Did you know it was missing?
If you're new to Squidoo, you might have never noticed a lens of the day (LOTD). In the busyness of all the changes and activities going on at Squidoo recently, the task of choosing and writing about a LOTD, every day, sort of fell by the wayside. No problem. Everyone needs a vacation.
But now it's back and I hope you're paying attention.
I believe in learning something new every day and LOTD makes that task easy-peasy. Make it a habit to look on your dashboard page, at the bottom of the left-hand column, every single day for a new lens of the day. Click and take a look at the lens and think about why it might have been given the LOTD honor. Then read the corresponding entry on the Lens of the Day blog for Megan or Kimberly's write-up about the lens. Does that assessment match yours? Do you agree or disagree? Did you see a module you've never used before? Was there something else about the way the lens was crafted that you could apply to your lensmaking? Did you meet a lensmaster you hadn't yet met? Did you learn something new?
Whether you agree or disagree with the LOTD choice or subject matter, always take something away from the lens or the blog, something you can apply in your life as a lensmaster. It's those little daily lessons that will, in the end, make your lenses better and, perhaps someday, worthy of a lens of the day honor.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
How to Make Money with Zazzle Links on Your Lenses
Are you familiar with Zazzle? They're a print-on-demand place (like Cafepress) where it's easy (and f-ree) to sign up and make your own items or you can join as an affiliate and sell other people's items. There is also a Zazzle module that you can use on your Squidoo lenses. Before you do that, though, read on.
You should know that because Zazzle is unable to track by lens where links from Squidoo come from, if you use the Zazzle module you will NOT make any money from it unless your module displays your own Zazzle products. It's great to promote other people's items, but why not do it in such a way that you earn some money, too? Here's how.
Join Zazzle as an affiliate then when you need a great bumper sticker or t-shirt or apron or button or mouse pad or tote bag (for example) for a lens, log in to Zazzle and find one there. To display it on your lens, use a text module. Look below the Zazzle product description for "Link" and click there. Highlight the code under option 2 to display the picture as you see it on that page. The size is perfect for use in a text module. Paste that code into the text module. Now, Squidoo doesn't like the <> part of the code, so the easiest thing to do is save the module and let Squidoo strip that code out, or just remove it yourself if you're comfortable doing so. Then, if you want to center the picture, open the module again and put a "center" tag on it. Now save it and the picture and text below it will be centered. The link will also contain your affiliate ID so when someone clicks through and makes a purchase, you will get the commission.
You can read more details on Zazzle.com about how the affiliate program works. Note that if you have a Zazzle store and you display and sell your own item on your lens using the method described above, you will receive both the affiliate and the personal mark-up on that item, which adds up to a good chunk of change!
Try Zazzle for your lenses. I recommend it!
P.S. Whenever you post your Zazzle link, make sure you put the * at the end so you'll earn the affiliate commission, like this: http://www.Zazzle.com/susan52z*
You should know that because Zazzle is unable to track by lens where links from Squidoo come from, if you use the Zazzle module you will NOT make any money from it unless your module displays your own Zazzle products. It's great to promote other people's items, but why not do it in such a way that you earn some money, too? Here's how.
Join Zazzle as an affiliate then when you need a great bumper sticker or t-shirt or apron or button or mouse pad or tote bag (for example) for a lens, log in to Zazzle and find one there. To display it on your lens, use a text module. Look below the Zazzle product description for "Link" and click there. Highlight the code under option 2 to display the picture as you see it on that page. The size is perfect for use in a text module. Paste that code into the text module. Now, Squidoo doesn't like the <> part of the code, so the easiest thing to do is save the module and let Squidoo strip that code out, or just remove it yourself if you're comfortable doing so. Then, if you want to center the picture, open the module again and put a "center" tag on it. Now save it and the picture and text below it will be centered. The link will also contain your affiliate ID so when someone clicks through and makes a purchase, you will get the commission.
You can read more details on Zazzle.com about how the affiliate program works. Note that if you have a Zazzle store and you display and sell your own item on your lens using the method described above, you will receive both the affiliate and the personal mark-up on that item, which adds up to a good chunk of change!
Try Zazzle for your lenses. I recommend it!
P.S. Whenever you post your Zazzle link, make sure you put the * at the end so you'll earn the affiliate commission, like this: http://www.Zazzle.com/
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
How To Become Somebody on Squidoo
There's so much for a newbie Squidoo lensmaster to learn. I advise sticking with the basics when making your first several lenses, becoming familiar with the modules, how to work with them, and what they do. As you're getting to know your way around Squidoo, though, remember that other lensmasters will want to get to know you.
One of the best ways to help others get to know you is by writing a great biography for your lensmaster profile page and for your lenses. Then add a picture. Use a real-life picture or an avatar that you're going to want people to connect with you, your lenses, and your online presence in the future. Brains recognize and associate pictures to people at a glance, even when they have to think before they recall your name.
When you set up your Squidoo profile, make sure to enable the "contact" button. You may be surprised that seasoned lensmasters will want to contact you to offer advice or to give you a heads up on, say, a dead link or other issue with a lens. Don't worry; Squidoo won't share your email address.
Next step is to begin interacting with the Squidoo community by leaving comments on lenses and by frequenting the SquidU forum. Once you've introduced yourself there, feel free to ask for a critique of your first lens.
Follow these easy steps and before you know it, other lensmasters will begin recognizing you and calling you by name. To learn more, read and apply the advice on Are you a Squidoo Nobody? How to Become a Squidoo Somebody in 6 Easy Lessons.
It's about time you became Somebody on Squidoo!
One of the best ways to help others get to know you is by writing a great biography for your lensmaster profile page and for your lenses. Then add a picture. Use a real-life picture or an avatar that you're going to want people to connect with you, your lenses, and your online presence in the future. Brains recognize and associate pictures to people at a glance, even when they have to think before they recall your name.
When you set up your Squidoo profile, make sure to enable the "contact" button. You may be surprised that seasoned lensmasters will want to contact you to offer advice or to give you a heads up on, say, a dead link or other issue with a lens. Don't worry; Squidoo won't share your email address.
Next step is to begin interacting with the Squidoo community by leaving comments on lenses and by frequenting the SquidU forum. Once you've introduced yourself there, feel free to ask for a critique of your first lens.
Follow these easy steps and before you know it, other lensmasters will begin recognizing you and calling you by name. To learn more, read and apply the advice on Are you a Squidoo Nobody? How to Become a Squidoo Somebody in 6 Easy Lessons.
It's about time you became Somebody on Squidoo!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
The Importance of Categories on Squidoo
If you're already a lensmaster on Squidoo, you may not visit the Squidoo.com page very often. If you haven't seen it lately, go take a look. Currently gracing the gateway to Squidoo is a collection of lists of the top five lenses in each of 27 categories. Each of those lists also has a "more" button which, when clicked, leads the visitor to the list of the top 100 lenses in that category.
Why is this important to you? Simply because thousands of visitors each day enter Squidoo through that Squidoo.com page and most of them choose to click either a lens name that catches their eye or they choose to further explore a category of interest to them. If you have a lens that ranks high in any of those 27 categories, there is a much greater chance that a visitor to Squidoo.com is going to find your lens.
Note that there are actually 32 categories in which to place your lenses. If you have a lens in a category that isn't listed, the odds of someone finding that lens through Squidoo's front door is drastically reduced.
Before you make a change to your category choices, though, consider other factors. If a lens's traffic is already good, recategorizing it might prove to be a mistake. Also, some categories contain a lot more lenses than others, thus making it more difficult to land a spot in the top 100, let alone the top five. Of course if you do change the category on a lens and placement when lensrank updates next time proves to be poor, you can always change it back.
Switching categories on Squidoo is just one way to fine tune a lens, but it's a good option to consider. Just keep in mind the old idiom: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Why is this important to you? Simply because thousands of visitors each day enter Squidoo through that Squidoo.com page and most of them choose to click either a lens name that catches their eye or they choose to further explore a category of interest to them. If you have a lens that ranks high in any of those 27 categories, there is a much greater chance that a visitor to Squidoo.com is going to find your lens.
Note that there are actually 32 categories in which to place your lenses. If you have a lens in a category that isn't listed, the odds of someone finding that lens through Squidoo's front door is drastically reduced.
Before you make a change to your category choices, though, consider other factors. If a lens's traffic is already good, recategorizing it might prove to be a mistake. Also, some categories contain a lot more lenses than others, thus making it more difficult to land a spot in the top 100, let alone the top five. Of course if you do change the category on a lens and placement when lensrank updates next time proves to be poor, you can always change it back.
Switching categories on Squidoo is just one way to fine tune a lens, but it's a good option to consider. Just keep in mind the old idiom: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Squid Grads and More Squid Grads
Lots of goings on at Squidoo this week, as usual. On Monday, the second-session class of RocketMoms celebrated their graduation. Wednesday was graduation for Giant Squid Summer School students.Each member of the two groups was required to complete one lens assignment per week for eight weeks in order to officially graduate. A total of 140 RocketMoms participated, as did over 70 Summer School Giants. Of the 56 RocketMom grads and 47 Summer School grads, 20 lensmasters were on both lists!
All in all, Squidoo is now richer by about 500 new, first-class lenses as a result of these two projects.
Congratulations to all the grads, and thanks for your hard work from which we all will benefit!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Where is the Journal of the Traveling Squid?
Have you heard about the Journal of the Traveling Squid? It's a project created by lensmaster JaguarJulie connecting Squidoo lensmasters worldwide.
A journal and a Giant Squidoo t-shirt are making the rounds of the world, from the hands of one Giant to another. Each leaves his or her own mark on the project by writing a page in the journal, signing the t-shirt, and taking a picture which is then posted in a special photo album on Flickr.
The project has been so successful that there is now a second journal and t-shirt in the mix, this one traveling the United States (the first volume is still traveling the UK). Volume 2 is currently in the capable hands of Squidoo HQ folks Gil, Kimberly, Seth, and Corey. I'm happy to report that the next lensmaster in line happens to be me, the humble Susan52 herself. Woo-hoo!
The project is being chronicled by JaguarJulie on this lens. You must check out all the amazing pictures and read the journal posts. Then bookmark the lens and visit regularly for updates.
Where will the Journal of the Traveling Squid end up? Read the lens to find out!
A journal and a Giant Squidoo t-shirt are making the rounds of the world, from the hands of one Giant to another. Each leaves his or her own mark on the project by writing a page in the journal, signing the t-shirt, and taking a picture which is then posted in a special photo album on Flickr.
The project has been so successful that there is now a second journal and t-shirt in the mix, this one traveling the United States (the first volume is still traveling the UK). Volume 2 is currently in the capable hands of Squidoo HQ folks Gil, Kimberly, Seth, and Corey. I'm happy to report that the next lensmaster in line happens to be me, the humble Susan52 herself. Woo-hoo!
The project is being chronicled by JaguarJulie on this lens. You must check out all the amazing pictures and read the journal posts. Then bookmark the lens and visit regularly for updates.
Where will the Journal of the Traveling Squid end up? Read the lens to find out!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Urgent News for eBay Affiliates on Squidoo
If you're an eBay affiliate, you're probably aware of policy changes that are going into effect soon regarding affiliate links to eBay listings. If you have any of your personal eBay affiliate links on your Squidoo lenses, please pay attention.
The eBay Partner Network (EPN) very soon will no longer support personal affiliate links or campaign IDs on Squidoo. It's important that you remove those links as soon as possible from your lenses.
EBay has approved continuation of the use of Squidoo's eBay module on lenses, however, so you may still promote eBay products, your own or those of others, on Squidoo. This is a very popular module on Squidoo and brings in quite a bit of revenue which is shared with the lensmasters, so don't jump the eBay ship altogether and don't worry about losing eBay traffic from Squidoo.
Note that the consequences of leaving the EPN links on Squidoo are severe, so act quickly to remove or change those links to keep from losing your EPN account or having your lenses locked.
Further information is on this blog post from Squidoo.
The eBay Partner Network (EPN) very soon will no longer support personal affiliate links or campaign IDs on Squidoo. It's important that you remove those links as soon as possible from your lenses.
EBay has approved continuation of the use of Squidoo's eBay module on lenses, however, so you may still promote eBay products, your own or those of others, on Squidoo. This is a very popular module on Squidoo and brings in quite a bit of revenue which is shared with the lensmasters, so don't jump the eBay ship altogether and don't worry about losing eBay traffic from Squidoo.
Note that the consequences of leaving the EPN links on Squidoo are severe, so act quickly to remove or change those links to keep from losing your EPN account or having your lenses locked.
Further information is on this blog post from Squidoo.
Join Us In the Kitchen
Back in May a call was put out for great chefs on Squidoo to submit recipes for an upcoming cookbook. I'm happy to report that the cookbook is ready!
If you've always wondered how to make Chef Keem's brownies or Joan's Congo Squares, or if you've misplaced the link to Susan52's Pink Pickled Eggs, check out the f-ree download or order a print copy of the 66-page, full-color cookbook for only $14.49. What a great gift at a very reasonable price!
Look for this badge displayed by lensmasters who contributed to the cookbook. Many thanks to publishers David and Marta for the fantastic work they've done so you, too, can join us In the Kitchen With Squidoo.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Squidoo Themes and Front Doors
If you're new to Squidoo, you might not know that there are nine different "themes" you can use for your Squidoo lenses, to give each its own look. Additionally, there are "front doors" to Squidoo which place your lenses on a specific template. It's important to understand that "themes" and "front doors" are not the same.
THEMES: When you make a lens on Squidoo, it is created with the "default" theme. That's the page with the blue background and headings in orange. But there are currently a total of nine themes, the default theme and eight more (with even more coming soon). You can find all nine in the lens workshop on the upper right-hand side under "workshop tools." Click on "themes" and you'll see the list. To change your lens's theme, click on the button next to your choice and choose "select." You don't have to re-publish your lens for the change to take effect; it happens immediately. Take a look at your lens to see how you like it. If it doesn't give you the look you're going for, try on another theme for size. Feeling green? Choose the "Gone Camping" theme. Want a clean look? Try the "Zen" theme.
FRONT DOORS: Making a book review lens? You might choose the SquidLit "front door" to create the lens. Making a Halloween-themed lens? Try SquidBoo. The SquidZippers format is great for a local lens. Check the bottom of the Squidoo.com page for more "front doors."
IMPORTANT: Themes are interchangeable; front-door templates are not. You can change the themes anytime, but you can't change the "front door" templates! If you want a lens on one of those templates, you have to create it there in the first place, so be sure you want to use that format before you make a lens through that particular front door.
Squidoo isn't just orange and blue anymore. Explore front doors and themes to find the perfect background for each of your lens topics.
THEMES: When you make a lens on Squidoo, it is created with the "default" theme. That's the page with the blue background and headings in orange. But there are currently a total of nine themes, the default theme and eight more (with even more coming soon). You can find all nine in the lens workshop on the upper right-hand side under "workshop tools." Click on "themes" and you'll see the list. To change your lens's theme, click on the button next to your choice and choose "select." You don't have to re-publish your lens for the change to take effect; it happens immediately. Take a look at your lens to see how you like it. If it doesn't give you the look you're going for, try on another theme for size. Feeling green? Choose the "Gone Camping" theme. Want a clean look? Try the "Zen" theme.
FRONT DOORS: Making a book review lens? You might choose the SquidLit "front door" to create the lens. Making a Halloween-themed lens? Try SquidBoo. The SquidZippers format is great for a local lens. Check the bottom of the Squidoo.com page for more "front doors."
IMPORTANT: Themes are interchangeable; front-door templates are not. You can change the themes anytime, but you can't change the "front door" templates! If you want a lens on one of those templates, you have to create it there in the first place, so be sure you want to use that format before you make a lens through that particular front door.
Squidoo isn't just orange and blue anymore. Explore front doors and themes to find the perfect background for each of your lens topics.
How to Use SquidZippers to Promote Your Business
Today's new post on the SquidU Review features lensmaster Kim Giancaterino and the brilliant way she uses Squidoo's front-door template, SquidZippers to promote her local, real-life business.
Kim's a notary public who has made numerous SquidZipper lenses to help clients find her and to help find new clients.
If you have an in-person business that needs promoting, don't miss this interview. I believe you'll be inspired to give SquidZippers a try.
Kim's a notary public who has made numerous SquidZipper lenses to help clients find her and to help find new clients.
If you have an in-person business that needs promoting, don't miss this interview. I believe you'll be inspired to give SquidZippers a try.
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