A Step-by-Step Primer on How-to Squidoo

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Ranked #103 in Squidoo Tips, #9,017 overall

You too can learn how to Squidoo -- how to create great lenses with this step-by-step primer on how-to Squidoo.

This step-by-step primer gives you plenty of how-to information on how to get started building your Squidoo lens. Get some useful tips about how to build that lens with plenty of helpful pictures of the various templates you can use. You'll see plenty of screen captures of what to expect when using those templates. I've also included some formatting code that you can use to spiff up your lenses. After you have built that lens, you'll learn what to do with it to get more traffic.

P.S. Most Important! You need to sign up to be a Squidoo lensmaster if you haven't already done so! Hey, follow me.

First things first :: Sign Up to be a Squidoo Lensmaster

Sign Up NOW

Join me on Squidoo!

OK, What is a lens? 

It's got a focus ...

A lens is one person's view on a topic that matters to her. It's an easy-to-build, single web page that can point to blogs, favorite links, RSS feeds, Flickr photos, Google maps, your eBay auctions, CafePress designs, Amazon books or music, and oh so much more. That way, when someone is looking for recommended information, fast, your lens gets him started and sends him off in the right direction.


P.S. I personally hate spammers and scammers who try to beat the 'system' with get-rich schemes. You won't find any of those type tips or tricks in this lens!

IMPORTANT STUFF :: More about YOU! 

Make a good impression ...

Here are some basics to keep in mind when joining Squidoo and SquidU.

  • Pick a good ID that defines you--don't use spaces.

  • Take time to add a PROFILE picture please! I personally prefer to see what YOU look like. Don't use Mickey Mouse, unless of course you ARE Mickey Mouse.

  • Write a profile -- great if you know some basic html as I use it too! I hate to see the default profile--humor me!

  • Please take some time to join SquidU and participate in the Lensmaster Lounge. Introduce yourself and your new lens(es).

  • Become a fan of mine or other lensmasters whose lenses you like!

  • Favorite lenses that you like!

  • Be ORIGINAL!

PROTOCOL :: Get acquainted with Squidoo! 

Check out all the resources to get your bearings ...

Squidoo Just the FAQ
A great overview of the frequently asked questions about Squidoo and Squidooing. This is a MUST READ for all lensmasters -- new and existing.
SquidU
  • SquidU is rather like the Squid University -- The Squidoo Answer Deck with helpful how to's for publishing lenses, moderating groups, supporting charities, and promoting it all.
  • The Lensmaster Lounge where you can join the fray to show off your lenses and learn some stuff along the way.
  • SquidU Review is the SquidU Blog with some very helpful tips!
Squidoo Terms of Service
FYI, be sure to check out the TOS as these may be updated with NEW terms ... By using Squidoo.com's platform and community forums, you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions ("Terms of Service").
Squidoo Recommended Downloads
Get your Squidoo buttons, ebooks, Google and Firefox plugins, and the TypePad blogging widget.
Everyone is an Expert
Download and read this free ebook!
Firefox Web Browser
Recommended browser for Squidoo is Firefox.
Charities Signup
Information if you are a nonprofit charity and want to sign up. We'd like to help you raise money, drive traffic to your website, and spread your story. For free.

SquidBlog :: The Daily Fix from Squidoo 

Pick up tips and tricks directly from Squidoo!

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

How to create a lens? Try these wizards!

LensBuilder
MagicBuilder
QuickBuilder

Creating Your Lens :: LensBuilder

Create that BASIC Squidoo lens!

Step 1: What's your "lens about?

Step 2: What's your goal for your page?

Step 3: Create a Title and URL

Step 4: Tag your page so people can find it!

Creating Your Lens :: MagicBuilder

Get started with MagicBuilder.

MagicBuilder -- Step 1: Just the basics ...

MagicBuilder -- Step 2: Pick a special template ... 

A closer look at the many TEMPLATES

Powered by Flickr

MagicBuilder -- Step 2b: Add your content ...

MagicBuilder -- Step 3: Claim your page ...

Creating Your Lens :: QuickBuilder

It's quick and easy with QuickBuilder.

QuickBuilder -- Title your lens, set your lens URL, pick your category ...

QuickPick your lens modules in QuickBuilder

Creating Your Lens :: A Closer View

* When creating a SquidBoo lens.

Creating that SquidBoo Lens -- Step 1

Creating that SquidBoo Lens -- Step 2

Creating that SquidBoo Lens -- Step 3

Creating a Squidoo Food Lens -- Pick a Food Template

Start a HMB lens!

Start an Ink City Tattoo Enthusiast Lens !

Start a PhotoPhight Lens!

Start a SquidBids Lens!

Start a SquidBoo! Lens!

Start a SquidFlix Lens!

Start a SquidKnol Lens!

Start a SquidLit Lens!

Start a SquidVids lens!

Start a SquidWho lens!

Start a TwttrStrm lens! 

Something new and very cool

With this new template, you can pose a question to all your cool Twitter followers. This template will pull their answers in one module. The possibilities are endless -- ask whatever you want to know.

Start 'The Ever Project' Lens!

Pick a CATEGORY

Pick the right LENS TOPIC / CATEGORY -- They've been expanded to include more topics!

Expanding Your Lens Publishing Power 

A Squidoo How-To From a Mega Giant Squid

featured lens Expanding Your Lens Publishing Power -- How-to Squidoo

Hello Lensmasters! I have prepared this special Squidoo how-to lens just for you! This lens gives you step-by-step directions from a squidoo addict who has experienced over three years on Squidoo to become a GIANT Squid 100 Club Member having authore...

Importance of Tags

Check out the various Tag clouds.

Play around with your tags! Try different primary tags! Be sure to use the RIGHT tags for each lens -- you get up to 40!

HOT Tags

RECENT Tags

ALL-TIME MOST POPULAR Tags

My FAVORITE Modules & Tips

Spice up that lens!

This is the Table of Contents module! 

Below are some favorite modules and tips of mine ...

TIP: Place a table of contents module in your lens to use creatively to highlight sections of your lens such as I've done here. I simply put a CHECK in the boxes of those module to EXCLUDE from the table of contents.

Use one or two TOCs to organize your lens and create better flow!

This is the TOC module in workshop view!

This is the Text module showing indented text 

Sometimes I want to use the indent feature in my Introduction module so that my opening paragraph doesn't wrap around the picture, but is indented like this paragraph.



I use this code to create the indent--minus the extra spaces when using the > and <.

< p style="margin-left:128px;" >The text to be indented.< /p >

This is the Polaroid module -- one of my favorites!

This is the Text module with a framed box 

While there is another module entitled The Most Important Thing, that frame is a bit thicker than this frame.



I use this code to create the frame--minus the extra spaces when using the > and <.

< p style="border: 2px solid #c60; padding: 16px" >The text to be inside the frame.< /p >

This is the Blackbox module!

Use to create

AN IMPACT!

Colors Available:
Black
Blue
Light Blue
Green
Gray
Orange
Red

Use it to highlight an upcoming date or two throughout your lens to make an impact!

(My 3 years on Squidoo is March 21, 2009)

This is the Amazon module -- make royalties selling stuff! 

The Squidoo King :: Seth Godin and his books!

Around these parts, Seth Godin is royalty!
Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing out of Sync?
Meatball Sundae: Is Your...
Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable
Purple Cow: Transform You...
Permission Marketing : Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers
Permission Marketing : Tu...
Small Is the New Big: and 183 Other Riffs, Rants, and Remarkable Business Ideas
Small Is the New Big: and...
All Marketers Are Liars: The Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low-Trust World
All Marketers Are Liars:...

This is the Text module -- sell Amazon stuff! 

sell stuff and make money as an Amazon Associate

  • Easy to read:  Revolutionary 6" diagonal E-Ink® electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.

  • Display: 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi, 4-level gray scale.

  • Portable Size: 7.5" x 5.3" x 0.7"

  • Lightweight and thin:  Weighs only 10.3 ounces -- Lighter and thinner than a paperback.

  • Capacity:  Holds over 200 titles.

  • Reduced Price: $359.00 include free two-day shipping from Amazon.com.

Buy: Kindle Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device

This is the Text module -- sell Amazon stuff w/SquidUtils buttons! 

Our favorite GADGETS of all-time!


Kindle:
Amazon's Wireless Reading Device


Apple 8 GB iPod nano Pink
(3rd Generation)


Apple iPod nano 8 GB Green
(3rd Generation)

This is the eBay module -- make more royalties selling stuff!  

Woot! Seth Godin Action Figure!!!

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

PUBLISH that lens!

What you see the first time you publish!

What you see when you update & publish!

Play by the RULES :: Don't get LOCKED!

Loading Workshop to edit a lens!

Tips from a Giant Squid and Retired Squid Angel

Tips from a Giant Squid and member of the Giant Squid 100 Club 

Jaguar Julie is the 2008 Giant Squid of the Year

featured lens I AM a Member of The Giant Squid 100 Club

Yes, you too can be a Giant Squid on Squidoo. When the call went out to us lensmasters here on Squidoo, the challenge was to create 100 interesting and topical lenses in order to earn the honor of being a Giant Squid. I do believe a few lensmasters,...

Tips from a Retired Squid Angel 

Yes, I was a Squid Angel too for six months ...

featured lens Squid Angel -- Blessings to YOU!

This is the first instance on Squidoo that I've actually written about my Catholic upbringing in Cleveland, Ohio, and what an impact it had on my spiritual being. You see, it was the nuns and priests that I encountered in elementary and grade school...

Announce your lens to the WORLD!

Join a Group
Sign Guestbooks
Add as a Featured Lens
Lensroll to other Lenses
Send a Squidcast

Check out the Groups -- Join one or start one!

Check out the HOT Groups -- The Most Active, Movers & Shakers, and Hot Off the Presses!

Sign Lens Guestbook! No SPAMMING!

Write a Squidcast for your new lens!

Send Squidcast & Check Other Squidcasts from Dashboard!

6 Steps to More Traffic :: Check your Dashboard!

Squidoo Traffic Generators 

Some of the essentials you should be using ...

First and foremost, learn how to use each of these traffic generators wisely. The key is to first become a member and a PARTICIPANT. Secondly, do not spam and be honest about your likes and dislikes.



Lensroll: You'll want to click on this option that is available on each lens and CAREFULLY select those lenses of yours you want the lens to appear. Pick those that are related. You can also lensroll another lensmaster's lens to yours. Sharing the love, if you will!

  • Del.icio.us : Del.icio.us is a great bookmarking service. You'll find a Del.icio.us button on every Squidoo lens.

  • digg.com : Members share what they dig; the best of the net. You'll find a digg.com button on every Squidoo lens. Be a participant in digging those lenses by other lensmasters that also interest you. Quality digs can result in others on the internet picking up on your posts and generating traffic to your lenses.

  • Facebook.com : Once you have created your account and are logged in, search for groups on a relevant topic. Join the groups which you have an interest in. After joining those groups, add your link to the group page. If this option is not available, you can start a discussion and ask a question using a link to your Squidoo lens.

  • Stumbleupon.com : There is a Stumbleupon button on each Squidoo lens. You can also add Stumbleupon to your browser toolbar. Once a member, you can rate lenses with a thumbs up or thumbs down [just like a Squid Angel], add keywords, and leave your comment.

  • Twitter.com : Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? Once you have established yourself as a participant in this community, then from time to time, you can add links to your Squidoo lenses.

Submit URL: Getting your Squidoo lens noticed 

featured lens Submit URL: Squidoo Lens Promotion

On this page, you'll find some links to places you can submit your Squidoo lenses to so that you can get more web traffic to your lens. Google is usually the main source of traffic to my lenses, but to rank well in Google takes other websites linkin...

Lensmaster Tools and Utilities 

P.S. I personally LOVE SquidUtils!

Let's keep that amongst ourselves now ... I don't what thefluffanutta getting a big head. ;-)
featured lens Lensmaster Tools and Utilities

SQUIDUtils.com Utilities and Tools for the Expert Lensmaster SquidUtils is the place to find complementry utilities and tools for your Lenses on Squidoo. Here you can see all of your lenses and groups, with shortcuts to some of the most vital funct...

Check your lens' Stats on your dashboard!

Get tight with your Dashboard -- Explore all your tabs & data!

Giant Squids Get Special Perks!

"Hey there, Giant Squid! Make an Answer Deck lens"
*** OR ***
Use your personal template!

Giant Squids :: Build an Answer Deck Special Lens

Jaguar Julie's Template in Workshop view

Jaguar Julie's Template in Published view

Using Jaguar Julie's Template :: A trilogy of 'like' cat lenses 

These would benefit from use of the TEMPLATE!

featured lens Precious the Cat -- Country Club Cat

"Hello, my name is Precious the Cat and I am the most POLITE cat in Jaguar Julie's household. You may have already met Bandit who thinks he's the most discriminating cat in the house, but that's a guy for ya! He's got no manners, what with all the ba...

featured lens Tigger the Cat -- Country Club Cat

"Hi, my name is Tigger the Cat and I am the youngest and most spunky of all the country club cats in Jaguar Julie's household! You've probably already met Bandit and Precious -- they've been around a while and are OK for the most part for older cats!...

featured lens Bandit the Cat -- Country Club Cat

"Yes, my name is Bandit the Cat and I am the most discriminating cat in Jaguar Julie's household. I've recently not been quite myself as you see Jaguar Julie took over the management of a colony of feral cats. I'm particularly peeved that she's not...

Expanding Your Lens Publishing Power :: A Squidoo How-To From a Mega Giant Squid 

How to work with your template to make more lenses ...

featured lens Expanding Your Lens Publishing Power -- How-to Squidoo

Hello Lensmasters! I have prepared this special Squidoo how-to lens just for you! This lens gives you step-by-step directions from a squidoo addict who has experienced over three years on Squidoo to become a GIANT Squid 100 Club Member having authore...

Some basic tips for getting started with your lens 

Common newbie Squidoo mistakes ...

featured lens Common Newbie Squidoo Mistakes

Making a Squidoo lens is easy. Making a good Squidoo lens, well, that's another story. A lot of Squidoo newbies ask veterans to critique their lenses, and most of these lenses are not nearly as good as they could be. (There are exceptions!) Hopefull...

CSS tips for lenses 

Favorite CSS tips ...

featured lens My Favourite CSS Tricks on Squidoo

The basic tools provided by Squidoo will do pretty much everything you need to get your content out to your audience. But sometimes you want to format it a little differently, and this is where inline CSS comes into play. Here I show some of the tric...

HTML for Squidoo lenses ... 

Magicality and Glen aka N376 have a couple of popular how-to's!

featured lens Simple HTML tricks to use with Squidoo

Squidoo has a nice editor for your lenses, but things can be improved. This lens will show you some simple tricks to include more than possible with simply using the editor. These tricks should be used in modules like the link list, or the write modu...

featured lens Advanced HTML for Squidoo

The techniques shown here aren't much more advanced then what's in the Basic HTML tutorial. The code being used isn't any more special. But the results and presentation can appear to be more sophisticated. Hence it being the Advanced HTML tutorial. F...

featured lens HTML Tips for Color

Color can be applied via HTML tags to fonts, borders and backgrounds. squidoo.com/basichtml and squidoo.com/advancedhtml show how to implement these colors. This lens however isn't going to show how the code is applied, but is a repository for the...

featured lens HTML at Squidoo

Yes, you can use HTML in modules in your lenses. No, you can't use it exactly the same way as you would a normal webpage. And these recommended lenses will show you how to do it.

featured lens Basic HTML for Squidoo

You can use basic HTML in a few of the lens modules. Mostly used to create hyperlinks (they are the "live links" to other sites). Though there are also other uses for HTML. If you find yourself in need of quick tutorial on how to do it, her...

Helpful Squidoo Links 

Squidoo PEOPLE
More about the people behind SQUIDOO -- Just in case you didn't already know!!!
Squidoo Feedback
Squidoo relies on the community of lensmasters and fans and readers to make great pages, share their best recommendations, and also to help keep the site working the way you expect it to. Share your feedback, suggestions, problems.
Squidoo Groups
Browse the numerous groups, maybe create your own group!
Squidoo Report Spam
Jaguar Julie and Squidoo have a Zero Tolerance policy against spam. We don't stand for it -- report it!

The buzz on Squidoo 

How You Can Use Squidoo To Build Your Offline Business
Squidoo.com is a thriving and very inovative social networking site. If you haven't at least visited it you really must. Seth Godin is the founder and he ...
7 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Blog With Squidoo
Although there are many methods you can use, Squidoo is one of the best and fastest growing sites you can use to drive massive traffic to your blog, ...
5 Keys to Attracting Your Target Market With Squidoo
Squidoo is a great place where you can do this easily. Here are five keys to using Squidoo to attract your target market. 1. Create a lens for each specific ...
Announcing the 2009 Bipolar Lives Scholarship Winner
"The prize money has been increased, and submissions must be in the form of a Squidoo Lens or an original Internet article." (Squidoo.com is a social media ...
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Drop me a line ... 

Are you new to Squidoo and just getting started? Or, are you a veteran Squidoo lensmaster? Hey, we were all at square one in the beginning -- let's give a shout out for the power of Squidoo!

Are you a Squidoo lensmaster with a lens to be featured here? Let me know so that I can check it out!

Lensmaster

alteredkat wrote...

I haven't really expanded my template experience...I tend to stick with what I know...which is the basic squidoo template...I need to venture out and try a squidlit or a monkey brain :o)

Great info here for me to consider...thanks, I found it informative!

ReplyPosted June 18, 2009

Lensmaster

chass071775 wrote...

I wish I could have seen this lens first, I look at lots of lenses for help everyday and so far this is the best. This lens has just about everything a newbie needs. I found my Squidoo badge. Thanks for such a great lens.

ReplyPosted June 13, 2009

 
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A special lens on Squidoo King, Seth Godin! 

Learn more about the person behind Squidoo ...

featured lens The Squidoo King

You know, I was actually just thinking about Seth Godin the other day.  No fooling, really!!!  You see, I realize he's the mastermind behind Squidoo.  But, I was just thinking about how curious it is that I've been bitten by...

Originally titled 'Squidoo for Dummies' ... 

But, this lens has been renamed ...

This how-to lens was originally titled Squidoo for Dummies; however, this special 'how to' lens has been renamed to show my support for the grassroots effort to rename all those 'for DUMMIES' books.

No more dummies

This lens was originally named "Squidoo for Dummies" but has been renamed in support of the grassroots effort to rename all those 'for DUMMIES' books.

Choose Your Favorite Giant Lens Contest -- October 10, 2008 

Featured in the Giant Squid Community Showcase

On October 10, 2008, this lens was selected as the spotlight lens in the Choose Your Favorite Giant Lens Contest. As the spotlight lens, it was the post of the day in The Giant Squid Community Showcase. 

This showcase features some of the very best lenses made by Squidoo's elite group of lensmasters, The Giant Squids.

Thanks bdkz, GypsyPirate, and rms for thinking of this lens!


About the Author, JaguarJulie 

A Veteran Lensmaster Since 3/21/06

Lensmaster JaguarJulie, aka JaguarJulie , has been a member since March 21 2006, has rated 4,266 lenses, favorited 397, and has created 449 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Stuffed Cabbage *". See all my lenses

Creative Commons License 

Do Squidoo, But Don't Plagiarize ...

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.


Plagiarism is the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work ... it is just NOT cool so don't do it!

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