The Lensmaster Lounge

beempa · 11/20/2008 4:41 pm

Hey fellow lensmasters, just thought I'd put this question out there.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO TELL US WHAT CATEGORY YOU FALL INTO... as that is your own business.

I am curious, what amount of money do you think is a good amount for being a MASTER SQUIDOO LENSMASTER? Yes, I know the question is subjective due to many things, so let's just keep this within the realm of MAKING MONEY, since we all know that not every great lens gets rewarded and that there is a lot more to it than making money.

So, in your own opinion, what do you think should be a goal (monetarily speaking) to reach for as lensmasters within their first year and what do think should be the norm? This is based on your own personal experience -- not necessarily what the over all status of Squidoo is at now.

I pose this question because many people say Squidoo is over rated for earning money -- but I 100% DISAGREE with it. I think if it's not working for someone, then it's because they didn't do their homework and they're doing something wrong (which can be a many great things.)

The amount of money would include all lenses and ALL MONIES generated from them - which means your own 3rd party affiliates, all squidoo payments, etc.

In my opinion, here's what I believe -- and remember, this is by the end of your first year here at squidoo:

1. $0 - $100 per month, you can do much better.
2. $100-$500 per month, you're doing OK.
3. $500 - $1000 per month, then you're doing GOOD. (I believe this is the norm!)
4. $1000 - $3000 per month, then you're doing GREAT.
5. $3000 - $6000 per month, then you're doing FANTASTIC.
6. $6000+ per month, then you need to write a BOOK and SELL IT!

What do you all think? I think the norm would be the category of $500-$1000 per month after the first year here. I think if you're making that kind of money by the end of your first year here, then you're doing good (monetarily speaking, of course.) And if you make $6000+ per month, then you definitely should consider writing an ebook and selling it, because you definitely know what you're doing!

Last edited by beempa (11/20/2008 5:23 pm)

Cari_Kay · 11/20/2008 4:46 pm

Wow, okay...sorta speechless.

I've been here a year but not really here. I've written some lenses and let them sit and age. I've been taking more of an interest this month mostly I think because I've seen the response both from my Guestbook's here and all the emails I get. I am hoping to help pay for my website here and sounds like this is a very promising way to do so.

I have a question. I'm not quite as prolific as some others here. I have to feel inspired to write a lens and just can't knock them out. I see that you think the $500-to $1000 range is 'average' for the serious Squidooers. On average, how many lenses do they have in that range? I'm sure it varies a lot but a good old-fashioned ballpark estimate would do

Last edited by Cari_Kay (11/20/2008 4:48 pm)

N376 · 11/20/2008 4:46 pm

I don't believe that the amount of money a person generates is what makes them a great lensmaster.

Talent doesn't always equate to wealth.

And vice versa.

kristensup · 11/20/2008 4:47 pm

$6,000 a month, wow, is that even possible?!

beempa · 11/20/2008 4:54 pm

N376 wrote:
I don't believe that the amount of money a person generates is what makes them a great lensmaster.

Talent doesn't always equate to wealth.

And vice versa.

Yes, that has been stated in my post and that it is subjective. I posed the question from a "Monetary" value -- which is something MANY PEOPLE do strive for on here -- including you I'm sure. With that said, do you have some "monetary" input?

Janet21 · 11/20/2008 5:01 pm

beempa wrote:
$500 - $1000 per month, then you're doing GOOD. (I believe this is the norm!)

I don't believe this is the norm at all. I think most lensmasters are making less than that after a year. However, that in no way suggests that they are not great lensmasters!

Last edited by Janet21 (11/20/2008 5:03 pm)

beempa · 11/20/2008 5:05 pm

Cari_Kay wrote:
Wow, okay...sorta speechless.

I've been here a year but not really here. I've written some lenses and let them sit and age. I've been taking more of an interest this month mostly I think because I've seen the response both from my Guestbook's here and all the emails I get. I am hoping to help pay for my website here and sounds like this is a very promising way to do so.

I have a question. I'm not quite as prolific as some others here. I have to feel inspired to write a lens and just can't knock them out. I see that you think the $500-to $1000 range is 'average' for the serious Squidooers. On average, how many lenses do they have in that range? I'm sure it varies a lot but a good old-fashioned ballpark estimate would do

Over all, I would say to make that amount of money, most lensmasters probably have at least 30 lenses built. Of course you can have one lens that generates that kind of income, but as an average, I'd say most lensmasters have about 30 built before they see that kind of money consistently flow in.

beempa · 11/20/2008 5:08 pm

Janet21 wrote:
beempa wrote:
$500 - $1000 per month, then you're doing GOOD. (I believe this is the norm!)
I don't believe this is the norm at all. I think most lensmasters are making less than that after a year. However, that in no way suggests that they are not great lensmasters!

What do you think is the "norm" then? Again, this is YOUR OPINION OF WHAT SHOULD BE THE NORM based on your own personal experience as being a lensmaster -- not what it is right now.

Based on your own work, what do you believe should be the norm? There are many people who do not believe you can actually make money on squidoo, and I COMPLETELY DISAGREE with them because my own personal experience tells me differently. That's why I said I believe the norm should be between $500-$1000 per month. In my experience, it's not difficult to reach that goal by the end of your first year... but that's just based on my experience.

Last edited by beempa (11/20/2008 5:19 pm)

beempa · 11/20/2008 5:18 pm

kristensup wrote:
$6,000 a month, wow, is that even possible?!

I don't know -- but I'd sure like to be there one day! (Ha!)

adez7 · 11/20/2008 5:20 pm

I'm with Glen on this one, and I know you stated the converse in your orig post, but I don't think that being a great lensmaster has any monetary value attributed to it. Some folks make lenses for no other reason than to express an opinion or get an idea, or piece of information out. While others do in fact make them for financial gain.

I guess if you want to rank lensmasters who want to make money as an objective, then you would compare them on a curve based on those who make the most, and those who make the least.

That being said there are those who have made in excess of 5k per month, and zero being the opposite end of the scale. So Go figure and make out of it what you wish!

Squidaddle · 11/20/2008 5:23 pm

I hope to be proven wrong, but I would have thought the norm would be something like 50 bucks a month.

But I can't tell you how much I hope you are right! (I want to earn enough to put solar panels on my house.... price tag $6500.)

- Dan

Cari_Kay · 11/20/2008 5:32 pm

Okay, so I have one lens that makes just over $10 a month. I assumed, up until this moment, that that was pretty much maxed? Could that lens actually make more? the rest of my lenses have ranged from pennies to about a dollar or so.

beempa · 11/20/2008 5:39 pm

Cari_Kay wrote:
Okay, so I have one lens that makes just over $10 a month. I assumed, up until this moment, that that was pretty much maxed? Could that lens actually make more? the rest of my lenses have ranged from pennies to about a dollar or so.

In all honesty, there is no limit to how much your lens can make. You must remember, Squidoo doesn't only payout on revenue from Google adsense, but you also split the commission from ebay sales, amazon sales, etc. if you use those modules.

Then, if you sign up with a third party affiliate like commission junction or linkshare, then you can make all the commission on your own by placing some products onto your lens from there.

There are many ways to make more money -- but you can't do it if you don't use the tools available to you.

Mark-Nehs · 11/20/2008 5:52 pm

beempa wrote:
In my opinion, here's what I believe -- and remember, this is by the end of your first year here at squidoo:

1. $0 - $100 per month, you can do much better.
2. $100-$500 per month, you're doing OK.
3. $500 - $1000 per month, then you're doing GOOD. (I believe this is the norm!)
4. $1000 - $3000 per month, then you're doing GREAT.
5. $3000 - $6000 per month, then you're doing FANTASTIC.
6. $6000+ per month, then you need to write a BOOK and SELL IT!

I would go down by a category and change the wording to those focusing on making money for themselves or charities. Thus someone that is a good lensmaster and is focusing on making money they should be in the $100-$500 a month.

Good discussion, for the record I am looking to go from Good to Great (great book by the way).

Loyalis · 11/20/2008 5:52 pm

I've been on Squidoo for about 18 months now,

I'm steadily making in the 3k-5k range each month and broke 5k last month but am waiting to see if I hit your 6k level or not . (not all of my reporting is in)

Can you use squidoo to make money? Absolutely.

Does the amount of money you make mean you are a good or bad lensmaster? no, not really. I'm with Glen on this one. There are a TON of lensmasters who put together lenses that I couldn't even touch.

I really enjoy the business side of squidoo so that's what I focus on.

As for the norm, If you build a lens a day for a year you should be able to hit that 500-1000 a month level pretty easily.

FYI, I know of at least one or two other lensmasters that hang out in chat that are breaking 1k+ a month regularly.

I think if making money is your goal with squidoo you need to build at least 100 lenses before you really get a good handle on what you are doing.

Christene · 11/20/2008 5:55 pm

$0 - $10 per month, you can do better
$10 - $50 per month, your getting there
$50 - $100 per month, you're doing OK
$100 - $200 per month, you're doing GOOD (I believe this is the norm)
$200-$500 per month, you're doing GREAT
$500 - $1000 per month, you're doing FANTASTIC

(edited to add 10-50)

Last edited by Christene (11/20/2008 7:03 pm)

Loyalis · 11/20/2008 6:10 pm

Christine,

I would agree that those levels are probably more representative of what can be judged as 'money making' success on squidoo.

It might be another year or two till lensmasters have enough lenses for Beempa's levels. Once we have 10 or 20 lensmasters over 1000 lenses it will be interesting

adez7 · 11/20/2008 6:12 pm

Here Here!

beempa · 11/20/2008 6:18 pm

Loyalis wrote:
I've been on Squidoo for about 18 months now,

I'm steadily making in the 3k-5k range each month and broke 5k last month but am waiting to see if I hit your 6k level or not . (not all of my reporting is in).

And "when" you hit the $6K mark -- write an e-book and I'll buy it!

N376 · 11/20/2008 6:20 pm

beempa wrote:
Janet21 wrote:
beempa wrote:
$500 - $1000 per month, then you're doing GOOD. (I believe this is the norm!)
I don't believe this is the norm at all. I think most lensmasters are making less than that after a year. However, that in no way suggests that they are not great lensmasters!
What do you think is the "norm" then? Again, this is YOUR OPINION OF WHAT SHOULD BE THE NORM based on your own personal experience as being a lensmaster -- not what it is right now.

You can't use personal experience with what the norm should be. Otherwise people who aren't successful will express an 'informed' opinion that the no one can be successful. And those who are successful, will think that anyone getting less than them, aren't trying hard enough.

The 'norm' is in fact far lower than that. If you use the data from official posts by Squidoo Staff you'll see that only a small percentage break the 3 figure mark on a monthly basis.

I believe that those making far more than those aren't following the instructions of an ebook, they find success by trying different strategies. By mixing it up. Indeed none of them would have a blueprint for their own success that looks like anyone else's.

What I'm trying to say is, I'm unsure if you'll have anything resembling fact if you base this poll on peoples experience and opinion.

The other thing is the title: "MONEY... What a Great Lensmaster Should Make?", again, a persons greatness is in the quality of their lenses. And sometimes that doesn't result in how much money the lens can earn.

Loyalis · 11/20/2008 6:23 pm

yea, what the guy with the pretty words said

Glen, btw, I got your email and I'm going to respond, can I have a tiny extension? I'm going to try to get it back to you tonight though.

triathlontraining · 11/20/2008 6:25 pm

Christene wrote:
$0 - $10 per month, you can do better
$50 - $100 per month, you're doing OK
$100 - $200 per month, you're doing GOOD (I believe this is the norm)
$200-$500 per month, you're doing GREAT
$500 - $1000 per month, you're doing FANTASTIC

I'm with you on this. I think between $100-200 is the norm per month.

I would be ecstatic to make what Loyalis is making per month. Wow!

N376 · 11/20/2008 6:32 pm

Loyalis wrote:
yea, what the guy with the pretty words said

Glen, btw, I got your email and I'm going to respond, can I have a tiny extension? I'm going to try to get it back to you tonight though.

Yep, by Monday will be fine.

poddys · 11/20/2008 6:35 pm

I broke $100 for the last 2 months, definitely going back under $100 in October and November, despite having 70 lenses. Including Adsense I still make under $200 a month.
More would be nice - very nice.

beempa · 11/20/2008 6:41 pm

N376 wrote:
The 'norm' is in fact far lower than that. If you use the data from official posts by Squidoo Staff you'll see that only a small percentage break the 3 figure mark on a monthly basis.

I believe that those making far more than those aren't following the instructions of an ebook, they find success by trying different strategies. By mixing it up. Indeed none of them would have a blueprint for their own success that looks like anyone else's.

You have a great point. The "norm" for me though would include all monies earned -- not just from Squidoo payouts. And I would say that the majority who earn good money on here make more through 3rd party affiliate sales, whereas the Squidoo payouts are likely minuscule in comparison.

I guess the whole reason I posed this question is because I have seen a lot of posts from the web about Squidoo. I just don't get it. Many say you can't make money on Squidoo or Hub pages -- and while I cannot speak for hub pages, I can say that just isn't true at all when it comes to Squidoo. You can make money -- and in all honesty, you can make a lot of it.

Yes, my title is not so great -- and money doesn't make a GREAT LENSMASTER. I will try to change it.

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#1 11/20/2008 4:41 pm

MONEY... What a Great Lensmaster Should Make?

#2 11/20/2008 4:46 pm

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N376 wrote:

#6 11/20/2008 5:01 pm

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beempa wrote:

#7 11/20/2008 5:05 pm

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#8 11/20/2008 5:08 pm

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Janet21 wrote:

beempa wrote:

#9 11/20/2008 5:18 pm

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#14 11/20/2008 5:52 pm

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beempa wrote:

#15 11/20/2008 5:52 pm

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#19 11/20/2008 6:18 pm

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Loyalis wrote:

#20 11/20/2008 6:20 pm

Re: MONEY... What a Great Lensmaster Should Make?

beempa wrote:

Janet21 wrote:

beempa wrote:

#21 11/20/2008 6:23 pm

Re: MONEY... What a Great Lensmaster Should Make?

#22 11/20/2008 6:25 pm

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Christene wrote:

#23 11/20/2008 6:32 pm

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Loyalis wrote:

#24 11/20/2008 6:35 pm

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#25 11/20/2008 6:41 pm

Re: MONEY... What a Great Lensmaster Should Make?

N376 wrote:

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