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How to make a really great 'how to' lens

CommunityOrganizerTeam by CommunityOrganizerTeam

How to make a how to lens! Sound like a riddle?

Our lensmasters know stuff. Lots of stuff. And they like to write it and illustrate it and share it. One common theme for describing something you know is to put it in a 'how to' format.

How to roast your own coffee beans.
How to get your parrot to stop screaming.
How to decide what to feed your kids tonight.

So we put together a few basic tips that can help you share your knowledge and expertise no matter what your helpful 'how to' lens is about. Whether you're cooking, crafting, building, cleaning, maintaining or deciding anything at all, a how to lens might be just the thing.

This lens is also intended to help out with the Virtual Jenga 3 coop quest now running in the Squidu forum. The game's theme is how to lenses (surprise!), so we've created this lens full of tips to help you create a strong 'How To' lens that will knock the socks off of anyone who reads it -- and score you a virtual jenga squidoo trophy!

What's so special about building a How To lens?

You're the expert!

Building a How To lens is just a little bit different than building another sort of lens because you're sharing directions that need to be strictly followed in order for your reader to successfully complete their project or make a decision or take action.

This is a big responsibility on your part and needs to be taken very seriously because if you leave out one tiny little but important step, or forget to include a single item that the reader will need to finish the project, you're not only making sloppy work of your job as a writer, but your tiny error could also end up costing your poor hassled reader unnecessary money and time.

So be sure tocheck, and double check, that you've included absolutely everything on your ingredient, supply, or directions list BEFORE publishing your How To lens.

7 How To Lenscrafting Tips

or how to make a strong how to lens!

  • 1Choose a How To Topic that you are very familiar with.
    During the Jenga 3 quest you will be offered a challenge by another lensmaster. If you aren't comfortable with creating a lens about the topic given to you please be honest and ask for another topic. If you are the one giving the challenge please study the lenses of the person you are challenging beforehand so that you can give them a challenge to fit their specialty.
  • 2Be specific when choosing a title for your 'How To' lens.
    How to Make a Rag Doll from Scraps, is a better title than How to Make a Doll.
    How to Grow the Best Cucumbers for making Pickles is a better title than, How to Grow Veggies.
    How to Build a Bird House Using Q-tips is a better title than, Make a Place for Birds to Live.
  • 3Don't use the Intro module to share ALL your How To instructions.
    But DO use the Intro module to introduce your project and to get your readers excited about trying to do it themselves! Be sure to include a great photo. Use some of Squidoo's other great modules to give your How To tips and directions. Use text modules, Black Boxes, Text Lists, Flickr Photos, YouTube modules and more to create a memorable How To lens. And don't forget to add some reader interaction by way of poll, duel, and guestbook modules.
  • 4Write clear step-by-step instructions in your own words (and pictures too, if possible!)
    Be careful not to leave anything out of your directions. After you've completed the lens, do a run through by actually following your own directions or better yet, ask someone else to read through them to make sure they are easy to follow and correct.
  • 5Show your reader "How To" by using lots of photos and/or a video demonstration.
    Great pictures make it so much easier for your reader to understand exactly what they need to do, and when they should be doing it.
  • 6Include helpful links to make it easy for your reader find everything they'll need to complete your How To project.
    Use link lists and Amazon Spotlight modules for this. People really appreciate having a list of products they need to buy, right there on your lens.
  • 7In addition to the directions, share useful tips and advice that will help to make the project easier/faster/better/more fun to complete.
    This is probably the most important part of your 'How To' lens. You're the expert and your personal pointers are what will take your How To lens from Hum-Drum to Holy Cow!!!!
Important!

Bonus Tip

Start your lens title with 'How to... " That's how people think. Let them know what how to problem you're going to solve for them, then solve it in a clear, interesting, unique, step-by-step way!

P.S. Check out all of the lenses built for our past Virtual Jenga Coop Quests

These coop quests are mini games that our community plays to challenge each other to make new lenses on a specific theme. It's lots of fun, and it's incredible to see what kind of creative writing people come up with when they're in the hot seat.
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Comments?

Good luck making your next how-to lens!

  • macmaki Apr 21, 2012 @ 2:10 am | delete
    Thanks for the great advice. It helps!
  • heretoinspire Jan 19, 2012 @ 11:10 am | delete
    How to make a how to..... LOVE THE TITLE! Catchy and creative! Great lens!
  • vikasdogra Nov 2, 2011 @ 1:20 am | delete
    Different Idea. Thanks for the information.
  • AnthonyAltorenna Jul 4, 2011 @ 9:11 pm | delete
    I enjoy writing 'how to' lenses about topics that interest me and on projects that I have completed, and glad to hear that this type of lens is welcomed at Squidoo. Thank you!
  • miaponzo Jul 3, 2011 @ 1:04 am | delete
    Thanks for all this great information.. I'm about to be challenged!!! :)
  • LisaAuch May 25, 2011 @ 1:56 am | delete
    I have found how tolenses, a bit tricky, as I kow thehow to, but sometimes writing it down the "how to" gets lost, so I found it easier breaking it into 5 steps or so, and as many photos a possible, without over kill! Great post!
  • pilegirl May 16, 2011 @ 4:56 pm | delete
    This was my 900th Squidlike! I got a bonus of 200 points for liking this lens. :D
  • bolillie May 16, 2011 @ 8:29 am | delete
    Thanks for the clear, concise directions for writing a "how to" lens.
  • vallain May 13, 2011 @ 8:31 pm | delete
    This is a very timely lens topic, as quite a few former eHow writers are looking for a new location for their content.
  • _Joan_ May 13, 2011 @ 8:35 am | delete
    An excellent example of a how-to lens! Thanks.
  • nyfamily5 May 11, 2011 @ 8:03 am | delete
    Great tips for making a lens! Thanks
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CommunityOrganizerTeam

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