In Praise of the Squidoo Guestbook

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 21 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #510 in Squidoo Tips, #76,691 overall

Don't forget to add a guestbook module!

I recently finished reading a long and interesting lens - and was inspired to tell the writer how much I enjoyed her work. But to my dismay, there was no guestbook. No contact link either.

I was so disappointed that I couldn't network with the author of that lens! So I decided to make this lens telling people how much I love the guestbook module.




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A list of Squidoo lenses with guestbooks 

You are welcome to add your lenses to my links plexo, if they have guestbooks. The list of guestbook-rich links is near the bottom of this lens.

Also, could you please do me a favor and add a reason why guestbooks are awesome to the Text List Plexo below?

Why Squidoo guestbooks are awesome 

Please vote on your favorite reasons for including guestbooks on your lenses. Add any awesome reasons for doing so, using your creative intelligence to inspire us to guestbookize our lenses.



1

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Guestbooks allow you to praise good lenses

Guestbooks allow you to praise good lenses and lensmasters above and beyond a star ranking. They also allow you to provide helpful edits and/or suggestions.7 points

2

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Guest books expand the conversation

By including a guest book (esp. one with a specific question)you create opportunities to expand your knowledge of a subject you love. (Not to mention the knowledge of your visitors!)4 points

3

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Guestbooks promote networking

This is one of the best ways to get to know others here on Squidoo.3 points

4

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Guestbooks give a lens more keywords

Yes, every word you add enriches the worth of a web page, because it may be the word someone at Google or Yahoo or MSN is looking for! So do yourself a favor and add lots of keywords, and do your Squidoo buddies a favor and use them in their guestbooks too! It is the right thing to do.3 points

5

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Guestbooks have links

By clicking on name links found in guestbooks, you can visit the people who were nice enough to leave comments.2 points

6

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Guestbooks allow you to see what guests like

By allowing guests to leave comments you will find out what they like, dislike, or would like to know more about. This allows you to create lenses people love!1 point

7

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Guestbooks could provide you with a quote for the lens

My lens on APD was visited by the Vice Chair of an organisation that helps people with APD. He left a very complimentary comment, which added credibility to my lens. I was able to copy the quote and add it to a module on the lens for anyone to see whenever they visit.1 point

Networking On Squidoo 

I really want to get to know you. I especially would like to meet other Squidooers who have interests similar to mine, but I'd like to know who all of you are. I want to experience a bit of community, a Squidoo family-feeling.

One way to let people know who you are is by signing guestooks. I try to sign several guestbooks here every day.

Installing your guestbook module 

Very important point: Be sure to change the default text! Change all text from defaults on all modules - so you can impress Squid Angels who may review your lens for a blessing. Most won't bless lenses with default titles, and many people forget to change the guestbook default text and the title "New Guestbook" or "Reader Feedback".

When I set up a guestbook I usually open the module and change the title and text, then click "Anyone who visits my lens" (because I want comments from anyone.) Next I change the default for "When should their blurbs be approved?" to "Ask me first," and regarding that email, where it says, "Send you an approval email for pending blurbs?" I always say "nope" as I check for new comments daily in my dashboard and the last thing I really need is more email!

You may prefer different guestbook options, but that's how I do it. I prefer to approve all my comments because they are held in my dashboard where I'm able to read them, every one, in the mornings. Also this helps keep spammy comments out of my guestbooks as if I can see someone commented just for the purpose of advertising something, I don't need to approve it.

Building relationships that last 

Breakthrough Networking: Building Relationships That Last (Third Edition)

Breakthrough Networking: Building Relationships That Last (Third Edition)

by: Lillian D. Bjorseth

Amazon Price: $21.51 (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now

Networking 

Promoting your Squidoo lens 

If you liked this lens, perhaps you will like . . .

featured lens How To Promote Your Squidoo Lens

Now that you have a lens, you want to let people know about it. Getting people to read your lens is harder than writing it! But there are many ways to promote your lens, make it more popular in search engines, and make it a success. In this lens I'll...

Please sign this guestbook 

When I look for new lenses and lensmasters to check out, I always look at my guestbooks. This lens about guestbooks gives me a great starting place for finding people who have guestbooks I can sign. Thank you for participating in this lens.



Lensmaster

alaskacruise wrote...

This was a great lens. I really enjoyed it! Now I have to go and figure out how to make my own guest book more appealing...

ReplyPosted February 24, 2009

Lensmaster

poutine wrote...

Such a useful lens.

ReplyPosted January 08, 2009

Lensmaster

aj2008 wrote...

This lens should be part of a "must read" list for all new lensmasters! Lensrolled to Squid Etiquette.

ReplyPosted November 26, 2008

Lensmaster

spirituality wrote...

I have lenses like this: they start out great - people agree on the topic, star it etc - but the momentum leaves pretty quickly and before you know it the lens is on the bottom of the list. *****

ReplyPosted November 21, 2008

Lensmaster

Pastiche wrote...

When I was a Squid-newbie 2 lensmasters contacted with advice that helped me immensely: 1) permit profile contact by email, and 2) add a guestbook to every lens to get feedback and encourage community. Best bits of Squidoo advice I received early on, and I am thankful for them taking the time to help me out. Great lens, thanks for building it.

ReplyPosted October 28, 2008

Lensmaster

richiereveley wrote...

This is a great lens..5-Stars from me ! I'm double checking all my lens's have guestbooks straight after I send you this :)

ReplyPosted September 29, 2008

Lensmaster

Jewelsofawe wrote...

Great lens!

ReplyPosted September 25, 2008

Lensmaster

jasmineann wrote...

I really like having the opportunity to comment on a great lens I have enjoyed, learned something from or add to a discussion. Its great to read all the comments. I have left links to some of my lenses with more lively/active guestbooks. Thankyou for a great lens !

ReplyPosted September 11, 2008

Lensmaster

Joan4 wrote...

Oh, I do enjoy my guestbooks! I cannot imagine not having that module on a lens. and like you, I really don't like to read all the way through a lens and then find that I cannot comment or read the comments. Guest comments add "life" to a lens!

ReplyPosted June 25, 2008

Lensmaster

awelldressedbullet wrote...

Great lens and topic, and me too, I like to see a Guestbook as well! Keep up the great work! - Kathy

ReplyPosted June 18, 2008

Lensmaster

crystal-sylph-weaver-of-yarns wrote...

I'm still learning but this little guestbook lens took me on quite an adventure from Bigfoot to power places to ballet, so here's another big thumbs up!

ReplyPosted May 21, 2008

Lensmaster

crystal-sylph-weaver-of-yarns wrote...

Great lens. I actually came here to find out how to add a contact link to my lenses. Now a guestbook isn't just a guestbook, it offers so much more connection. Thanks!

ReplyPosted May 21, 2008

Lensmaster

sonia5880 wrote...

Who would ever create a lens without a guestbook:(

ReplyPosted May 13, 2008

Lensmaster

adamsacres wrote...

Awesome stuff. I am trying to green up my currently home and stock piling the ideas for building my new home.

ReplyPosted April 25, 2008

Lensmaster

theadvocate06 wrote...

hello everyone, Im sorry its late I am tired and I am out of witty, sarcastic comments, please check back later :)

ReplyPosted March 01, 2008

Lensmaster

JenniferAkers wrote...

Thanks for your lens - great info. I always vote for lenses and try to leave feedback. It's so nice to hear from visitors!

Jennifer

ReplyPosted January 07, 2008

Lensmaster

ldstruth wrote...

You've inspired me to add a guestbook to my lens! Thanks for the great suggestion.

ReplyPosted January 03, 2008

Lensmaster

Evelyn_Saenz wrote...

Thank you for expressing so well just the way I feel when I run across a great lens and can't contact the lensmaster. This is one of the best lenses I have read. I am adding it to My Favorites and lensrolling it to several of my lenses.

ReplyPosted December 15, 2007

Lensmaster

Aaron_C wrote...

Very nice. Guestbooks totally rock!

ReplyPosted September 23, 2007

Lensmaster

Meloramus wrote...

I have received some great tips and found some fascinating lenses via my guestbook. Viva la guestbook - 5*!

ReplyPosted August 22, 2007

 
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About me... 

Lensmaster LindaJM, aka Linda Martin, has been a member since June 11 2007, has rated 1,274 lenses, favorited 585, and has created 102 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Image and Video Mentor". See all my lenses

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I live in the Klamath River Valley of Northern California. I share my life with my boyfriend, Bob. We like to watch movies at home on DVD, swim, hike, and prospect for gold in the Siskiyou Mountains.

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