When you create a lens on Squidoo, what audience are you writing for? Do you stop to consider who you want to find and read the lens? Do you plan your opening module to capture the attention of your next customer or does what you write confuse readers and send them to the back button before they ever get to the "meat" of the lens?
For instance, what if the opening sentence of a lens reads something like this: "I'm making this lens for a RocketMoms assignment." Or this: "There's a week left before the deadline for Giant Squid and this is my 50th lens!" Or even: "I've been on Squidoo for six months now so I decided to make a lensography."
If the sole purpose of the lens is to reach a particular audience within Squidoo, then those opening sentences might be just fine. However, if the eventual purpose of the lens is to provide information for a large audience of people from around the country and around the world and, especially, to convert those people to customers, then you might want to rethink your opening line.
Give each of your lenses an objective looking over. Make sure to address the main topic of the lens immediately so that you give your visitors a reason to read on. Don't chase them away with extraneous information or "insider talk" that adds nothing to the subject of the lens. Give them a reason to stick around, to find what they're looking for, to click through and purchase the item you were hoping they would buy. Make them feel like you wrote this lens just for them, your newest best customer and biggest fan.
If you want your lenses to succeed, to get traffic, to make sales, then write for your customers, not just for your friends on Squidoo.
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5 comments:
I try to give sort of a written "elevator sales pitch" with my introductions, even though in the Health diagnostic it says I don't say enough. I don't have time to read a whole paragraph (or more) so I don't expect anybody to read mine either.
This is a very good point. The title should be the hook and the intro is where the hook gets set. The rest of the content is the reeling in.
I create lenses mainly to write, so the whole SEO and content game for me is quite a thrill because I'm trying to appeal to everyone who reads my content.
I play both the inside AND outside game ;)
Awesome highlight about some very important information...especially for those of us still trying to find our way 'round online and SEO!
I agree with you. The lenses that start off with "this is an assignment for Rocket Moms" etc. just turned me off. Here's the way I start one of mine: http://www.squidoo.com/DandelionWeeds
I'm glad you have put this article up. It has just reminded me what I am trying to achieve.
I have a habit of getting lost in the trivia of live and not focusing on where I'm going.
Regards
Andy
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