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Special item: Sidebar widgets for your lenses

SquidTeam by SquidTeam
Last updated: 05/26/2011

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You unlocked the power of sidebar widgets!

We're always looking for new ways to surface great content and interactivity on lenses. But on a single page, real estate is at a premium. And getting a reader's attention just where you want it can be a tricky thing. Especially when there is so much good stuff on your lenses.

Introducing: Sidebar Widgets. Blocks of content that you, the lensmaster, can choose to add to the right sidebar of your lenses, and are 100% in your control.

Historically the social contract on Squidoo has been that we get to control all the content that goes into the sidebar, but with Sidebar Widgets and increased control of the Related Lenses section, you get to control more space in the sidebar than ever.

Right now we're inviting you to try thinking like an advertiser, like an Editor, like a Publisher, and see if you can optimize this sidebar real estate in the sidebar in a personalized, relevant, successful way.

The 3 types of widgets available: RSS feed, Amazon Spotlight, Featured Lenses.

You can see examples of sidebar widgets running in the sidebar of this lens.

What can you do with sidebar widgets?

1Create your very own Amazon ad in the sidebar of your lens.
2Prominently link to your lensography, in the Featured Lenses widget. You can use that as an expanded About Me / lensmaster Bio if you want.
3Use more vital lens real estate.
4Showcase featured lenses. This one's big! Spotlight up to 3 related lenses (yours or a friend's) in a beautiful sidebar display with big images. Now that the lensmaster bio in the sidebar of lenses has been shortened, the Featured Lenses widget stands out a whole lot more.
5Feature related blogs using the RSS Feed Widget. Promote your own business's blog, but remember to stay on topic of the lens for the best clickout results.
6Supplement your core Amazon Spotlight products, featured in the main column of your lens, with slick accessories featured in the sidebar widget of your lens.
7Direct attention to special announcements. A new DVD from your favorite director. A new book from an author. A toy your daughter just got and loves. Lots of applications for this. Get creative. Stay on topic with the lens.

Use a sidebar widget to create your own Amazon ad

Add an Amazon widget to your lens sidebar.

You have 100% editorial control over what you put into it.

Highlight your single favorite product relevant to your lens's topic. Give it a catchy title. If you own and use and love the product in real life, vouch for it personally. Otherwise pick whatever product is the best match for your lens topic. Hey, it's better than targeted ads you can't control, right?

Sales from the widget are directly attributable to you. You get 50% of the revenue from each sale. Earnings are not pooled as they are with all other sidebar ads.

That's a pretty big deal. What Amazon ads will you create for your lenses?

Get some great ideas here!

Where do you go to add the Widgets?

When you edit your lens you'll see a Manage Widgets tab in the right column of your workshop. Click it to manage your sidebar widgets.

You can add up to 3 widgets

Select your favorite three options from the list. You can duplicate widgets (ie have two or three of the same type) but only three max. We know, you probably want more... But for now we're going light, simple, and not overwhelming. Too much packed into the sidebar would be... too much.

We've seen some really cool configurations of lenses using 3 Featured Lenses widgets to show 1 lens each. The clickouts from those displayed lenses are strong, too.