So you’ve been Google slapped eh? You are not alone. I had some extremely lucrative landing pages Google slapped last week. They probably represent a good 40% of my income at the moment. Ow. There’ll be a few less strawberry daquaris in Vegas for myself and dear old Duncan I can tell you!
This is my 4th largish incident with good ‘ol Google in my 4 year career as a full timer.
It wasn’t entirely unexpected I have to say. I knew they wouldn’t pass muster for long… I’d simply disguised the affiliate nature of the page. I’d hoped they’d hold out till I was home as I’d no time to create the amount of content required to get them compliant because of my travels. But hey ho… this is the nature of affiliate marketing these days!
Sounding a bit too cheerful am I? No funeral dirges, wailing, gnashing of teeth or general anger at Google? Nope. This game is about risk and reward. The rewards are great… but sometimes the risk will inevitably catch up with you.
So How Have I Insulated Myself From Google Induced Cardiac Arrest?
Anyone in immediate dire straits looking for a Google liferaft should move on now. This isn’t about a quick fix, it’s about planning and preparation.
What’s The Plan Stan?
1 ) I know EXACTLY how to fix the current issues and move forward. Nobody can tell you about that better that Kieron in his article about creating iron clad Google Adwords Landing pages. It’s really, really important not to stick your head in the sand when you hear them affiliate rumbles in the jungle about an impending algo change. They are often well founded. Although I’ve not been able to keep up with my content creation, I have kept an open mind about moving on and constantly improving my content.
The moral? Always innovate. Affiliate marketing is a constant process of learning and change. Don’t get left behind.
2 ) I don’t have all my eggs in the Google basket, or the landing page basket. That way, these little Google curve balls can’t send me racing off in the direction of paid employment. Gah!! I get cold sweats just thinking about that one. I’ve always got enough running on direct to merchant and other PPC engines to make sure our lifestyle is assured.
3 ) I actually have enough money for Duncan and I to live quite happily for 2 years sitting in the bank. I NEVER live up to the standard of the money I’m earning. I save it, and spend about 25%… still a great lifestyle and this removes any financial stress during a Google slap. Alright, that one is easier to say than do guys and gals, but it is something every affiliate needs to think about. Our finances are volatile. Don’t get lulled into a false sense of spending security when the good times are a rollin’!
4 ) I’m pretty confident in my own ability to get my 40% back within 3 to 4 months. Why? Because I always have some extra revenue ideas up my sleeve. I plan and think 6 months ahead at all times. When the Google slap comes crashing down it’s off to the notebook to dredge up all my current ideas and get cracking!
Perhaps this will help you in the future. It’s certainly helping me right now. It means we can still go to Vegas for a start!
September 5th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Nice one Kirsty
You’re an absolute inspiration.
I start on my (hopefully not too long) journey to affiliate success next week and have been researching voraciously online for ages now.
There are so many conflicting ideas out there that it’s sometimes hard to choose which way to go.
The only common theme seems to be “just do it” and tweak from then on.
Anyway, thanks for all the advice and have a great time in Vegas.
September 6th, 2007 at 9:05 am
Hi Kirsty,
Reading your blog has got me back on the affliate marketer quest for money and an easier life.
A few years back I dipped in and out of affiliate marketing making enough for me to spend as long as I wanted in Thailand, a few server crashes later and some unforseen circumstances and I’m back in paid 9 till 5 land making tons of cash vis SEO for well known companies.
I was wondering what your PPC to SEO split is, for me I’ll probably be 100% SEO for the next year and then maybe add some PPC to the mix.
I’ve gone wordpress and mini network crazy a the moment even creating my own terms like “semantic ring” which I’m sure I’ll explain If we ever meet up when your back in the Shire.
September 6th, 2007 at 9:32 am
Hadi - Thanks for the kind comments. Yep, just get on out there and do it!
Colin - I’m glad I’ve gotten you all interested again. Making money for other people really frustrated me when I was an SEO! My PPC to SEO split is actually about 95% PPC 5% SEO. After the old Florida update I was completely spun out of the search results. I have developed my methodology, it’s now just a question of getting the time to work at SEO again. I think by this time next year I should achieve an 80 / 20 split. I’d be more comfortable with that!
I’ll see you back in the “Shire” if you are around. It makes me feel like a Hobbit saying that, lol.
September 6th, 2007 at 11:21 am
Hey, great post, as with everything I think we need to take the positives out of any situation, I was watching the One Show (BBC TV show in the UK) last night, they had a successful business woman (forget her name… sorry!) who made a statement that I think was an insight into why she was successful, which was something along the lines of as one door shuts ten others open.
Just on a side, how do you find your communications with Google? I am trying to correspond with them on a different matter to do with Adwords and am constantly frustrated by them simply replying with a copy of their FAQs which don’t answer my question…. ah well keep trying!
As others have said, inspirational stuff, thanks!
September 6th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Thanks Matt. Google communications tend to be bloody awful unless you can get yourself an account manager (which requires a healthy monthly spend). If you don’t have that, I’m afraid perseverance is they key!
September 9th, 2007 at 9:20 am
[...] the sightseeing we have been doing in Hawaii I’ve barely had time to worry about getting this Google slap sorted out when we get home. It’s hard to think straight when you’re travelling hard, [...]
September 10th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Hey Kirsty,
About what percentage of your earnings do you keep aside for advertising? I mean, you say you spend about 25% of your income and you’ve got enough in the bank to live for 2 years but how much do you keep to cover advertising costs?
Thanks
Stephane
September 11th, 2007 at 7:03 am
Hey Stephanie.
There’s no set percentage I keep back. As I said I’ve a fair amount of spare money floating about so I don’t need to be too scientific about things.
My advertising costs tend to be about 45% of my turnover. i.e. I spend £45 to make £100. If things were a bit more “month to month” for me I’d be keeping back my 45% plus perhaps another 10 - 15% to cover business growth.
Oh, and I put a set amount every month in a savings account to cover my next tax bill. Very important, cos my next bill will be more than my annual salary used to be. That’d be a bitch to pay all at once. owie!