LENSMASTER OF THE DAY Volume 1

Lots of Lensmasters never think out of the box. I for one never think out of the box. I do peep out occasionally but it would take a lot of something to make me leave the comforts of my box.

Now here's a Lensmaster that impressed the panel-of-judges. Beempa's first lens that really caught their wandering attention was her Clone Wars lens. At first it would seem to look like a normal run-of-the-mill lens, but what was surprising was that no Glam adds can be seen. Beempa has managed to push it down and replace it with her own eye catching adds. See what I mean by thinking out of the box? There are other Lensmasters who have done this but not Beempa's way. She has managed to make it look like an integral part of the lens. This technique would surely increase the chances of completing a sale. Hell, if I had money I'll buy that stormtroopers mask.

Let us move over to her Marvel Mighty Mugs lens. You can see a partial snapshot of this below. So what's so special with this lens? Let me tell you. Most of us are very comfortable with the Amazon module thumbnail or full view mode. When we select a product for presentation, we are satisfied with the default images provided by Amazon. Nothing wrong with that, really. BUT... have you noticed that most of the items, even in full view mode, are very small and do not really differ from the thumbnail view except for the additional description. Will the default module really really catch the readers attention? I doubt it unless the reader is really keen on buying that thing.

Thinking out of the box... Beempa presells her selected items with a blown up image complemented by a brief introduction before presenting the Amazon module. This kind of sets the mood of the reader. With a big image of the product imprinted on the reader's mind... it wouldn't be hard for the reader now to see the same item being sold in the Amazon module. This would surely increase the chances of a sale being completed.

Another out-of-the-box thinking by Beempa is exhibited on her Scary Masks lens. Beempa goes out of her way to design her own images of the products that have there own buy-me-now button. No where in any of the modules can you find this. She uses this style to both her Shareasale and Amazon links. Partnered with an excellent layout that makes the reader's eyes roam the page, it certainly can catch any readers attention. Since these products are not Squidoo modules, then it goes to say that each sale from these product button would mean 100% profit for Beempa. Out-of-the-box, that's what I call it.

One final note, here is quote from my correspondence with Beempa. It proves that two heads are better than one.

"The images used on the lens with the "click here to order" are pre-made by my husband. We are a team, he does all the graphics for the lenses and I take those images and put together the lenses. He has taught me much since building and says images by default are often not enough -- they need to have a "Pop" to them that either make them stand out or create an action for the user to interact."

Golden nuggets we can use from the Beempa team:

1. Preselling with big images that show the quality of the item increases the chance of completing the sale.
2. Go out of the norm to add that certain "POP" to your images. This will keep your readers attention.
3. Use html to push the GLAM adds down and replace them with your own image adds.
4. Vary the layout of your images.
5. Don't limit yourself to the images provided by eBay and Amazon. Think big. See tip No. 1




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It's a wonder why she's still not a giant. With 75 lenses under her belt. Yep. It's a wonder. Beempa's has what it takes to be LensMaster Of The Day.

Please feel free to browse Beempa's lenses.
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A member of the LMOTD panel of judges commented while browsing Squidoo that Squidoo seems to have a lot of How-To-Lenses on Lenscrafting. Most of the lenses are in truth just a compilation of featured How-To-Squidoo lenses. Squidoo Newbies should never get lost in lenscrafting since virtually information is but a search away.

But Lensmaster Janusz's style could well be the most effective melting pot of how-to-Squidoo lenses. His skillfull way of using the Links Voting Plexo resulted into a lens jam-packed with relevant information old and new lensmasters can comeback to without wading through the Squidoo search engine. Further, Janusz has grouped the plexo list into distinctive and relevant categories that rapidly helps the reader find what he wants. Janusz has effectively crafted a template others can use to display lots and lots of information without blocks and block of text.

What really caught the judges eye was Janusz service to the Squidoo community by giving out FREE graphics arts and banners. Most lensmasters do not have the time to create there own graphics and instead rely on internet searches for image content. Now we all know that although Squidoo is fun... it does take a chunk of our time. Other lensmasters would opt to use this time creating more lenses. Janusz, amazingly, still finds time to make art for others.

"If you need a Logo, Avatar or pic for Lens... Get in contact :) * RequestBook below * I dont care whether you are a full fledged Krakan or brand new to Squidoo." - Janusz

Now if that isn't helping the Squidoo community... I don't know what is. Remember that the better lenses Squidoo has... the more traffic we get... the more traffic we get the more clicks we have... more clicks would mean more $$$.

Lesmaster Janusz has also a style that is quite effective in keeping the readers attention. In his Santa Claus lens, he uses alternating text and images to catch the attention. Read a little text... then you see another image... then another small amount of text... it keeps your eyes on the lens and suddenly you're halfway down the lens. Clever... right?

Points to Ponder

1. Links Voting Plexo can be used to present lots of information without huge blocks of text.
2. Get recurring traffic by giving personally made freebies to lensmasters
3. Contests with genuine prices results in repeat traffic and fame
4. Alternating graphics and text is very eye friendly
5. Reading, rating and adding to favorite lenses... is a big part of being a lensmaster








Not yet a Giant but 100% LensMaster Of The Day Stuff.

Please feel free to browse Janusz's lenses.
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Lenscrafting is a struggle for a lot of LensMasters. But for some, it is as natural as breathing. Bradshaw is such an example. He started Lenscrafting on August 14, 2008 and has created an astounding 104 lenses from scratch. One Hundred Four (104) lenses in less than two months!!! Some Lenmasters have been in Squidoo for more than a year without breaking the 100 lens barrier. I dare not look at Bradshaw's WIP lenses. There could a hundred more lurking there.

Quality? Take for example his featured lenses here, all have google page ranks of at 2. He accomplished that in less than two months. I have a lens that has stayed in the top tier for almost a month now... but never did it achieve a page rank of at least 1. How's that for quality?

His lenses are simple and direct. No fancy stuff just unadultered knowledge and information he wants to share with the world. This is the foundation of Squidoo - where everybody is an expert on something.

Bradshaw has accomplished all that in less than two months. Think what he can do in two years time. Should we follow his foosteps? You'd be a fool not too.

Points to Ponder

1. List your ideas into a notebook. You may get a brillant idea and you'd better not forget it.
2. Sometimes quantity is better than quality. Once the lens is in place you can improve it anytime you want.
3. Socialize with other Lensmasters. After all, Squidoo is a community.
4. Help other Lensmasters. The better lenses we all have... the more traffic... the more revenue for Squidoo
5. When you build a lens for fun. Lenscrafting will never be a problem.






Where do you get your lens topics?
Everywhere and anywhere. I've found that most of my more successful lenses have come from my personal experiences and interests. I love hockey, and I have a number bios of various hockey stars that I like, but of course my favorites are the genealogy lenses. It's gotton to the point where I'm in mid-conversation with someone and think "That would make a good lens topic!" and I have a little book nearby that I write lens ideas into. I'm going to need a new book soon. Hey, a lens about lens topics and how to generate and organize them. Maybe I'll do one of those.

What is the average time you spend in making a single lens?
I can spend very little time creating some because the words just flow. I have about 10 in the hopper that I've been working on for over 3 weeks and I'm still not happy with. Also, all my lenses need to be updated and changed. I don't think I'll ever "finish" working on a lens, until it's the definative word on a certain topic. Even then I'd be tempted to tinker with the wording.

How about a few words of encouragement to our fellow LensMasters.
Make more lens! Continue working on the ones you have and make them that much better. I'm just in awe of the work many at Squidoo have put together and love seeing the new stuff everyone is putting out there. If you're new to Squidoo, make a lens. It's easy to do and can be a very worthwhile hobby that can make you some coinage. You can't beat that! Becoming successful on Squidoo does take time and effort, but if you emulate the examples of other successful lensmasters, success will find you. I feel like I'm just scratching the surface at Squidoo, and the fine work of others here inspires me to do more. If only I had a 25th hour each day.

Who is the lensmaster that really inspired you?
Just one? I honestly can't pick only one. I stumbled onto Janet21's Are you a Stay at Home Mom (or Dad)... and decided to give it a shot. Loved Squidoo and decided to take up some space hoping I didn't tossed out ("Who let THIS GUY in here?"), but I've had a warm welcome from everybody. Adez7 in the forums, and all the great comments left on my various lenses. And now Lensmaster of the Day? I feel like I should demand a recount before someone else does. I try to visit as many other lenses as possible because there are so many who are helpful to others and willing to lend a hand. It seems I find yet another inspiring lensmaster ever day. Pick one? It can't be done.

Any suggestions on how to improve the group LENSMASTER OF THE DAY? (We are on on No. 25 in Top 100 and also in Movers and Shakers)
I read about Lensmaster of the Day and thought "What a good idea. I wish I'd mentioned that." I'm a little surprised that I got picked because there are so many others who are so much more worthy. There is a vast ocean of squids out there and I wouldn't want to be the one trying to decide. All I could really suggest would be continue getting the word out about Lensmaster of the Day. I'll have to blog about this myself when it gets announced because I'm still kinda shocked. Are you sure you got the right guy? Many thanks for the honor.

Please feel free to browse BradShaw's lenses.
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Majority of the lenses published here in Squidoo use the default background. Wether it is a SquidBoo, Ever Project, SquidWho... lens backgrounds are defaulted to white. It takes a little more than imagination to get out of the box. And that my dear lensreader is what Crystal Booth did.

She used bordered backgrounds in a color combination cool to the eyes to make the reader focus on her text. If you are selling something and you get the attention of the reader... then this increases the probability that your reader may consider buying your product.

Take a peek at her lens Home Based Business. First she sets the state of mind of the reader into considering a course of action (sort of preselling). Then she introduces just one product with a complete description. Not like most of us who just splatter the entire lens with Amazon/eBay modules displaying multiple items. Little do we know that it overwhelms the reader so much to skip the module or close the lens automatically.

She also complements the bordered backgrounds with animated images to further trap the attention of the reader. Well now if you see a smiling pig (FUNNY EMAILS) chances are you'd be inclined to read the text next to it. This is the very reason why Google Adsense prohibits its publishers from placing images near their adds.

Points to Ponder

1. Don't stick with the defaults of Squidoo
2. Use bordered colored backgrounds to get attention
3. Do not overwhelm your reader with lots of products
4. Animation complements any text
5. Pictures and images are a must to every lens.








Simple but effective. No wonder Crystal_Booth is one of the Giants.

Please feel free to browse Crystal_Booth's lenses.
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A picture paints a thousand words. Why go and describe a butterfly when you can show a picture of it. Lensmaster, JudyDunn, has mastered this technique to a point where her lenses can survive with little text.

Remember that browsing is not reading. It is when a user is still searching for something to read. Users usually read from left to right. But in websites (e.g squidoo lenses) polaroids and big images, tend to capture and force the user to read from top to bottom.

The Lensmaster Of The Day has combined the exceptional use of Polaroids with the seldom used Black Box module. This helps emphasize the relevance of each polaroid or communicates to the reader a certain thought.

Points to Ponder

1. Polaroids engages a user
2. Big images are great for selling.
3. Black Boxes complement images
4. Polaroids and Black Boxes break up large blocks of text
5. Proper placement improves reader experience







Looks great and eye catching. JudyDun is indeed destined for Squidoo Greatness.

Please feel free to browse JudyDun's lenses.

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