10 Things You Really Need To Know About Squidoo
It is a long time since I was a Squidoo Newbie but I can still remember how it felt. Exciting and scary. Exciting because Squidoo gives you such a brilliant platform to create wonderful things. Scary because I really had no clue what I was doing.
Now two years and over 200 lenses later it is just exciting.
I have learned many things along the way. A wonderful experience.
But as with all experiences there are some things which I really wish that I had known about Squidoo.
So here I set out for you the Top 10 things which I would tell my best friend if they asked me what is the basis for success on Squidoo.
Now two years and over 200 lenses later it is just exciting.
I have learned many things along the way. A wonderful experience.
But as with all experiences there are some things which I really wish that I had known about Squidoo.
So here I set out for you the Top 10 things which I would tell my best friend if they asked me what is the basis for success on Squidoo.
#1 There is A Slice of Squidoo For Everyone
I remember when I arrived on Squidoo I was intimidated by what was already here. That was 2 years ago and since that time Squidoo has become a very much bigger place so the Newbie must feel like a very small Squid in a very big sea.Of course I knew that I wanted to write about Disney World. I will always remember one particular lens which both intimidated and inspired me. My first reaction was 'Wow'. My second was "I can do so much with this".
I realized that Squidoo provides us all with a brilliant platform. To create something. To share information. And yes to make money. There is room for everyone who wants to be a part of it. And the cream really does rise and stay at the top.
That first lens that I saw? Disney World Photos
This wonderful lens has been in the Top Tier for as long as I can remember. Brilliantly written. Visually stunning. And written by Barrie who has a passion for Disney which shines through her lens.
So I realized. I can do my own thing and be inspired by the great lensmasters who are here and who continue to join Squidoo every day. And I can do all of this while having the freedom to be a work at home mom.
If you are just arriving on Squidoo or wondering how you can carve out your niche then remember that there really is a slice of the Squidoo Cake for everyone who is prepared to put in the time and effort to be a quality lensmaster.
#2 You Are Finished in 10 Seconds
You have 10 seconds to grab someones attention. Or they just leave. Probably never to be seen again.
So ask yourself two questions. Who is your target audience? If you were them why would you stay on your lens?Think about what your Squidoo lens really does for the reader. Does it keep them interested with a great story or information? Does it look good? Have you engaged their interest by grabbing their attention with a headline? Have you got their interest back with a great picture? Why should they stay on your lens when there are millions of other places they could go. Give them a reason to stay.
Great content. Make your lens look great. And give them something they trust. Not just 3 default modules trying to sell an Amazon product!
Quality does work. There is so much which is not good on the internet it is sometimes disheartening to think that you are just going to get lost amongst the noise. Keep going. The cream will eventually rise to the top.
#3 Squidoo Success Wasn't Built in a Day
Most of us have been taken in by a headline once in a while which promises a get rich quick solution. If only we buy yet another eBook then we will get the key to that one magical ingredient which will bring us untold riches. We are the instant gratification society. We want it now!Well Squidoo is not a get rich quick scheme. Did you really think it could be?
What I have found with Squidoo though is a way to build a great income online. Sure it takes work. But you don't mind that do you?
Squidoo for me is not about building one lens and suddenly everyone rushes to buy your Amazon product, your Zazzle creation or that brilliant eBook you just wrote. It is about building a business. Building a following. Build trust in your reader or they will just move on. Take some time. And the rewards will follow.
So don't be disappointed when your dashboard looks as though it is in serious need of an injection of cash. Keep going Persevere. Some months down the road you will see the picture changing. I did. I think my first payout was about $2.50. But I knew I could do it. I wanted to be one of those people who made a success of Squidoo. So I didn't give up. And now I am happy that I stuck around.
#4 Keywords Are Your Basic Ingredient
You may have heard this many times but still wonder if you can skip this part.Do your keyword research
A great lens is made up of many ingredients. Passion. Knowledge. Great Images. Captivating writing. Many things.
But it may just be a creation which very few people ever see because you haven't started out with your keyword research.
Is anyone looking for what you are writing about? Is there so much competition you are going to get lost in the crowd?
Keyword research doesn't have to be dull. And once you know the basics it is not difficult.
A long time ago I used to think that perhaps I could skip the keyword ingredient. Now I have learned that if you don't start with them in the mix your recipe really isn't going to turn out the way you wanted it to.
Want A Great Guide To Keyword Research?
Keyword research is an essential step for all lensmasters but I know that it can be daunting at first. This guide to how to find great keywords is a must.-
How-To Choose Great Google Keywords for Your Lens
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It's a question you hear a lot on the web. If it makes you throw your hands in the air and say "I've no idea what this means!!", then read on... I wrote this lens to help out anyone who is confused by choosing keywords for their Squidoo lenses. It's...
#5 Squidoo Lensrank Addiction
Should I check My Squidoo Lensrank 10 Times A Day?
We have all been there. Checking our lensrank position for the 10th time that day - and do you know what? It hasn't moved!Squidoo has a great lensrank system. We all love to speculate about what will get us to the top. What means the most? Traffic. Sales. Stars. Click outs. Time spent on your lens. Or just the position of the moon in relation to your lens?
We like lensrank. It is just so tempting to stop by and see where you are. What is my payout going to be? How am I doing?
I confess. I used to be a lensrank junkie. But I think I am cured. Almost. Yes I like to be in the top 10,000 because then I will get a Squidoo lensrank payout. That is nice. A bonus. But not my main focus.
Yes I like to be in the Top 100 overall and for my categories. It brings in more money and gives me a pat on the back that I must be doing something right. But it is not the only measure of 'success'.
Admit to yourself if you are simply checking too much. How much time does it take you to do that? Could your time be better spent making another lens?
#6 Yes Giant Squid is Worth It
It really is worth aiming for Giant Squid status. It is so much more than just a badge!So what is the Giant Squid program all about? It is for lensmasters who make at least 50 quality lenses. Simple as that.
But how will being a Giant Squid help you? It gives you exclusive access to things which are very very useful.
Some of the best Giant Squid perks? You have multiple lens templates - a great time saver. Access to the Giant Squid Blog. Getting to hear about new features before everyone else. A Gold Star on all your lenses which gives you a lens rank boost.
These are just some of the perks. But one of the best features is that it really encourages you to think about the quality of the Squidoo lenses that you are writing.
There is nothing like knowing that you are going to be reviewed by some of the very best on Squidoo to make you up your game.
#7 Stretch Out of Your Squidoo Comfort Zone
Sometimes we all get on a path which we want to change but just don't know how to make that first step.We can all make a million excuses about why we don't start that new lens,learn how to use a new module,start that blog,ask for help.
We often want to just stay with what we are comfortable with because we think it is the easier option. But how do we really know if we don't try?
So resolve today to try out one new thing on Squidoo. Sit down and write that lens which you have had in the back of your mind for months. Visit a lens written by someone you admire and tell them what you enjoy about their work. Aim for Giant Squid.
We all enjoy the comfort zone. But the only one really holding you back is you. Stretch out of your comfort zone. Trying something different can lead you on to a whole new path.
#8 Do Not Be Afraid To Sell - But Never Sell Garbage
Squidoo is set up so that you can easily put products on your lenses. Amazon and eBay are popular. It really couldn't be any easier to put them on your lens.(Actually understanding how to get people to buy things is another matter).
Squidoo encourages you to sell. It is a good thing. Done in the right way.
Because it is so easy to list products on your lens you may be tempted sometimes to over do it. Or recommend things which you have no idea about - and your customer can see right through you.
Or even and lets be honest about this. Promote junk. It looks tempting. Just look at the commission of those sales - wouldn't it be great if I just sold a couple of those a week and you would be making so much money!
Just don't be tempted. Promote garbage and sooner or later that is what you will be known for. And you really don't want that..........
You will start to find that you really do get the most sales from products which you know or can learn about and would recommend to your best friend.
Of course we can't always own the product that we suggest. But what is one of the great things about Amazon? It has tons of reviews. When you put a product on your lens which fits your topic read the reviews. The good and the bad. It will tell you what you need to know and what you can tell your readers.
#9 Squidoo is a Social Animal
Squidoo is a very social site. That is one of the things which makes it so great and just plain comfortable to use. There are a lot of great lensmasters out there.So go and visit them. If you like their work tell them.
Don't just say "Great Lens" in their Guest Book. We know that you may think that, not think that but are just doing it so you get a visit back,say it to everyone, be too busy. Take the care to let someone know that you liked it and think of something different to say.
Feature other lenses on yours. Write about other people on your blog. Spread the Squidoo word.
Be genuine. You really do get more out of what you give than what you take. Cliche but true.
#10 Time Management is Not Dull
When I was a lawyer I used to go on those very expensive time management courses. I am not sure how much I listened to because after a while they all started to blend into one - and let's be honest it was just a good excuse to get out of the office and get to spend some time with my friends whilst enjoying the bar in the evening!Then life changed. I decided to be a work at home mom. I discovered there was no such thing as enjoying an evening with my friends! Enjoying 5 minutes to myself didn't even seem to be an option.
But I needed to get things done. I have so many things to do I have to do them all at the same time. I am the multi tasking guru!
Or so I thought. Until I realized that in trying to do everything at once I was doing nothing very well. Not work. Not spending enough time with my family. And I am not even going to discuss how my housework backlog looked back in those times!
Then I realized. Not only did I need to start doing the things those time management courses had told me (to do lists,planning,taking breaks etc). I needed to stop trying to do more than one thing at a time.
It just doesn't work for me. Now I get tons more done and have found the calm that I always wanted, because I am not running around in circles anymore.
Life is increasingly full of distractions. Filter them out as much as you can. Turn off your email when you are on Squidoo. Turn off the phone. Concentrate on one lens at a time.
Simplify. You may even find that you can have some time for yourself.
If You Read Just One Seth Godin Book Which Should It Be?
Purple Cow By Seth Godin
Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable
Amazon Price: $13.62 (as of 11/10/2009)
Of course you should read as many Seth Godin books as you can get your hands on but this for me is the one that changed my thinking. I read it right back when I started on Squidoo and have read it a number of times since.
Squidoo gives us the tools to make something remarkable. Your own Purple Cow.
What Was Your Squidoo Aha Moment?
kiwisoutback wrote...
#10 is some great advice. Time management is of huge importance when working online, and for yourself. You have to be a lot more disciplined with your time, and how you allocate it for certain projects, and for real life. Distractions will cause a lot of lost time, I agree with you there.
Posted October 28, 2009
a_willow wrote...
Just came back to leave a little note: Blessed by an Angel! :)
Posted October 26, 2009
OhMe wrote...
This is such a great one to recommend to Newbies. Thank you for creating it. Also, thank you for blessing my 90 Minutes In Heaven Lens. I sure appreciate it!
Posted October 25, 2009
EditorDave wrote...
Thank you for this lens. You describe exactly how I felt when I created my first lens in May 2007. I don't remember who recommended Squidoo or where I found mention of it... I don't remember why anyone mentioned it, either. But because I'm a writer, an editor, a teacher, a photographer... and either a lonely work-at-home editorial entrepreneur or a lonely cubicle dweller (and since Squidoo is a *social place*), I love visiting with other lensmasters. Time management? I'm working on that, too! Maybe for my *next* 200 lenses!
Posted October 23, 2009
Who is EverythingMouse?
Lensmaster EverythingMouse, aka Alison Meacham, has been a member since June 30 2007, has rated 2,086 lenses, favorited 161, and has created 229 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Disney World Secrets - What You Really Need To Know". See all my lenses
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