Lens Building Tips Directory

Common Newbie Squidoo Mistakes 

Begin Your Journey By Learning What NOT To Do.

Common Newbie Squidoo Mistakes
By KimberlyDawnWells

Making a Squidoo lens is easy. Making a good Squidoo lens, well, that's another story.

Hopefully this lens will help new lensmasters avoid some of the more common Squidoo pitfalls.

Table of Contents

* Squidoo? Lenses? What Gibberish is This?
* My Experience as a Lensmaster
* Mistake #1: Not Enough Modules
* Mistake #2: Not Enough Content
* Mistake #3: Few or No Pictures
* Mistake #4: Not Enough Tags
* Mistake #5: Not Having a Bio or Personal Picture
* Mistake #6: More Ads than Content
* Mistake #7: Poor Writing
* Mistake #8: Unrelated Content
* Mistake #9: Not Changing Default Text
* Mistake #10: Never Updating the Lens
* Mistake #11: Not Allowing Contact
* Mistake #12: Expecting Overnight Success
* Mistake #13: Thinking Your Lens is Perfect
* Mistake #14: Stealing Content
* Mistake #15: Going Crazy With HTML
* Mistake #16: Spamming Guestbooks
* More Helpful Lenses
* Penny for Your Thoughts
* Purple Cow

Squidoo Modules 101 - The Starter Package 

Starter Package Squidoo Modules

Squidoo Modules 101 - The Starter Package
By Caseyfern

No matter how many lenses I make, I'm always having to put in modules, test them out to see what they do, re-discover that I picked the wrong one, and add something else. So this is a shortcut compendium for any lensmaster who goes through this tapdancing - like me!

Table of Contents

* This is a Text / Write module
* This is the Amazon module
* This is the New Donations module
* This is the DUEL
* This is the New Feed My Search Module
* This is a New Flickr Photos module
* This is the New Guestbook module
* This is a New Lijit Module - read the warning below...
* This is a New Lijit Module - Well, not really
* This is a New Link List Module
* This is a New Poll Module
* This is a new Prediction module
* This is a New RSS module
* Ah yes, this is another New Text / Write module
* This is a New Twitter Follow module
* This is a new Reviews from Yelp module
* This is a New YouTube vids module
* This is a REAL POLL!
* And now for the true Reader Feedback module

Cute modules to spice up your lens 

Advanced modules tutorial

Advanced modules tutorial
By Spirituality

Cute modules that will help your lens stand out. Go beyond the text-module and the link-list module and use some color. These modules are built into squidoo and really make your lens look good. Some are hard to find, so I added descriptions on where they are in the 'add modules' mode.

Table of Contents

* FAQ - any questions about squidoo modules?
* The Introduction module
* Amazon Spotlight
* Blackbox
* Polaroid
* Wikipedia
* StickyNote
* Talk Bubble
* The Most Important Thing
* Big Arrow Link
* Squidoo
* Featured lenses
* Duel
* Poll Module
* Google Maps
* Google Blog Search - Blog Posts from Google
* Amazon
* Amazon Voting (Plexo)
* eBay
* CafePress
* How to use modules well, add your tips [comments plexo]
* Guestbook
* More about squidoo - squidoo answer deck etc.
* My other lenses
* My newest lenses

The Text/Write Module for Anything! 

How to use the Text Module

The Text/Write Module for Anything!
By Margaret_Schaut

I love the Write module. It's really one of my very favorites... you can do anything with it. It is one of the easiest ways to make your lens stand out.

It is the primary carrier of your best content, originally written information or stories, and it is super flexible for almost any topic in the world!

Let me show you some tricks.

Contents at a Glance

1. Short and Sweet
2. What's Link List got that I ain't got?!
3. And here's the Link List module
4. Think you're limited to one little picture?
5. Cool Write Module Hacks and Tricks
6. Make a list with the Write module
7. Include a block quote
8. More places to learn
9. If you're new, take a look here!
10. My New Squidoo'in Blog
11. Want more help making FABULOUS lenses?
12. Reader Feedback

Basic HTML for Squidoo 

It's not that hard...

Basic HTML for Squidoo
By Margaret_Schaut

You can use basic HTML in a few of the lens modules.

Mostly used to create hyperlinks (they are the "live links" to other sites). Though there are also other uses for HTML.

If you find yourself in need of quick tutorial on how to do it, here it is! Being able to grasp this skill (or adding it to favorites so it's only a quick click away) will take your Squidoo Lensmastering talents from beginner to intermediate.

Table of Contents

* Which Modules allow HTML?
* What HTML can I use?
* Making a Hyperlink
* Adding HTML to the Introduction Module
* Making An Email Link
* Forcing a Line Break
* Inserting Images
* How can I make a clickable icon, button, picture or banner?
* Wrapping Text Around An Image
* Bold and Italics
* Colors
* Underlining
* Removing the underline from Hyperlinks
* Centering text and images in your module
* What HTML can't I use?
* Using the iframe
* Advanced HTML

Advanced HTML for Squidoo 

Advanced HTML

Advanced HTML for Squidoo
By N376

The techniques shown here aren't much more advanced then what's in the Basic HTML tutorial. The code being used isn't any more special. But the results and presentation can appear to be more sophisticated. Hence it being the Advanced HTML tutorial. For what it does for the look of your lens.

Table of Contents

* HTML Colors
* Font Families
* Background Color
* Text Size Large
* Text Size Small
* Strike Through
* Printable Coupons
* Capitalizing
* The Title Attribute
* Spoiler Text
* Quoting
* Quotes for SquidWho
* Magazine Style Pull Quote
* Superscript and Subscript
* Small Caps
* Math Symbols
* Spacing
* Spiffing up your Poll Options
* Lists: Ordered, Unordered and Bulleted
* iframes

Super Advanced HTML Tips & Tricks for Squidoo 

Super Advanced HTML Tips and Tricks to use on Squidoo

Super Advanced HTML Tips & Tricks for Squidoo
By Randell

These techniques are not really that super advanced. Anyone can do this.

This lens would not be possible if it were not for the groundwork of other lenmasters: specifically, Magicality and N376 so they will be getting a lot of link love here. This lens is to expand on their lenses providing some tips and tricks for using HTML within Squidoo that weren't mentioned within their lenses but I have found very useful and think they are way cool.

Contents at a Glance

1. Expanding on Squidoo HTML
2. HTML on Squidoo Basics Review
3. How to use an Image as a repeating Background for your text on Squidoo
4. Animated Graphics and Squidoo
5. Using HTML for Solid Colors or Patterns as backgrounds on Squidoo
6. Image background that does not repeat
7. When adding your own images to Squidoo, Don't forget the Alt Tags
8. Link to a Specific Section of your Lens
9. Link to a specific Section from another page
10. Link to a specific section of Squidflix or Squidwho Lenses
11. Embed
12. Tell me what you think or ask for help with your HTML on Squidoo issues
13. How to Display HTML Code on Squidoo Lenses
14. Give me some link love
15. Squidoo's Cool Blog
16. Some other really neat How to Squidoo Videos
17. The New The Most Important Thing Module - this is what is looks like
18. HTML on Squidoo - Images in tables
19. HTML Made Easy
20. More HTML Resources and Guides
21. HTML Books for further Reading
22. P.S. - Not enough here for you

Free Images and How to Use Them 

A Collection of Free Images and Graphics for your Squidoo Lenses

Free Images and How to Use Them
By Triathlontraining

This is a listing royalty free image resources to use on your lens or website.

Also, it includes several detailed How-To sections on how to add, control, and enhance the images in your pages (or lenses). Examples included.

Table of Contents

* What is Free Content?
* Ways to Search for Free Content
* Free Image Hosting Sites
* Free Gifs
* Free Images (other)
* Free Animated Images
* Free Specialty Images
* Free Clipart
* Basic: Linking to an Image
* Basic: Making a Clickable Image Link
* Advanced: Resizing Your Images
* Image Resizing: Software
* Image Resizing: Online
* Advanced: Other Image Attributes
* Your thoughts, tips, and ideas?
* More great resources

Add Borders to Your Lens Photos on Squidoo 

Another Tutorial for the Semi-Clueless

Add Borders to Your Lens Photos on Squidoo
By Beeobrien

Would you like to jazz up the photos on your lenses? You can use borders on your images to give them much more impact and to help them "pop." You just need to use a little bit of simple HTML magic.

I have included easy instructions for a variety of border effects to make your lens even MORE spectacular than it already is. Remember, Content is still king, but it doesn't hurt to look pretty.

What Will You Find Here?

* Solid Border
* How Do I Change the Size of the Border?
* Can I Use Other Colors?
* How Do I Choose Colors and Find the Code for Them?
* A Great HTML Color Guide on Squidoo
* Adding Padding
* How Much Padding Should I Add?
* What If I Want Two Colors or a Matted Effect?
* How About a 3-D Effect?
* What If I Don't Want My Border to be Solid?
* What If I Want Different Sizes of Border on Each Side of the Image?
* A Great Book When You're Ready to Learn More
* Let Me Know!
See also: html for photos

Squidoo CSS - my favorite code to spice up a lens 

Squidoo coding - css examples

Squidoo CSS - my favorite code to spice up a lens
By Spirituality

I've gathered my favorite Squidoo-code for later reference. I'm tired of trying to find that specific lens I used a css effect on and then having to go to edit-mode, copy paste, and then go back to the lens I was working on. This lens will help me be a better lensmaster and perhaps it will help some other squids as well.

Contents at a Glance

1. Some basic HTML explanations
2. FAQ - any questions?
3. Orange Box
4. Light blue background
5. A note for CSS newby's
6. CSS and HTML books
7. (Light) Yellow background
8. Learn more CSS
9. Really make something stand out: yellow and orange
10. Floating text to the right, and giving it color
11. Floating pictures to the right
12. Blue Typed Text
13. More blue text, but without the special font
14. Blue text, dotted line under paragraph - a more fancy way to do quotes
15. Orange text
16. Red text, within a paragraph.
17. Heads up on HTML and CSS options on squidoo
18. Strike through
19. So, what did you think of my Squidoo css tips?
20. More Squidoo Help Lenses - squidoo answer deck etc.
21. More lenses by me
22. Thanks for all your support!

Advanced CSS: Layout Tricks and Lab Experiments 

Fancy Tricks for Squidoo Lenses

Squidoo CSS - my favorite code to spice up a lens
By Greekgeek

Columns! Images! Colored boxes! This lens is my CSS sandbox, where I'm testing fancy layout tricks to make Squidoo lenses look great. As I figure out new CSS techniques, I'll share them with you, so you can use them on your lenses!

This lens assumes you're already comfortable with HTML and some advanced HTML and basic CSS techniques. What you're looking for now is CSS tips: special formatting commands that let you fine-tune layout and text styles beyond simple things like centering and italics.

Table of Contents

* Writing CSS in Squidoo Modules
* Where Will CSS Work in Squidoo Modules?
* CSS Layout Tips #1: Columns Without Tables
* CSS Layout Tips #2: Paragraph Borders Make Great Dividers
* CSS Layout Tips #3: Maximum Column Width
* CSS Layout Tips #4: How Did I Get That Crazy 3-Column Layout?
* CSS Layout Tips #5: Two-Column Thumbnail Gallery
* CSS Layout Tips #6: Columns With Borders
* CSS Layout Tips #7: Making a Grid
* CSS Layout Tips #8: Horizontal Centering
* CSS Layout Tips #9: List With Thumbnail Images
* Also See: Aligning Graphics (and Captions) on Web Pages
* That's All For Now!

My Favourite CSS Tricks on Squidoo 

Simple Tweaks to Spice Up Your Lens

My Favourite CSS Tricks on Squidoo
By Thefluffanutta

The basic tools provided by Squidoo will do pretty much everything you need to get your content out to your audience. But sometimes you want to format it a little differently, and this is where inline CSS comes into play. Here I show some of the tricks I use on my lenses, and the code that does that.

Table of Contents

* Start Simple, Keep it Subtle, Be Sympathetic
* Official Squidoo Colors
* Tidy Wrapping of the Introduction Module
* Borders and Dividers
* Warning!
* Turning Inline Tags into Blocks
* Floating Paragraphs
* Hacks for YouTube Modules
* Two Column Tables
* Making Tables
* Example Usage

Create Stunning CSS Backgrounds with Images 

Use This Simple Tutorial for Your CSS Background

Create Stunning CSS Backgrounds with Images
By DrRichard

Do you have a Squidoo lens or two? How about a website? A MySpace profile? Are you bored by all those plain old white backgrounds? Here I'm going to show you how to spice up your lenses and pages and create beautiful backgrounds using the CSS Background statement (otherwise known as HTML style).

Contents at a Glance

1. Fancy Yourself as a Landscape Artist?
2. Positioning Smaller Images for Cool Backgrounds
3. How About Some Funky Repeated Images...
4. Free Backgrounds for Your Lenses
5. Learn the Secrets of Style for Your Website
6. OK - Now It's Your Turn!

How To: Pimp Out Your Lens 

Does Your Lens Suck?

How To: Pimp Out Your Lens
By Pandrogas

It's okay. We all have to start somewhere and not everyone is a graphic designer. With some work though, you can take a crappy lens or even a semi-decent one and make into a superstar. That's why we're here today. To pimp your lens out and help you show it off without needing to put the paper bag on. So, without further adieu, we should get started on the checklist...

Contents at a Glance

1. Lens Mechanic: Maxed Or Not Maxed?
2. Lens Content: What Is It?
3. Lens Content Part 2: Start Writing
4. Lens Format: HTML Tags
5. Lens Content Part 3: Pictures
6. Example: Large External Pic
7. Lens Pictures: Need To Make Them?
8. Lens Design: Proofread & Usability
9. In Conclusion
10. So, What'ya Think?

FREE Squidoo Design Group 

Awesome graphics - Like the designs featured on this lens

FREE Squidoo Design Group
By Janusz

This Group is for everyone. Whether you need a Logo designing for your Group.. Or you just want to show off your own group/Lens.. Anyone can join

Check Out Other Great Lenses From Janusz:

Make your own Free Squidoo Intro


Free Spacers & fillers for your Lens

Squidoo Tagging Tricks 

How to get more visitors and a better search engine ranking using only tags

Squidoo Tagging Tricks
By MrLewisSmile

Adding tags to your lens is a great way to get found by more people. Through Google, through Squidoo Search, and through lensmasters clicking on their own tags links.

Basically, tagging is very very good.
But only if you know what you're doing.

Contents:

What is "tagging"?
Example "Tags Pages"
1). Tags help you find other lenses related to yours
2). Tags are a great way to find other tags to include on your lens
3). Tags are a great way to find other lenses for you to link to
4). Every tags page links back to your lens
5). The tags pages are relevant to your lens. Google Fodder!
6). The tags pages often come up very high on google
Tagging Tricks: Tag Limit
Tagging Tricks: Tag Effectiveness
Tagging Tricks: Your Tags Influence Google Ads
Tagging Tricks: Phrases Matter
Tagging Tricks: Google Suggest
Tagging Tricks: Adding Tags From Your Stats
Tagging Tricks: Google AdWords Keyword Tool

Lensmaster Tools and Utilities 

Power up your lens today

Lensmaster Tools and Utilities
By Thefluffanutta

SquidUtils is the place to find complementry utilities and tools for your Lenses on Squidoo. Here you can see all of your lenses and groups, with shortcuts to some of the most vital functions not included on your usual dashboard. If you are an Amazon Associate, then there are some exciting tools here that will spice up your lenses, and earn you more.

Contents at a Glance

1. Advanced Lensmaster Dashboard
2. Lensmaster RSS Feeds
3. Google Powered Search [New]
4. Amazon Link Generator
5. Amazon RSS Feeds (New)
6. New Tools at SquidUtils

Do Squidoo 

A much requested guide to creating a successful Squidoo lens

Do Squidoo
By victoria_neely

Are you seeking information on how to use Squidoo effectively? Excellent, because this lens is made just for you!

Table of Contents

* What do you want help with?
* How do I...create text with links in the middle?
* Links you Need to be Familiar With
* What Modules does Squidoo Offer?
* People are Talking about Squidoo
* The Official SquidBlog
* Quit Squidoodling Around and Build a REAL Lens
* How can I get more traffic to my lens?
* Oops...I Squidooed Up
* The Squidoo Shop on CafePress
* The Squidoo Staff LOVES to show off on Flickr
* Super Squidoo's
* Words are Fun
* Links to my Lenses
* What do you think?

Squid Angel Blessing 

Ten Tips for a Bless-Worthy Squidoo Lens

Ten Tips for a Bless-Worthy Squidoo Lens
By Kim Giancaterino

My goal here is to help you make your lens bless-worthy. I've listed many of the qualities I look for, with help from some of my favorite lenses, highlighted below.

Table of Contents

* Ten Tips for a Bless-Worthy Lens
* My Squid Angel Diaries
* Squid Angels Headquarters
* Squid Angel Tribute
* Need Help With Grammar & Style?
* Thanks for Visiting...
* This Lens Supports SquidAid
* Please Support the HSUS
* Snake Oil Graphic Courtesy of Hugh MacLeod
* Marketing Wisdom from Seth Godin

Squidoo Tools, Resources, and Guides 

Squidoo Tools, Guides, Lens addons, Linkbuilding tips, and news

Squidoo Tools, Resources, and Guides
By Triathlontraining

This is a collection of free Squidoo tools, guides, and other resources to help you build and market your Squidoo Lenses

Table of Contents

* Tools Specifically for Squidoo
* Additional Tools
* Submit to Search Engines
* Addons for Your Lenses
* Making Money on Squidoo
* How-to Guides and Help
* Directories that Allow Squidoo Pages
* Use Other Social Bookmarking Sites
* Squidoo-related Blogs
* News and Articles

The Squidoo Answer Deck 

If you haven't found the answer you need yet - it will be here.

The Squidoo Answer Deck

Hundreds of pages of useful answers. Run by community experts.

You have to see it to believe it.

When I Am Not At Squidoo I Am Here 

Win $100