
Ultimately, that’s what we want anyway eh? So, I’m happy to hear people are downloading your toolbar. Well done!
I’ll save up for a copy of 30 minute backlinks unless you have an affiliate link with a discount for the product *wink *wink lol
Cheers
Scott,
I certainly do have an affiliate link but, sorry, no discounts! Nice try, though
Rochelle