Lens Making Tips That Will Get You Blessed By A Squid Angel (At Least This One)
First off, it is an honor to be one of the first Squid Angels on Squidoo and I take this responsibility very seriously. There are a great many lens makers here on Squidoo that are keen on improving their lenses; to increase traffic, lens rank and possibly even be blessed by a Squid Angel. I wish I could review each one.
Unfortunately, I have found that I just don't have the time in my day to provide a thorough critique of each lens request. So, in an effort to be as efficient as possible I thought I would create a lens that highlights what I look for as a Squid Angel. My likes and dislikes may vary widely from my fellow Squid Angel's but after reading this lens there will be no doubt what I am looking for in a great Squidoo lens.
Here is a link to my Lensography so you can see what I've done. As you build your lenses, I would suggest creating a Lensography as an index to your work.
If you are an eBay Seller, I've just created a new lens to help you get started: How To Create An eBay Stores Lens That Sells!
Lens Making Basics - What I Look For In The Introduction
Most Squid Angels will pass over your lens if these basics are not met.
In my view, the key to a great lens is the introduction. It should be short (2-3 paragraphs), it should include a nice image that clearly presents what the lens is about and the content should encourage the reader to continue their discovery of the rest of the lens.The intro should include your prime keywords without seeming like you are spamming and it must be proofread. I write the way I speak so my grammar is occasionally incorrect but I read my content out loud and if it sounds good, I move on. Please take some extra time to make sure there are no misspelled words.
I would suggest keeping text links to a minimum in the introduction but if they make sense and highlight features, updates, news or product specials then by all means include them -- just don't go overboard.
What You Should Avoid In Your Introduction
- Avoid including requests for feedback. While this is a valid request it should be made at the end of your lens with the Guestbook module.
- Avoid requests that your readers bookmark, rank, lensroll, stumble or bless your lens. Again, these are valid requests but should be made after the reader has had an opportunity to read your lens.
- Avoid placing product links, blog links, website links or affiliate links in the introduction unless they expand on what you write in your introduction. These need to be placed discreetly throughout your lens.
Recommended Reading
Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable
Amazon Price: $13.62 (as of 07/10/2009) 
Lens Making Basics - The Body
Have some fun with this section because the Body is where you grab the reader. Try adding a Poll, Plexo, a top ten list or just a funny picture.The key to an excellent lens is content and this content can take many shapes. It can be straight copy, similar to this paragraph, in a text/write module, it can be an RSS feed of your blog, it can be video clips from YouTube, images from Flikr or even links to related content on other sites and lenses.
Whatever content will strengthen the message or theme of your lens should be placed in the Body of the lens.
The Body should contain a minimum of three content modules. Squidoo considers lenses with fewer than three content modules to be unimproved and I would imagine that unimproved lenses will not be blessed by any Squid Angel.
If your lens is a business lens designed for selling products or services don't overwhelm the reader with links to products in the body, take some time to tell your story before you start the hard sell.
Recommended Reading
Word of Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Lens Making Basics - Product Section
If the focus of your lens is selling product or services then I would suggest a section where you can highlight your best product or deals. Here is a great example of a product lens.If you are a content lens but would like to sell product that relates to your topic I suggest you spread out the money making modules throughout your lens as I have done with this lens.
If you are strictly an affiliate lens with very little content, I will probably just pass over your lens. I believe that "content is king" and good content makes for the best Squidoo lenses. Even product focused lenses can contain great content that promotes and educates as well as sells.
Recommended Reading
The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick)
Amazon Price: $10.15 (as of 07/10/2009)
Other Things I Look For In A Great Squidoo Lens!
- I like to see images that illustrate your content.
- Don't overwhelm your readers with product. I like to see a limited selection of product. Use your website or eBay store to sell your product. The Squidoo lens should highlight the cream of the crop or the best deals.
- If you have not included the Guestbook module in your lens I might just pass it up until I see it included.
- Use the Guestbook Module to request feedback, suggest bookmarking, rating, lensrolling, SquidAngel Blessing, etc.
- Include a Featured Lens module. If you feature other related or interesting Squidoo lenses on your lens, that tells me you understand the power of Social Networking.
- Include links to your other related lenses, websites, blogs, personal pages, etc.
- I prefer to see the guestbook at the bottom of the lens. When it is in the middle of the lens, I can tell the lensmaster hasn't taken the time to reorder the modules on the lens. I will still bless the lens but I prefer to see it as the last module.
Here Are Some Great Examples Of Lenses That I Have Blessed.
There are very few, hard and fast, rules that I follow in deciding to give the Thumbs Up to a lens. These featured lenses represent examples of what I look for.-
Funky, Chic and Cool Laptop Bags
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Whether you like classic style, fashion chic or funky function, there IS a perfect laptop bag for you. Below are reviews of the laptop bags I've tested as well as links to some other laptop cases, sleeves, briefcases and totes that I like. Featured La...
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Michelangelo's David
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The stature and prominence, the importance and influence of Michelangelo's David statue may surprise you! The David statue tells a story, yes, and that story is here. But the statue has his OWN story to tell, one that not many people know. Here i...
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Ancient Greece Odyssey: A Traveler's Journal
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Myth major seeks armchair travelers, art lovers, and born-again pagans for a ramble through the ruins of ancient Greece. Odyssey Latest Update: Mycenae Museum Posted 4.25.08 I visited Greece in spring 2005 for the first time, where I have been going i...
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The MLM Deception
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Multi Level Marketing (also known as Network Marketing), is a term used to categorize a business whereby an individual is associated with a parent company as an independent contractor. Some may even refer to themselves as being "home-based busin...
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Would You Trade Your Daughter for a Cow?
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The very idea seems absurd, but for desperate families in parts of rural Africa, it's an all too common answer to a present-day economic problem. Thus, when a family runs out of food and sees no other solution, they will strike a deal with a neighbor...
Lens Basics - Some Final Thoughts!
Your lens doesn't need to be the Lens of the Day, for me to bless it with the Squid Angel Thumbs Up but it needs to be more than just an affiliate site or one page ad for a product or service.I will give the Thumbs Down to sites that I consider to be spam and will ignore the many get rich quick, secret marketing tips, and MLM lenses.
Also, I have a soft spot in my heart for online sellers of real product (not just affiliate links) So take some time to freshen up your lens and use my guestbook to tell me about your lens.
Now, if you are an eBay Seller you can get a new special header for your lens. Just go to the eBayers on Squidoo Headquarters and use the Make Your Own button to get started.
Squidoo's Spam Policy!
Spam hurts everyone.
Squidoo has a no tolerance policy about Spam and every lensmaster should read it. In order to keep Squidoo growing and vibrant we can't let the abusers get away with Spam.-
SquidSpam: Zero Tolerance
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... that everyone deserves a voice online, and a free service for sharing and spreading recommendations, ideas, products and passions. Not just the gatekeepers. Not just paid editors. Not just A-listers and marketers. Everyone. We also believe...
More Great Examples
I May Have to Create a Lens of Angelic Examples.
Here are a few more examples of lenses that I have blessed. Please check them out and see if you can get any tips or ideas for your own lenses.-
Flipping Real Estate Properties | Home and House Flip | Property Turning | Complete Guide to Flipping Homes | Flipping Houses for Dummies
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House Flipping or Real Estate Flip | You come home from a long day at work and while channel surfing, you come across a show in which guys are buying run-down houses, fixing them up and reselling them for huge profits before the first mortgage paymen...
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Thirteen Days in October: The Cuban Missile Crisis
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In the summer of 1962, the Soviet Union dispatched a fleet of commercial cargo ships filled with nuclear missiles, launchers and anti-aircraft guns--all under false manifests--across the Atlantic Ocean to Fidel Castro's Cuba. Forty thousand Sovi...
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Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - Resources for Living with MS and Staying Well
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Thank you for visiting my lens -- please take a moment to rate it. Visit often as I am adding new stuff all the time. I was a young 18 year old soldier in the US Army in 1983 when I can recall my first symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Wh...
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Elvis Movies
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The King sings, dances and acts a bit too... Between 1956 when he made his first film Love me Tender and 1969 when he closed his Hollywood career with Change of Habit, Elvis Presley starred in 31 movies! Starting out with James Dean and Marlon Brando...
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Disney Pin Trading
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Disney pin trading is a great addition to anyone who loves to visit Disney theme parks. I've been going to Disney parks for over 20 years(Thanks Mom & Dad!) and just started getting into pin trading in the last 3 years. Whether you are...
Recommended Reading
Small Is the New Big: and 183 Other Riffs, Rants, and Remarkable Business Ideas
Amazon Price: $17.13 (as of 07/10/2009)
Where Do You Squidoo
Thanks to JasonE for the Map
Tell Me Which Of Your Lenses You Are Most Proud Of
I'll flutter on by and maybe share some Squid Angel blessings
Now that you know what I look for in a great lens why not direct me to your favorite lens. If I give your lens Thumbs Up, then I will almost always leave a comment for you in your guest book module.
blackwidow wrote...
Thank you for the great advice, on making a lens. I've started my first lens to highlight my mommy and children calling cards, which I design and sell. Could you take a peek at my lens please and let me know what more I could do to improve it. Thanks Much.
http://www.squidoo.com/Cardsforkids
Posted June 29, 2009
Angelus wrote...
Thank you for your advice about how to use the guestbook module. Much appreciated!
Posted June 21, 2009
whitemoss wrote...
Thank you for this helpful page. I've just made my 3rd lens- getting the hang of it now, but my first lens, http://squidoo.com/whitemoss seems to be sinking a bit.
Any help would be mcuh appreciated ( though I don't know how you find the time to check us all out!)
Posted June 19, 2009
firstbizopps wrote...
Another great lens, where would we be without people like you to point us in the right direction?! I am new to all this and figured I just bang a few lenses out and learn as I go along. When I learn new things then I just pop back to my lens and make the adjustment. My latest attempt is: http://www.squidoo.com/dreamsfrommyfatherreview
Posted June 19, 2009
Mary-Redfoot wrote...
Great pointers Thanks, I am new but have made 4 lenses. Now I need to know if they are good and how to promote them.
I Thank you for all the help. I have along way to go but realize there is help here. Getting help is one of my weak points. That I will work on also.
Again this is a great lense and I look forward to joining this group also. This is my first comment.
Posted June 05, 2009
WeddingZazzle wrote...
I need blessings :)
http:www.squidoo.com/thezazzleprosellers
Great lens. Thanks for sharing!
Posted May 09, 2009
by rksmythe
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