Why Squidoo? 

I've been using Squidoo to promote my sculpture and jewelry (as well as myself) for over a year now. Squidoo accounts for the most referral traffic to my website, blog, and online shop, only search engines send me more visitors than Squidoo.

This lens is all about ways to use Squidoo to promote your handmade business. However if you aren't selling handmade items I'm sure there's information here to help anyone seeking to promote themselves or their business.

Squidoo Basics 

Squidoo Modules

This lens demonstrates a selection of some of the most used and useful Squidoo Modules. You'll see them in their natural environment, with content or product included. Accompanying each is a description of what the module does. To start with, this is...

A Primer on How-to Squidoo with Tips from a GIANT Squid

This handy how-to lens was originally titled Squidoo for Dummies; however, this special 'how to' lens has been renamed to show my support for the grassroots effort to rename all those 'for DUMMIES' books. Are you seriously interested in creating qual...

Basic Tips 

Images
Show off your creations with lots of good pictures. Don't be limited to just the small image you can stick in a text/write module. Use an image hosting service like Photobucket to upload and show images using HTML.

Share your Passion
Make it clear you love what you do. Share your enjoyment.

Help Formatting Your Lens 

Using HTML on Squidoo

My Favourite CSS Tricks on Squidoo

The basic tools provided by Squidoo will do pretty much everything you need to get your content out to your audience. But sometimes you want to format it a little differently, and this is where inline CSS comes into play. Here I show some of the tric...

Super Advanced HTML Tips and Tricks to use on Squidoo

These techniques are not really that super advanced. Anyone can do this. This lens would not be possible if it were not for the groundwork of other lenmasters: specifically, Magicality and N376 so they will be getting a lot of link love here. This le...

Simple HTML tricks to use with Squidoo

Squidoo has a nice editor for your lenses, but things can be improved. This lens will show you some simple tricks to include more than possible with simply using the editor. These tricks should be used in modules like the link list, or the write modu...

Advanced HTML for Squidoo

The techniques shown here aren't much more advanced then what's in the Basic HTML tutorial. The code being used isn't any more special. But the results and presentation can appear to be more sophisticated. Hence it being the Advanced HTML tutorial. F...

Basic HTML for Squidoo

You can use basic HTML in a few of the lens modules. Mostly used to create hyperlinks (they are the "live links" to other sites). Though there are also other uses for HTML. If you find yourself in need of quick tutorial on how to do it, her...

Use RSS Feeds of Your Products 

Many online selling venues have RSS feeds of products. In my case I use eCrater. Use Squidoo's RSS module to display the RSS Feed. Make sure you select the "everything available" option for an excerpt, and set displaying HTML to Yes if the feed includes images and/or buy now buttons.

Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Do You Have an Etsy Store? 

The Etsy Module 

Handmade Baseball Sweater for 17-18 inch Build A Bear

$10.50

Handmade Back to School Apple Sweater for 15 inch Bitty Baby Bitty Twin Doll

$11.00

Handmade Sailboat Sweater for 16 inch Cabbage Patch Kid Doll

$11.00

Handmade Easter Woolly Sheep Sweater for 15 inch Bitty Baby Doll

$11.00

Handmade Easter Duck Sweater for 15 inch Bitty Baby Doll

$11.00

Handmade Whale Sweater for 16 inch Cabbage Patch Kid Doll

$11.00

Powered by Etsy

Great Stuff on eBay 

You can use the eBay module to show off your listings there. Squidoo also has two co-brands just for eBay called SquidBids and eBayers on Squidoo.

I don't sell on eBay so here are some search results on eBay for "handmade". To show just items from your own store select the "PICK BY SELLER OR STORENAME" option.

Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by

Use Videos on YouTube 

Sculptural Progression

Noadi's Art - http://noadi.net This is a slideshow of my sculptures from a bird whistle I made in 7th grade art class up to the Lionfish Mermaid I just finished in October 2007. It still amazes me the progress I've made in sculpting since I started sculpting seriously 3 years ago.

Runtime: 2:17
3951 views
7 Comments:

powered by YouTube

Show Flickr Photos of Your Creations 

Or in this case photos of my sculptures that are unfinished.

Fire Dancer Wip

Selkie WIP

Selkie WIP

Selkie Emerging WIP...

Selkie Emerging WIP

Selkie Emerging WIP

Tentacle Bug

Tentacle Bug

Tentacle Bug

Tentacle Bug

Tentacle Bug

Tentacle Bug

Become an Expert 

How to Lenses 

A sampling of the lenses I've done sharing my knowledge.

Creating with Cold Porcelain

Make delicate creations using this easy to make homemade air dry clay. Cold porcelain dries to a beautiful and durable finish perfect for making tiny flowers and other miniatures.

Polymer Clay Sculpting Tips and Tutorials

Polymer clay is a wonderful medium for sculpture. You can create one of a kind sculptures without the need for an expensive kiln or messy mold materials. You can create everything from very simple animals made from basic shapes to detailed, complex,...

Building Armatures for Polymer Clay Sculpture

Armatures are vital to strong sculptures. Learn about different methods for building strong armatures. A strong armature can hold polymer clay in virtually any complicated or precarious position, even look like it's floating in air.

Useful Squidoo Links 

SquidU | Where lensmasters know best!

Squidoo forums.

SquidUtils - Utilities and Tools for Squidoo Lensmasters

SquidUtils has complementry utilities and tools for Squidoo Lensmasters. Tools include: the advanced dashboard, lensmaster feeds, plus Amazon links and feeds.

The Best Squidoo Blog Ever | Captain Squid

A blog about squidoo and making money using Squidoo

Squidoo Chat Room | Captain Squid's Squidoo Training Center

Chat about squidoo

Squidoo Dashboard Firefox Extension

The dashboard shows a basic set of information to the Squidoo user, but is this enough?The Squidoo DE will enhance Firefox to show even more information on the dashboard.

SquidBlog

Official Squidoo Blog

Pen a Message 

Leave your questions and comments.

ReneeMichele You have a very nice lens Posted August 21, 2008

paperfacets *****Thanks. good content and beautiful art work. Posted August 15, 2008

lakeerieartists Hi, love this lens and will use it to enhance mine. Posted July 10, 2008

More Handmade Business Lenses 

Preparing for an Art or Craft Festival

Art and craft festivals are a lot of work but worth it for the exposure you get and the great people you meet. Here is a guide to preparing for a show and having a great time. Oh yeah, and did I mention selling your creations?

Branding Your Handmade Products

Learn about building a brand as an indie artist or designer. Branding helps create an image for you and your business. It helps generate repeat business and word of mouth which is so important for small business.

How To Make Your Own Business Cards

This lens is all about doing it yourself with business cards. Designing them and printing them, coming up with a card that is uniquely you. Even in this digital age the business card is still important. They can be left just about anywhere, tucked i...

Make your Handmade Products Stand Out! Using Creative Packaging

There are some easy and creative ways to make your handmade products different from the rest at festivals or shows and make a special surprise for customers ordering your products. This lens is all about using creative packaging to make your creation...

Running a Handmade Business

So you're an artist, designer, or craftsperson and want to take your first steps into making money from your talent and skills? This lens is full of advice for anyone starting a handmade business.