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A "Step by Step" Guide. How to create a Squidoo Lens. Updated.

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How to make a Squidoo Lens, a step by step guide

This guide is designed to help the first time user. There are many other help files, but you might find this guide the easy way to start.

This Lens is not spamming, only Squidoo placed advertising is allowed, it is just a help file and is listed on many Lenses, that's why there are links to other Lenses and offsite websites that do promotion work. Squidoo is fun and free, but it also has it's important function, it can earn you money and increase your Page Rankings for your Website and Blog. You can contact me today by using this Form

As a Squidoo Lensmaster you can join the Group on LinkedIn This helps build high quality links to your Lenses, get started today.

Contents at a Glance

The Squidoo Story
What is Squidoo?, and how do I make a Le...
Registration is easy
Step 1. the first page
Step 2
Step 3

What is Squidoo?, and how do I make a Lens (Webpage)?

The first thing you should do again is to read the terms of service, Forget the Terms, and Squidoo could ban you, so be careful. Remember nobody under 18 is allowed to register.

Squidoo is such a good idea as it enables anybody to work from home, share their passions, hobbies, ideas or online business. A tip worth remembering, you can create basic html code in a free webpage creation tool, and post the code into your "Text" module, this is also a good way to use the spell checker.

Registration is easy

First you must register

Registration on Squidoo is the first thing you need to do.
It is not difficult, but you will need an email address where you can receive and
reply from, for the confirmation.

Register here

Registration is quick and simple.

1. Click on "Make a new Lens" on the right hand side. This will then ask what is your Lens about.
This can be changed later.
2. We suggest leaving the existing selected button for now.
3. Select a unique name. This is the same as a normal web page name and must be unique to Squidoo. Under the menu select a topic, there is a number of overall categories, select the best for your Lens. Non-adult Lens will normally use the G rating. Squidoo is under taking to remove the possiblity to own adult Lens, please check first.
4. After your Lens name has been accepted. Enter 3 keywords for your Lens, again you can update this info later.

There is a time delay in the information being updated, as all information is held online.

Step 1. the first page

This is what you will see. You cannot enter data here. This is a screen shot of the page you will see.If you clicked on the button above "Make my Lens" this opens as a second widow so you can view these steps and also complete the process.

Step 1 in creating a Lens on Squidoo

Add a name for your Lens, you cannot change this, so select a name that will be useful and one that search engines, ie Google, Yahoo, MSN will index. As you can above, this Lens was rated number one for the search term "creating lenses"

Step 2

This is what you will see. You cannot enter data here. This is a screen
shot of the page you will see.

Step 3

This is what you will see. You cannot enter data here. This is a screen
shot of the page you will see

Step 4

This is what you will see. You cannot enter data here. This is a screen
shot of the page you will see.

Making a Lens at http://www.squidoo.com/creating-lenses

Add 3 keysword that suit your Lens. A Good idea is use words that are contained in the main body of your Lens and will be words that people really search on.

What you see now is the basic Lens structure

This is what you will see. You cannot enter data here. This is a screen shot of the page you will see

I suggest you do the following

1. Click on the Reorder Modules button.

2. Delete all except those marked with a tick.

3. You can add modules at any time, there are lots more to choose from.

After deleting the modules, click on save

Entering Information

This is what you will see. You cannot enter data here. This is a screen
shot of the page you will see. Always change the Title of the module as everyone has "New" to start with and if you do not change then when you publish it will never get the "green" approved sign.

Now you can enter your information. Remember to save a draft and when
you are ready, click the Publish button. It seems that if you divide your text
into 3 or 4 modules this is better for rating purposes.

Time scale

When it's live, the search engines can index it.

It seems if you are used to making web information you can do all this Squidoo stuff in 5 minutes. I think for the first time you should allow 15 minutes.

It makes sense to have your text ready and spelling checked, before cut and pasting into the modules.

To get the Lens approved you will need a least 4 modules, remember to change the Title name, split your text into smaller sections. Your soon get the idea. After Publishing you can go to the Dashboard area and see the current status of your Lens. Only when it has a green tick will it be really live. The more information you add your creation to the better. Not every Squid Master allows adding your Lens, but try to add on other suitable Lenses. If you have produced a number of Lenses, it is always a good idea to create a Lensography or sitemap Lens, which holds details of all your lenses all together in one Lens, see examples below.

You should expect to wait about 48 hours to be listed in Google. Do a search for your keywords or unique information. Your Lens will need updating to maintain your rating within Squidoo. A simple and effective method to increase the number of people that can "Find" you.

Good luck and welcome to Squidoo

A Squidoo Lens is similar to a webpage

Here is a recommended book, at a reasonable price, that can help you with your Lens design and layout. Lot's of practical tips for Lens and web pages. Normally I buy a book, read and learn from it, and use the information, just like you.

This book is different, I am very sad that I don't have the knowledge and skills to write such a useful and practical guide to all the everyday things you need to know and remember to use. I built my first website 15 years ago, and it took months, with this guide, you will be ready to go in days and it will be to the current standards. Let me know if you would like to review this book and add to it's readership.

You can use your photographs to create a Youtube video

The YouTube ref is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcB4W5vcvhw

RSS Newsfeeds

News Feeds or Real simple syndication (RSS) is a method extracting news
items from a range of websites that provide these links. CNN, BBC, and many
newspapers and magazines all provide news feeds.Squidoo has an excellent article.
This helps establish your Lens as a source up current, up to date information.

See my latest update on RSS newsfeeds and try a Newsfeed creator for free

What can "Add Modules" do for me?

These are the basic building blocks of your Lens, there are standard modules like this one ( Text / Write module) but there are many others. Use the "Search A-Z" and under P for example you will see a "Poll Module" You can use this Poll to collect information, provide entertainment, etc. A small example is shown.

You can add Ebay, YouTube, and many other modules including RSS newsfeeds. I have created a special Lens about using the various types of modules, check it out in the "Lenses you might need" section

A trial module using many examples is on Squidoo Modules These both open in a new window. Here is my module support Lens Using Squidoo Modules

Take our Poll

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Share this poll
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- Twitter
- Digg
- Delicious
- Email

I have created my Lens, now what should I do?

There are many Lens covering Lens promotion and there is a group of Lens help files, so this is just my personal view of what you need to do.
Remember, you will also need to work on your Lens, adding additional information, links etc, to maintain and increase you Lens ranking.

The main benefit of a Lens is that it is treated as a normal webpage by the major search engines, this means you can link offsite to your Ebay pages and websites. This linking is part of the process of increasing your page ranking.

I have been a member of a website that publishes a monthly newsletter with the latest news on a wide range of search engine optimisation techniques. I have provided a link to page rank here, just in case you want to improve your page ranking, or just learn what it is all about.
What is a good idea is the archive book available, great to see what has changed with Google and Yahoo and where Lycos is. and is really updated every month.

Creating a Blog or Forum is also an excellent method to create exposure for your website and Lens. You should create links between your Lens to your Blog, Forums and website and back to your Lens. This will take a lot of effort and will be an ongoing process, stop doing anything for a few months and your page rank will suffer.

Keywords, Titles, page description copy writing, text, graphic design and promotion, promotion, promotion will finally get you listed. This is not a part time job and needs website and Internet knowledge to get the job done properly. If you would like additional information, please contact me using the link at the top.

Following Drachsi

Business Ideas and Solutions from Drachsi

Drachsi is my pseudonym. I provide a range of services to small companies requiring help and support with websites. When you need help remember the name Drachsi Business Resources

Thanks to Squidoo, Google and all visitors, I made number one.

I searched for "creating lenses" on Google and found that from 4 million results, this Lens was number one. Thank you to Squidoo and all the team for making it possible.

Having useful links, good text and images and naturally suitable tags make this possible. This is why it is so important to have a Lens. I also managed to get a Blog listed in 2nd place for it's subject.

If you need support for your existing Website, Lenses or Blog, contact me at Squidoo (top right side) or visit.
Practical help for small business owners
Having been a small business owner in manufacturing and exporting worldwide, I might just have the experience and knowledge to help you succeed.

Visitors come from these countries

Please take time to vote for my efforts.

We all know that Squidoo is very international, here are visitors to this Lens.

Not a bad idea to add this Lens to your Bookmark Collection

Available for all visitors

Add this to your lens »

You can rate this Lens, here and now

All Squidoo members can vote

Your final chance to pass a comment on this Lens. I do react very well to 5 stars, but also realise you may only think it is worth 3. As a Squidoo member, you know voting is a tradition, and has benefits, and I like to be liked.

Every Lensmaster takes time and effort creating a Squidoo Lens. You can reward their effort by casting your star vote. This is also good as it is added to your Profile history. Unfortunately, if you are not a member you cannot vote.

How many Squidoo stars will you give to a popular and useful Lens, you need to select how many stars it should have. Not a lot to ask.

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.

Add this to your lens »

Ok, I am impressed

If, after reading this article you are ready to join, you can do that here.

DID YOU KNOW?: You can invite your friends to make lenses just for your group! If a friend signs up as a new lensmaster and makes $15, you get a $5 bonus. For charity, or just for you.

Using AllPosters to add images to your Lens, Blog or Webpage

One of the big problems when creating any webpage, Blog or Squidoo Lens is the need for images. Here is a solution and you can earn money as well. Add hundreds of thousands of images to your Lens. - Free!

Join the AllPosters.com Affiliates Program and get access to hundred of thousands of images for your site. AllPosters.com has images from popular movies, music groups, sports teams, fine art, and much more. Adding these images to your site will enhance your content.

Furthermore, you get paid for improving your site with poster/print images! All of the images you use will link to AllPosters.com where your site visitors can make purchases. When they buy something, AllPosters.com pays you 20% of the sale. If the visitor decides to purchase within 10 days of their last visit from your website, you'll still earn commission on the sale! It's easy to sign-up, build links, and track your sales. Sign up today!

And finally, don't forget "Lensroll"

When you have created your Lens you are ready to promote your work. Using Lensroll, will give you a good start. Just complete the simple form, and then wait. You stand a good chance of being selected as a Squidoo Lens of the day, which boosts your Lens Ranking, and also helps with your Squidoo earnings.

Lensroll / Published Lenses: Bookmark, share and discovery the best of Squidoo

Squidoo Tips.

After publishing you may have to wait for 48 hours. If after this time your Lens is still showing as a greyed out symbol, try the following.

1. Change the Title of all modules so that it represents the contents better. If you still have something called "New..." change it.
2. Remember to Edit the "Introduction and Contents Tool" and select "Table of Contents" and tick the "On" button.
3. Link to as many other webpages and Lens as possible.
4. After you get the Green approval Symbol, you can add your Lens to other suitable Lens, which provide a module for you to add your information. The old Groups on Squidoo have been converted into Lenses, so you will have to carefully select other Lens as your partner.

If you have any tips, please send details and I will added them here.

Don't forget to update your Profile page, this gives you a lot of opportunity to add links to Blogs, Lenses and web url's This is where you add your photo.

Using Google Analytics

Adding Google Analytics code to all your Lens

To use Google Analytics you need an account at Google,
http://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/topic.py?hl=en&topic=14123

After registration you can add details of your Squidoo Lens. Google checks if it is a valid url, and provides a code to insert into your account. All you need is the Web Property ID similar to UA-200000-00. You need to add this in your "Dashboard" under "Settings" This will monitor all your Squidoo Lenses in your Google account, see number of visitors, where they come from and much more. See the excellent Lens with more details from thefluffanutta at http://www.squidoo.com/google-analytics-on-lenses

Now, something for you. ONLY SQUIDOO MEMBERS

Got your working Lens? now add it here

Everybody knows that links are important. If you have taken the effort to create a Squidoo Lens, then add your link here and let others view and vote, it costs nothing, but you still get the link. Have fun, It would be very nice if you added this Lens to your Lenses as well. Thanks in advance.

This section is only for Squidoo members with a Lens, don't bother adding any other type of link, you are wasting your time.

A "Step by Step" Guide. How to create a Squidoo Lens. Updated.

How to make a Squidoo Lens, a step by step guide

Contents at a Glance

Contents at a Glance

What is Squidoo?, and how do I make a Lens (Webpage)?

Registration is easy

Step 1. the first page

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

What you see now is the basic Lens structure

I suggest you do the following

Entering Information

Time scale

When it's live, the search engines can index it.

A Squidoo Lens is similar to a webpage

You can use your photographs to create a Youtube video

RSS Newsfeeds

What can "Add Modules" do for me?

Take our Poll

Thanks for voting! Now invite your friends to vote.

I have created my Lens, now what should I do?

Following Drachsi

Business Ideas and Solutions from Drachsi

Thanks to Squidoo, Google and all visitors, I made number one.

Visitors come from these countries

Please take time to vote for my efforts.

Not a bad idea to add this Lens to your Bookmark Collection

Available for all visitors

You can rate this Lens, here and now

All Squidoo members can vote

Ok, I am impressed

Using AllPosters to add images to your Lens, Blog or Webpage

And finally, don't forget "Lensroll"

Squidoo Tips.

Using Google Analytics

Adding Google Analytics code to all your Lens

Now, something for you. ONLY SQUIDOO MEMBERS

Got your working Lens? now add it here

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Please pick your widget size and display. Then click "Make the Widget" to get the code that's just right for you.

Voila! Just copy and paste this code into your own site. Have fun!

Oopsey! Please login to Squidoo in order to add this module to your lens.

Search Engine information

Search Engine Links

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The Visitor Area

Do not ever add your email address here. The spammers are waiting.

A lens is also a good method to spread word of your ideas.

Support Discussion Area

Do not show your email address.

Here are some Lenses, using many of the ideas

Using Squidoo to spread your message.

How to contact me if this did not help

Webmaster Ideas

"Step by Step" Requests

Lenses you might need,

Squidoo Lenses you might like to join

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