Michael Arrington had some tough words for Squidoo. Let’s call it what it is. He shreds Squidoo to pieces.
I agree with him. I agree with my mind, the numbers just don’t add up. I also agree with my heart, I was let down. I didn’t want it to fail. But it did.
If Squidoo doesn’t work out as planned, and I don’t think it will, Seth loses more than his time and whatever capital he’s put into Squidoo. He also loses credibility as an expert in product marketing. To borrow the metaphor, Squidoo could become an albatross around Seth’s neck.
Which is why I struggled with this post. Being let down, it’s too tempting to gang up on Squidoo and blame it even for the things it didn’t do wrong.
I got my Squidoo cheque the other day, with just enough money to cover for 30 minutes of metered parking. It was also a reminder I haven’t paid attention to my lense in months. And that I just don’t care.
Financially, flipping burgers at McDonald’s pays better. Traffic to my blog? I’ve seen none. But while I neglected my lense, I made some posts here and comments in other places. I kept some of you entertained, informed others, and helped the rest waste time during the day. I doubt my lense did any of that.
Seth has this great story to tell about X-Ray eyes. If I remember correctly, like a broken clock, they work exactly twice. Once when you buy them and realize you’ve been had. And once when you use them to fool someone else. Either way, it’s a great story to tell.
If anything this post is about a great story. And how stories are not always enough. How weaving a good tale could lead to great disappointment. And how all of that makes up a story, just not the one Seth would love to tell.
And there’s one question nagging in my mind. Will I bother to read Seth’s blog again?
Would you?
Yes i would. being marketing expert doesn’t make you entrepreneur. He had some good ideas in Squidoo, he failed because of one major thing – assuming that the masses will run to do extra work for him. but his marketing advice is still worth listneing to.
If Squidoo failed on technical execution, or the business size, that would be plausible.
In my opinion marketing is all about knowing your market. Who they are, what they want, what motivates them to buy, what would make them stick around. Assuming that if you build it they will come is not good marketing … it’s wishful thinking that the market will behave in a way that’s good for you.
And I’m pretty sure I got that wishful thinking part nailed down.
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“it was also a reminder I haven’t paid attention to my lense in months”
Chuckle, and you still got something for nothing? WOW
Cheers
From Squidoo’s #1 Lensmaster
@Jeffry
First, I stand correct. The cheque was not for $0.50 (30 mins of parking), but for $0.05. The lense, if I remember correctly, didn’t build itself.
Those 5 cents are going to charity. 5 cents is better than nothing, so why am I not feeling warm inside? I collect my loose change in a jar, donate that when the jar fills up. Today’s take? 14 cents.
Contrast and compare.
your story of getting excited, starting a lens, giving up, and wondering what all the fuss was about mirrors that of many people who start blogs.
Ever heard of the dirty secret of blogging? http://www.webtalkguys.com/030904.shtml
However, some people make money, find jobs, and make connections through blogging. Same thing will happen with Squidoo.
I’m with you on that. The blog hype can lead to the same let down.
On my list of 3 reasons not to blog:
1. You have one hour a day and a lot of bills to pay.
2. You need more attention than Boing Boing, and you need it NOW!
3. You read that blogging is the next big thing on USA Today.
I’m pretty surprised Squidoo is getting as much negative press as it’s getting. I’m surprised it’s getting much attention at all, considering it’s nothing more than a glorified (or you could argue gimped) version of Geocities.
I did give Squidoo a try, with some less than stellar results, and wrote about it in my latest (and last) lens: http://www.squidoo.com/squidoo_sucks/
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