15 Crazy Uses for the Guestbook Module

1. Ask a Question!

Encourage an answer

Use the guestbook module to ask an intriguing question that encourages an answer from your reader.

How many children do you have?
Why do you think the sky is blue?
Which was your favorite Brady?
Who really killed JFK?

2. Use a Guestbook to Collect Product Reviews

Personal Product Reviews

Encourage your reader to leave a personal product review by placing a guestbook module beneath a spotlighted Amazon product.

People love to read personal product testimonies almost as much as people like to write them.

3. Use a Guestbook to Inspire an Open Letter!

You provide the platform, your readers provide the content

Dear Mr. Bush,
Why do you need to add that one yucky piece of pork to my favorite can of Baked Beans? No one wants to eat it. The unlucky recipient always ends up pushing it off to the side of their plate where it eventually gets thrown away. Why don't you do us all a favor and toss it before you seal up the can?

~Bean Lover

4. Use a Guestbook to Collect Recipes!

Got a lens about your favorite homemade recipe?

Invite your readers to add their own personal homemade recipes to your favorite recipe lens.

Just like no two potatoes are alike, there are virtually hundreds of different ways to make a potato salad. A guestbook module is the perfect place to invite readers to share their own version of your favorite recipe.

My personal secret potato salad recipe is to use half mayonnaise and half Miracle Whip in the dressing and be sure to add a couple of chopped up hard-boiled eggs. Yummy!

5. Use a Guestbook to Collect Tips!

On your Niche, How-To, and Do-It-Yourself Lenses

Give your readers a place to share their best tips on your How-To and Do-it-Yourself lenses.
Invite them to add to the value of your expert advice by sharing some of theirs.

What can I do to my car to help me save gas?
How low do you cut your grass and why?
Which magazine do you recommend for a scrapbooker?

6. Use a Guestbook to Stay in Touch!

Create a Family Newsletter

Create a one-stop permanent spot for the entire family to keep in touch and share special news or congratulations.
To do this, simply make a lens and invite everyone to share their special news, and occasions by way of the guestbook module!

Cousin Betty
Hey everyone! Jiimmy passed his English final so the Graduation party is back on!

Uncle Ed
That's great! What do you need us to bring?

Grandma Alice
Party? When is it? Where is it?

Cousin Betty
Party is at my house, next Saturday at noon. Bring your own bottle! I've got everything else.

Uncle Ed
Great! We'll be there. Congratulate Jimmy for us. Did I tell you that Sarah got a new car?

7. Use a Guestbook to Create a Greeting Card!

For Special Occasions

Make a lens to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary. Add photos, videos, a gift wish list and invite family and friends to share their best wishes for the lucky celebrant by way of a guestbook module.

On the big day...share the lens link with the happy celebrant!

Or Create an Online Book Club

Using the guestbook module for discussions

By placing a guestbook module under a spotlighted book you can request personal book reviews from your readers, or even create an online book club and use several guestbook modules to pose questions about the book for discussion.

What did you think of Everyday Sacred?
Do you agree that the book has no beginning or end?
Do you find yourself in similar situations as discussed by the author in this book?

This also works for movies or dvds!

9. Use a Guestbook to Discuss Music!

Or recommend songs

Place a guestbook module under your iTunes module and ask readers to discuss the songs you've chosen or suggest more songs that you should add.

Have I included too many David Bowie songs on my iTunes module?

10. A Guestbook is also a great place to discuss Videos!

Place a guestbook module beneath a Youtube module to inspire a great discussion about what your reader has just seen!

Doesn't Bowie sound just as good live as he does on cd?
Do you think David Bowie looks better with long hair or short?

12. Use a Guestbook Module to conduct an open-ended survey.

Different than a regular question, you can ask specific people to respond

Survey for those of you who love counting: On a scale of 1 to 5, which is your favorite number?

13. Use a Guestbook Module to Answer Riddles

You provide the question, your guests provide the answers!

Riddle: You can see me but your friends have no idea I'm there. What am i?

14. Use a Guestbook Module to Create Round Robin Stories

Readers add on to the story!

You provide the beginning and let your readers continue the story as they see fit. For best results encourage readers to leave a portion of a sentence hanging to give the next "author" a place to start.

Example:
Once upon a time an adventurous young Squidoo lensmaster went looking for a new idea. She wanted to create the very best lens ever but wasn't quite sure how to do that. She decided to ask a Giant to help her. The very first Giant she came upon told her that in order to create the very best lens ever she'd need to...
You continue the story

15. Use a Guestbook Module as a Guest Book!

It's not as much fun, but it works!

Placed at the bottom of your lens a guestbook module makes a great spot for folks to let you know they visited your lens.

Have you got another crazy or fun way to use the guestbook module? Share it here!