Quick Squidoo Tip of the Day

Something I've learned from leaving comments on lenses of successful lensmasters: Hook a visitor in by including a particularly interesting module below your guestbook module.

After a visitor leaves a comment and the guestbook module closes, the module below pops immediately into view, so make that module something interactive. A poll module might be a good choice (poll participation seems to boost lensrank), maybe a great-looking banner ad with your own affiliate link, or, perhaps better yet, use a featured lens module that contains one of your related lenses. The point is to give your interested visitor a choice he is likely to take action on rather than just leaving your lens to go on to someone else's site.

Try it. What do you think?

Making Squidoo Great in 2008

I'm spreading my tentacles on Squidoo. I've become a groupmaster.

Squidoo groups are created by lensmasters (who then become groupmasters) as places to gather Squidoo lenses that have something in common. My new group is called Squidoo's Great in 2008 and will consist of lenses about anything having to do with the year 2008.

Since 2008 is a leap year, if you have a lens about leap years, then your lens "fits" the group and you may join. There will be a presidential election in 2008 (have you heard??) so lenses about candidates and the election will also be included. If you have a lens about the 2008 Olympics, a 2008 model year car, a breaking news story from 2008 or other noteworthy event then you are welcome to join my group. I'm looking forward to seeing what lenses the creative lensmasters on Squidoo will submit to the group.

To join a Squidoo group you can visit the group's page and either make a new lens or add an existing lens by clicking on the corresponding link. If I run across a lens that would fit the group, I might send an invitation to the lensmaster to join the group. All lenses that are submitted must be approved by the groupmaster, and groupmasters have the power to reject a lens for any reason, but especially if the lens doesn't fit the group's specifications.

Do you have a Squidoo lens about something having to do with 2008? Visit the group page for Squidoo's Great in 2008 and submit your lens. I'd love to have you and together we can help make Squidoo really great in 2008.

Six Quick Ways to Update A Squidoo Lens

It's important to keep your Squidoo lenses updated in order to keep both your lensrank and your search engine rank rising. Here are six quick ways to update a Squidoo lens.

1. Add descriptions to your Amazon module items. A personal testimonial or review is most meaningful, but make sure you include at least a short product description rather than just the item name. Already have descriptions and reviews? Maybe it's time to rotate some old items out and some new ones in.


2. Add a new poll module. If you already have a poll that continues to be relevent and active it's fine to leave it, but often an additional poll can really enhance your lens. Political lenses, especially, come to mind. What's your candidate been up to lately? Poll your visitors and see if they agree or disagree with his or her latest campaign tactic.


3. Do you have a module that pertains to a holiday? Halloween is over. Replace your Halloween module with a Thanksgiving or Christmas module.


4. Same is true with seasons. Change the products on your Cafepress module from short-sleeve t-shirts to sweatshirts, or vice versa.


5. Prune the dead links. Periodically check to be sure all links on your lenses are active. Oftentimes YouTube videos or Flickr pics are no longer available. Replace those with fresh, active links.


6. Review and update your tags. You're allowed 40 tags per lens. Make sure the ones you choose are the best ones. Be sure to check your stats and see how people are finding your lenses. Use the best search terms as tags.

Try to do one or more of these updates daily, if you have time, or at least weekly. Keep your lenses fresh to keep that lensrank rising.

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