The Introduction Module in Squidoo

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 54 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #275 in Squidoo Tips, #33,403 overall

Introduction, Contents and Discovery Tool

The introduction module in squidoo has an inbuilt table of content. Do use it!

And do upload a picture as an intro image - not having one will stop people from featuring your lens on theirs. And no - just using HTML to put a picture in there does NOT count.

Any questions about the introduction module? 

[Please read the rest of the lens before asking your question.]

Lensmaster

Swisstoons wrote...

[in reply to spirituality

Thank you very much! I appreciate your help.

ReplyPosted June 10, 2009

Lensmaster

spirituality wrote...

in reply to Swisstoons IF the photobucket pictures are open source, you can save them on your own pc, and then upload them in the introduction module. Otherwise you might search wikipedia for your subject - all pictures there are open source. Same thing: upload (aka save) to your own pc and then upload them to the introduction module.

ReplyPosted June 05, 2009

Lensmaster

Swisstoons wrote...

I've recently discovered Photobucket and have used three or four of their pics on a couple of my lenses by inserting them into text modules. I'm constructing a new lens and would like to put one of Photobucket's photos into my intro module, but can't do it as intro photos have to be on my hard drive. Is there a solution for this problem? I don't have any pics of my own on the subject of this under-construction lens. In fact, this is preventing me from following through on MANY ideas I have for lenses. Thanks.

ReplyPosted June 05, 2009

Lensmaster

-Judith- wrote...

Helpful lens! I'd like to offer my opinion on the Discovery Tool--Explore Related Pages feature. While conceptually it is a good idea to encourage traffic to other lenses, I don't think the placement of the tool is wise. It's right after the Table of Contents! People are likely to click on another lens link before they continue down reading my lens! New comers don't realize the links take them to a different lens. One person said to me, "I thought I was on your page, then I realized I was reading someone else's!" Why can't the tool be placed at the bottom of the lens so people can view my lens before being tempted by other links? Why must it follow the Table of Contents? I think it confuses people and drives them away from my lens too early. Ahh...I feel better. That's been buggin' me for a while now.

ReplyPosted April 30, 2009

Lensmaster

spirituality wrote...

in reply to ScentsandSparkles That's because the explanation is right here on the page you are on. Just look beyond the Q&A to where it says 'discovery tool'.

ReplyPosted April 25, 2009

Lensmaster

in reply to spirituality Thank you for responding to my question... but I'm still just as lost as I was. I don't see a link to read posted.

Thank you!

ReplyPosted April 24, 2009

Lensmaster

spirituality wrote...

in reply to ScentsandSparkles To get rid of that feature, read this lens.

To change the contents: use tags that other lenses are using. Especially lenses on similar topics to your own.

ReplyPosted April 24, 2009

Lensmaster

How do I remove the "Explore Related Pages" or at least change it? Nothing on it pertains to my page or me.

ReplyPosted April 24, 2009

Lensmaster

TopStyleTravel wrote...

Great information, 5 stars. Good pictures and explanations. This lens helped me remember how to edit 'Explore Related Pages'. Thanks

ReplyPosted April 09, 2009

Lensmaster

spirituality wrote...

in reply to dgtile Go to your dashboard (where you go when you are logged in) go to your lenses. Hover your mouse over a lens you want to edit. Click edit. Look at the top of the screen. Click 'edit' again. Follow the instructions in this lens.

ReplyPosted January 25, 2009

 
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Introduction: Intro-text and picture 

Use a picture and text



Make sure you put enough text here, because if you don't your readers will be led out of your lens before you know it with the new stuff discussed below.

Get a picture in the introduction module

It's a good idea to upload a picture, because that picture will show up all over squidoo and make your lens look more attractive.

What you do is click on 'upload photo'. This will appear when you have the introduction module in editing mode.

The picture can sometimes refuse to upload. If that's the case, try making it smaller (maximum 500px wide).

The widest pictures to show up in the introduction module are 250px wide anyhow. So you might as well make it that small.

Table of Contents 

Apparently the folk of squidoo want you to have a table of content very badly, so they put it in your introduction module. As soon as you have 5 modules or more, do turn it on.

First let me show you how the default screen looks with the table of content option turned off:



The same screen looks like this once you click on on:



Make sure you click on most of your modules here. But if you have several that have the same title, only have the first in the table of content.

 

aka don't try this at home :)

featured lens SEO for squidoo - getting found in google: search engine optimization

SEO - search engine optimization - has many different facets. This lens goes over the main ones - especially how they effect making successful lenses on squidoo.

How to... move the 'Contents at a glance' stuff down on the screen 

It's an annoyance to many lensmasters that we now have just a bit of text before visitors to our lenses are enticed away from that lens.

The solution is pretty simple actually:
make sure you have a few paragraphs in your introduction module

The introduction module gets shown before the blue rectangle which has 'contents at a glance' and 'explore related pages'. So more text (and perhaps pictures) there, means they get moved down.

Alternatively - this is where squidoo may someday put a stop to this - you can:
use a very tall picture in the introduction module

I would not advise this beyond reason, because it just puts in more white on your page and while it DOES move the blue contents at a glance feature down - it also makes your lens look kind of empty if you overdo it.

Still, you can see it at work on this lens. My picture in my introduction module is taller than the text is, creating some white space and moving the light-blue in between stuff down.

Again: if this is misused often, squidoo could just decide to cut off pictures beyond a certain hight - still, for now it would work to move things down.

The end result: the new squidoo look as of April 2008 



'content at a glance' is where your 'table of contents' ends up. In some cases the table of content module also ends up on this spot. I'm not sure what triggers that, but it's probably when you haven't added any text to the module.

'Explore related lenses' is now gone (June 2009 - I haven't yet updated the pictures here).

So what do you think of this new Introductory module? 

What do you think of the new introductory module

Loading Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

Too many features, I'm going crazy.

4today says:

I have to confess, I am totally confused about how to get started. I did create a lens, but how to work is confusing. I am having a difficult time with the ins and outs.

Posted December 29, 2008

Dean777 says:

As a newbie, I'm totally confused and not sure as to exactly what I'm suppose to be doing! I would appreciate some help!

Posted November 29, 2008

annetravel says:

still confusing!!!

Posted November 21, 2008

cutelittleb says:

As a newbie to squidoo.....I need HELP

Posted October 25, 2008

Margo_Arrowsmith says:

Yes, its good to have some control. Often the links Squidoo puts in are good and I follow them myself to make more family connections. However, sometimes they are really off the wall and totally off subject. This is a good time to put in your own. And you are right, my low ranked lenses are good (and so are yours) but many peoples' aren't.

Thanks, I get it now.

Posted August 17, 2008

spirituality says:

Tiddledeewinks:

The thing with the introduction module is that the inbuilt table of contents is actually never longer than 6 items - unless people click on 'more' - and want to see the whole table of contents. So I don't think it's that annoying. It's actually a good reason to use the in built table of contents (now visible on every lens type BTW) - instead of the separate module.

Your idea to have it at the bottom is useful too though. I'd advise doing BOTH for long lenses.

Posted July 28, 2008

Tiddledeewinks says:

My long lenses would have a long.....list in front of my main page, which I hate. So, I call it an Index of contents and move it to the bottom, where visitors can quickly scroll down find it.

Posted July 26, 2008

gurneywagon says:

I agree with you on the displayed area. I've seen other lenses where the display is further down the page and will be looking through the "how to lenses to find out how to do just that.

You've offered some very helpful information and links...5* and thanks.

Posted April 26, 2008

spirituality says:

I'm not sure I like having links out of my lens in the middle of the screen, before people have even seen the content of my lens.

Posted April 18, 2008

Love the new options

RichMonk says:

Thanks for telling me how to turn off the Explore Related Pages. I'm new to Squidoo and appreciate the help.

Posted May 26, 2009

shipbob says:

I an sure after using it I will appreciate the idea,I am behind this point in ubderstanding now.

Posted April 24, 2009

NikSnowRoo says:

It helped me out - & the good Lord KNOWS that I need help!
Thanks!!

Posted February 22, 2009

kiwisoutback says:

I like the discovery feature on the module, and I'll be taking better advantage of it now based on your tips.

Posted January 14, 2009

Rudy_Horvath says:

I do say that all the new options are great and will be even better once I get a handle on all that it can do.

Posted November 28, 2008

mdvaldosta says:

It's a great way to start a lens, and I really like the control of adding a few of my own related lenses.

Posted November 04, 2008

DirksHomeBiz says:

I only gigured out now how it works
and it seems to be good, thank you.

Posted September 28, 2008

hesika says:

It's a good idea, what I did not used so far... Now I would like to try it out. Thank you

Posted September 25, 2008

SilenasImages says:

I think that I will like them when I figure them out

Posted September 18, 2008

hhdavid65 says:

I'm reading this before I make my first lens. You answered most of my questions.

Posted September 10, 2008

 
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How to make your introduction module interesting - add your tips 

As the squidoo tips often emphasize: the introduction is what people see first. It is also what gets shown on other places throughout squidoo.

So use it well. Here are tips - and please add your own.

1

Vote Up
Vote Down

Give it a title

Every module should have a title - but on the intr more...12 points

2

Vote Up
Vote Down

Use a nice picture to 'describe' your lens

Get to your picture-editor and create something un more...6 points

3

Vote Up
Vote Down

Use enough text

Long is better than short.2 points

4

Vote Up
Vote Down

Briefly use all 5 W's

Who, What, When, Where, Why...so that readers can more...2 points

5

Vote Up
Vote Down

make descriptive titles

dont make too long titles. just make it short yet more...1 point

6

Vote Up
Vote Down

Use an Allposters Poster for the lens pic

It can be done! Copy the poster to your PC and the more...1 point

FAQ on the Introduction module 

Can you put HTML links in your introduction module?


Yes you can.

And if you don't know how - here's your code:

<a href="http://www.yourWEBSITE.org/">what you want on your link</a>

Did I explain the Introduction module well? 



If you liked this lens, please vote for it with the stars on the top of the page.

Lensmaster

spirituality wrote...

in reply to beachbikinibody You should always list a few related lenses - or at least your lensography in either a linklist module, a link plexo or a featured lenses module. Or just using HTML links. That has been my advice from day one - see my lens about SEO.

You're right though: now it's even more important than it was before. So if you hadn't already - do interlink related lenses, do make a lensography, do link to your lensography on all your lenses. Or - if like me you end up making several lensographies: link to the ones most related to the lens.

ReplyPosted June 14, 2009

Lensmaster

beachbikinibody wrote...

in reply to spirituality Thank you for checking your own lenses for the missing Discovery Tool.

Would you think the alternative to use in place of the Discovery Tool might be to list your own related lenses using the Link List Module?

ReplyPosted June 14, 2009

Lensmaster

spirituality wrote...

in reply to beachbikinibody You're right. It's gone. I'm assuming it's no longer there because squidoo HQ decided to get rid of it.

ReplyPosted June 13, 2009

Lensmaster

beachbikinibody wrote...

I seem to have lost the Discovery Tool tab in my Introduction area.

It was there previously and I didn't turn it off or anything.

When I checked my lenses the next time, the "Discovery Tool" tab (and all associated functions) were gone.

Would any one know how I can get it back?

Thank you.

ReplyPosted June 13, 2009

Lensmaster

AndyPo wrote...

Great lens. Very good explanation

ReplyPosted May 22, 2009

 
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