Squidoo Show and Tell Modules - How To Guide for Presenting Info and Links

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Hi! I wanted to help my fellow Squidoodlers by creating a lens that outlines some other ways to show links and hype lenses besides just setting up a link list. Oh sure, link lists are easy, useful and have their place, and text modules are the workhorse of any lens, but sometimes you just want something a little fancier to emphasize a point or draw attention to a single link, photo or element.

I looked through the modules (there's so many, it's hard to master them all) and brought out my favorites to help make your cool lenses even cooler.

Starting Off 

I'm starting off with a text module

b-b-b-but!

I know, I'll get to the cool stuff in a minute, but first I wanted to go over how to find modules in the first place, and impart some tips.

If you're already comfortable with this stuff, skip ahead a bit.

Otherwise, to add any module to your lens, you will have to click the Add Module button at the top.

When you create a new lens, you'll start with a few modules already, but you may not want those.

To delete modules, I just go to Add Modules. Why? You can delete them faster from the list there, and then add new ones you want, all in one place. Saved you some time there.

There are tabs in the Add Module window to add what you want, and there is also an A-Z tab and a module search. Familiarize yourself with what modules there are, because I'm just showing the tip of the iceberg.

Note: When looking at modules A to Z, some start with The, such as The Most Important Thing. This means it will be under T for The and not M for Most. Get used to what is where.

Once you've added the modules you want, click the preview lens layout button at the bottom to see the module order from top to bottom. Move them around to your liking. There is no right or wrong order, just what you want, but you should look for a good flow. Click the save button to go back to the edit page. Don't worry, you can add/delete/reorder again later.

Note: I added a little picture to the text module. You can do this by browsing for an image on My Computer, selecting it and clicking save.

ADD ALL TEXT FIRST, then save. THEN come back and add the picture. If you have not saved your text, when you save a picture it will not save the text. It's a two step process, folks.

(I believe this is no longer the case with the new workshop - Thanks, Squidoo!)

If you know HTML well, you can do a lot more to a simple Text/Write Module. Here's a link to a cool lens that shows you how to do more with your text module.

In the meantime, what else can we do with content, links and pictures?

We can take advantage of the other text modules: Text with BIG Picture and Text List.

Get the BIG Picture 

The Text with BIG Picture module is just like the Text Module, except that you can feature a bigger a picture with your text instead of a smaller picture. I know I'm blowing your mind, but consider the impact of a bigger pic.

The picture will take center stage in the module, letting your text support the picture, rather than the other way around.

Picture courtesy of Image Quest Marine

Using the Text List 

Reasons I love Squidoo

On the other hand, you might want to just rattle off some points and the Text List is a neat way to do that, giving your module a clean, ordered or bullet pointed list.

You can choose to number the points, use bullet points or simply list elements with no numbers or bullets.

Like with many modules with multiple elements, you can add additional elements and drag and reorder elements if you don't like the way you ordered them to start with. So much better than starting over.
  • Squidoo has lots of cool modules
  • Squidoo is easy to use
  • Squidoo is respected on the Internet
  • Squidoo listens to its users
  • Squidoo allows non-technical people to make websites fast

Fark.com RSS Feed 

Make Your Own RSS Feed!

Instead of linking to a site, try creating an RSS feed from it.

Simply enter the url you want to pull content from, enter the number of headlines, whether you want an excerpt from the site (recommended) and how often to update. (Daily is probably a good idea).

I suggest putting the name of the website you are feeding from into the module title, as I have done here.

Note: You can't create an RSS feed from lenses, BUT you can use each lens' built in RSS feed to list it. Sound confusing? Check the next RSS feed module to see what I mean.

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

Voila! A Squidoo Lens in an RSS Feed Module 

For any one of your lenses, view it, and on the right side you will see the RSS feed icon.

Click it and you will go to the RSS feed for that lens.

Copy the URL at the top, go back to the RSS feed module you wanted to insert the lens into and paste it into the URL.

Set your other options like before and save.

Unfortunately, this doesn't do much more than give you a fancy link, but it CAN be done.

The RSS feed module is really better for non-Squidoo sites.

One last thing...

Because your Squidoo Lens has its own RSS feed, which you now know how to access, you can submit your lens to any site where you would submit blogs or RSS feeds. Brilliant!

Loading Fetching RSS feed... please stand by

"I love the Talk Bubble! I can use it instead of a text module for quotes, highlights, anything!"

Using Featured Lenses to Spice Up Link Lists 

In this case more helpful lenses for linking and traffic

You could link to other lenses using the link list, or you could add some visual *pow* by "featuring" them. They might be lenses with similar topics, your friends lenses, or more of your own lenses .

You can link up to 5 lenses this way.

Use Featured Lensmasters to Promote Squidoodlers 

You may want to promote a Squidoodler who is a great inspiration, who is a Giant or Angel or one who just has great lenses.

You can also feature yourself, encouraging others to check out the rest of your lenses. (Yes, go see the rest of my lenses).

Got one defining picture for the site? Use the Polaroid Module.

Blackboxes

Not just for maintaining your flight records anymore, the black box is like the text module but big, beefy and well, black (with white text over the top).

You can also change the color to blue, green, gray, orange or red if black doesn't convey what you want.

I like to use it as a parting shot with a link. It really pops that way.

Squidoo Rocks!

Section Heading

More about Blackboxes 

Note that the section heading above is a blackbox (actually light blue). I like to add them to break up sections of content. Use them as a header, and then add content below them using Text or other modules.

Like the Blackbox, you can put in a little note that looks like a Post-It Note

This is good for a quick statement or a reminder and maybe a link like...

Squidoo Rocks!

The Most Important Thing

If there's one thing you REALLY want to emphasize, put it here.

Like the Blackbox, this makes for a great parting shot, too.

Big orange box, big text and a big link if you want to. I like doing it that way, but you can do anything you want.

Don't Forget - Squidoo Rocks!

Got Any Other Cool Link and Content Show and Tell Modules? 

If you have questions, or more tips, or just want to say hi, please do!

If you enjoyed this lens, please rate it at the top, favorite it on the side and gimme 5 down-low!

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by JHFSEO

I develop content for fun and for clients.

View my Lensography.



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