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.
Showing posts with label UUU book. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UUU book. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, January 14, 2011
How to Sell Expensive Items on Squidoo
Someone asked me yesterday how to write a lens about an item that is higher priced but still affordable so they could increase their income from Squidoo. Thought I'd share my answer here.
The simple answer is that you write about expensive items the exact same way you write about lower priced items. You provide the UUU (useful, updated, unique) content but choose a higher priced item that people actually buy. To find one, go to Amazon.com and look at the bestsellers in the categories that you like writing about. Find a higher priced item that appeals to you, research it, and make a lens about it.
A fact I try to remember is this: Just because I can't afford it doesn't mean nobody can afford it. If it's a bestseller on Amazon, that means people are buying it - so somebody can afford it! I couldn't afford a Kindle when they first came out, but it appealed to me so I researched it, wrote about it, provided what at that time was very unique information about it, and I sold enough of them through my lenses that I could afford to buy one for myself! No reason you can't choose any other popular item and do the same thing.
Keep your lens very oriented to that one particular item, make the information worthwhile (useful), put your own spin on it (unique) and people will find your lens. The method isn't foolproof, but you have nothing to lose by choosing an expensive item to promote. If it doesn't work, try it again. If it does work, by all means try it again and watch your income grow!
Do you sell expensive items on Squidoo? I'd love to hear about your experience in a comment below.
The simple answer is that you write about expensive items the exact same way you write about lower priced items. You provide the UUU (useful, updated, unique) content but choose a higher priced item that people actually buy. To find one, go to Amazon.com and look at the bestsellers in the categories that you like writing about. Find a higher priced item that appeals to you, research it, and make a lens about it.
A fact I try to remember is this: Just because I can't afford it doesn't mean nobody can afford it. If it's a bestseller on Amazon, that means people are buying it - so somebody can afford it! I couldn't afford a Kindle when they first came out, but it appealed to me so I researched it, wrote about it, provided what at that time was very unique information about it, and I sold enough of them through my lenses that I could afford to buy one for myself! No reason you can't choose any other popular item and do the same thing.
Keep your lens very oriented to that one particular item, make the information worthwhile (useful), put your own spin on it (unique) and people will find your lens. The method isn't foolproof, but you have nothing to lose by choosing an expensive item to promote. If it doesn't work, try it again. If it does work, by all means try it again and watch your income grow!
Do you sell expensive items on Squidoo? I'd love to hear about your experience in a comment below.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Traffic on Squidoo: It's All About UUU
Probably the most-asked question on Squidoo is, "How can I get people to look at my lenses?"
There's a very short e-book with the answer. It's known as the UUU book, "Unique, Useful, and Updated: Three Secrets to Web Traffic." Its author is none other than bestselling author and famous internet marketing expert Seth Godin, who happens to be the inventor of Squidoo.
Before you do another thing on Squidoo (or your first thing on Squidoo if you're new) I suggest that you download and read the UUU book. It only has 13 pages and some of them have pictures, so it won't take long to read. Read it through once, then go back and read it again and click on its links to see the examples that Seth uses to demonstrate his points.
Memorize UUU. Not the book, the letters and what they mean. (Or the book if you really want to.) Write it down and tape it to your wall or computer screen so that when you make a lens - no, before you make a lens - you'll see it and apply Seth's advice.
Trust me on this one. It'll be worth your time.
Click here for the book.
There's a very short e-book with the answer. It's known as the UUU book, "Unique, Useful, and Updated: Three Secrets to Web Traffic." Its author is none other than bestselling author and famous internet marketing expert Seth Godin, who happens to be the inventor of Squidoo.
Before you do another thing on Squidoo (or your first thing on Squidoo if you're new) I suggest that you download and read the UUU book. It only has 13 pages and some of them have pictures, so it won't take long to read. Read it through once, then go back and read it again and click on its links to see the examples that Seth uses to demonstrate his points.
Memorize UUU. Not the book, the letters and what they mean. (Or the book if you really want to.) Write it down and tape it to your wall or computer screen so that when you make a lens - no, before you make a lens - you'll see it and apply Seth's advice.
Trust me on this one. It'll be worth your time.
Click here for the book.
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