Using SquidKnol - A How-To Guide For Developing SquidKnol Lenses

To begin using SquidKnol you will have to go to the SquidKnol HQ here - SquidKnol. This is a special page like the Ever Project or SquidFlix where you can start a SquidKnol, which is simply a special, focused type of Lens which is similar to the new Google Knols.

On this page, you will see several text boxes to fill with your information on a particular topic. This will generate the lens automatically, but will still allow you to add, modify and delete modules like any lens.

These features are:

Your Area of Expertise - This will create the title of the SquidKnol and influence the url which you will have only one chance to modify (just like any lens.

Your Name - This should be your lensmaster name, which will also appear in the title and url as the default.

Your Credentials - Write why you are an authority on the topic you are describing. This is a good opportunity to flex your degrees and experience. This will appear in a text/write module.

What's the single most important thing someone should know about your topic? - This is the one big point you want to make, and is represented by a Sticky Note Module.

Abstract of what you want to describe - This will be posted in the Introduction module with the title "A quick overview of (your topic) and will fill in the text portion of the module with your abstract. You should activate the table of contents and related links functions to give your SquidKnol a built in TOC and to link to related SquidKnols on related topics for more traffic.

The best topic for your page - This is the typical dropdown menu of Squidoo categories that you know and love.

Once all entries are filled (although only the Your Area of Expertise entry is required, click the Go button to see a review of the lens and decide whether or not you want to take ownership of it. If you keep it, you will be able to change the url one time and then you will be presented with your new SquidKnol lens.

Other Features

Your new SquidKnol also features helpful ready-made text/write modules titled:

Background information worth knowing
and
My Opinion on the topic

as well as a Polaroid module, a Links Voting (Plexo), an Amazon module and a Guestbook.

These features are all shown as they would appear on your SquidKnol below.

Note: SquidKnol does not set 3 tags and your primary tag like a regular Squidoo lens. It only prepares your primary tag based on your topic title. Don't forget to develop your tags!

Like any other lens, you can move the modules around, and add or subtract modules, but I left the layout the way it was at the beginning when you create a new SquidKnol.

This is my first SquidKnol. Squidknol was developed in response to Google Knol and works on the same principle, to have an authoritative listing on a particular topic.

I think this is a great new feature for Squidoo. It helps lensmasters focus on topical content and prods them to provide resources for further education on said topic.