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Downloadable Content = More Hits

Ranked #5,167 in Squidoo Community, #352,496 overall

Clickouts raise your rankings too!

I've discovered that valuable downloadable content is a great way to raise your rankings on Squidoo as well as get some attention in the search engines. It's a simple solution. If you have content worth reading, many people will want to be able to take it with them when they go. The secret is to create a file that's Adobe Acrobat Reader compatible and make it available online. Eventually, you can take all of your files (also known as PDF's) and create an e-book to sell or give away.

Below you'll find some of my ideas of lenses I've seen that need to use PDF's as well as some resources where you can find free or very inexpensive PDF creators.

Table of Contents

  1. How Do I Add Downloadable Content?
  2. Downloadable PDF's on my lenses
  3. Recipe Lenses
  4. Books, Games and How-To Lenses
  5. FREE PDF Creators
  6. More Lens Building Advice

How Do I Add Downloadable Content?

It's really pretty easy

To add downloadable content, first you'll need a place to store it. I use my own webspace, but Google Docs and other online storage places offer opportunities to upload content that others can access.

After you have a storage place, you'll need to create your documents. You can create them in Word, Works, Excel, Notepad, any program that allows you to print can be a PDF creation file. When you get it created, select File>Print and then choose your PDF creator. You'll be able to name your file. I suggest all lowercase and no spaces.

Now you can upload it to your storage space. Get it uploaded and find the URL or address for your document (will look like this: http://docs.google.com/fileview?id0120302001") You can shorten it at tinyrul.com.

Last, you need to link to it on your lens. You can use a Link Module or do it directly in the text Like this.

Here's what that paragraph looks like in HTML (Take out the squiggles ~):
Last, you need to link to it on your lens. You can use a Link Module or do it directly in the text <~a href="https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B6PVfY3TonXWNzk0NGExODUtNDE5OS00OGEwLWI5ZGItMWY3ZTdlYjUxNzU3&hl=en" target="_blank"~> Like this<~/a~>.

And that's it. You now have downloadable content.

Downloadable PDF's on my lenses

To share things I've written

I write devotions and other Ministry Resources.

Below you'll find links to lenses where I offer:
Free Total Downloads - most of the devotion lenses
Free Sample Downloads
Free Leaders' Guides - for most of my Bible Studies

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Recipe Lenses

The inspiration for the lens

Cheesecake CookiesI was on a Squidoo quest and found some Yummy sounding recipes. But I'm not a cook and I'm basically lazy, so I didn't copy any down. I probably could have bookmarked them. But what I wanted to do was download the recipe! If one of those recipes had been available as a PDF file, I'd have downloaded and printed it, and the lensmaster would have had a tiny little boost to lensrank and search engine credibility. It takes a lot of clickouts to help with any kind of major boost, but from my experience, the more clickouts I get, the higher I see my lens rise. So, try it! And keep reading if you're not sure how to create a PDF or what to do with it after you create it!

And now on Squidoo, there's a wonderful recipe module that makes a beautiful printout too. I'm guessing those printouts count as clickouts too!

What? You'd like to have a copy of that recipe on the right? That's the beauty of it, you can download it right now!!! Just click here or on the picture of the recipe, and you'll be able to bake them tonight

Buy a PDF Creator

Or keep scrolling and I'll share some links where you can find them free!

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Books, Games and How-To Lenses

Great places to add downloads

If you have an e-book, game or a how-to lens, you have a perfect opportunity to add downloadable content. Even if you're selling your e-book, a free chapter or page will give people an opportunity to decide whether or not to buy your product.

In a how-to lens, people who really want to take your advice will love having it available in a print form. And if they use your printed sheet on one lens, they are liable to check out your other lenses that offer how-to advice.

Here's an example of a game lens that needs downloadable directions. It's OK, it's my lens - I'm going to add them soon - but if you notice, I've got a teaser on there. (I just added it) I do that on several of my lenses to encourage people to bookmark it and stop back. It must work because I have a high rate of returns on my lenses with downloadable content.

FREE PDF Creators

and other info to help you create downloadable content

PDF Creators act like a printer. You can make any file into a PDF. These are free ones that I use.
PDF reDirect
This is my favorite PDF Creator. After you install it, you'll find it in your list of printers. Convert any file that you can print into a PDF (including those online reciepts).

PrimoPDF
My backup converter - Downloaded by 15+ million users. Get Nitro's PDF converter and quickly convert to PDF from 300+ file types. PrimoPDF — the 100% FREE PDF creator! This also comes with a PDF reader that will give you the ability to type into PDF forms.

Google Docs
I have my own webspace, so I load my files there and then link to them. But if you don't have anyplace in cyberspace to host your files, check out Google Docs. I've used it for a few files that I needed to share with others and it's worked beautifully. Google Docs will assign you an address for each document that you can add to your lens.

Tell me what you think!

Or Ask questions if I left something out

  • CathyLou Mar 27, 2011 @ 3:30 am | delete
    Thanks for the info! You have inspired me!
  • Momsbusy247 Mar 22, 2011 @ 1:18 pm | delete
    Fantastic information. What a great and useful lens you have created here!
  • Momsbusy247 Mar 22, 2011 @ 1:18 pm | delete
    Fantastic information. What a great and useful lens you have created here!
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PDF to E-Book

Remember up above I said you can compile your downloads into an e-book? My top ranked lens is one that makes the entire content available as a free download. You can check it out here

Every single one of those downloadable PDF's I've now compiled into an e-book for sale. In addition, thanks to Lulu.com, I can offer the print version as well. Just click here to see the finished product as well as an e-preview of the book:

"Devotions for Church Leaders and Small Groups"

It's 120 pages with at least 40 devotions. Yes, all of them CAN be found on these pages at Squidoo, but I know there are still some of you who love to have a real book. You like to carry it with you to the meetings and you like it on your shelf (me, I like to feel the pages).

PDF Download to Print to Amazon

On Lulu.com I can create print versions and they submit them to Amazon
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More Lens Building Advice

Not from me

But there are plenty of Squid Veterans around here who've taken their best tactics and put them out there for everyone to share.
Here are a few of my favorites
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Lynne was last here on February 4, 2011

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rlmodranski

Lynne Modranski builds websites, designs logos and creates online content.
Visit My Web Site to get all the details more »

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