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Make your Group's Headquarters Interesting and Beautiful!

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 32 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #1075 in How-To, #10512 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

Squidoo Groups Headquarters are Important Destination Spots

 

You've created a group, and it's sure to be the next big thing. Now, what do you do with it?

We all want our group pages to be a favorite landing spot of many visitors. THE place they'll want to visit again and again. 

I've studied the best groups on Squidoo, and gleaned some points that will help you make a great headquarters page.
 

1. Use an eye-catching header. 

Here's a gorgeous example from the DIY group

Picture of http://www.squidoo.com/groups/diy

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This is such a beautiful header, and page. Notice how the color was taken from some of the other highlights on the page.

Here's how... 

... to make a cool header.

Here's how you can make your own gorgeous header. Before you say you're not artistic, I'll mention that there are lots of ways to make really cool things that are actually very simple graphics. Give it a try!
  1. Use any graphics program to create your own header. Photoshop is a popular commercial program. The Gimp is also very good, and is free.
  2. Your header should be 730 pixels wide.
  3. A wide variety of heights is acceptable. If you're not sure, start with 150 pixels.
  4. Consider letting your image "float" on white background, so that it doesn't look rectangular.
  5. Find graphics you can use for free by searching on flickr and Google.

Are you a visual / auditory learner? 

Adding a header to your Squidoo group

powered by YouTube

2. Use several different Featured Lens modules. 

Picture of the Halloween group headquarters

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This groupmaster has separate modules for scary books, costumes, movies, even fresh lens ideas.

Here's how... 

... to use a variety of Featured Lens modules.

Every group's lenses fall into categories. Here are some ideas for grouping lenses:
  1. Feature a lens of the week.
  2. Feature just a few lenses in each topic, so that the selection will change constantly.
  3. If appropriate, group lenses by region. This could work for restaurants, sports, cooking, or many other topics.
  4. Are some of the lenses "how to" lenses, and others "review" lenses? Group them by their specific approaches to your topic.
  5. Lenses in a pet group could be divided by size (apartment pets, house pets, farm pets) or by species. How many ways can you think of to divide them?

3. Add more than just lenses to the Headquarters page. 

Picture of Author Group page.

_______________________________

This lensmaster is holding a contest, and has put information about it on the headquarters page. If you visit the page, you'll also see that she's included links of interest to authors, using the write module. Very clever!

Here's how... 

... to include more than just lenses on your Headquarters page.

  1. Include links of interest to your group using the write module or plexo.
  2. Put a write module with suggested lens topics, and a link to Make a Lens.
  3. Interview a lensmaster, and use a "Featured Lensmasters" module to put the interview in the description part, and then link to just that one lensmaster at the bottom of the module.
  4. Include an interesting news story about your group's topic.
  5. Put up a contest, and make the announcement on the Headquarters page.
  6. Use the poll module to find out what group members have in common and where they differ.

Modules available for Group Headquarters pages 

Lots of variety!

Featured Lenses
Allows you to enter individual lenses that you'd like to highlight. Rotates through the lenses you list, showing the number you've specified (1 to 5), along with a thumbnail picture of each one. You can have several of these on the page.

Featured Lensmasters
Allows you to enter individual lensmasters that you'd like to highlight. Rotates through the lensmasters you list, showing the number you've specified (1 to 5) along with a thumbnail picture of each one. You can have several of these on the page.

Fresh Lenses
Automatically updates with the newest lenses, but doesn't show thumbnail pictures.

Fresh Lensmasters
Automatically updates with the newest lenses, but doesn't show thumbnail pictures.

Group Discussion
This module lets visitors to the site enter comments. You can narrow down the comments you ask for, having everyone post their favorite lens, or questions for the groupmaster, etc.

Quick Poll
A fun way to encourage involvement, the quick pool gives you the opportunity to find out what your page visitors are like.

RSS: Add Your Own Feed
This is a great way to add always-updating related content to your headquarters page.

Write (And Add a Photo!)This module is versatile. Anything you'd like to express can probably be expressed using the Write module.
This page has more on the write module, and what it can do.

Amazon PlexoThis module is one of the few ways you can directly monetize your group page. If you can offer resources that would be of interest to your group members, or visitors, you can help them and help yourself or your charity too.

Text List PlexoThis module allows you to share links, or list anything you'd like visitors and members to vote on. You can allow them to add their own, or keep it to your own entries.
This page has more on the write module, and what it can do.

Need some help? 

Janusz is our resident Group Page Genius

Janusz has offered to make free headquarters art and logos for your group, if you submit your page to his group and get on his list.
featured lens Squidoo Design Headquarters

FREE Squidoo Design Group -- Group for everyone. Over 100 completed Logos

Here's a FUN group Janusz helped me with! 

Group and Accompanying Page

My groups are all always under development, but this one I like very much!
featured lens SquiZoo:: The Zoo on Squidoo

Squid City will be a METROPOLIS, and it NEEDS a SquiZoo! Looking for your animal lenses to make SquiZoo the best Zoo in the world! All animals: fantasy, animated, cartoon, stuffed, breaded, fried, mythical, furry, fuzzy, wild, exotic, painted, sewn,&n...

featured lens SquiZoo: The Animals Group! Headquarters

SquiZoo :: The Main Zoo on Squidoo!At Squid City!!!!!  

Caseyfern can help! 

Really cool outlook and style

Caseyfern is another brilliant lensmaster who has offered to help with your artwork.

She works with our resident 'star' Janusz to beautify Squidoo!
featured lens Squidoodling Artwork for your Lens and Group

I'm very happy to help with small bits of art for my fellow Lensmasters and Groupmasters. (Not a Lensmaster? Become one!) I work with the Squidoo Design Group, so a request placed to that group may end up on my desk from there. That also means that...

Johnny Christ: Cracking that Whip 

Get some ATTENTION!

Johnny does incredible, gritty, hard hitting pieces for us.

Another brilliant, artistic genius!
featured lens Johnny_Christ

Comfortably numb. Rock n'roll music, beautiful women, fast cars and atomic bomb lover, bad-ass movie fan, graphic designer, former alcoholic, aspiring guitarist & scriptwriter. Let's see what can I do for you... Need a group logo and ain't that...

An Example of Johnny Christ's work 

This is a group Johnny helped me with! 

featured lens Wanderers: The travel group Headquarters

Wanderers :: The Travel GroupDo you love to travel? Destinations Tips Inspiration Transportation options Road Trips and more!

Best Group to help Your Group or Your Lens 

Pimp My Lens Headquarters

Faboo lenses with all kinds of tips and techniques to improve your lens, your headquarters, your presence!
featured lens Pimp My Lens: Great Lensmastering Tips & Tricks Headquarters

PIMP MY LENS: Great Lensmastering Tips & Tricks! The home for lenses & Info & tips on how to maintain or improve any lens on Squidoo! Why have an average lens when you can have a "Splendiferous" Lens? Content, Layout, Design, Re...

Help build the Squidoo Metropolis 

Show off your beautiful group to the world!

For a great trip around Squidoo groups, Squid City is designed to feature fabulous groups.

Its still growing, as a good metropolis should. Enter your group here!
featured lens Squid City Headquarters

Squid City- Virtually Virtual! Squidoo is a real virtual city with even its own superheros, traffic circles and characters of all sorts! We have malls, we have entertainment, we have our own celebrities! Put your lenses & groups here and help...

Promote Your Group: Start here! 

Great opportunity to show off.

Lensroll.com is the place to add your great group so others can see it easily.
Lensroll Your Group or Lens
Created to provide external links to your group or your lens, its all about Squidoo!

Visit & Join My Groups! 

I work hard to help my group members!

Groups give a 'proximity effect' when visitors come and explore. I am working to make these groups a great place for people to 'land' and tour Squidoo!

#1

Vote Up
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Wanderers: The travel group Headquarters

Wanderers :: The Travel GroupDo you love to travel more...1 point

#2

Vote Up
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The Mall Headquarters

The Mall on Squidoo is for everyone who wants a sp more...1 point

#3

Vote Up
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Squid City Headquarters

Squid City- Virtually Virtual! Squidoo is a real v more...1 point

#4

Vote Up
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Purple Cream of Squidoo!

The cream ALWAYS rises to the top! Seth's Purple more...1 point

#5

Vote Up
Vote Down

We are Geek! Headquarters

We are Geek Intelligent, creative, and fun. That's more...0 points

#6

Vote Up
Vote Down

Dogster Pups Headquarters

For Squidpets Who Have a Page on Dogster or Catste more...0 points

#7

Vote Up
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Squidoo-It-All Headquarters

Squidoo-It-All :: Join the Fun! Anything and every more...0 points

Some More Help! 

featured lens The Text/Write Module for Anything!

I love the Write module. It's really one of my very favorites... you can do anything with it. It is one of the easiest ways to make your lens stand out. It is the primary carrier of your best content, originally written information or stories, and it...

featured lens All About Groups at Squidoo!

I have about 40 groups, some more successful and useful than others, but working with all of them I have learned a LOT about Squidoo, my fellow lensmasters, and the wide range of possibilities and potential for groups. This concerns Group Masters (G...

featured lens How to Make Your First (or Second) Squidoo Lens

Step-by-step, here's how to get started, answers to clear up some confusion, and all the basics to help you be a GREAT lensmaster right off the bat! There are FAQs, instructions, tips and techniques, common mistakes, some strategies and some technic...

Are you ready? 

If you like this lens, I hope you'll scroll up to the top and rate it by clicking a star. You can also add it to your favorites.

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My New Squidoo Web Companions Blog 

my own little take on Squidooing

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Tell me about it! 

Groups are the future of Squidoo!

Here's a space for you to ask questions, show off your Group Headquarters page, or just say hi!

chefkeem

I guess I'll come back when I'm ready to start a group, Margaret. I'll know where to look for instructions. Thanks. 5*s

Posted April 21, 2008
rms

Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas with us. I intend to put this page to good use in the very near future.

Posted April 14, 2008
rwoman

Great tips but I expect nothing less from you!

Posted April 08, 2008
hypnoplace

Extremely informative. Awesome lens. Thank you for all of your help, you are an asset to this community.

Posted February 21, 2008
beta1070

OK, I'm armed and ready now but is anyone really going to join a group on Graphic Organizers? LOL

Posted February 19, 2008
 
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Related topics: squidoo,  groups,  groups tips,  How-To & Education,  more

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Margaret_Schaut

About Margaret_Schaut

I have a number of groups, and I blog about them at The Mall on Squidoo Blog

Groups are a terrific way to organize and promote lenses with the same needs and interests.  If you are committed to certain ideas, projects and passions, I recommend you start a group! 


 

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