If you want to become popular on squidoo...
Ranked #1,004 in Squidoo Community, #104,466 overall | Donates to Inner-City Scholarship Fund
Squidoo as a popularity contest
In some ways squidoo is like a popularity contest. I've done pretty well here with as I write more than 760 fans (over 1000 on my spirituality account at the moment Squidoo stopped counting fans). So I feel qualified to write this lens about the subject.
BTW - the graphics on this lens are a mix of the 2009 and the 2010 squidoo - squids AND monsters...
I created this lens in 2008 when lens ratings had the potential to get your lens into top tier. Because the top lenses get so much traffic, this is no longer common, though a decent traffic lens can still get second or even first tier payouts because it's ALSO popular enough to get a lot of ratings at once.
In other words, especially now that the option to squidcast is gone and we no longer have fanclubs, Squidoo isn't as much a popularity contest any more.
On the other hand: with those options gone, people will be looking at who squidliked their lenses more, so squidliking other people's (best) lenses has become more important as a method of becoming popular.
Monsters come to squidoo town
September 2010
Since I started this lens, we've seen some changes on Squidoo, but the biggest change yet turned Squidoo into more than a popularity contest... it's now a bit like a popularity game.
Things that made a person more popular before, are now likely to REALLY help make you more popular. There's a point system in place, and full transparency. We can now see who has squidliked (aka thumbed up) our lenses. We earn points by commenting, but also by having comments on our lenses. We earn points by squidliking lenses, but also by getting lenses squidliked.
Everything's in place for a 'you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours' bananza.
It used to be that only commenting on a lens was visible to the owner of it. Now I can see who commented, but forgot to squidlike. I can see who squidliked, but did not comment. Squidliking has become economics - of sorts. The reward does not translate into money though. It translates into privileges. Privileges like using certain themes on lenses, doing a 'quest', having certain monster badges on your profile.
It's a bit weird, and I'm not quite used to it yet. I do know though that it seems like Squidoo is stimulating us to become more popular, to do more to get people to interact on our lenses, to rate other people's lenses. It will be interesting to see how this changes the game.
Ultimately though: creating great lenses is the only way forward on Squidoo. After all - even with incentives like this, this is a site devoted to creating lenses, articles, webpages - whether for fun, for profit or for starting a debate.
What you need to do to become popular on squidoo
Please add your own tips on becoming popular. Of course you don't need ALL of these to become popular. But each helps.
Make great lenses
This really helps. People love seeing, voting on a more...63 points
Use the discovery tool to promote your friends
Lensmasters who Google themselves just might stumb more...9 points
Have a links plexo on your most popular lenses
People LOVE to leave their links.7 points
Be open minded
Go in to lenses with an open mind and if you learn more...7 points
Get an email signature setup within squidoo
By clicking on your profile within squidu. Have it more...5 points
Be helpful on the forums = be helpful on squidu
Unfortunately changes in my personal life, and in the way squidu is managed, have made me decide to stop answering questions on that forum. I'm also too busy to answer questions elsewhere.I am available for consulting though, but that doesn't come cheap. For $99 you get a month of asking whatever questions you want and advice on your SEO strategy, link building, optimizing your blog etc. SEO consult online publishing.
If you aren't willing to pay up, you'll have to be content to stay updated on my Marketing Spiritual Blog where I am also willing to answer any questions related to the posts. It also contains a free ebook.
I'm active on twitter and facebook.
Make great lenses
Here are some lenses that will help you do just that, though the quality content is what you have to provide yourself.
Write well - whether it's lenses, squidcasts or blogposts
- Use proper titles
- Explain why it's interesting
- DO use emotion, but have a clear message as well
Why you want to be popular on squidoo
Popular lensmasters get their lenses featured on other lenses more
You've got to love that extra backlink30 points
Popular lensmasters get more votes on their lenses
More votes = higher lensrank23 points
Popularity brings readers...
...and readers equals conversation. I love creatin more...16 points
To get a positive message out
To the people on squidoo and to the world.15 points
To reach like-minded individuals so as to unite for a good cause
There is such a need out there to educate people a more...3 points
Have a guestbook on each lens
We all want to see our face on your lenses when we vote. We want to know that you know who squidliked. Even with the new system where we can see exactly who squidliked our lenses, we still like to have someone tell us, in words, how much they appreciated our hard work. Yes - other lensmasters want to be popular too - so give us the illusion we can be and put up that guestbook.
Shown here is the 'comment ninja' badge for your profile. You get it for having at least a hundred comments on your lenses (or is it on one lens only? Wondering why I don't have this one as I'm sure I have more than a hundred comments on my lenses combined).
Anyhow - without guestbooks and duel modules, this badge is forever beyond your reach.
Some of the most popular lenses on squidoo
I've closed this plexo, because it's getting too long. These 100 lenses are a good indication of what kind of lenses really become popular: they are well made, often personal, usually inspiring and in many cases give back to the squidoo community.
You can still vote for your favorites of course...
Spiritual Quotes and Wisdom Sayings
This lens has links to websites and books with wis more...6 points
Wisdom Quotes: The Wisest Quotes Ever
Wise people - wise sayings. I've gathered together more...5 points
HTML, CSS Backgrounds on Squidoo
I am constantly striving to beautify my lenses. Ju more...5 points
Teach Children Character
Instilling character in our children is essential more...4 points
Tip Is...I Believe in Angels
There are 'Angels Among Us'! I am sharing some Ang more...4 points
Squidoo CSS - my favorite code to spice up a lens
I've gathered my favorite Squidoo-code for later r more...3 points
Arrowsmith Printing: Entreprenuership in Small Town Iowa in Mid /Century
In 1948 Fritz and Marjorie Arrowsmith took their 2 more...3 points
My Quest to Become a Loser (Weight Loss)
There is nothing fun about dieting. Some people ar more...3 points
Pregnant Over 40?
Old, middle age, one foot in the grave, half dead, more...3 points
T-shirts on Zazzle
The American T-Shirt began during WWI when America more...3 points
SEO for squidoo - getting found in google: search engine optimization
SEO - search engine optimization - has many differ more...2 points
Origami without the Paper
This is the question I often have asked myself as more...2 points
Aum, the sacred Indian mantra ; Om, Ohm - meditating unity
Who doesn't know the Indian mantra 'aum' - and use more...1 point
Your FREE Healthy Habits Motivational Guide
Get an expert Healthy Habits Motivational Guide FR more...1 point
Essential Oil Diffusers
Why is it good to diffuse when trying to do aromat more...1 point
The NEGATIVE consequences of becoming popular
- Popular squids are more likely to get their lenses voted with only one star (no longer relevant, since summer 2010)
- You have to try and keep that popularity up.
- You will be judged by higher standards
- You may get hatemail, because when you say something controversial, it WILL be noticed
More on becoming popular
- Dalmatian finds spot in Westminster top 7, joined by Pekingese, German ...
- NEW YORK ? More than 101 Dalmatians have tried to become America's most prized pooch. More than a thousand, probably. And they've all ended up in the Westminster Kennel Club dog house. That could change Tuesday night when a sprightly package of polka ...
- Food + Wine Festival Palm Desert March 23-25, 2012 Features Popular Food ...
- A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Davie has since become a popular TV personality and has appeared in numerous Food Network shows including winning the title of one of its most popular shows, Top Iron Chef.
- Top songs for love and hate on Facebook
- Facebook has become the de facto online platform for couples to declare their love (?in a relationship,? ?engaged?) or their breakup (?single,? ?it's complicated?). Now, just in time for Valentine's Day, Facebook data scientists have linked how playing ...
- The 10 best things about being a Reds fan
- And gray-haired Pete Rose was too busy learning what three-team parlays were in his final years as a player to be a very good hitter) How good is he? Last year Joey ranked in the top nine in six major offensive categories (batting average, RBI, runs, ...
Create a lens (or more than one) which features other lenses
Certainly anyone aspiring to be a giant squid should have one or several of these under their belt. It's easy, it's fun - and you are giving something back to the community.
And you know how it is: those who give will receive. Do unto others as you would have them to unto you - etc.
Oh - and in order to become popular (the subject of this lens after all) : do let people know you are featuring their lens!. Don't forget now :)
Shown here is the giant squid top 100 club member badge - wow that was a mouthful. Anyhow, it's a badge for lensmasters who've made at least 100 quality lenses.
Add your lenses devoted to lenses by others :)
This is the moment you get something in return for making great lenses about other people's lenses: this links plexo is just for you.
No groups please.
1
Lensographies I Like
This is a list of the Lensographies I like. Think more...5 points
2
HTML Text and Image Squidoo Tips
I am constantly working on improving my lenses to more...4 points
3
Zimbio and Squidoo
I just made this great cover over at zimbio. It is more...3 points
4
Squidoo Gets Personal
We have so many amazing, insightful, and inspiring more...2 points
5
Great Squidoo Groups Lensography
This lens was started because I just got tired of more...2 points
6
My Favorite Lenses
Just another coal on the fire of awesomeness that more...2 points
7
Thanks for the help
There is so much good advice about lensmaking to b more...2 points
9
Squidoo Soup For The Dog Lover's Soul
There is a special relationship between dog and hu more...2 points
10
50 Inspiring Women Squidettes on Squidoo
Squidettes have the power and the ability to achie more...2 points
11
Fresh Squid Contest Winners
Here you can find winning lenses from all past Fre more...2 points
12
Vegetarian Recipes
Many people who find out I am a vegetarian often a more...2 points
13
Diary of a Squid Angel (2009)
Newly minted Squid Angels are looking for the best more...2 points
14
The Environment Lensography
A lensography of the best lenses about pollution, more...1 point
15
The Funniest Squidoo Lensmasters
Squidoo lensmasters work hard to provide remarkabl more...1 point
16
Diary of a Squid Angel
In March, Squidoo HQ announced the selection of a more...1 point
17
What I Found While Giant Squid Hunting
Squidoo recently held a Giant Squid Treasure Hunt. more...1 point
18
the talk of squidoo
...reviewed content that has been found and is fea more...1 point
19
Squidoo Lenses That Made A Difference To Me
One of my favourite things to do on Squidoo is to more...1 point
20
Promote your Lens by adding your URL to a Link Plexo
You will all know that getting good quality backli more...1 point
21
Valentines Day Directory
Whatever your age - Whether you have children in s more...1 point
22
The Best Lenses on Squidoo that Never Made It
You've put in the time, you have the knowledge, th more...1 point
23
HTML, CSS Backgrounds on Squidoo
I am constantly striving to beautify my lenses. Ju more...1 point
24
Janusz a Squid Angel
Welcome to my Angel Lens :)I thought after bieng a more...1 point
25
Squid Newbie Survival Guide
Directory of great guide lenses for new squids.1 point
Now for... my least popular lenses
More Squidoo Help Lenses - squidoo answer deck etc.
Vote for your favorite squidoo answer deck lens (well, mine anyway)
squidoo css - my favorite code
I've gathered my favorite Squidoo-code for later r more...41 points
Lensrank explained (really)
Well, squidoo lensrank has, by common consensus, t more...38 points
SEO for squidoo - how to get google search traffic
SEO - search engine optimization - has many differ more...20 points
Advanced css for squidoo - spice up your lens MORE
My lens about css for squidoo often gets the quest more...15 points
Editing your squidoo lens - ideas
It's the last week of the month. To get your lense more...11 points
All Posters.Com the cutest affiliate program EVER
I do love this affiliate program. allPosters.com g more...11 points
How to do Keyword Research for squidoo
It is an under statement to say that keywords are more...10 points
Stumbleupon explained for lensmasters
Stumbleupon is great fun, and a tool for self-prom more...9 points
Squidoo money makers
This lens is meant to investigate what ways people more...9 points
If you want to become popular on squidoo...
In some ways squidoo is like a popularity contest. more...7 points
Would you rather have a squidangel blessing or a quality link?
Would you rather have a squidangel blessing or a q more...6 points
Cute modules to spice up your lens
Cute modules that will help your lens stand out. G more...5 points
The Introduction Module in Squidoo
Squidoo recently changed the Introduction module. more...5 points
Optimizing tags for squidoo
Tags are a great way for websites like squidoo to more...5 points
SEO traffic stats: ranking report for squidoo lenses
Someone asked me to make a lens about my traffic s more...5 points
10 tips to get found in Google
SEO = Search Engine Optimization. In practice SEO more...5 points
How to get found on Google - FAQ
Sorry people, I've become too busy to answer all y more...5 points
My Lenses Module on squidoo
My new favorite module is the My Lenses Module. No more...5 points
Human Forum Promotion
This lens is a list of tips for promoting your onl more...4 points
Google Blogsearch Module
I love to make a lens better by using google blog more...3 points
How to make a banner for your website or myspace
I make my own banners because I just don't want an more...3 points
Why did I suddenly lose google traffic?
I hear this question so often in the Squidoo forum more...2 points
So leave your feedback, opinions and stuff...

I may just look at your profile and vote for lenses that appeal to me... Or I may not.
-
Reply
-
annseo
Sep 27, 2011 @ 1:19 pm | delete
- Thank's for the information
-
-
Reply
-
zentao
Sep 24, 2011 @ 10:07 am | delete
- This is great. Some really good tips for gaining that elusive "internal to squidoo" traffic for me. PLus it is just nicer to have poeple like you! :)
-
-
Reply
-
Morgannafay
Sep 21, 2011 @ 2:41 am | delete
- I am guilty of squid liking without commenting sometimes. I don't know why, same for blog commenting, I sometimes get the feeling I'm barging in someones house saying "Whasss up!" LOL, it's irrational, because I know people love comments, I know I do. I'm getting better at it though.
-
-
Reply
-
BrandonSharp
Sep 12, 2011 @ 12:43 pm | delete
- As a rather new squid this lens is very helpful...thanks!
-
-
Reply
-
ramfir Sep 7, 2011 @ 7:18 pm | delete
- I think I'm going to spend my time on this lens just to check out the links. So many resources on one lens.
-
- Load More
More on squidoo by yours truly
Thanks for all your support!
- linking to any of my web projects
- voting on my lenses
- buying stuff from my lenses
- asking questions
- giving constructive feedback
- ... donating money :)
- and being generally supportive :) ;)
My squidoo accounts
Made by ... Katinka Hesselink
by squidoohelp
I've made a lot of lenses and a marketing blog to help you become a success on squidoo. I've even made my own Katinka's Squidoo Answer Deck - which is... more »
- 42 featured lenses
- Winner of 10 trophies!
- Top lens » SEO for squidoo - How to get google search engine traffic
- This lens »
Won purple star

Explore related pages
- Inspiring Dashboard messages in squidoo Inspiring Dashboard messages in squidoo
- Using the styles of the Squidoo themes Using the styles of the Squidoo themes
- How to become successful on squidoo How to become successful on squidoo
- Squidoo CSS - my favorite code to spice up a lens Squidoo CSS - my favorite code to spice up a lens
- Squidoo Page Themes - How To Select Theme Designs For Your Lenses Squidoo Page Themes - How To Select Theme Designs For Your Lenses
- Advanced css for squidoo - spice up your lens MORE Advanced css for squidoo - spice up your lens MORE