Learning To Swim With Giants
There's an expression about "running with the big dogs...". Here at Squidoo, it's about "swimming with the Giants...".
Giant Squids, that is. If you're looking for information on how to achieve Giant Squid status, you've come to the right place. I'm the GypsyPirate, and I am a Giant Squid Community Organizer, and I (along with rms and bdkz, my fellow Organizer's) would love to help you become a Giant Squid. This lens is filled with the questions we get the most. If your question isn't answered, you can use the guest book, or the e-mail link I have provided, and we'll do our best to help you become the very best Giant you can be.
Now, come along and jump in -- the water's fine!
How many lenses does it take to be a Giant?
50. But that's not just any 50. It's 50 great, handcrafted, stand out lenses. 50 lenses you'd be proud to show your mom, your boss, your friends. If you think you've done the best you can, you probably have.
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Giants Start As Little Ones...
What's In This Lens:
- How Many Lenses Do I Need?
- When Can I Apply Next?
- How Often Can I Apply?
- Do Groups Count?
- How Do I Apply?
- Why Didn't I Get Notified?
- Do Co-Brands Count?
- Who Decides?
- Where Are My Badges?
- Maintaining Lensrank?
- Losing Giant Squid Status?
- Top 100 Giant Squid?
- The Question Log
- Acknowledgements
- Do You Have Another Question?
- A Group For Prospective Giants
- How To Become A Giant Lens
- Help From The Giant Squid Organizers
So when is the next admissions period?
September 30th, 2009! Think you're a shoe-in? Have someone look at your lenses for you and see what they think. Sometimes a new set of eyes can help point out places you might improve, new modules worth trying, etc.
The process is done quarterly, so if you can't make one deadline, you can always set your sights for the next. (December 31st)
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How often do you accept new Giants?
Quarterly. That's just short enough that there's always a new quarter right around the corner, and just long enough that it gives you time to build up your roster and make sure you've got 50 remarkable lenses! So if you can't make the September 30th deadline, shoot for one of the next ones: December 31, 2009 or March 31st, 2010.
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How To Become A Giant:
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THE GIANT SQUIDS (and how you can become one)
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No, it's not a rock group (but it might as well be). It's the core group of movers and shakers at Squidoo. It's a gathering of influentials, the most dedicated lensmakers on Squidoo. Here's how this whole thing started. One day at Squidoo Headquarte...
Do groups count?
Nope, groups don't count in your lens total toward Giant Squid status. Groups and lenses are such different animals. The best groups are about leadership and curation (letting only the best, most relevant lenses in), often run by a team. Whereas the best lenses are independent efforts at organizing the best content, ideas, recommendations, links and products on your topic. Right now the Giants program is a way to reward and help people with masterpiece lenses. We'll be working on a different program for Groupmasters in the future.
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I KNOW I have 50 great lenses. How do I apply?
- Drop us a note at iwannabeagiant@squidoo.com by September 30th. Link to your lensmaster profile page so we know where to look. We might not reply, but we'll be watching.
- Get an existing Giant to nominate you at giantnomination@squidoo.com. Nepotism? We don't think so.
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I think I have 50 wonderful lenses, but the deadline came and went and I didn't hear anything.
It may not feel like it, but this is actually good news! If you have 50 lenses you like, then you've got a wonderful framework and you're really close to becoming a Giant. Chances are your lenses were a little thinner than we'd hope, or still need some work. Try adding new modules, make sure you have lens intro images and bio pictures, a great intro, and that you're not just using the pre-baked templates that come with any "partner" lenses that you can make in SquidLit, SquidWho, etc.
For some more help tweaking your lenses check out this eBook that was written just for you: So you want to be a Giant Squid?
We know that with a little help from the experts, you'll be swimming with the Giants in no time!
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Help From The Giant Squid Organizers:
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Giant Squid Organizer: Bonnie
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Do you aspire for greatness? Are you a stellar lensmaster? Do you want to be a part of the coolest group on Squidoo? If you answered yes to any of these questions then we've got a group for you! Learn what it takes to join the ranks of the Giant Squ...
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Squidoo's Giant Squid Community Organizers
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I am the GypsyPirate and I have been a Squidoo Lensmaster since July 2006. I got my Giant badge in September 2007. And now, I have been asked to act as a Giant Squid Community Organizer (along with bdkz and rms). And, seriously, I couldn't be more ex...
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Giant Squid Community Organizer
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Whether you are new to Giant Squidom, an old pro, or a Giant Squid Hopeful, I'm here to help! I'm RMS (aka Robin) and I'm proud to be a part of a wonderful team of lensmasters, the Giant Squid Community Organizers. Please feel free to use this lens...
Do SquidWho and SquidVids and Ever.com and SquidLit et cetera lenses count towards my 50?
If they're customized beyond what the starter template created for you, if they're super-good and you're proud of them, I bet they'll count. But if you have hundreds of SquidWho people lenses that you never added your own content to or improved, chances are those aren't going to knock our socks off when we review your lenses.
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Are there real human beings looking at my lens roster and making a decision?
You betcha, there will is. The Giant Squid Organizers and The SquidTeam will look at your accounts and your lenses, with an eye out for UUU (updated, useful, unique) content. Sure, we could use some kind of algorithm or LensRank requirement, but for the case of the Giant Squids we believe editorial selection, the nomination of fellow Giants, and a panel-voting approach works best.
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I got the invitation from Megan to be a Giant, but I don't see any Giant badges on my lenses. What's up?
Whoops! Could be that you we don't have the right email address for your Squidoo account. Or it could be you're looking at lens layouts that don't have auto-badges yet (max lenses are the only ones that do).
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Do I have to maintain a certain lensrank in my lenses once I'm accepted as a Giant Squid?
Well, you need to maintain their quality, for sure. Keep 'em as fresh as possible. But we know LensRank can be pretty volatile (that's a good thing), so there's not a certain threshold you have to stay above.
Consider the old adage. "What's considered great art?" There is no right answer, but you know a quality piece when you see it. As a Giant Squid you already proved that you have the ability to create a collection of fantastic lenses. So use your own good judgment, ask a friend or fellow Lensmaster to critique you, or post a note on the forum if you think that a lens needs some adjustments. Chances are you've got a "Mona Lisa" in the making and with a few more brush stokes you'll have perfection!
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Squid Status
Can I Lose Giant Squid Status?
The rules that really ARE rules - not just guidelines
(from THE GIANT SQUIDS (and how you can become one))
If you get accepted into the Giant Squids program, and then for some reason start spamming or being cruel to fellow lensmasters or kicking kittens, we reserve the right to boot you. The Terms of Service apply to Giants just the same as everyone else. In fact, we expect more from you, not less. You're the shining examples of the best on Squidoo, after all.
Once a Giant, you have to continue earning your Giant Squid status. We give you a lot in return, so we expect you to keep up your level of work and lenses. If you sell off your lenses, or delete them, or transfer them to someone else or another account and drop below 50 lenses in your Giant Squid lensmaster account -- well, that will probably disqualify you as a Giant. If we hear that you've sold your entire Giant Squid account to someone else, we'll remove the status then too.
In short, the requirements will always be this: you and your Giant Squid account have to have 50 amazing lenses. Of course, once you do, it's not that hard to keep them up!
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How do I become a Top 100 Giant Squid?
If you are already a Giant Squid, and if you think you've got 100 super-duper lenses, shoot us an e-mail at 100club@squidoo.com and we'll take a peek at what you've been up to. We'll hook you up with a special badge and a few secret perks.
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The Question Log
Do you have a question that you didn't see answered here? Leave me a note and we will find an answer for you.
Or, drop a line with your thoughts, or opinions, or just to say hello.
ShadesofGay wrote...
I aspire to GIant Squidom, but it probably will take me until about 2012 to achieve, seeing as it's taken me almost a month to create 1 lens and a first draft of a second. Hopefully the world won't end before I have 50 quality lenses.
Posted May 03, 2009
EverythingMouse wrote...
Great summary of what it takes. Anyone who is on the fence about whether to go for Giant should know that is it such a great program and the perks just get better ............
Posted May 03, 2009
paperfacets wrote...
Thanks for all the info. I think about Giant Squid all the time. I am a plodder. It is going to take me awhile.
Posted April 09, 2009
blakesdad wrote...
Thankyou. I can see I still have a lot, lot more work to do....its all good though :)
Posted March 27, 2009
drifter0658 wrote...
You may see me become a Giant...if you don't retire from this first...:))
Thanks so much for this wonderful resource
Posted February 28, 2009
Acknowledgements:
With deep gratitude to Loyalis, Noadi, and N376 for help with images and formatting.-
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Noadi's Lensography
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This is a directory lens of all the Squidoo lenses, mostly art and craft related I also have lenses about authors, artists, animals, farm life, and more.
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Loyalis-ography
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A relatively organized glimpse into my Squidoo efforts.
Do You Have Another Question?
by GypsyPirate
I'm a parrothead from the NorthCoast, ready to share my view on the world...
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