Team HubPages for the 30-Day Challenge

1. 73

   Inspirepubposted 16 years ago

   It seems that a number of people from HubPages are planning to do Ed Dale's 30 Day Challenge this year, which is all about learning how to use various tools and websites to drive traffic to your website (or Hubs).
   
   Ed says it is advisable to work as part of a team. Seeing how many Hubbers have already said they have signed on for the challenge, I thought it would be worth having a forum thread specifically for discussion of the 30-Day Challenge.
   
   For those participating, we can trade tips and things we have learned or are struggling with. Other  Hubbers, who don't want to commit to the full challenge, can learn by watching over our shoulders as we discuss. The net result should me more traffic for everyone!
   
   From June 1, the challenge is in "pre-season", and the task is to get through all of last year's training videos and blog posts.
   
   The actual 30 Days starts August 1st. It might seem like a long pre-season, but from what I hear we need every day of that time! I am off to start soaking up the info ...
   
   To sign up for the 30 Day Challenge yourself, go here: http://www.thirtydaychallenge.com/
   
   or go and read a whole lot more about it first on SolarShingles' Hub:
   
   http://hubpages.com/hub/Thirty-Day-Chalenge-2008
   
   If you have already started wading through last year's training materials, please open the discussion by telling the rest of us what's good and what's not, and what you learned - or didn't - from what you have covered so far.
   
   And if you did the challenge last year, feel free to post a review of the experience in this thread as well - and any hints or tips!
   
   Go Team!
   
   Jenny

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   Hovalisposted 16 years ago

   I joined up about a week ago, but I haven't really delved into any of the material yet. There are times when I wish the cliff notes version of doing things worked, but it rarely does!

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   darksideposted 16 years ago

   Damn, he always does it when I've got to move house!
   
   I will say that I highly recommend it. I haven't done it myself, but I've heard plenty of feedback about it.

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   Inspirepubposted 16 years ago

   Well, Darkside, you can vicariously participate if you hang around this thread ...
   
   Jenny

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   amy janeposted 16 years ago

   Jenny, this is a wonderful idea!  I think it will be great to compare notes and help each other out here at home.
   I spent all of last week going through  last year's training videos.  There is so much info, I really have to go back over a good portion of it.  I can already see how it is going to be a huge help. The market/keyword research techniques alone are very valuable!

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   Mark Knowlesposted 16 years ago

   Hey Jenny,
   
   I will be part of your team
   
   if that is what you were suggesting? If so, add me to your list of friends.

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      Inspirepubposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      I wasn't thinking in terms of my own personal team, although now I am signed up to the next bit I see I have a tracker, so I guess they are encouraging the whole viral marketing thing.
      
      I am frankly not particularly interested in whatever toaster I get for bringing people in, but if you aren't already signed up and you want to, feel free to click this link to do it.
      
      http://www.ThirtyDayChallenge.com/challenge/19049
      
      I was more thinking of the sort of team where a bunch of people have similar goals and work together for mutual support, than anything that would belong to anyone!
      
      Not sure how "making friends" works in this site anyway (displaying my ignorance here). I will find out in time, I guess.
      
      Jenny

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   BassGuruposted 16 years ago

   Have just had a look round the Flock webborwser (preseason day one)
   
   Did last years challenge without a good team (made about $80), would love to join a hub team
   
   Dave
   
   
   
   BTW, they have removed last years material, boo!

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   embitcaposted 16 years ago

   I signed up last year and then never actually did anything, so I'm in.

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   Lissieposted 16 years ago

   I've had a quick look thru last years materials - available on their site until Friday so be quick and talked to some people I trust who have done it (last year).  It seems like a good, free intro to SEO and IM - its basic and step by step and will therefore suit a lot of people.  BUT they are not telling you specifically how to make money : they are not specifically suggesting a business model. this may suite some people or not. 
   
   The biggest thing  I guess is that at the end there are vids which say - well here is how to do link building (as an example ) manually but most people use software to help this - however we are not going to tell u which software to use cause this is a free course.  However  I guess, because  I haven't, if I enrol in the paid membership site that I will get the opportunity to buy either their own software or their recommended option - both of which will get them paid.   Which again is all OK  so long as the software is a good price and does the job - but you do need to be aware of the conflict of interest. 
   
   I guess  I prefer bloggerunleashed's approach because  I do want a specific business model: I'll make it my own later when  I am in profit.  I am also not adverse to paying for software so long as it helps my business and does whats claimed: and if it doesn't  I want to be able to return it for a full refund

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    RFoxposted 16 years ago

    I'm on board!
    Just signed up. Not sure how much time I will have to devote to the challenge but I'm going to try. It looks like a good intro for me. Go Hubpages team. lol.

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    stephhicks68posted 16 years ago

    I have signed up - and I love the idea for a Forum thread... perhaps it could be made sticky??

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    Dorsiposted 16 years ago

    I'd like to be part of the team- I need to learn about all these things.

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    Marisa Wrightposted 16 years ago

    I think I may have to be one of those who peeks over everyone's shoulder!   I signed up for the last one, then landed a contract and didn't have time to do anything with it.  I'm just on the tail end of a contract now with nothing lined up - but Murphy's Law dictates that as soon as I decide I have enough time, another contract will come along and I'll be busy again.
    
    Using that logic, maybe I should sign up for the Challenge - that would pretty much guarantee I'll end up landing another contract!

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    RyanREposted 16 years ago

    I hadn't heard of Ed Dale's 30 day challenge. I will have to check it out

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    Inspirepubposted 16 years ago

    What a great team this is going to be!
    
    I have no idea what the challenge entails, but if I'm doing it with all you guys I really don't care!
    
    It will be a slight challenge for me, as I will be in Sweden when it starts, in the US for a week or so, and only get home around the 20th!
    
    But have laptop, will travel ... I shall do my best.
    
    Jenny

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    Inspirepubposted 16 years ago

    First question of substance.
    
    This Flock browser. I have heard it is basically a version of Firefox with a bunch of plugins built in as standard.
    
    Does anyone know?
    
    I already use an awful lot of plugins with Firefox, and I am fond of them.
    
    I don't want to change for no gain and a possible loss of functionality.
    
    Someone who did it last year? What's the story?
    
    Jenny

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       BassGuruposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       Flock is a browser that runs on the same platform as Firefox, it has been built to integrate with certain sites. You don't need to uninstal any browsers or make a change, just use Flock for the challenge and Fireforx for everything else.
       
       I did the thirty day challenge last year. Last years challenge was about niche marketing using 3rd party sites (such as blogging platforms), backlinks and affiliates. Simple stuff but it contained some golden nuggets. I did the challenge after it had finished, so I skipped through the materials as lightening speed.
       
       What I learned gave me a very quick set of routes to getting a good ranking in Google for keywords, a far better understanding of internet marketing (which I have applied to clients of my web development business) and about $80 in sales. The $80 could have been more if I put the effort in I guess and I failed to make $10 within a month, it took slightly longer, not much.
       
       The guys who run the course are all involved in different aspects of the net marketing world, keyword discovery softtware, site flippers (people who buy, renovate and then sell sites), video marketeers etc etc. None of them reall ytell you too much about themselves until the end of the course. Yes there is a slight conflict of interest in that all of them would love you to join their programme / buy their software but they don't really sell this stuff to you, they leave that up to your curoisity (which of course they encourage).
       
       I get the feeling that this years course will be on a different tack, something to do with social marketing (the one one two years ago was built on Ad Words)

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    2. 65

       amy janeposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       I'm not sure about this.  They suggested (and raved about) Firefox last year.  I am pretty comfy with Firefox now too, so I am a little hesitant about changing things. 
       
       As far as official teams go, they suggested in the training last year that you have 5-6 people per team. I am not sure why.  Team members are supposed to help each other out when it comes time for social bookmarking.
       Maybe this could be the home base for a couple of hubber teams. 

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    Inspirepubposted 16 years ago

    Thanks for the quick reply, BassGuru!
    
    It sounds as though it will be interesting, at any rate.
    
    I am still on an exponential learning curve when it comes to internet marketing, so everything I touch gives me at least one new piece of information.
    
    Jenny

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    BassGuruposted 16 years ago

    Its definitely interesting, I would recommend it for starting off or even if you think you know your way round IM. It is fairly simple to understand.
    
    My main weakness was finding good niches, I think I could have done a LOT better if I had put more thought into that! Having said that, I have been using the stuff I learned there with nearly every client I have had since, nothing to do with niche marketing, I make content managed websites for a living, all of them need marketing to some degree or other
    
    I guess this thread has become the official HP 30DC team thread.
    
    I could set us up a forum or something though if that would be better? (wouldn't take me long to do)

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       Inspirepubposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks for the offer, BassGuru. Let's wait and see if the single thread gets out of hand.
       
       I like the idea that the discussion takes place on HubPages so that all Hubbers can benefit.
       
       Jenny

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          Eric Graudinsposted 16 years agoin reply to this

          When it gets to about 6,500 posts, Maddie will shut it down

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    Mark Knowlesposted 16 years ago

    Well, I have signed up and I will be keeping an eye out Not sure how much time I have to devote to this, but I will try

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    tranndeeposted 16 years ago

    Amy Jane - he suggested only 4 or 5 people on a team because when you have the same people bookmarking your sites all the time it creates a "footprint" so to speak on your profile on those social bookmark sites. The thought is a footprint of 4 or 5 people looks like you and a few of your friends, but a footprint of 20 or 50 people means you are trying to manipulate the bookmarking site and they will eventually ban you.
    
    I like the idea of this being a home base for hubber teams. I did the challenge last year and been working on things ever since, but not yet a raging success. But I will be hanging out here. If anyone is interested in member for a specific team, let me know.
    
    BassGuru - think a forum is a great idea too. Let us know if you set it up.

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    solarshinglesposted 16 years ago

    As far as I know you are not going to find any so well organized an so numerous Internet marketing event as it is 30 Day Challenge. Technical, financial and community power of the people behind the 30DC is huge. They leverage their top contacts in the IT and Media, $millions and their knowledge and experiences to bring a new value to the people who are interested.
    They always surprise with introduction of new Internet marketing tips and tricks and they give loads of fun on the way.
    30DC is simply created for newbies to the topic of web marketing, social bookmarking, social networking, quality content creation. You could easily find friends for life there, as well.
    
    This year 30DC is using web browser Flock. If you want to join and to be a member of the 30DC community there, you are going to install it.
    Still, for your private business you could use Firefox, IE, etc.
    I work with both running at the same time on my PC (while writing this text), so I couldn't see any problem considering the browser.
    
    Flock Beta is simply superior to any other web browser, considering Internet niche marketing.
    
    I've got an amazing value in the 30 DC 2007 and I'll respect Ed Dale, Dan Raine, Guru Rob, Mike Mindel, Lisa Hartwell, and the rest of the 30DC community, for good. They gave me a wonderful life experience, state of the art niche marketing knowledge and a bunch of good friendships all over the globe.
    
    Thirty Day Challenge is only for people who are interested in Internet marketing: how to make their hubs to look even better, how to get more traffic, and much more.
    Thank you for this thread.

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    funrideposted 16 years ago

    Well, what can I say... This is really wonderful. This community is always there for help and support other hubbers.
    
    I have signed up and I´m hoping to learn more about Internet techniques such as social bookmarking and SEO. I think that the team´s idea it´s great and would help us all to get better results from this challenge.
    
    Oh, and I always loved a good challenge, lets have some fun .

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    Uninvited Writerposted 16 years ago

    Okay, I signed up. I need all the help I can get

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    funrideposted 16 years ago

    Has anybody tried flock browser yet?
    I just started to set my preferences but I would love to hear your opinion about it .

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    Uninvited Writerposted 16 years ago

    I flocking love it...although it didn't carry my stumble upon toolbar and I can't find a blogger toolbar for it.

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       robie2posted 16 years agoin reply to this

       I just downloaded Flock yesterday and am passionately in love:-)  It is just sooooo well organized for social bookmarking I can barely believe it.
       
       I too miss my stumbleupon tool bar, but I just added stumbleupon to my favorites  toolbar for the moment<sigh> I'm sure there will soon be a SU toolbar for Flock.

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          amy janeposted 16 years agoin reply to this

          I am hooked too! I took me a little while to really "get it."   We are not the only flock lovers...
          
          http://hubpages.com/hub/All-Flocked-Up- … 20-Browser

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             stephhicks68posted 16 years agoin reply to this

             I saw this too - great hub!  I downloaded Flock yesterday and I think it is really helpful for those of us in TDC!  (I was hesitant too!)  But that's just my 2 cents.  Go to the new hub and read more!

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    tranndeeposted 16 years ago

    So far I like Flock. I am able to do all the things I did in Firefox, plus all their extra widgets which look useful, but it's taking me a minute to get used to using them.
    
    FYI, I found out that you can install almost all the Firefox extensions in Flock. Open Flock, then go to the Firefox (yes Firefox) add-on Web page - https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/ - look for your add-on (including the Stumble toolbar) and install as normal. So far all of mine work including the 30 Day Challenge toolbar which is here - http://thirtydaychallenge.ourtoolbar.co … n=1.5.39.0

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    Dorsiposted 16 years ago

    I downloaded Flock- it looks really cool!!
    Now I just need to sign up for the challenge.
    This is going to be great.
    (I might miss my Avant Browser though- I was just getting used to using it!!)

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    Uninvited Writerposted 16 years ago

    I now have my stumble toolbar back and my Blogger bar

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    LdsNana-AskMormonposted 16 years ago

    I am flocking and loving it.  Amazing for putting everything at your fingertips.  Flock is already saving me so much time.  Now I suppose I best join the party too.  For right now, I can 't imagine going back to any other browser.  I expect that the few widgets, etc... that  Flock is missing now, are right around the corner.
    
    tDMg
    LdsNana-AskMormon

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    crashcromwellposted 16 years ago

    I'm going to keep an open mind about Flock, but I have to say that I am basically a utilitarian kind of guy, so I didn't feel this strong burning need to find a new browser. What I see so far looks nice, and maybe it will grow on me.
    
    BTW, I signed up for the 30 day challenge, too.
    
    Jim Henry, aka, well, you know.....

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    DJ Funktualposted 16 years ago

    Could you summarize the involvement for the clueless.

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    Inspirepubposted 16 years ago

    The 30-Day challenge basically runs through the month of August and involves internet marketing activities of some kind..
    
    You sign up here http://www.ThirtyDayChallenge.com/challenge/19049 and they email you "preseason" instructions, and then the step-by-step during the 30 Days.
    
    Current instruction is "install Flock browser".
    
    The 30 Day Challenge is free - it costs nothing.
    
    You do as much or as little as you like, but there are prizes for those with a competitive urge ...
    
    Jenny

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       pfullerposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       Hello Jenny!
       
       I just signed up with your link.  Luckily I already have Flock installed so I am sitting down watching some of last year's videos.  They are still online.
       
       Thanks for pointing this site out.
       
       I have to admit when I first heard a few references about the 30 day challenge I thought is was about losing weight

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    BassGuruposted 16 years ago

    Well its already getting busy in here, look like theres a lot of 30DCers ready to go! I'm not too surprised tho, Hubbers are perfect candidates for the kind of stuff they take us through.
    
    My twitter id is 'sqoo' and my friend feed is 'spooky' if any one feels like following me, I will follow you back
    
    Oh and I notice quite a few of you are worried about changing browsers, remember you can continue to use your old browser for normal browsing if you want, you can save flock for 30DC stuff only.

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    Dorsiposted 16 years ago

    I signed up, and I love the Flock browser. The only problem now is that it makes me want to get a HUGE monitor so I can have all my stuff spread out all over the screen.
    Being a visual learner, this is eye candy for sure!!

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    Inspirepubposted 16 years ago

    I think there was a weight-loss one earlier this year, but from memory it was 90 days.
    
    But no, this one will, if anything, help you to gain weight by spending more time sitting at the computer and snacking, and less time doing exercise or preparing healthy meals ...
    
    Good luck with the challenge!
    
    Jenny

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    Uninvited Writerposted 16 years ago

    So, how is everyone doing on the pre-season? Are you watching the videos?
    
    I'm enjoying learning about all the new tools. I don't know if I'll keep a lot of them but it'll be fun to try them for a couple of months.
    
    I have a bunch of new friends on Facebook from the 30D forums. They have a limited view of my private information.
    
    I have a question. Do I have to sell something? I don't know what to sell other than my writing ;D

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       Inspirepubposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       I think the research and development is part of the 30 days.
       
       Jenny

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    DJ Funktualposted 16 years ago

    I just joined up but am a bit confused.  SEO, RSS, Phrase that Pays. Maximum Edge. Twitter, UGHH!

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    Uninvited Writerposted 16 years ago

    I'm just taking it one lesson at a time

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       Rochelle Frankposted 16 years agoin reply to this

       but starting where?
       Link please.

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    DJ Funktualposted 16 years ago

    Me too.  One video had so much in it that my head was spinning.  I got the grasp of it.  but if you don't know what a backlink is or what an RSS feed does (like me) you appear to be doomed to watching boring videos for the whole summer.
    <shudder>  God, I need a partner.

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    Marian Swiftposted 16 years ago

    Signed up yesterday with your link, Jenny.  Hope that Life lets me do something with it!

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    Rochelle Frankposted 16 years ago

    Oh boy. I am so far behind on all of this, I hardly know what anyone is talking about.
    What's the best link to click to start as a total newbie?  (I have posted a batch, but know little about the whole scheme of things.)

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    Uninvited Writerposted 16 years ago

    If you go here you can see the pre-season videos. They are also on YouTube.
    
    http://www.thirtydaychallenge.com/members/training/
    
    http://www.youtube.com/user/eddale

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    DJ Funktualposted 16 years ago

    Thanks Uninvited.  i guess tomorrow I'll be DLing a Flock Browser. 
    
    i'm in.

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    Uninvited Writerposted 16 years ago

    I'm going through Ed's suggestion of coming up with 10 niche ideas.

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