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Squidoo Induction

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Tips on how to Squidoo

Learning how to Squidoo can be very daunting, but Squidoo Induction is here to help ease you into Squidoo and give you some places to start your Squidoo journey. But just where do you start?

The sheer number of lens modules available to you, as you make your first Squidoo lenses, can be daunting and not only do you have so many modules to choose from, it is learning how to use them for the best effect. Just a few simple HTML tricks can convert a basic text module into something pretty unique. But if you have never used HTML then where can you learn?

What about networking? Which are the best groups?

What about blogging and writing articles to promote your lenses? Where are the best sites?

What are the do's and dont's on Squidoo? How do you avoid losing friends before you have made them?

These are the questions that were whizzing around in my mind when I first joined Squidoo on 10 July 2008 (Seth Godin's birthday - how cool is that?)

Fortunately, there was a lens that would answer practically every question I had and if I could not find the answer, there was always a Lensmaster willing to help in the SquidU Forum. But it took me weeks and months to find them and learn from them. This lens is your shortcut introduction to Squidoo and a collection of the best lenses (in my view) to take you through your Squidoo Induction and start you off on a wonderful journey.

Enjoy Squidoo!

Stop! Read the Squidoo TOS

It will save you a lot of grief!

Stop! Before you publish your first lens, heck before you even decide on the topic for your first lens, go and check out the Squidoo Terms of Service. It is here that you will find out which topics are not allowed on Squidoo.

Squiddont and Squidspam

Helping you stay on track on Squidoo

This lens is essential reading for the new Squidoo Lensmaster but also a good refresher for the more experienced Lensmaster
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Want to write?

Not sure HOW to write?

Do you know how to write original content? This lens by Lakeeriesartists goes through the process on how to do just that and why you should do it.
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Making your first ever Squidoo lens

So many modules to choose from

GreekGeekAny Squidoo lens by Greekgeek is worth checking out - well any lens by Greekgeek is worth a visit - but for now we will stick to the Squidoo tips lenses ☺

Greekgeek has a very useful Squidoo Modules list and tells you about her favourites in a brilliantly set out lens that also demonstrates how to use HTML effectively and gives links to other great Squidoo Tips lenses.

See below for how you can check the HTML used on any page

Squidoo Modules List

Helpful Squidoo tips from GreekGeek

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Tip: Check Page Source to see HTML

A great source for HTML

How to check the page source?

Firefox
In the top menu, go to view
Click Page Source
Voila!

Internet Explorer
In the Page menu on the right,
(just above the browser screen)
Click View Source
Voila!

More HTML help

Borders, backgrounds and more

SojournHow did I make the orange border in the text module above? HTML.

Sojourn has a lens I use so much, that I have a shortcut on my desktop! Sojourn makes it easy to use HTML. All you have to do is copy and paste the HTML into your own lenses - and if you want different colours then it is easy to change the color code to whatever you want.

HTML borders and backgrounds

Probably the lens I visit most on Squidoo!

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Ener-G, the former Modules Mentor

More help with Squidoo lens modules

Ener-GEner-G has also published a very helpful lens about Modules and is on hand to answer any questions you may have.

There's also links to a whole heap of Squidoo help lenses!

More help with Lens Modules

From the former Module Mentor, Ener-G

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Personal branding

What impression are you going to give of YOU?

OK, so you are thinking about creating a great lens. But what about you? Time to think about the impression that you give.

People join Squidoo for many reasons including:

** they want to write

** they want to help people

** they want to promote their websites, blogs etc

** they want to sell

** they want to do all of the above

If you want people to believe in you to the extent that they want to:

** read what you have to say

** take the advice you give

** visit your websites, blogs etc

** buy the products you recommend

** all of the above

then you need to gain their trust and the only way to do this is gradually and behaving ethically.

Some great lensmaking advice from GrowWear

The best Squidoo Lens not to make

MiMi GrowWearThis must be one of my most favourite Squidoo lenses! I love the humour but there is a VERY serious message here. The fact that you are reading this lens and you have got this far probably means that the advice GrowWear (aka MiMi) gives will not ever apply to you. But just stop and think, just for a minute . . . .

Sometimes the need to earn money can overcome our common sense. We are broke, we have a family to care for, but trying to make money online is not the sort of thing that happens overnight. We can be tempted to cut corners. Well don't, not on Squidoo anyway. It does not work!

Top Squidoo Tip from MiMi

Do NOT make this lens at home!

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So you have decided on the topic for your first lens

Now what?

10-Finity Squidoo Step by Step GuidebookYou need the free instantly downloadable Squidoo Step by Step Guidebook. There's no strings attached, no signups, just a free Guidebook to take you through the process of researching keywords and promoting your lenses.

The Squidoo Step By Step Guidebook was co-authored by 10 Lensmasters who grouped togther to form 10-Finity. The Guidebook contains some great information about making and promoting lenses and there's also a link to join a group called Professional Squids, where you will get more free help.

The Squidoo Step by Step Guidebook

Free download

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Keyword Research

Step by Step Guide: How to Research Keywords

AJ and how to research keywordsThe Squidoo Step by Step Guidebook gives some great info on Keyword Research and How to Research Keywords goes into more detail on how to use the free Google Keyword Research Tool.

There's screenshots and search results showing how I researched the keywords for a new recipe lens.

Keyword Research

Step by Step Keyword Research

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Advanced Keyword Research

Next steps: Market Samurai

Market Samurai

Market Samurai is a complete Keyword Software package, that I am just getting to grips with.

There is a two week free trial, but even if you decide not to buy the complete package, you will still be left with an awesome keyword research tool.

Tip: use Notepad when building HTML

Keep a copy of your HTML

Tip: use Notepad when making your lenses

When you are making a lens, open up Notepad, or another text editor and either copy the HTML you are using, or use it to build your HTML. There's nothing worse than spending time building HTML, only to lose it, if there is a problem in your Text module.

Sometimes the HTML you have spent a long time working out will be deleted if there is an error.

You can also keep this file to refer back to more easily if you want to use the same HTML on other lenses.

Keyword research is part of SEO

What is SEO?

SpiritualitySearch Engine Optimization is something you need to get good at if you want your lenses found by Google and Spirituality (Katinka) is another Lensmaster I recommend you check out. Katinka publishes her Squidoo tips lenses separately to her Spiritual lenses under the name Squidoohelp.

Katinka's Squidoo Answer Deck

Lots of Squidoo tips

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SQUIDOO TOOLS I USE ALL THE TIME!

SquidUtils from thefluffanutta

I use these tools all the time

thefluffanuttaThe fluffanutta has published Squidoo add-ons that make lensmaking a lot easier and these are some of the tools I would not be without.

"Fluff's" top 100 rated lensmasters list is populated by lensmasters who you will come across time and time again if you are active in the Squidoo Community. Check out their lenses and see how they make lenses that rank consistently high in the Squidoo rankings.

Obviously the more lenses you make, the easier it is to rank in this list, but you will note that not all the lensmasters on here have hundreds opf lenses - they are there because they consistently get "likes" from their fellow lensmasters and ain't it nice to be appreciated by your peers!

Lensmaster tools from thefluffanutta

Check out SquidUtils

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Text formatting toolbar for Squidoo Lenses

jeffryv's handy toolbar

jeffryvjeffryv has put together a brilliant text formatting toolbar that helps with formatting and HTML on your Squidoo lenses. I use it all the time!

Text formatting toolbar

A briiliant Squidoo tool

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NETWORKING ON SQUIDOO

Squid Etiquette

How to make friends on Squidoo

AJ is Always JugglingSo you have read the Squidoo TOS (haven't you?) and now you are clear about what topics you should not attempt to publish on Squidoo. You are learning new stuff every day, you have published a lens or two and now you want to get the word out. Time to start networking.

STOP! (again)

Check out the etiquette on this Squidoo Lens of the Day, to make sure you don't lose friends before you have made them.

Squid Etiquette

The do's and don'ts on Squidoo

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There's lots of Squidoo related groups and blogging platforms
on Squidoo and here is a list
to get you started

Networking on Squidoo

Places to network with other Squidoo Lensmasters

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More Squidoo tips

Squidlog

Squidoo tips. How to get quality backlinks, how to research keywords, SEO and a whole lot more!
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Helpful people on Squidoo

Angels, Organisers and more

Other people to check out on Squidoo:

** Squidoo Angels

** Giant Squid Organisers rms (Robin) and bdkz (Bonnie)

** Squidoo Community Organiser, Kimberly Dawn Wells

Squidoo Community

Squidoo staff and volunteers

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More free Squidoo Tips

Instant downloads for Official Squidoo Guidebooks

Official Squidoo Guidebooks
Calamari: The Offical Squidoo How to
Written by Megan Casey and Seth Godin, original squids
The Joy of Squidoo
Full of tasty recipes about how to make Squidoo "lenses." Lots of inspiration for newbies and pros alike

Squidoo Tips

More about Squidoo

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About AJ

AJ is Always Juggling

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aj2008

Squidoo Induction will help you learn How to Squidoo! more »

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