Cute modules to spice up your lens

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 105 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #230 in Squidoo Tips, #26,796 overall

Advanced modules tutorial

Cute modules that will help your lens stand out. Go beyond the text-module and the link-list module and use some color. These modules are built into squidoo and really make your lens look good. Some are hard to find, so I added descriptions on where they are in the 'add modules' mode.

Table of Contents 

Squidoo now has an automatic table of content within the 'introduction module'. If you don't want to add a description on top, that option is probably best in most cases. Just click 'on'.

But if you want to have a table of content at the end of your lens, adding the module in addition to the one in the introduction is probably a good idea. It is a great module for your larger lenses (in fact, on this one I have two!). Squidoo will automatically change this module if you put more in your lens, so there is no need to create your own table of contents.

You can choose which modules to show, and which to ignore in your table of contents.

Take note: the table of contents has an option to add text, but most of it will be cut off. I used a text/write module to get text first and the table of content later.

FAQ - any questions about squidoo modules? 

Lensmaster

Lori_Lee-Ray wrote...

every time i look for a tip I find you! I've shortened my search and just go to your lensography now lol thank you for all of your works on tips & helpful info!

ReplyPosted June 09, 2009

Lensmaster

sittonbull wrote...

More of the "good stuff" to LR to my learning lens. A continuing thank you.

ReplyPosted May 20, 2009

Lensmaster

spirituality wrote...

in reply to mayapearl If your income generated off squidoo is going to charity, you can still make money with affiliate links. See my lens about making money on squidoo for tips.

I hope I understood the question correctly.

ReplyPosted February 06, 2009

Lensmaster

mayapearl wrote...

Can you still monetize your lens if you did not set it up to make money?

ReplyPosted February 06, 2009

Lensmaster

spirituality wrote...

So - do all the money making modules make you money?

Yes they do: whatever you sell through squidoo will make you money if you use one of the squidoo modules to do it. (just linking to someone's website isn't usually going to cut it).

You can also use affiliate links on squidoo.

So just to be clear: whether it's ebay, amazon or cafepress: you get a portion of the profit if something gets sold through a referral from one of your lenses.

ReplyPosted July 18, 2008

The Introduction module 

This module isn't really an advanced lensmasters module. Still its features are quite extensive. I've devoted a whole lens to it.

[I've used a 'featured lenses' module to showcase it here]
featured lens The Introduction Module in Squidoo

The introduction module in squidoo has an inbuilt table of content. Do use it! And do upload a picture as an intro image - not having one will stop people from featuring your lens on theirs. And no - just using HTML to put a picture in there does NO...

Text / Write module 

This is the most used module in squidoo. You can do a lot with it.

You can add as many as you want, because they won't show up on your lens until you've added content to them. I often end up having a bunch of empty text/write modules at the bottom of my new lenses - just because I can.

This makes adding content later easier.

Blackbox

The blackbox is great for really spotlighting something. It's a bit black (obviously), so on some lenses I prefer other ways of spotlighting my central point. Depends on the atmosphere you want on there.

And it's no longer always black :) (on normal squidoo pages). On this lens orange seems appropriate :)

Polaroid 

An easy way to put big pictures on your lens.

Polaroid - find this under 'add unique content'.

It works as follows:

1) Upload any picture from your own computer, squidoo will resize to the size you see here. Pictures look better if they were at least 400 px wide to start with. Smaller pictures will be blown up, while larger pictures will be shrunk automatically.
2) Add a description in the title. You can't put too much text in there - squidoo will limit your text to 130 characters.

Note If you want to use pictures hosted elsewhere you can do two things:

1) Save to your own computer, then upload in the polaroid module. be respectful to the photographer and only do this if they explicitly told you you could...
2) Bypass the Polaroid module and use HTML to get your picture in your lens. Be aware that this means that if the original website moves or deletes the picture, your lens will look weird.

Polaroid

Wikipedia 

This is one of the more popular modules, so you can find it on the edit screen (where you are when you edit) on the right. It's the last module under 'Add Modules (Shortcut!)'.

It's an easy way to add useful content to your lens, but it won't help your lens get found in search engines (because this is content everybody is using online - why would google choose to show your lens?).

Wikipedia is a free,Some versions such as the English languageversion contain non-free content. web-based multilingual encyclopedia project supported by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. Its name i...

read the rest of the Wikipedia article

StickyNote

I really like the look of the sticky note. You'll find it under 'add unique content' (page 2). Note that it also has a different font than most other modules.

Talk Bubble 

The 'Talk Bubble' looks great on a lens that also has the 'most important thing' module (see below).

The Talk Bubble can be found under 'add unique content' or under 'T'. The text is limited to 100 characters and excess text will just be thrown out.

"Great to have orange on a lens. This automatically breaks off your text if you have too much of it.."

The Most Important Thing

This orange rectangle is called 'The Most Important Thing'. It can be found under 'add unique content'. Like the talk bubble it can handle only a limited amount of text.

The 'most important thing' module breaks your text off at 500 characters.

I'll be using this a lot more now that I know what it's called.

Big Arrow Link 

This module gives you a chance to really showcase this one website you want to show your readers. It should be something related to your lens-topic. In this case I've just used the Squidoo-URL because that's what this lens is all about.

For some reason this module is under 'sell stuff', but the 'B' works as well.

Featured lenses 

This is one of the more popular modules, so it is right there on the edit screen. Look for 'Add Modules (Shortcut!)'.

You can list up to five favorite lenses here. Do make sure you count the amount of lenses you want to showcase. On its own it will just limit it to ONE lens. This can be very annoying if you don't look out. I've had to redo a few because it just threw away most of the lenses I've entered.
Actually it seems what squidoo does is the following:

  • It does now remember all the lenses you put in

  • It randomly shows the amount you choose (1 to 5)

  • Each time you refresh a different selection is shown

This means that for a lensography my advice still holds: only enter 5 and make sure you also have the amount of lenses you want to show at 5.

BUT for other purposes it can be nice to show a random selection of a larger group of lenses. For instance if you have one very popular lens and you want your other lenses on the same topic to profit. Then you can just enter them all and set the total number to 5. It won't look as spammy as creating a long link-list at the bottom of your lens.

You can even add lenses in the 'ever.com' project (greatest.something.ever.com for instance) - but to find out how to do it, first look at that lens in edit mode. You will see something like: http://www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/workshop/funniest-spirituality-ever in the URL. Just take the last bit of that, for instance funniest-spirituality-ever and add that in the appropriate field. Obviously that technique works best with your own lenses. But those are the lenses you are going to list in any lensography anyhow.

In this case I've just shown lenses by other lensmasters that help you become a better lensmaster. I use this a lot to show my readers other lenses that are related in topic on the bottom of a lens somewhere.

This is also the basic module for lensographies.

Making this lens I found out that the amount of text you can put on top of your featured lenses is limited. I worked around that in this case by putting a text/write module on top.

 

These are some other lenses you may want to check out to become a better lensmaster.
featured lens The Introduction Module in Squidoo

The introduction module in squidoo has an inbuilt table of content. Do use it! And do upload a picture as an intro image - not having one will stop people from featuring your lens on theirs. And no - just using HTML to put a picture in there does NO...

featured lens Squidoo CSS - my favorite code to spice up a lens

I've gathered my favorite Squidoo-code for later reference. I'm tired of trying to find that specific lens I used a css effect on and then having to go to edit-mode, copy paste, and then go back to the lens I was working on. This lens will help me be...

featured lens Stumbleupon explained for lensmasters

Stumbleupon is great fun, and a tool for self-promotion, but for lensmasters there are also a few drawbacks. There are limits to the amount of self-promotion you can do.

featured lens Flip This Link Award Winners - BEST How To Squidoo Lenses

The Flip This Link Contest Winners are HERE! This group of lenses will show you how to maximize your lenses for improved traffic as well as how to create stellar lenses by using all of the facinating and effective options as you build them. When I fi...

featured lens SEO for squidoo - getting found in google: search engine optimization

SEO - search engine optimization - has many different facets. This lens goes over the main ones - especially how they effect making successful lenses on squidoo.

Duel 

This one is called the DUEL. It's basicly the module you need if you want two sides of an argument to be fought out on your lens. I've used it a few times myself - though getting people to actually give their opinion turns out to be a challenge...

Have you succeeded in getting people to 'sound off'?

Loading Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

Yes, my duels have always sparked debate

haroon132 says:

No I just Joined the Squidoo and just created my First Lens and hopefully it will be ranked soon

Posted June 09, 2009

sittonbull says:

Well I'll have to say yes. There has been wonderful and thoughtful response to my duals

Posted May 20, 2009

TopStyleTravel says:

My duels have sparked some debate but I welcome more. It lets me know the topic is interesting & thought provoking to others. I enjoy reading different opinions too.

Posted May 02, 2009

Michey says:

but is based on "the are" of puting the right, intrigue, interesting question

Posted March 14, 2009

eccles1 says:

Sometimes yes sometimes no

Posted September 17, 2008

no, debate just never seems to happen...

what-u-c says:

No just getting started with Lenses. Still learning it all.

Posted March 27, 2009

Tipi says:

I get impatient with the duel modules because folks seem to avoid them, and sometimes I do to. - I've got one that is doing OK. Its not my favorite module though, I much prefer the guest books.

Posted March 23, 2009

mulberry says:

Sometimes but certainly not always, the best response seems to come when it's more humorous...guess I'm not as good at coaxing out conflict from people.

Posted January 03, 2009

Mickie_G says:

Nope. No luck.

Posted December 09, 2008

spirituality says:

It's showing your avatar to incite you to comment. You can actually turn off the avatar in the options to the duel module.

Posted December 06, 2008

 
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Poll Module 

The poll module can be found under 'starter package' or under 'p' for 'poll'. It is the module you use if you want to have your visitors vote on something. You can add as many options to vote for as you wish. These polls don't have the option of selecting two or more answers at the same time: your visitors will have to choose.

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Google Maps 

To be found under 'G' for google maps.

Any lens on something local should have a map, and this is the easiest way to get one. I have found, so far, that in most cases it's best to just set the 'display options' to 'Fartherer' - which means people will get the least detail and the most possible context.

Personally I would like to have even 'further' views possible. For instance, I can't just show my whole country (The Netherlands) - in fact I can't show the whole of the capital: Amsterdam.

Don't bother about the note that says the google maps module only works for the USA. It does work for The Netherlands, so I guess it will work for any country. Just try.
Powered by Google

Google Blog Search 

This module gives you a way to have links to the latest blogposts or news on your lens - without you going the trouble to actually type it in :)
featured lens Google Blog Search Module

I love to make a lens better by using google blogsearch. The content changes - which makes your lens more interesting. As an added bonus you get an easy way to check out what other people are saying about a topic you are interested in. Which means y...

Amazon Spotlight 

Under A for Amazon

The Amazon spotlight is where you highlight just one Amazon product.

It's right here on the edit screen - just click 'profitable'.

On my lenses this is usually a book, but it can be any product sold on Amazon. You will want to use this only once or twice per lens - if only because you need to actually describe why your readers should buy this product, and not the tons of other products out there.

Make sure to check the display options. I always add the 'rank' - that is: how many stars do users give this product?
HTML and XHTML Pocket Reference (Pocket Reference (O'Reilly))

HTML and XHTML Pocket Reference (Pocket Reference (O'Reilly))

by: Jennifer Niederst Robbins

Amazon Price: $10.18 (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now

Spotlighting an affordable HTML and CSS reference here, because lensmasters should really know basic HTML and CSS. I have a few references myself - this one is affordable and has all the basics.

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon 

money making module

This module is so popular it's on the edit screen itself under 'Add Modules (Shortcut!)'.

You can let Amazon pick based on your topic, or you can pick stuff yourself. I usually start out with what Amazon picks and see whether it makes any sense. Do check out the display options as well. This lens holds a maximum of 5 products.
Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing out of Sync?

Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing out of Sync?

by: Seth Godin

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $15.57 (as of 07/06/2009) Buy Now

Word of Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking

Word of Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking

by: Andy Sernovitz

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009) Buy Now

Permission Marketing : Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers

Permission Marketing : Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers

by: Seth Godin

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $19.00 (as of 07/06/2009) Buy Now

Unleashing the Ideavirus

Unleashing the Ideavirus

by: Seth Godin

Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

Amazon Price: $11.20 (as of 07/06/2009) Buy Now

Amazon Voting (Plexo) 

This module too can be found right there on the edit screen. Just click 'profitable' under 'Add Modules (Shortcut!)'.

This module can hold an apparently limitless amount of products - if you choose to pick products yourself.

Make sure to edit the descriptions: they often contain code that doesn't show up very well.

I don't use this module much myself. People don't vote for their favorites anyhow.

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Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing out of Sync? by Seth Godin

Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing out of Sync? by Seth Godin

Gotta get me some of that New Marketing. Bring me more...0 points

2

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The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) by Seth Godin

The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) by Seth Godin

The old saying is wrong. winners do quit, and quit more...0 points

3

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Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin

Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin

You're either a Purple Cow or you're not. You're e more...0 points

4

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Small Is the New Big: and 183 Other Riffs, Rants, and Remarkable Business Ideas by Seth Godin

Small Is the New Big: and 183 Other Riffs, Rants, and Remarkable Business Ideas by Seth Godin

More provocative business thinking from the bestse more...0 points

5

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All Marketers Are Liars: The Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low-Trust World by Seth Godin

All Marketers Are Liars: The Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low-Trust World by Seth Godin

Every marketer tells a story. And if they do it ri more...0 points

eBay 

Again: right there on the edit screen - just click 'profitable'.

In this case you have to let eBay pick based on your keyword, or pick a seller that specialises in your subject - because you don't want the product you were selling yesterday to be sold today - and have nothing show up on your lens. Like the previous modules: a maximum of 5 products for sale per module.

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

CafePress 

Like all the money making modules: this is under 'profitable'.

Cafepress is a popular design-it-yourself network online. Pick from over 22 million original designs on tons of customizable products--tote bags and t-shirts and mousepads and more! Find this under 'sell stuff'.
Also a maximum of five products per module.

And yes - you get a percentage of each sale you make (though I've yet to make even one with this module). It's a normal affiliate program that way. You're the advertiser, so you get a share of the profit.
Angel Squid 2.25

Angel Squid 2.25" Magnet

From: Zamurai Designs

Price: 3.49 Buy Now

Just the Squid Jr. Raglan

Just the Squid Jr. Raglan

From: SquidSwag

Price: 22.99 Buy Now

Squidoo Mug

Squidoo Mug

From: SquidSwag

Price: 12.99 Buy Now

Powered by CafePress

Current Weather 

There are two 'weather' modules in squidoo. One is for showing people what the weather is where they're at. This might be useful if you are writing about the weather or something, but not on my lenses.

The other weather module is relevant for any lens on a local area. Whether it's a country or a town - doesn't matter.

Find this one under 'W' for weather or just search 'weather' in module search.

Just type in any town (well, fairly large town), or in the US you can type in the postal code. If it knows the town, it will just show the weather.
If it has multiple options (like I did: I typed in London) - it will show you which London's you might mean. Copy paste the one you do mean into the box and save again.

Don't bother typing in the text box: it won't show up. This text was added by typing in an ordinary text/write module.

 

Current weather conditions in London, United Kingdom

Local Pollen Reports

18°C (Feels like 18°C)

Last update: 7/6/09 8:20 PM Local Time

Humidity: 68%
Visibility: 10.0 km
Dew Point: 12°C
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 1003.0mm steady
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 26km/h From: Airport Conditions
powered by weather.com

Tonight


Low
Low: 14°C
Sunrise: 4:52 AM
Sunset: 9:19 PM
 

Tuesday
Jul 7 


N/A
High: 21°C
Low: 14°C
Sunrise: 4:52 AM
Sunset: 9:18 PM

Wednesday
Jul 8 


Rain / Thunder
High: 22°C
Low: 14°C
Sunrise: 4:53 AM
Sunset: 9:17 PM

Thursday
Jul 9 


Partly Cloudy
High: 22°C
Low: 14°C
Sunrise: 4:54 AM
Sunset: 9:17 PM

Video Module 

Adds a video from youtube, vimeo, revver, howcast, aniboom, godtube, metacafe, myspace or veoh to your lens.

Want more video's? Add more modules. The interface is simple: find the link of that video and copy paste.

This module is found right there on the edit screen.

The video below is from youtube.

Note that you can add as much text above the video as you want and that there is no description text imported. If you want the youtube description imported on your lens, you should go for the youtube module (under Y for Youtube).
[But it's better to write your own text - that way google will know your lens is interesting in its own right, not just a youtube copycat.]

I do like that the video's shown with the video module are nice and big.
powered by Youtube

Igo GREEN Tip of the Day 

I've been seeing this module on green lenses recently - and it's just that extra touch to make your green lens a tad nicer...

Find it under 'add modules'
Then 'Search A-Z'
Then 'I' (for igo, not g for green)

Then add.

About Me module 

You can choose whether to show your profile picture (I would if you have one), whether to show the bio squidoo creates, whether to show what you've written about yourself and whether to show the five featured lenses you have set. For this example I've gone with all of the above + the text you can add.

In the 'add modules' bit at the top of the page, choose 'all modules'. This one is the first listed.

Lensmaster spirituality, aka Katinka Hesselink, has been a member since May 21 2007, has rated 6,785 lenses, favorited 173, and has created 210 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Spiritual Quotes and Wisdom Sayings". See all my lenses

My Bio

I'm a webmaster and student of religion and spirituality. See my website on religion and spirituality: www.katinkahesselink.net or my spiritual blog: All Considering.
Join my fanclub if you want to be kept updated on new (spiritual) lenses I make. I have lenses on The Ultimate Questions, Spiritual teachers and a few non-spiritual topics, including A few nerdy, squidoy topics.

Perhaps suitably given my spiritual interests, I've been made a squidoo angel in April 2009.

visit counter for blogspot

Check out these great lenses...

lens image
The best spiritual books EVER
Spiritual books lensography Gathering all my spiritual book reviews together :) Religion and spirituality fascinates me no end. I also love to read books - this lens combines both fascinations. I hope you enjoy some of these and broaden your horizo... view lens
lens image
Best books on Buddhism
If you are into a specific type of Buddhism - don't think you already know what 'Buddhism' is. Buddhism comes in a variety of forms and they disagree on issues you probably take for granted. These books will amaze and inform you. I'm going to be sen... view lens
lens image
Squidoo Angel - Spirituality
The squidoo angels decided to take more specific responsibilities. For instance, I keep an eye on lenses in the following categories: Religion & Spirituality Books Duels! Squidoo Tips Green Living In this lens I give you my criteria & share some of... view lens
lens image
If you want to become popular on squidoo...
In some ways squidoo is like a popularity contest. I've done pretty well here with as I write more than 586 fans. So I feel qualified to write this lens about the subject. view lens
lens image
Spiritual jewelry
I collected some very inspiring spiritual charms, bracelets, necklaces and pendants for you. They are Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Jewish and Muslim - I even found pagan jewelry. Hope you enjoy, and perhaps even buy these. view lens

 

Just a tip on green living each day.

How to use modules well, add your tips [comments plexo] 

Add your favorite tips and vote for the ones you think are most important.

[This is the rarely used comments plexo: to be found under 'c' for comments or under 'interact']

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Do change the titles of the modules

Modules with generic titles are annoying.3 points

2

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Do check out the options on your modules

Learning makes your lenses better1 point

3

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Plexo's can be edited!

If people add things to your plexo's, please edit more...1 point

4

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Use the comments plexo for feedback

Ask for suggestions in the description. People lov more...1 point

5

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Add interactive modules...

To let your readers participate and feel like they more...1 point

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Titles of modules should be descriptive and catchy

Be a real writer: use words people will want to se more...0 points

Guestbook 


Every lens should have a guestbook, if only because some groups won't accept lenses if you don't have one. Squid-angels are also more likely to bless a lens if it has a guestbook. Make sure you at least touch the 'edit' button, that way the standard description 'new guestbook' gets replaced by the friendlier title 'reader feedback'.

If you want a listing at the Isle Of Squid you will need to change the text of this module to something other than 'reader feedback' or 'new guestbook'.

Lensmaster

Spitfire70 wrote...

I agree about the Amazon voting plexo. I don't use it much, either. Great lens!

ReplyPosted June 04, 2009

Lensmaster

partybuzz wrote...

Thanks for this very helpful lens! And, thanks for your help with the About Me module!

ReplyPosted June 04, 2009

Lensmaster

The_Party_Animal wrote...

Nicely put!!!

ReplyPosted May 31, 2009

Lensmaster

Tipi wrote...

I want to thank you for adding a link to this helpful lens on Squid Email!
Good resource lenses are important to the newbies and experienced.

Have a great day! ~

ReplyPosted May 29, 2009

Lensmaster

spirituality wrote...

in reply to MeredithCrosby Actually, that's prefect squidoo lingo :) Glad to be of service.

ReplyPosted May 29, 2009

 
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I'm using a 'Featured Lenses' module to show off my lensographies.

If you don't know that much about webdesign, myspace or search engine optimization, my website is a good place to start.
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