Lensmaster ideadesigns became my 900th fan on Squidoo the other day and left a comment to let me know. I was honored and truly appreciated the kind comment.
Do you join fan clubs on Squidoo? I hope you do. And I hope you leave comments on lots of lenses, too. Sincere comments. Did you know that now you can leave comments on profile pages? I love that new feature, great for a general comment to the lensmaster as opposed to a lens-specific comment. Comments are wonderful tools for building social relationships on Squidoo.
Have you looked at your profile page lately? If you haven't, take a look at the new design. It includes your bio and lens list on the left with a comment area below and a "trophy cabinet" on the upper right followed by a few profile stats - including the number of lenses you've rated and how many you've favorited. Do you look at those numbers on other people's profiles? I do. It's a great way to gauge how active that lensmaster is within the Squidoo community.
The importance of the social element of Squidoo is something that some lensmasters overlook. In fact, the profile page provides a great opportunity to make a good impression, so its contents (specifically the bio) should be well thought out and written in a way that complements and promotes your online brand and reputation. Try to give your readers a glimpse of the real you, the person behind the lenses. Don't lose out on the opportunity to start a great relationship with each visitor who takes the time to read your profile page.
Relationships are important in social networking, so open up to others, leave a few comments and join a few new fan clubs every day on Squidoo. The investment in time could be a great investment in the future of your online business, even well beyond Squidoo.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
The Secret to Making Sales on Squidoo
It doesn't take high traffic to get sales on Squidoo (or anywhere else online), it takes the right kind of traffic. My best lenses don't get a lot of traffic, but the people who do find them are there because they're looking for something specific.
If my lens has what they're looking for, they will click through. When they click through, they will buy. That's the secret, targeting buyers.
The narrower the niche, the more likely all of that is going to happen.
If you want to make sales on Squidoo, remember that secret when planning your lenses.
If my lens has what they're looking for, they will click through. When they click through, they will buy. That's the secret, targeting buyers.
The narrower the niche, the more likely all of that is going to happen.
If you want to make sales on Squidoo, remember that secret when planning your lenses.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Monstrous Changes on Squidoo
Kimberly hinted about it this morning, then this evening Megan released official word about the SquidooPlus system, due to begin implementation tomorrow. So lensmasters won't be caught totally by surprise by the changes if they've paid attention to the banner on their dashboard. Check out Megan's SquidooPlus lens and then read the SquidMonsters FAQ lens for more information about the new system and where the monsters fit in.
My prediction? You're going to love these little guys and all the goodies they bring with them. So get back to Squidoo, do what you usually do, and watch what happens. Starting sometime tomorrow.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
What I Learned From My Purple Star Lenses
Today I completed an exercise of going back through all of my purple star lenses, adding each of them to a new lens, a purple star lensography of sorts. After I was finished, I realized that I had learned something very important about myself and about crafting lenses.
What I learned isn't anything new. In fact, it's something that many of us offer as good advice to new lensmasters on a regular basis. That advice? Make lenses from your heart.
Another way of stating it is to write lenses on topics you're passionate about, things that mean something to you. The reason that is good advice is that the end result is meaningful and, almost always, of a higher quality than when you write about something to which you have no personal connection.
Of my 14 purple star lenses, almost all of them are what I would judge as very good to excellent lenses. There are a couple that, frankly, I'd place in the "good" category; I'm not so sure they quite measure up to "very good." And it turns out that the best of the best are on topics that I felt passionate about or had a strong personal connection to at the time they were written. The just "good" lenses, not so much.
Of course I know that I'm not able to judge my own lenses totally objectively, but after three-plus years on Squidoo I know an excellent lens when I see one, even if it is my own. I know how to recognize a "good" lens, too.
My point, which I'm not sure I'm stating very clearly, is that if quality matters to you, if you want to make a truly great lens, then put the money motive on the back burner and choose a subject that is really, truly close to your heart. If just "good" is good enough (and sometimes it is good enough), then settle for a subject that will meet some other goal or objective, such as increasing your earnings.
As for me, from now on I'm going to weigh more carefully my passions and my motives when I choose a topic for a lens and do my best to make each lens purple star-worthy by injecting into it a little piece of my heart.
What I learned isn't anything new. In fact, it's something that many of us offer as good advice to new lensmasters on a regular basis. That advice? Make lenses from your heart.
Another way of stating it is to write lenses on topics you're passionate about, things that mean something to you. The reason that is good advice is that the end result is meaningful and, almost always, of a higher quality than when you write about something to which you have no personal connection.
Of my 14 purple star lenses, almost all of them are what I would judge as very good to excellent lenses. There are a couple that, frankly, I'd place in the "good" category; I'm not so sure they quite measure up to "very good." And it turns out that the best of the best are on topics that I felt passionate about or had a strong personal connection to at the time they were written. The just "good" lenses, not so much.
Of course I know that I'm not able to judge my own lenses totally objectively, but after three-plus years on Squidoo I know an excellent lens when I see one, even if it is my own. I know how to recognize a "good" lens, too.
My point, which I'm not sure I'm stating very clearly, is that if quality matters to you, if you want to make a truly great lens, then put the money motive on the back burner and choose a subject that is really, truly close to your heart. If just "good" is good enough (and sometimes it is good enough), then settle for a subject that will meet some other goal or objective, such as increasing your earnings.
As for me, from now on I'm going to weigh more carefully my passions and my motives when I choose a topic for a lens and do my best to make each lens purple star-worthy by injecting into it a little piece of my heart.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
September Squidoo Goals
Have you set monthly Squidoo goals yet for September? If you're not in the habit of setting goals each month, September is the perfect time to start. With school back in session and the holiday season approaching ever so quickly, motivation for making more lenses and increasing opportunities for income is at its peak.
If you need even more motivation, check out Kimberly's Morning Coffee post for today. Add your September Squidoo goals to the forum and, at the end of the month if you're able to show that you met them, you could win a prize.
Make your goals specific and measurable. Posting them publicly will add the element of accountability that many of us need to help us work a little harder to accomplish what we might otherwise give up on when we hit the inevitable rough spot.
To demonstrate that I practice what I preach, here are my September Squidoo goals:
1. Three new lenses this month, which will make 200 total! Still need to decide on something significant for #200.
2. Update all of my seasonal lenses, which is much easier said than done. I will ashamedly admit that some are horribly out of date.
3. Approach a new charity I learned about this week to let them know about Squidoo and, if they're interested (and of course they will be) do what I can to help them get started.
So, who's next? Don't forget to post your goals on the SquidU forum, then feel free to share them here as well.
Now let's get busy!
If you need even more motivation, check out Kimberly's Morning Coffee post for today. Add your September Squidoo goals to the forum and, at the end of the month if you're able to show that you met them, you could win a prize.
Make your goals specific and measurable. Posting them publicly will add the element of accountability that many of us need to help us work a little harder to accomplish what we might otherwise give up on when we hit the inevitable rough spot.
To demonstrate that I practice what I preach, here are my September Squidoo goals:
1. Three new lenses this month, which will make 200 total! Still need to decide on something significant for #200.
2. Update all of my seasonal lenses, which is much easier said than done. I will ashamedly admit that some are horribly out of date.
3. Approach a new charity I learned about this week to let them know about Squidoo and, if they're interested (and of course they will be) do what I can to help them get started.
So, who's next? Don't forget to post your goals on the SquidU forum, then feel free to share them here as well.
Now let's get busy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)