This overall ranked #9 lens probably has a number of reasons for being the biggest moneymaker on Squidoo -- the first of which is that `customer service' is one thing that is VITAL to EVERY Squidoo which is focused in a business way --- an unlimited market here on Squidoo, indeed.

Additionally, the CSSERVICE Lens is amazingly referenced and very believable -- giving full credibility to the sites recommendations in its various Amazon modules selling books. Indeed, the lensmaster has about five sub-lenses (other lenses) that feature Amazon book focuses too as the moneymaker module. The sub-lenses are all well linked in this site to make navigation easier (as is the site itself, taking one to various parts of the large page). Somehow, the presence of so many links within the content of the material seems to give additional perceptions of credibility.

Additionally, the Lens has great Karma (and talks about how great customer service does more than sell things) with all profits from this number one lens going to charity. Interestingly, while the Lens `points' at a blog -- both have little personal data about the blogger or lensmaster. This selflessness and good karma is extended in the lens to include the words of some of history's greatest people including Einstein, Jesus, MLK, Ghandi and more. Very creative.

So, the key lesson here is ` establishing credibility, having as your focus important broadbased business advice, and finally, supporting your main lens with sub-lenses'. Oh, and having great Karma in the Lens.

And, while I won't try to establish the `credibility' that one would establish in a `credibility' lens such as CSSSERVICE - the following modules would represent an `example' of CSServices approach.

With a LensRank of #4 and 21 star votes (rated 3 stars) - Greendry has the top Squidoo Profitable Lens. The lensmaster seems to have good knowledge of the handbag field and presents all the E-bay choices as personally made by her. SHE FEATURES 100.00-1,000.00 HANDBAGS thru E-bay as her moneymakers. It is a huge lens which incorporates other newer Squidoo features such as a poll (most who come to her site do so daily - it is edited daily) and `feedback' which provides a personal touch and authenticity. BUT, OBVIOUSLY --- THE WAY TO BE #1 IS TO SELL EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON e-BAY.

Finally, Greendry also has two other lenses, both on Handbags and even occasionally sells her own handbags too on her lens. Hey, sounds like real money to me.

As with the number one moneymaker on Squidoo - the number two profitmaker is ranked for good reason too.

If you can't focus on `good behavior' --- IE: good customer service --------- a Lens can always pick a human shortcoming or problem. In this case - being raised by an alcoholic parent(s).

Like needing customer service improvement which fits the needs of EVERY business -- this Lens seeks to improve the lives of MANY -- a huge segment of folks (those whose parents drank).

While obviously, many raised in such circumstances do not need such help; many do. And, this Lens seeks to provide that service via being credibly written by a licensed teacher and trained crisis counselor.

Of interest is that the Lens while #2 at being most profitable is number 68 ranked. Linda also is following the `many Lens' theory to Lens making - with over 30 other Lens. Many of these Lens also have the `problem' or `situation' human positioning such as Down Syndrom, Color Blind, etc. When covering these topics the Lensmasters skills at freelance topic writing come thru too.

Once again, whether with ACOA or her other Lenses -- the Amazon module is the moneymaker here via mainly book sales.

Pick a topic like `how to respond' to the `bullying' of your child. Make sure to provide hope for the `human problem' with a guideline to solutions.

This Lens by David Pye is ranked #10 overall on Squidoo, and, like Linda Mann, (ranked #2) he also is following the `many Lens' theory with about 30 or so Lens to his credit. In MANY of those Lens David can be seen choosing the `hot' idea or topic - almost always with a built in fanbase. Examples of this are sports teams (New England Patriots), movies (Indiana Jones), and celebrities (John Belushi)(Dean Martin).

Like the #1 and #2 Squidoo Profitmakers -- this Lens is written with passion about the Canadian TV show Trailer Park Boys. Obviously, this guy is into the show and writes easily on his subject matter -- these top Lenses all show the same level of involvement in the subject matter. A vital point to remember. The Lens is also nicely done overall with lots of pictures used and internal links.

Because this style of Lens has a built in audience for the particular `feature/star', it evidently, is easily able to sell via Cafe Press, Amazon and others the items that `fans' want to have - such as `posters' DVD's and books.

So, you will want to pick something that is topical and hot. Well, isn't that show called `Deal or No Deal' cool? And hot?

Mike Brewer is the author of this Lens, one of about 7 he has done. This site, like many others, points at his blog. The Lens is ranked #171 which shows that highest rank is NOT a ultimate need to make money on Squidoo (but ranked #171 certainly means a Lens with traffic).

This is also one of the few most profitable Lens which does NOT seem to have significant `credibility' - in the way that it has been developed in the top 3 lenses. That also, is enlightening -- it shows that ultimately -- MONEY is made on the QUALITY of the ideas in the books offered ----- the Amazon Module again being the most important for this Lens. Obviously, this author has picked good books for the characteristic of `leadership'. Good book choices make good profitable lenses.

Love is a positive human characteristic - how about a Lens and sublens on the many aspects of love.

In this Blog `pointing' 69th ranked Lens (rated 3.5 by 8 Lensmasters) we encounter the `Real Expert' positioning. Joe comes thru as a real person dedicated to one thing; SAVING restaurants/instituions/any business involved with food purchasing - MONEY. Indeed, the fact that this Lens is the authors ONLY Lens, makes it even more credible. To me, in every way, Joe comes across as an EXPERT consultant in this area of business.

As everyone knows in ANY business; SAVING MONEY is a BIG deal -- the number of Lens by experts at saving money or really consultants doing anything seems limitless. This may indeed be a huge area of growth in Squidoo considering the number of business consultants.

This Lens seems to make its money the old standard way for experts - Well Picked Amazon Books; but, it also had a CafePress element -- really, CafePress does a great job of designs out of virtually any TAG. Make sure to use CafePress.

What this lens taught us was that a real expert; a real consultant - should be able to make a GREAT LENS. Well, it seems that Political Consultants seem a dime a dozen these days -- perhaps a Lens would help their image.

Unless I'm mistaken, not one Political Consultant has yet to make a Lens -- perhaps they just flap their mouths.

Wow. I love this idea -- pick a HUGE upcoming sports event, with a built in fanbase -- and build a large and knowledgeable Lens. This built in fanbase is a natural for the merchandise/trinkets associated with the event as built in buyers for Amazon or other stores merchandise (the superstore).

The author of this #93 ranked (with no ratings until I rated it highly) great Lens idea is The Gaffer, a former PR ad executive and marketing guru. This author has about 10 other Lenses mostly featuring `sport' themes in one way or the other. Interestingly however, one of those 10 Lenses' is about the band THE CULT.

This Lensmasters is indeed smart marketingwise; `cult' bands (whose fans buy merchandise)are a NATURAL for a Squidoo Lens. So, the lesson learned at this stop is -- pick a big event/big band with cult following -- and make a Lens.

Not a bad strategy at all.

`Jam' bands have `cult' followings - why not a Lens on a band like Widespread Panic?

You have seen Widespread Panic - right?

Here is yet another possible approach to a successful (profitable) Lens on Squidoo - and, it's a good idea indeed by Julie -- who seems to be a very connected person and Bzz Agent X's 10.

This Lens, with no ratings until mine, is ranked 1,071st and is one of about 45 or so Lenses by Julie (everything from a Lens on Polka Dots, to Lenses on places in Europe)who is definitely following the `many Lens' worldview. This low ranking of this particular lens is indeed PROOF that it is the subject matter of the `content' that matters on a Lens -- even if it is of a notorious historical figure -- in making a Lens profitable. And, what images are evoked by Attila the Hun, an excellent historical choice.

While the actual `content' the lensmaster provides here is truely the bare minimum (taking it straight from wikipeda) and didn't involve much effort --- the expertise on this subject matter is going to come from the listings of books and Attila the Hun materials. Indeed, the money from the Lens comes from those types of listings on 3 different selling modules -- E-bay, Amazon, and the Superstore.

So, while I will pick just one `retail' for my example Lens -- you will want to have at least 3 for your historical figure. Also, you should provide more in links than on this site for a historical figure (it would seem) or, at any of the various Lens examples I've given (people come to squidoo for the referred links). Remember quality links matter.

So, again, the lesson learned from Julie O'brady is that a historical figure Lens can put you in the Top 10 in profitable Lenses.

Talk about a limitless field to pick from -- okay, let's combine notorious and famous like Julie did in her Lens - let's say Al Capone.

Believe it or not; this is Squidoo's NUMBER ONE RATED LENS. Frankly, it's a little hard to analyze a `hoax' site that the author of says "I hope I haven't annoyed too many people".

This all said -- the idea of `research' when hoaxing is interesting. The idea of selling via Amazon the hottest show on TV - DVD's - with the strongest cultlike following -- even more interesting.

This is Peter's only Lens (with NO RATINGS BOX SOMEHOW -- something I noticed on some of the top sites) and proves that having the number one site matters, -- and that a way to get there is via the hottest cultlike showbase of fans.

Excellent Idea.

Several TV series come to mind - I guess the classic would be Star Trek. Right?

This Lens, ranked 3,622, is one of about 20 Lenses for Chris who often uses the `famous person' idea for a Lens; in addition to other Lenses with cool ideas like Gas Station Collectables and NeoPets.

The sole cash means for this particular Lens is Amazon and selling the poets work (which must be popular for Chris to be on this list). So, that means we learn that even a Lens ranked in the 3,000's can be a winner in regards to being profitable -- and, staking claim to writers or even poets with a following is good Lensing.

Chris' positioning of collectables in the other Lens is a natural for `selling products' - expect to see more of these types of Lenses.

One with a built in audience -- how about one of the best science fiction writers of alltime such as Asimov?

This #82 ranked Lens (and rated 3.5 by 8 Lensmasters) is part of the Catholic Church - and is part of a group mainly made up of Laypersons. D. DeMonte has two other religious Lens also and this obviously is his passion.

This particular Lens promotes religion and also has rebutts to the current Devinci Code (which probably helps somewhat). However, the Lens, with its religion focus -- captures at least part of America and part of Squidoo users -- I would not be surprised to see more churchs using the Squidoo approach.

This Lens seems to make money by selling only ONE BOOK. Wow. Loyal fanbase helps.

When I did the analysis on the Squidoo Top 100 Most Profitable Lenses on May 29th 2006 -- one of the most surprising findings was that (at that time) only 74 Lenses made ANY MONEY at all --- at least that is what I assume when the Top 100 only has 74 listings. Additionally, at the time there were nearly 28,000 Lenses ------------ ONLY 1/3 OF 1% OF ALL SQUIDOOS made ANY MONEY AT ALL. Evidently, even making a few pennies. That, in itself, is an EYE OPENER - or should be - to those making 100's of Lenses to `accumulate' earning something.

If Squidoo is ever to be a money maker for the Lens Makers -- a real money maker - the evidence is that the road will be a very very very long one. Squidoo could also - it seems - do a better job explaining the chance to make money in Lenses.

That all said, IF you are lucky enough to be of the 0.33% making money -- my analysis of the individual Lenses appeal stands. It helps to have a Great Subject with lots of appeal; it helps to Be An Expert (have significant credibility) in what you are writing about; and, it helps to have a Built In Target Market for your Lens.

Finally, I could see little evidence that any module other than Amazon was producing significant cash for the LensMakers --- book links are indeed hot moneymakers.

Each of these studies were once a lens - now, this is the only way to find the other Squidoo research.

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SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
The Direction Of Squidoo's Most Profitable Lenses
As already stated in this lens -- having high ticket items for sale on your lens is what can land you on the top of Squidoo's most profitable. But, it's more than that - the very top lenses have put a significant amount of time or effort into their lens offerings and are well written. Indeed, most of the top Most Profitable are heartfelt and well done lenses. That all said - having a hot, moderately priced item - like computer laptop bags; or video games - works on commerical lenses too.

What seems to have disappeared since the listing 6 months ago are the lenses which sell just one item -multiple listings being a bare minimum now to place on this list this time. And, the list is certainly more commercial and less `esoteric' or knowledge based than previously in May.

And, finally, the last six months has seen something OTHER than the Amazon module making money for lensmasters --- six months ago -- that was the whole action. Now, finally, E-bay and other modules are worth adding and certainly the future looks bright in this regard considering Squidoo's high placement in search engines (google). Squidoo could become a side marketplace for E-bay and others of significance due to the high showing on Google by Squidoo lenses.

Finally, all this matters now compared to 6 months ago. Then, Squidoo couldn't even fill a list of 100 lenses making any money (only 74 were on the list in May) -- now, the list is full. Then, the top lensmasters were making very little - now, the top lensmasters are making more than pocket cash. And, lastly, then - no one had ever sold a lens - now, some lenses `sell' for low 3 figures (5 figures if you include the cents). Real Money - the news - 6 months later.

This is the 2007 Research on Squidoo

The 2007 Squidoo Survey of the Marketing Tag - Analysis and Hand Tab
Analysis

One of the reasons I undertook the task of researching the #1 alltime tag on squidoo.com was factfinding - just what did a sample of squidoo lenses look like. Not the blog of the day, not the top rated lenses, or the most profitable or the highest trafficed - to get an overall view. Additionally, I wanted to do the overview via squidoo's own most popular tag - marketing.
Obviously, if I choose a different tag - my results would have been different (or would they?) - but, the results from the marketing tagcloud are as representative as possible considering it is the Number One tag.
To me, it's a mixed bag of findings overall. First -- why in the world do so many lensmasters rate other lenses a five star? Don't they realize that `differentation' is what makes a rating have any meaning at all? If everything is a `5' -- nothing gets a boost in comparison. Do lensmasters really think that every lens DESERVES a `5'? How stupid.
The next finding is that content DOES MATTER and is found near the top of the lensrank - the formula is working - at least somewhat.
Still, one has to wonder about squidoo's overall content when lenses that are nearly empty garner lensranks in squidoo's top half. Many, about half, of all lenses have NEVER MOTIVATED A VISITOR TO RESPOND VIA GUESTBOOK OR VOTE. So much for great marketing efforts within the marketing tag.
That said, I `favorited' a few of these lenses as the ideas or folks behind them were interesting - I certainly never knew the degree of scams involving the internet and marketing to the internet - certainly, this is all very interesting considering we ALL are involved in it via squidoo and our sharing of adsense revenues. BUT, one gets the feeling as one wades thru the morass of `marketing lenses' that there is no silver bullet -- and -- that many of these lenses seem like scams waiting to happen. How can so many folks depend on stuff with this quality?
The other finding is that some lensmasters overall quality needs to be monitored - and perhaps their total lenses limited as quality is skewed to lensmasters with fewer lenses it seems. It is also amazing that these so-called expert marketers don't sell anything via the moneymaking modules on squidoo - how credible is that?
Hopefully, as other topics fill squidoo's top one half of all lensranks these marketing experts without bio's or even real names - will fade to the below expose line on squidoo - we can only hope it is soon.

A tab of the info - Number of modules; Two or less, 3/28, Three to Five 14/28, Six to Nine 3/28, Ten to Fifteen 7/28, Sixteen plus 1/28 (one set of data from the lensmaster listed twice). And remember, I counted both the introduction module and the guest book comments module.
Concerning the number of lenses the lensmaster had - Two or less 6/26, Three to Five 7/26, Six to Nine 8/26, Ten to Fifteen 2/26, and Sixteen or more 3/26 (one with 800+). Finally, a somewhat real number on these two attributes for squidoo members to be aware of. (Data not gathered for two lenses.) And, 16 of the 29 lens had at least one rating (but only 7 of 20 after the lensrank of 25,000) by a fellow lensmaster.

Handtab

A tab of the info - Number of modules; Two or less, 3/28, Three to Five 14/28, Six to Nine 3/28, Ten to Fifteen 7/28, Sixteen plus 1/28 (one set of data from the lensmaster listed twice). And remember, I counted both the introduction module and the guest book comments module.
Concerning the number of lenses the lensmaster had - Two or less 6/26, Three to Five 7/26, Six to Nine 8/26, Ten to Fifteen 2/26, and Sixteen or more 3/26 (one with 800+). Finally, a somewhat real number on these two attributes for squidoo members to be aware of. (Data not gathered for two lenses.) And, 16 of the 29 lens had at least one rating (but only 7 of 20 after the lensrank of 25,000) by a fellow lensmaster.