Using VVV to Build Great Content - Squidoo Success Secrets
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Create Squidoo Lenses That Rank and Rock - and Hit Tier 1
For the better part of 3 years I've managed to average more than 20 lenses in Tier 1. Those top-earning lenses were created with a simple formula that I'm about to share with you. It's all about UUU and VVV, with a sprinkle of SEO keyword smarts and strategic backlinking.
After building and managing more than 200 Squidoo lenses, I've learned a few trade secrets - well, they're not really secrets, they're simple proven tactics for making successful lenses. Tactics that work for me, consistently, without a lot of agonizing over technical stuff. Aside from the basics of strong topic selection, keyword research, solid writing and managing a niche market, I've discovered a tried and true formula for making money with Squidoo. It's basic and simple: every lens must have UUU and something I call VVV.
Here's how I create lenses that rank and rock, lenses built and managed with UUU and VVV.
VVV = Visitor Value Viewpoint
Visitors are Your Key to Squidoo Success
No matter what route your lens visitors take to arrive on your lens, they get there because they are looking for information that presents some value they perceive. Their value viewpoint is what matters ... it's what makes them decide to click on a link to visit your lens. So the Visitor Value Viewpoint is crucial to getting traffic to your lens, and keeping people on your lens to buy or recommend or visit related links.
Not every lens I build reaches that magical money zone so many lensmasters strive for, Tier 1 And many of my lenses don't achieve Tier 2. But I build each one with the expectation that it might one day if I create it, update it and promote it properly. It all comes back to VVV and UUU. After I create and publish my VVV-centric lens and sprinkle lots of love and UUU all over it, I tend it like a baby plant. I update new lenses at least twice a week, building additional modules, expanding the initial content areas, updating time-sensitive bits and adding new content. I tweak my text modules on a regular basis.
Complete List of Squidoo Categories - compiled by GreekGeek
User Driven Content = Visitor Value Viewpoint
Including Delight as a Product Requirement is a Must
Effective UI: The Art of Building Great User Experience in Software
Amazon Price: $15.25 (as of 02/23/2012)
My model for building lenses is an outgrowth of lessons learned as a member of a software development team that created a user-driven publishing system similar to Squidoo in the 1980s.
More Secrets of Marketing
By the Squidoo Master Himself ...
Purple Cow, New Edition: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable--Includes new bonus chapter
Amazon Price: $13.34 (as of 02/23/2012)
Read Seth Godin's books about how to make yourself stand out from the crowd, starting with this one.
Don't Get Too Technical, Too Down, Too Dark
Most visitors want to be informed and entertained. Or entertained and inspired. But not bummed out.
I'm a rigorous editor when it comes to lenses; I need to work hard to keep my work conversational. I'm more of a technical writer, so I need to keep my copywriting from causing visitors to yawn and leave. Making lenses that are more appealing to a wider audience means injecting some humor or personal experience or opinion into each text module.
I don't write much about serious social issues or personal experiences. I include my own family preferences and life events in my lenses if they apply to the topic. But even if I were writing about a family problem or a personal challenge I would keep the VVV at the top of my mind.
Yes, you can write from the heart about a major obstacle you overcame - just keep the visitor in mind and bring them along for the journey instead of dragging them down or away from what they really want: your STORY, and a good outcome to take away -that can be a happy ending, or a powerful lesson learned.
Secret Squidoo Success Forumula
It's not a secret any more!
Rule 1 - Every lens I build must have original content
I spend time creating original content for eveyr lens I create. I write compelling copy. I research quality links, and visit each page to ensure they're not junk or dangerous. I design my own graphics or find legally free images to use for my lens.
Rule 2. My lenses must always have UUU and VVV.
A lens with UUU contains content that's Unique, Useful, and Updated. I also design my lenses with VVV - Visitor Value Viewpoint.
What is VVV? It's a standard marketing tactic - perceived value. If visitors don't perceive any personal value in the content, they won't visit or stick around. Visitors won't give a lens a thumbs up or share it or bestow a like and they probably won't share my lens on Facebook or Twitter or with friends via email if the content doesn't provide some interesting content that appeals to their value viewpoint.
So l brainstorm for topics that are interesting, timely, or unusual and then I develop an outline of what a typical visitor might find personally appealing.
Tell the World about UUU and VVV
Share this lens with some Squidoo Love
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
Hand Picked Gems of Wisdom
Words of Advice from Successful Squids
- Q: Looking back, can you name one thing you wish you’d known about when making your first few lenses? | Squidoo HQ
- Read the sage response from Susan 52 for the simple question: ...name one thing you wish you'd known about when making your first few lenses ...
Please Sign My Guestbook - I Love to Hear from Visitors
Got an Idea or Opinion? Share Here!
Visitor feedback is an important measure of lens success. Not everyone who visits a lens leaves a comment, or a Thumbs Up. Fewer still share lenses on social networks like Twitter or Facebook. When a lens gets a comment, SquidLike or a share, everyone benefits including the lensmaster. I like to know how visitors found me, or what they think is most interesting/important in my lenses,
Do you have a favorite method you use to build greater potential for success into your Squidoo lenses? Have you found a simple but proven way to present topics in an informative, helpful and entertaining manner that attracts visitors and encourages sharing?
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Doggitude
Jan 31, 2012 @ 11:09 pm | delete
- Very useful as I contemplate topics for my first and subsequent next few lenses! Thanks for sharing and breaking it down simply.
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favored1
Jan 10, 2012 @ 5:35 am | delete
- In teaching journalism to my students, I would tell them to always be mindful of their audience and don't insult them (making it sound as if they were stupid in the way they worded their writing). Do not under estimate your readers intelligence just because they dont view things the same way as you. If you write about what you know, it will flow.
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Bluemoongoddess
Nov 1, 2011 @ 10:05 pm | delete
- Very good tips, I will definately use these the next time I build a new lens.
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vegan123
Oct 26, 2011 @ 8:20 am | delete
- very cool. i have just been making lenses off my best interests and while they are benficial, i would like to get some income. thanks for sharing, it gives a great idea of what to write about and how to bring traffic in.
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sema
Jul 31, 2011 @ 8:47 am | delete
- Thank you for sharing your success tips.
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GoToGirl
Jul 22, 2011 @ 4:54 pm | delete
- Thank you for the tips!
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newbizmau
Jul 18, 2011 @ 3:10 pm | delete
- I'll have to keep this in mind.
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vallain
Jul 18, 2011 @ 1:34 pm | delete
- Clever, and I guess I'd been doing some of this without identifying what it was that worked. You've put your finger on it.
As a retired librarian, I try to focus on what someone needs and put it together in a lens. You need to listen to the feedback (comments, search words, polls) and adjust the lens content over time. Even sales from a lens tells you something about your audience.
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Joan4
Jul 18, 2011 @ 12:17 pm | delete
- Very helpful VVV! And easy to remember, too! Thank you!
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ForestBear
Jun 30, 2011 @ 7:29 pm | delete
- Great lens! Well written and very informative. Thank you for sharing your tips.
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