Squidoo Tips 7 (Just the Basics)

Register

If you haven't signed up yet on Squidoo, click here to register and then come on back.

Create a Lens

After you sign up, or if you are already signed up, you can now start to build your Lens (web page) by following the instructions and print screens below.

Remember, a lensmaster can edit their lens at any time. If you want to add or change something on your lens later on, not a problem. Or if you make a mistake you can always fix it later, with the exception of the URL of course!

Have fun and good luck!

There are three options for you to build a lens.

OPTION#1
Very simplified, for advanced or more experienced users, the QuickBuilder page.

OPTION#2
Provides assistance and guidance, for a new(er) user, the MagicBuilder page.

OPTION#3
If you prefer the original version, the original LensBuilder page.

Prefer another lens builder page than what you are using? Just switch to another version (see below).

If you are more experienced or just want to make a lens page quickly without assistance, you can use the new QuickBuilder page.

1. Enter your lens title.
2. You'll notice as soon as you typed in your title, the URL was automatically filled in, you can change this if you really want to.
3. Click on the drop down arrow and select the category you would like your lens in.
4. G rated is the default. If your lens is R or X rated, click on the drop down arrow and select accordingly.
5. Add your tags. As soon as you click on this box, the default text will disappear. Enter your tags (keywords) here, the first one is most important. You can add or change these tags at any time later on.
6. Select the modules for your lens to get you started. Not to worry, you can add or change these modules at any time later on.
7. Enter the security word and click on the big green DONE button.

Your next screen will look similar to this!

To bypass the instructions for the other Options on this lens, go to You've Reached your Lens below.

If you are new(er) and would like some help along the way, use the new MagicBuilder page.

Along each step, you are asked questions and guided to complete each section. The results will be a lens completed with the modules and your information already in place.

1. Enter your tags (keywords)
2. Enter your Title
3. Select the Category for your lens page. If you click on "More", you will see all the categories available.

4. Select "Do You Own Thing"
5. Click the green "Continue" button.

You are now at Step 2.

6. Each section will be a separate module on your lens. Starting with the first section, which will be your Introductory Module, complete each section for your lens. Squidoo will ask you questions or give examples to assist you along the way.
   
   If you aren't sure what a specific section is for, click on the lensmaster's photo over to the right.
   
   To remove a section you don't want to use, click the "Remove" button. But hey, why not fill it out, and if you don't like it after you are finished, you can always remove it!

7. Complete the remaining sections. I recommend you leave the "Allow people to add comments to your page" ticked, this is your Guestbook module and is very popular.


8. Click on the green "Continue" button.

The next screen will bring you to Step 3, and this step will show you what your lens will look like.

You can "Turbo It" which will allow you to add more content before you publish your lens (go ahead and try it to see what it shows) or you can just click on "Publish Now".

Your next screen will look similar to this!

To bypass the instructions for the other Options on this lens, go to You've Reached your Lens below.

If you prefer the original Lensbuilder page, these are your instructions.



Step 1: So, what's your lens about?

1. Enter your title in the "My lens is about" box. I entered "Squidoo Tips 7 (Just the Basics)".


2. Click on the orange "Go to Step 2" button.

Step 2: What do you want to do with your lens?

1. Most new lensmasters (that's you) use the default setting of "I want to get the word out (easiest option)". So unless you want to change it, keep the default.


2. Click on the orange "Go to Step 3" button.

Step 3: Title and URL

On the next screen, you will see that the "Lens Title" is already filled in, carried over from the previous page.

1. Enter what you would like your URL to be. If the URL you tried is already taken, the system will advise you. Just try another variation. As you can see, I used "my-squidoo-tips-7" for my URL.


2. Select your category from the drop down menu. As you can see, I used "How to & Education" for the category. Squidoo Tips is a new category and wasn't available when I made this lens and tutorial.


3. Rate your lens next, the default is G RATED MATERIAL, if it is X Rated, there are two choices on the drop down menu. Select accordingly.


4. Click on the orange "Go to Step 4" button.

Step 4: Help people find your lens

On the next screen, you will notice that Squidoo carried forward your lens title in "The best keyword for my lens is" box.

1. Look over your best keywords selected by Squidoo. The actual title of the lens may not be the best choice for keywords, so you may wish to change them here now or later on (refer to About Tags below). I had to change my "Squidoo Tips 7 (Just the Basics)" that was carried forward in this box, as you can't use brackets in keywords, and I use "squidoo tips" as my main key word for all my tutorial lenses.


2. Add your first three keywords, as you can see, I used "tips", "educational" and "how to".


3. Enter the security words as shown on your screen.


4. Click on the orange "Done" button.

Your next screen will look similar to this.

You made it through the first part, creating your lens. What will be on your next screen will be your lens in "edit mode", an example was shown at the end of each Option above.

Depending on which lens builder page you used, your lens will either already be completed with the information you provided when building your lens or you will have a blank lens with the default modules.

When you set up your Profile be sure to include "Allow Contact" under the Email Preferences.

This is important if you are business or individual selling so that a potential customer can easily contact you.

Also useful for when you join groups. If there is a problem with your lens submission, the groupmaster can easily contact you.

Of course, not everyone is comfortable to include this, you might not want to be contacted at all, I just wanted to point it out and explain the purpose of it.

To contact a lensmaster, look at the top right of the lens page, where the bio is and click on the lensmasters page link.



Once there, you will see the Contact Me link under the Join My Fanclub button.

Why not drop by SquidU?

If you have a question or just want to chat, there's always a friendly Squid or Squidette around.