Newbie Help From an "Old" Newbie
I know, I know, there are already tons of How-to-Squidoo Squidoo lenses out there and I'm going to tell you right up front, mine isn't the best.
My How to Squidoo lens isn't even the brightest. I've only been squidooing for a few short months so you won't find any magic tricks here, or any simple ways to attract huge streams of traffic to your lens. You won't learn how to write html or how to add fantastic photos to your lens. (I will however point you to lenses, written by wiser, more experienced, lensmasters than I, where you can find all of that information.)
I'm a beginner, a newbie, and as of this writing, I've been with Squidoo through only 3 payout periods. My first month I didn't even reach the payment threshold, didn't get paid a cent, but during the second month something amazing happened; I made 5 times the amount that was being held in the hopper from the month before, and for the third payout period, my pay was increased by 50 percent of that amount and I was accepted into the elite Giant Squids group of lensmaters here at Squidoo.
My Newbie Guide to Squidoo Lensmaking lens contains information that I would have found very helpful when I got started and includes links to other really helpful lenses.
What's a Lens?
Whenever I start to tell people about my wonderfully successful experiences here at Squidoo the first thing they always ask me is, "What's a lens?"I get so excited whenever I start to talk about Squidoo, that I forget that the uninitiated really have no idea what I'm talking about when I refer to my lenses.
A lens is simply what they call a web page here at Squidoo.
I suppose the best way to explain what a lens is would be to have you think of a magnifying glass. When you look through the lens of a magnifying glass, everything you see within that lens is bigger, sharper, more defined. The best Squidoo lenses are a lot like that magnifying glass. The very best Squidoo lenses are about very defined topics and those topics are explored in full detail.
An excellent example of this concept can be seen by viewing Margaret Schaut's lens titled, Michelangelos David.
This lens is both beautiful to look at and educational while at the same time providing several well placed affiliate links to products that would be cherished by any Michelangelo's David admirers.
If you visit this lens you'll notice that the products don't scream "BUY ME". The careful and proper placement of the products within the lens gently lead a shopper to notice them and getting a shopper's attention is half the battle when it comes to affiliate sales, right?
Reverse Pop Quiz
Help Me Help Others
By sharing your answer in my reverse pop quiz, you'll help me know if I'm actually helping you, or if I need to clarify my explanation.
That's why I've called it a reverse pop quiz. I'm the one that's being graded!
What Should I Know Before Starting a Lens
Before you start your first lens, you should choose a topic.I suggest you choose something you are passionate about, or something you know very well, inside and out, because when a lensmaker is passionate and knowledgeable about their topic, it shows through in their writing.
Before you start your first lens be prepared to fill at least 4 modules, (sections of the lens) not including the initial introduction, or your guest book module.
The way the Squidoo modules are set up, it will be very easy for you to accomplish filling four modules, or more, if you've chosen something you already know about.
After you've clicked on the build my own lens button and started your lens, the process is self-explanatory. Each step will be spelled out for you in easy to understand language.
The only thing that you need to be extremely careful about when starting a new lens is your url name. That is the only thing that can't ever be changed. So use caution when choosing it. Watch for typos, take your time, and choose your url name wisely and carefully.
If you make a mistake in any of the other places in the lens, don't worry, it can be fixed easily enough later on, through editing, but you will always be "stuck" with your first url address.
What's a Squidoo Module?
Squidoo modules are the "boxes" you will be writing in to make your lenses. Check out this lens by N376 to learn more about their uses and how to use them.-
Squidoo Modules
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This lens demonstrates a selection of some of the most used and useful Squidoo Modules. You'll see them in their natural environment, with content or product included. Accompanying each is a description of what the module does. To start with, this is...
What Are You Going To Sell on Squidoo?
In addition to knowing what you want to write about, it would also be helpful for you to know what you plan on selling that ties in with your topic. (That is, if you are planning to sell anything.) Money earned from your lenses can either be paid to you in cash through paypal, or donated to your favorite charity.The most popular way to sell things on Squidoo is through affiliate sales at Amazon.com and eBay. You might want to take a look at what they have to offer your customers before starting your lens so you don't end up being disappointed after starting your lens.
You don't even have to worry about getting your own affiliate account, Squidoo already has one for you to use.
Visit SquidU and The Lensmasters Lounge
Highly Recommended
I highly recommend that all newbie Squids visit SquidU and the Lensmasters Lounge.The Lensmasters Lounge is a forum set up and run by the wonderful people who brought us Squidoo.
SquidU contains links to some really important informational lenses.
In the lounge you will have access to all previous postings by some very experienced Squidooers and you will also have the opportunity to ask questions and learn all you need to know to help you create better and more profitable lenses.
There are links to SquidU on every single lens at Squidoo and you'll even find a couple on your dashboard.
Everyone who has joined Squidoo already has access to use SquidU. So, don't be shy. Get on over there now. Introduce yourself and start getting all of your questions answered.
Trust me on this. You won't be sorry!
Visit SquidU
This lens from Greekgeek will be helpful on your first visit to the lensmasters lounge. (SquidU)-
SquidU's Lensmaster Lounge: Help for New Squids
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Newbies! Need help with Squidoo? Click "SquidU" at the top or bottom of a Squidoo lens to visit Squidoo's fabulous discussion forum for its members, aka The Lensmaster Lounge. SquidU contains many kinds of resources to help you learn Squidoo. The Le...
Don't Forget These Simple Finishing Touches
One of the most important things you need to do, and one of the easiest things to forget when making your first few lenses is to always fill in all of the blanks.Give each of your modules a personalized title. Don't leave any blanks or automized titles.
Add personal comments to each and every one of your modules, including and especially in your guestbook and your Amazon, or eBay sections.
Add tags. Tags are how the search engines will find your lens. Your lenses won't leave home without them. You can choose up to 40 tags but be sure to use the most specific words that match your topic.
Add a personalized Bio to your main page. I see this mistake being made constantly. If you don't add your own bio, the page will simply say, "This is my bio. I can edit it later." This is very unprofessional looking.
Oh, and be sure to save all of your work. Each module will supply you with a save button. If you don't use them, you will lose all of your hard work.
If you don't have time to complete your lens in one sitting, you can hit the "Save as a Draft" button and come back to it later.
Learn Some Basic HTML
Although you really don't need to know basic html when first getting started making Squidoo lenses, basic html comes in handy if you want to spiff up, or add a little flair, or some links within your lenses.The introduction module and your biography modules have a built in link maker but if you want to add links in any of the other modules you will need to know some basic html.
Lensmaster N376 has prepared this highly informative lens on basic html for Squidoo. His lens will give you basic easy-to-follow instruction on how to add links and photos to your lenses. I found this lens to be a lifesaver when I first started making my own lenses.
Oh who am I trying to kid? I still use it all the time!
Learn Basic HTML for Squidoo
Check out this lens by lensmaster N376 to learn how to make your lenses prettier.-
Basic HTML for Squidoo
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You can use basic HTML in a few of the lens modules. Mostly used to create hyperlinks (they are the "live links" to other sites). Though there are also other uses for HTML. If you find yourself in need of quick tutorial on how to do it, her...
What is HTML
Wikipedia Article
This article should explain it better than I ever could!
HTML, an initialism for Hypertext Mark-up Language, is the predominant markup language for web pages. It provides a means to describe the structure of text-based information in a document—by denoting certain text as links, headings, paragraphs, lists, etc.—and to supplement that text with interactive forms, embedded images, and other objects. HTML is written in the form of "tags" consisting minimally of "elements" surrounded by angle brackets. HTML can also describe, to some degree, the appearance and semantics of a document, and can include embedded scripting language code (such as JavaScript) that can affect the behavior of Web browsers and other HTML processors.
Read Your Lensmasters Statistics
Once you've set up a lens you will have a Statistics page, located on your dashboard, which will show you how many visitors have seen your lens, your lens rank, and how many sales you have made. You will also be able to see where your visitors are coming from; and learn who is referring people to your lenses. (In other words, where all of your backlinks are coming from.)The following link to a lens by BoredofEducation should be helpful in teaching you how to make heads and tails out of the many stats you will find on your stats page.
How To Read Your Squidoo Stats Page
This lens provided by lensmaster boredofeducation, explains everything you need to know about your statistics page here at Squidoo.How to read it and what everything on it means to you.
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Squid-Stats
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Squidoo provides lensmasters with a great deal of information about people who visit your lenses. This information includes where visitors are coming from, where they go, and what they purchase. This information can be used to increase the traff...
Great Lensmasters
Just a Sprinkling ... There are Many More
These links lead to the lensographies of a few of Squidoo's best lensmasters. Their work is always top-notch. Take a look at a few of each of their lenses to see the techniques they use and to get ideas to improve your own lenses.-
Kim Giancaterino Lensography
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Welcome to my Squidoo lensography... a complete collection of my Squidoo lenses. You know you're a Squidoo addict when every time you listen to the news or leaf through a magazine you think... Hmmmm, now that's a great idea for a lens! Every time I c...
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The GypsyPirate Lensography
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Well, here it is - welcome to proof of my addiction. Pull up a comfy chair and grab the beverage of your choice and I'll take you on a little tour of the world I have created (and my opinions on the things in it) here on Squidoo. Thanks f...
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The Illustrious Rachel Schwarz
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Welcome to the lens about Rachel Schwarz, writer-artist, eclectic human, dress-up maven and Squidoo Lensmastress. On April 10, 2006 Rachel Schwarz was reading the New York Times online when she came across an article about a new site called Squidoo th...
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I AM: Kimberly Dawn Wells
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I AM: too many things! This started as a resume lens and expanded to a resume of a resume of a resume lens. Each module represents a different part of my life that is important to me. To learn more, click on the links to view other lenses...
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Comfortdoc - Griefdoc - Momdoc - Professordoc - Lensdoc - Blogdoc - Greendoc
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This is the lensography, or collection of lenses, for lensmaster Kirsti A. Dyer a.k.a. lensmaster Comfortdoc and Griefdoc. Depending on the situation and the circumstances, I wear a variety of hats, hence the various aliases... Comfortdoc, Griefdoc,...
Featured Lenses by More of Squidoo's Top Lensmakers
Sorry, I couldn't stop at five.And there are still many, many more great lensmasters.
You can be one of them.
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gLensography
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This lens is about me: Glen... what I like, what I do, who I am, the world around me and a choice selection from my lens portfolio.
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Greekgeek's Lensography
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Browse My Lenses on...Cool Science and History Greece and the Ancient World Heroes and Folks I Respect Humorous, Silly and Bizarre Favorite Books, FIlms, Authors How-tos and Miscellaneous Reviews, Gripes and Critique Me, My Travels and My Cat My Blog...
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Lensography: thefluffanutta
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thefluffanutta is a Software Engineer lives in York (England) builds websites as a hobby created a few lenses on Squidoo often posts on the forum on SquidU developed some tools for Lensmasters also some contracting work for Squidoo HQ More places to find th...
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Eccentricity :: Margaret Schaut
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I've often been told I'm 'eccentric', and the older I get, the worse it seems to get. As I age, though, the less it bothers me. Eccentricity: 1. the quality of being abnormally centered... 2. the quality or habit of deviating from what is usual or cu...
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Christene
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Whatever I feel like adding. Part lensography, part biography and part, well I'm not sure. This is my homepage which connects all of my lenses together. I share with you some of the people, and places, and things that I love. New lenses are added eve...
What Else Do I Need to Know
There is a whole lot more to know about Squidoo but this should help you get started. Once you've made a lens or two you will feel like an old pro.If you need more information quickly. Visit the Lensmasters forum at SquidU. You'll find a link to SquidU at the very top of this page.
I've only been here a few short months and I'm already a Giant Squid which means I've made over 50 quality lenses.
Did I mention that Squidoo is addictive?
Ready to Get Started?
You CAN Do It!
- Make Your Own Squidoo Lens
- This is Where Your Squidoo Experience Begins
What Can You Do With Squidoo
Not sure what kind of lenses you want to build at Squidoo? Check out this lens by lensmaster Eelkat to help you get started.-
What Can You Do With Squidoo?
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Congratulations! You are the newest member of Squidoo. You have edited your profile, uploaded your picture and now you are faced with the task of creating your first lens. Or maybe you've already made a couple of lenses and now you can't think of any...
Squidoo Cool Blog
- SquidooCool.com - The blog to be an expert lensmaster!
- This blog as just about everything you need to know about Squidoo.
Great Squidoo Stuff on CafePress
Squidoo Mug
Our project was borne by coffee. Get your SquidMug too.
Price: 12.99
Pocket Logo White T-Shirt
Price: 16.99
A Little Self Restraint Goes a Way
Think Before You Post
Self-restraint
One unkind tirade or one willful snap judgment
can ruin our relation with another person for a whole day,
or maybe a whole year.
Nothing pays off like restraint of tongue and pen.
We must avoid quick-tempered criticism and furious, power-driven argument.
The same goes for sulking or silent scorn.
These are emotional booby traps baited with pride and vengeance.
Our first job is to sidestep the traps.
Lensmasters Take a Look
Newbie Guide to Squidoo Lensmaking Reader Feedback
Did you find this lens helpful? Do you have any questions, suggestions?
If you did find my Newbie Guide to Squidoo Lensmaking Guide helpful, in addition to leaving your comments here, please let me know by rating it with the stars at the top of this page. Thank you!
I'll be adding to this lens as I get your replies so please leave any and all comments here.
Thank you!
awelldressedbullet wrote...
More awesome tips, thank you Robin. I've definitely added this one to my Squidoo Help Library lens! - Kathy
Posted March 04, 2009
awelldressedbullet wrote...
Refer to this Work in Progress (WIP) lens for help http://www.squidoo.com/wip [in reply to christianlouboutinpumps]
Posted March 04, 2009
by rms
Hi! I'm Robin, one of Squidoo.com's Giant Squid Community Organizers and the Squid Citizen, Giant Squid Mentor which means I'm ready, willing and able...
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