How to Make a Squidoo Lens

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 14 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #1,013 in Volunteering, #152,771 overall

I created this lens to support the Polly Klaas® Foundation. You can help, too.

Help the Polly Klaas® Foundation find missing children, prevent children from going missing, and pass laws like Amber Alert that help keep children safe. Build a lens for them at the Polly Klaas® Foundation Headquarters on Squidoo or visit the Polly Klaas® Foundation website.

Where Do You Start? 

An Internet Doggie Helps You Make Your First Lens

Hey ya'll,

My name is Krystal. I'm here to show ya'll how to make a Squidoo lens.

I'm really glad to do this, because now that I've made a few lenses myself I think it's a lot of fun. Also, every lens ya'll make helps support the Polly Klaas Foundation. What could be better?

The first thing to know is that some folks like to just dive right in and get going--so ya'll can just go ahead and do that. Maybe you've created a myspace page or something, so this feels pretty familiar. So ya'll can just head on up to the top of this page and click on that orange button that says, "Build My Own Lens." Have fun!

The rest of us will take our time, sniff about, and get the lay of the land. We'll dip our toes in the water, and before you know it--we'll be dogpaddling along and making our lenses too. Aaaaaaaaarrrf! Aaaaaarrrrf!

Ya'll might want to print out this lens so ya'll can use it as a checklist while ya'll are making your own lens.

Let's Begin 

Lots of people like to get things all ready before they start making a lens.

So let's get everything together, then we'll go into Squidoo and make the lens.

Here is a list of items you'll need.
  1. Topic for your lens.
    Such as, telling people about the Child Safety Kit. (We are happy to have you make a lens on any topic...) There is more on lens topics below.
  2. Digital photos for your lens.
    You don't need them, but they sure make your lens more interesting to look at. How about a photo for your lens, and one for your bio? I've got photos of my human Kaye on some of my lenses. Pretty flowers and trees also add a lot to the scenery--I especially like trees!
  3. List of links.
    The link to the online order form for the Child Safety Kit would be great. You can add any other link you like.
  4. Your bio.
    Anything you want. It can be short and sweet, like mine on this page.
  5. Additional things.
    Anything you may want to say, books or music you may want to recommend.

More About Your Lens Topic 

Includes Sample Lens Text for a Child Safety Kit Lens

Ya'll can write a simple paragraph or two. Ya'll can also tell a story about anything that interests you. If ya'll are writing about the Polly Klaas® Foundation Child Safety Kits, go ahead a tell a story about how the Kits are important to you.

Notice the photo to the right--ya'll can add any photo you want to your lens.

Ya'll can also copy the text below (between the lines,) and use it for your lens. Also, ya'll can write about anything you want, not just about the Child Safety Kit.
_________________________________________

This web page is helping me pass on the hope--letting everyone know about the important hopeful child safety information available at the Polly Klaas® Foundation.

Their free Child Safety Kit shows parents how to teach abduction prevention to kids of all ages, without scaring their children or themselves. Included are two home-use Fingerpring and DNA Documents.

Your kids will feel more confident once they know ways they can take care of themselves, if the need arises.

Please help keep the children in your life safe. Order your free Child Safety Kit today. Click on the link below.
_________________________________________

Please feel free to copy the text above and use it in your own lens.

Ya'll can personalize it and share your own stories and ideas if ya'll would like.

Don't forget to have a title--if you are writing about the Child Safety Kit, you can include that in your title. You also get to have a subtitle, again if you are writing about the Child Safety Kit you can include the words, "Pass on the Hope."

Starting Up Your Lens 

OK, you've got your topic, and have written out what ya'll want to say--Microsoft Word is a great place to draft your text.

You've got you photos, your links and your bio is drafted. Ya'll are ready. Here's the point where ya'll might want to print out this lens to use as a checklist while ya'll are making your own lens.
  1. At the top of this page, in the introduction section, is a big orange button that says, "Build My Own Lens." Click that button.
  2. You are now at the Polly Klaas HQ button page, click the orange button at the bottom of the page.
  3. Follow the steps and fill out the forms. If this is your first lens, don't forget to write down your password!
  4. If you press the continue button and nothing happens, look at how you filled out the form and see if there is something you need to fix.
  5. After you finish step 4, you arrive at your very own lens. Hooray!
  6. At first the template makes it look a little confusing, but not to worry. We'll help you through. Aaaaaarff!

Keep Up the Good Work 

I thought it was time for a little inspiration break to help ya'll keep going.

"When people keep telling you that you can't do a thing, you kind of like to try it. "
Margaret Chase Smith

The Backbone of Your Lens 

Let's Take Inventory

This is the backbone of your lens--ya'll get to add all the interesting stuff. Let's see what you've got.
  1. The first horizontal bar ya'll see has your lens title and your lensmaster name (the name you signed up with.)
  2. The second horizontal bar has the word "Introduction", and says "I created this lens to help the Polly Klaas® Foundation, you can help too." This section appears in each lens created to support PKF.
  3. The Text/Write Module is next. This is the place ya'll can write your message and add a photo. There is some sample information in this section. Ya'll can use it, or delete it and add your own personal stuff. It's up to you.
  4. Next is the Polly Klaas Foundation link list, with important links.

Mysteries of the Universe, Revealed 

How to Make it Work

Mystery #1.
What is a Text/Write module?
A Text/Write module is a section of the lens where ya'll can write what you want, and add a photo, title and subtitle.

This is a Text/Write module, so are the ones above with my photo on the keyboard and with the photo of the Child Safety Kit.

Ya'll can have as many Text/Write modules as you want (you get one photo with each). To order up an additional Text/Write module, just go to the yellow button at the bottom of the page that says "Add Modules", and then click on Text/Write module.

Mystery #2
What is a Text List?
People love lists, and Squidoo has a place for them. I've used several lists in this lens. Can ya'll find them? They are: Let's Begin, Starting Up Your Lens, and The Backbone of Your Lens.

Ya'll can have as many Text Lists as you want. To order up a new Text List module, just go to the yellow button at the bottom of the page that says "Add Modules", and then click on Text List module.

Mystery #3
What is a Link List?
Ok, here's where Squidoo is a little different from lots of places on the Web. In most places on the Web a link can be a highlighted word with a different color--sometimes it's blue. Other times the actual web address is written out and highlighted, such as http//www.pollyklaas.org. Normally ya'll just click on the link to get to the new page.

At Squidoo, they have a separate section for ya'll's Link Lists, so you get to tell your readers to click on the link below. Then you place the Link List right below, so everyone can find it.

In this lens, I've got the Important Polly Klaas Foundation Links in a Link List.

Ya'll can have as many Link Lists as you want. To order up a new text/write module, just go to the yellow button at the bottom of the page that says "Add Modules", and then click on Link List module.

Mystery #4
What's all this stuff about Amazon and eBay?
Once you've got the basics of your personal lens put together, you can start playing around with all the extra goodies that you can add to a Squidoo lens.

You can have a list of your favorite books from Amazon, or stuff that's interesting for sale on eBay. There all all sorts of things for you to have fun with--maybe you'll even make more than one lens!

 

How Do You Know When Your Lens is Done?

Your lens is done when it has at least 3 completed modules, not including the introduction and the guestbook.

Squidoo made this rule so to make sure the lenses are made by honest to goodness humans (or Internet Doggies!) Those riff-raff spammers are not welcome here.

The Mechanics of Lens Making 

What do these symbols mean?

Let's start with the up and down arrows. Ya'll notice that this lens has a stack of several different types of modules. If ya'll want to move one of your modules up on top of the previous module, you can hit the up arrow. If ya'll want to move one of your modules down a notch, hit the down arrow. It's as simple as that. You can move them any way you want.

Then we have the word "Edit". If you click on that you will get into the part of the module where you can add all your own interesting stuff. Go ahead, try it.

Ya'll can add a title, subtitle and text. In a Text/Write module it's a good idea to save your text first. Then you can add your photo or image.

That last symbol--the circle with the X in the center is one of the most important to know about. This is the DELETE symbol. If you decide you really didn't want that module in your lens, or you're just frustrated and want to get rid of it and start all over--this is the button for you. Otherwise, beware!

 

Uploading Photos,

The photos on Squidoo are pretty small, and you can experiment around with ways to do this. Basically, you can place your digital photo in a folder on your computer--like My Pictures--and click the Browse button in your Squidoo Text/Write module to find the photo on your computer. Squidoo will upload your photo and place it in your Text/Write module.

Your photo needs to be under 1MB, so you may have to crop or re-size your photo to make it work.

Here's a picture of some of my favorite North Caroline Long Leaf pines. I told you I like trees. Aaaarfff!

 

Moving Things Around

This is a really handy tool. Press that button at the bottom or top of your lens and you see how your modules are arranged. You can click and grab each module and move them up or down on the page as you need them.

 

PUBLISH!

In many ways this is the most important button of all. When you are ready, hit the PUBLISH! button to see how things look.

Don't forget to do this--ya'll would be surprised to know how many people forget to publish their work.

Remember once you have Published, to click View This Page so you can see what your finished work looks like.

Often times I publish, view the page, and go back and edit several times to get the page looking exactly the way I like it. Ya'll do that by going to the upper right hand column of the published page (above your bio) and clicking on Edit This Page.

Once you've edited, don't forget to click on PUBLISH! again.

Email Your Friends 

Now for the fun part. Ya'll get to email your friends and family--all your pack members--and show them what you've done! Aaaaaaaaarrrrff! Aaaaaaarrrrrfff!

Be sure to include the link of your Squidoo lens--click that link "View This Page" to get to your finished lens. That's the link ya'll use.

Showing your pack members your lens is probably the best part of all!

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Eleanor Roosevelt.

Thanks for Making Your Lens! 

I'm real glad you stuck with it, and finished your lens. Each lens helps support The Polly Klaas Foundation.

This formerly missing doggie is very thankful ya'll joined us in this important work. Aaaaarrrrff! Aaaaarrrrff!

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."
Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Important Polly Klaas Foundation Links 

Ways You can Help Keep Children Safe

Free Child Safety Kit
Teach chidren how to recognize and respond to dangerous situations with the help of a free 23 page Child Safety Kit. Includes Fingerprint and DNA Documents.
Posters Really Work
Find out more about distributing missing child posters in your community.
Free Internet Safety Kit
Guidance for parents on ways to:
--Keep your children safer online.
--Help open communication about the Internet with your children.
Donate Today
Make use of our secure donation page, which also gives instructions for mailing in donations.
Polly Klaas Foundation Home Page
This links to the homepage of the Polly Klaas Foundation.

Was This Helpful? 

An Internet Doggie Wants to Know

Please let me know if there are things I can clarify, add, or change.

submit
Show All

by Kaye_Swafford

Hey ya'll,

My name is Krystal. I'm a West Highland Terrier/Poodle mix. 

I'm an Internet Doggie and can help you make your first Squidoo lens.

I also...

(more)

Explore related pages

Richland Recycling Center | Recycle Washington | Tri City Wa Waste Management | Paper Aluminum Computer and Plastic Recycling
Recycling, brought to you by real estate agents, Joe and Colleen Lane of The Lan...
Lots To Learn's All Things Preschool and Parenting
Hey, I'm Bill, and I'm a Dad, Small Business Owner, and Creator of an award-winn...
Posters Really Help Find Missing Children
Help the Polly Klaas® Foundation locate missing children, support the famili...
Home Heart Strings
Welcome to Home Heart Strings. Our blog covers everything about house and home....
Child Safety Kits Help Keep Children Safe
Help the Polly Klaas® Foundation find missing children, prevent children fro...
Adventures in Dog Parenting
This lens is the ongoing saga of being, at first, a reluctant dog parent and my...

Related Topics

Create a Lens!