Squidaholics

My Best Squidoo Tips

Squidoo Tips Repository

• Images
  
  Use lots of images and use a keyword rich name eg for this lens how-to-become-a-squidoo-expert.jpg. You can now enter Alt Tag information for each image, you must do this for good SEO (essential).
• Regular Updates
  
  Don't put up too much information straight away, I mean leave some information to add regularly. Squidoo and Google like pages that are frequently updated. For instance I have a Shakespearean Quotes Lens which I (try to) add a quotation to every day
• Lens You Don't Love
  
  Sometimes you will create a lens that you lose interest in and that you avoid updating, well just let it go, it's best to only work on lens that enthuse you.
• Concentrate on your Successful Lens
  
  I once had a top 300 lens, thought complacently that I'd leave it alone and put my energy into creating new lens. Unfortunately my top 300 Lens has now dropped out of sight. The moral of this story is that if any of your lens starts to climb in the rankings then keep adding quality content to it, ride the wave.
• Don't Over Egg the Commercial Modules
  
  Don't have too many Amazon, eBay, CafePress modules it's too in-your-face. Wait until people have been drawn to your interesting content. Also you don't have to include 5 books in Amazon module try one or two instead
• Traffic
  
  Everyone wants traffic, which you can build by blogging about your lens, and requesting comments in Squidu however in the end you have to attract qualified traffic from the Search Engines which means your Lens must have real content and be interesting (Content is King/it must be Unique,Useful,Updated)
• Use Google to Search Squidoo
  
  The Squidoo Keyword Search is to say the least quirky. When I want to see how my lens is doing or how well its rivals are doing, or when I am researching to see what competition there might be for my latest lens idea, I prefer to use Google, I type in say "squidoo slankets" then see which Squidoo lens appear in the first few pages (SERP)
• If You Have Different Squidoo Identities: Use a different Browser for each
  
  Say use FireFox for your main identity, and then Opera for the second and IE for the third. Saves you logging in and out, and more importantly avoids you getting confused as to which identity you currently in
• Not an Expert in Your Subject? Nevermind!
  
  You can gradually become an expert in any micro-niche even one you knew absolutely nothing about, you have all the resources of Internet available. But will need enthusiasm otherwise it will become hard work. I have found that if a Lens starts to get traffic (sometimes months later) that helps my enthusiasm
• There are now Lens Themes eg Xmas
  
  Try changing a Lens Theme to liven it up (Theme Pulldown on Top Right in Edit mode)
• Tags, Tags , Tags
  
  These are the keywords that are used by Squidoo's own Search and also by Google. Keep refining and perfecting your tags this is very important for SEO
• Multiple Identities
  
  If you created a bunch of Lens on say fishing it would increase traffic between your lens and also your credibility if you had a Fishy user name say "FishermansFriend"
• Labels
  
  When you have a lot of lens with the same identity you can organize them by attaching labels to them say "seafishing" or "flyfishing" to allow you to just list the relevant lens
• Draft Version
  
  When creating a new lens it is probably better to click "Save Draft" rather than Publish when it is still too raw.
• Find a Good Squidoo URL which is Still Available
  
  I type in the domain I'm looking for eg http://www.squidoo.com/box-carting-in-nevada and hit return to see if there's an existing domain that's how I found Squidaholic domain name was still available
• Brighten up your Lens with CSS
  
  Squidoo won't let you use many standard HTML tags including iframes, but does allow a lot of CSS Tags. Visit the Squidoo CSS lens to see examples of CSS which draw pretty boxes around your text or images etc.
• Hyperlinking or Bookmarking within your lens
  
  Each Squidoo module has a module number which can be used to allow jumping about your lens eg http://www.squidoo.com/everything-i-learn#module13471513 goes directly to a particular module. You find the module number from the table of contents or from the link next to the edit button
• Watch for sudden increases of a Lens Traffic/Visitors
  
  If a notice a lens picking up traffic I make sure I update that lens and keep doing so while the traffic increases
• Comments
  
  You want to select "Any one can comment" and "You must approve".
• Reorder Modules
  
  The Reorder Modules Panel makes it really easy to reorder your modules. Do this to better space the commercial modules as well.
• Use Reorder Modules to Delete Unwanted Modules When You Create a New Lens
  
  When you create a new Lens you sometimes get a whole bunch of commercial modules included which you might not want. You can delete these all in one go using the Reorder Modules Panel
  
  Always Respond to a Comment
  I always return the favor if someone comments on my lens
• The First Image is Critically Important
  
  Now that Squidoo have added the side-menu "Explore related pages" it is vital that the THUMBNAIL of your first images is really relevant and striking so that it GRABS the attention of the person reading the other lens
• Your Main Tag
  
  It is critical that this is a well used (but not too general keyword). It MUST not be your lens title but should be clear and simple ie "dog training" and not "puppy dog training in Texas". Get the Workshop add-on ,see tip below, as this will indicate if your Tags are worthwhile.
• Get Squidoo Workshop Add-on
  
  http://www.squidoo.com/lens-workshop-addon adds all kinds of useful extensions to Squidoo Editor and Dashboard.
• Keep your Lens Tightly Focused
  
  Don't confuse the search engines keep your lens tightly focused on one subject so that all the keywords are in the same area!
• Recommend ONE particular product on your lens
  
  If it's a commercial lens try and focus on selling just one product but do this two or three times in the lens.
• Build a web of similar lens and interlink them (A cluster of Lens)
  
  If people like one of your lens they will look for others by you.
• Keep learning about Squidoo/SEO, I do!
  
  Invest time in visiting other people's lens, especially those in categories SEO and Squidoo Tips. Visit the top 100 lens in each category to get ideas. See below for more info.
• Bottom Module
  
  After your bottom module which is normally the Guest Book module have an About Me module to a Lens Link Module to your other Lens. (Keep the traffic)
• New Modules
  
  There always new modules appearing, Google Maps, shopping lens, keep up to date
• CSS
  
  People are definitely using more CSS to make their lens stand out, don't be scared of CSS it's just something that you copy and paste into your lens. (There are several lens which specialize in showing how to do CSS)
• Interactivity
  
  Visitors LOVE simple quizzes and polls. I'll be adding more and remember you get points every time someone fills one in.
• Content is King
  
  Your lens must not be all dazzle you do need real, thoughtful,original and researched content.
• Subtitles
  
  Many Squidoo modules have a subtitle, if it's there you must use it, that's what SEO is all about it will make your lens just that little bit more attractive to the Search Engines. I often find it tough to think of a good subtitle but it must be done
• Polls
  
  Polls are really popular on Squidoo right now because people quite simply love polls. I'm trying to retroactively put a poll on all my lenses. Make it relevant of course
• Introduction Text
  
  Your introductory text is probably the MOST import thing on your lens with the first sentence being the most important part of the introduction.
  
  This is because it is the HOOK which will determine whether someone clicks the link to your lens. The rest of the introduction will determine whether the visitor will stays on your lens!
• Introduction Text Bottom Hook
  
  At the bottom of your introductory text there should be a second hook as a single sentence paragraph giving some compelling reason to continue reading!
• Squidoo View Source : Check your Title, Meta Tags , and H1 Tags
  
  Underneath a Squidoo Lens is just a normal HTML webpage, use the View-Source function of your browser to check that your Title, Meta Description and Meta Keyword Tags , and H1 Tags are optimal, ie solidly reflecting the main focus of your lens. Do this with all your lenses and you will be in for a few surprises.
• Squidoo Tags become your HTML Meta Keywords
  Make sure you have good relevant TAGs. Don't stuff your tags with unrelated keywords
• Squidoo Title equals HTML Title
  So that's straightforward. Recently there is a trend to split up the title with the pipe symbol "|" eg
  SEO Tips | Get more Traffic
• Squidoo Title is also first H1 Tag
  That's good really as they should be the same.
• Introduction Module Title is first H2
  It is often tricky to think of suitable title
• The importance of the Squidoo Primary Tag
  It took me ages before I understood this. The Primary tag is used by SQUIDOO to determine which other lens will appear in the Right Hand Column "Explore related pages" this is a very importance source of traffic as people are naturally interested in "Similar Lenses". Similarly it determines on which other lenses your lens will appear. Choose it badly and you appear on nobody's "Explore related pages.
• Amazon Module: Don't use Amazon's own product title!
  Everyone is using that, try and think of something that is closer to what buyers might be entering into the Search Engines.

Choosing a Subject for a New Lens

1. Choose a Catchy Title not a Generic one
   Not Christmas Decorations but say "How to decorate your tree with 1950's candy" tip by Megan Casey
2. Seasonal Lens
   You need to plan and create a seasonal lens at least 6 months in advance!
3. Think About What the Word Lens Means
   Lens implies focus, you focus on single subject or niche or rather micro-niche. So a Lens is not like a website which can encompass a wide subject. So successful lens are on a very narrow subject eg "Stuffed Cabbages" which was at one stage number one Lens!

More Squidoo Tips

• Text Modules
  Make sure every text module has an image with a relevant rich-keyworded name eg best-dog-kennels-in-kentucky.jpg not dogkenn1.jpg
• Proofread Your Lens
  Review your lens every now and again you may be horrified by typos and other errors. Letting a little time go by allows you to see your lens as others do!
• Going to Buy Something from Amazon Yourself?
  Remember to visit Amazon VIA an Amazon module in one of your lens, that you'll earn commission!
• End of Lens
  If people have read down to the end of your lens they probably like your stuff, so give them a list of your other lens using the Featured Lenses module Important Tip

SEO Traffic Conservation