Progress Bar on Squidoo - Pros and Cons?

Have you seen the new progress bar on Squidoo?  In case you haven't, go look at one of your own lenses now.  On the right, just below your bio, is a green bar showing "lens progress" with a percentage posted next to it.  Click on "see your progress" below the bar for details.  There you'll see a list with 11 items, with the completed ones checked off.

New lensmasters that I know really like the progress bar.  As they make a new lens, they are prompted to complete each one of the steps (write more in your intro, add an intro photo, pick a topic and subtopic, add a social module, etc.).  It's very encouraging for these young Squids to achieve some immediate gratification as well as to be able to gauge their progress.

The last two items on the list, "Get at least 20 SquidLikes" and "Get SquidLiked By a Giant Squid," have generated some controversy among experienced Squids.  While the first nine items on the progress list are items that lensmasters directly control, completion of the last two items requires other registered Squidoo users to visit and "like" the lens, with at least one of those "likes" being from a Giant Squid.  While there are ways to promote a lens within the Squidoo community, most lenses are written with a different audience in mind.  Most lensmasters would be much happier with 20 visits to the lens from strangers rather than having 20 fellow Squidizens visit and like the lens. In fact, many people couldn't care less how many SquidLikes a lens gets in its lifetime - as long as it gets search engine traffic from shoppers.

While a number of people have voiced their concerns (some rather loudly) about these last two "requirements," at least one person has suggested that the first nine items on the list should comprise 100% completeness while the last two be added on as a bonus. That seems like a good idea.  Obviously having traffic from shoppers is very important, but it's also true that participation in the social aspects of Squidoo figures into lensrank calculation.  So, having those peer "likes" has potential monetary benefit, too. 

I've been around Squidoo long enough to know that almost all changes create controversy and, occasionally, chaos among the troops and some lensmasters can be very vocal about their disapproval.  "This too shall pass" is usually the way I handle situations like this one, but I'll admit that I was glad, and somewhat relieved, to hear the positive feedback from those in my small group of young Squids about the progress bar. 

My plan is to take those last two items on the progress list and use them as an object lesson for teaching promotion of lenses in general and participation in the Squidoo community in particular.  If others will stop worrying and simply adhere to TOS and not beg, bribe, or otherwise plead for their 20 "likes" but use good promotion and social media practices instead, I think they'll be far better off.  Which I'm pretty sure was the reason for the progress bar in the first place.

Sales Lenses vs Product Review Lenses: What's the Difference and Why Should You Care?

I really like today's SquidBlog post, written by Robin about Brenda's recommendation of Katinka's lens about her favorite office chair.  But enough name dropping.  Let me get to the point.

Robin points out that to create a good, well-written "sales" lens, don't think sales.  Think product recommendation.

What do you as a consumer want to learn from a product review or recommendation?  You probably want to know a lot about the product, including details and specs, but you probably also want to know how a real person feels about that product.  I know that I am far more comfortable shopping based on personal recommendations than from "facts" that oftentimes sound as if they've been translated from a foreign language by a computer.

I agree with Brenda and Robin.  Katinka did a fabulous job presenting the product in her lens, covering both the technical aspects and the psychological or emotional aspects in a way that not only makes for a quality lens but is very likely to convert readers to customers.  Read the blog post, then visit the lens if you're interested in learning how to write a product recommendation or review lens that people will actually want to read.

Hooked By a Renaissance Woman

Have you seen today's Lens of the Day?  Take a look.

This is a wonderful example of a unique, useful lens.  Full of original content, personal stories, and passion.  And a hook.

The author can easily expand this lens if she wants to, updating it with more questions and answers (as Kimberly explained in her LOTD blog write-up).  I hope that's all she adds.

Notice that there's only one sales module in the body of the lens, a nice selection of books that follow her story.  She does have a couple of items on the right sidebar.  They're applicable to her topic but had she placed them in the body of the lens, I think they would have detracted greatly from her simple living topic. 

When I read this lens, I found myself wanting to know more about the author, so I clicked on her bio.  That took me to another of her Renaissance lenses that also included some well-presented, wisely-chosen books.  Not too much, but just enough.  Again, simple and uncluttered, complementing her lifestyle.  Very nicely done.

I can imagine this series expanding with the addition of how-to lenses on self-discovery, self-sufficiency, and survival topics. I don't know what her plans are, but I suspect that as she writes more lenses, those topics will be her choices since they seem to be her life.  I hope so.  I'm hooked and I want to read more. 

Do you have a passion or a hobby or a lifestyle or even a business to share?  Make a lens.  Make it unique.  Keep it simple.  Hook someone on you so they'll want more.

Lensmasters, This is a Great Lens

"Gentlemen, this is a football."   It is said that at the beginning of every season, legendary football coach Vince Lombardi would open the first team meeting with that statement.  Of course his players knew what a football was, but the point was to remind them of the importance of never losing sight of the basics.  It's a lesson that applies to many aspects of life, including making lenses on Squidoo.

When you're planning your next Squidoo lens, stop for a minute and think of the basics of good lenscrafting. Will your lens contain useful, up-to-date information?  Will you make the lens unique by injecting into the lens your experiences and your passion for the subject?  If not, it might be a good idea to go back to the drawing board and re-think your plan.

The difference between a mediocre lens and a good lens should be obvious.  The difference between a good lens and a great lens is rooted in the basics of excellent lenscrafting.   Remember those basics so that when it's time to click the "Publish" button  you'll be able to proudly say to yourself, "Lensmaster, this is a great lens!"

P.S.  If you need to review the basics of crafting great lenses on Squidoo, take a look right here.