Irresistible Lens Titles on Squidoo

Squidoo's choice for Lens of the Day today has one of the most irresistible, "Must click NOW!" titles of any lens title I can remember, ever. 

How to Design Your Really Weird Alien

That's the title.  Isn't it awesome?  Doesn't it make you say, "Huh?" and want to click and read the lens - immediately?  Or is it just me who wants answers to all those questions the title generates in my puny brain?  ("My alien?"  "Why is it weird, even really weird?  I need to design an alien?  Did I miss an assignment somewhere?) 

I recently wrote about choosing a title for your lens, the man and machine elements to consider.  I'm not positive this title nailed the machine element; I'd have to do some keyword research to find out.  I am positive, though, that it hit the human element smack dab on the head.  At least it hit my head.  In fact, it almost knocked me over.

Are you still reading this?  If you want answers, too, then go right now and click on the title and check out the lens.  I hope you're as curious as I was about what this really weird alien thing is all about.  And I hope I can come up with a title as compelling and irresistible as this one for my next lens.  Love it! 

Wordless Wednesday: LOTD

Housework Really Is Fun When It's the Lens of the Day

Housework really is fun, especially when my lens about it is selected Lens of the Day!

What a nice surprise this morning to wake up to lots and lots of comments to approve, a sure sign that something special is going on on Squidoo.  Today, my lens Housework - How to Make it Fast and Keep it Fun, is Lens of the Day.

I've had a couple other LOTD's, but the excitement never lessens and, in fact, today I'm feeling especially blessed by the honor.  What wonderful comments the lens has received already!

Thank you, Squidoo, and thanks lensmasters for visiting my Lens of the Day.  Here's wishing happy housekeeping for all of us!

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.

What the Lens of the Day is Lacking

If you're a Squidoo lensmaster, you're probably familiar with the Lens of the Day (LOTD) award. Each weekday (or so) an outstanding lens is chosen to receive the LOTD honor. The lens is featured on the official Squidoo Lens of the Day blog as well as on the left sidebar of each lensmaster's dashboard.

So, what is the Lens of the Day program lacking? For one thing, nominations! Did you know that lenses chosen for the honor are nominated by lensmasters? In fact, it's okay to nominate your own lens although, in the spirit of Squidoo, supporting other lensmasters by nominating their great lenses is looked upon very favorably (and doing so makes you feel good, too). So why does Kimberly sometimes have a difficult time finding lenses deserving of the honor? Two reasons. First, she receives only a few nominations a day. And second, many of the nominated lenses are rejected for either important ommissions or commissions of a serious Squidoo no-no.

You might be surprised to learn what many lensmasters leave off of an otherwise excellent lens. No, it isn't a guesbook. That's not required, although it's certainly missed when it isn't on a lens. Want to guess again? Never mind, I'll tell you. It's a lensmaster picture (or avatar) and bio. Quite surprising, eh? It was to me. As explained in my Squidoo Somebody lens, it's easy to upload an avatar and write a default biography that will appear on all of your Squidoo lenses. Surprising how many lensmasters apparently don't bother. Going one step further by customizing the bio to complement the lens's topic may carry a bit of weight in the selection process, too.

To learn more about what constitutes a LOTD-worthy lens, read and heed Megan's lens, The Secret Life of Lens of the Day. Upload your avatar and bio, create lenses with useful, unique, and updated content, delete unusued lens modules, rename default module titles, write from the heart, and you may be the next proud lensmaster to receive a Lens of the Day honor. While you're at it, don't hesitate to nominate great lenses that meet LOTD criteria. Go ahead. Make someone's day.

Hot Dog! What a Lens!

Did you see today's Lens of the Day? It's Hotdog Halloween Costumes for the Whole Family by lensmaster luvmyludwig (Crystal). I think it's a brilliant sales lens, very well done with great content and keyword placement. Notice the black boxes dividing the sections and how Crystal included the best keywords shoppers are using to to find hotdog costumes for every member of the family. I checked "hotdog halloween costume" and the lens is on page 1 of Google!

I also like what Crystal included with the hot dog costumes. The ketchup and mustard costumes, the hot dog candy, a couple of videos, and a short link list plus just a few other things that fit her topic well but with the most important items at the top. I've seen so many lenses recently with a great main topic but that veer off into some other items that just don't fit. This lens is such a great example of what to include and what to leave off.

That's what I think. What do you think?

Lens of the Day is Back

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.

Kris Allen and Me

What do Kris Allen and I have in common? We've both recently been surprised with an unexpected honor.

Kris, of course, is the new American Idol. I, on the other hand, have received the honor of having the Lens of the Day on Squidoo today for, whadya know, my Kris Allen, American Idol lens.

Kris Allen was surprised with his honor. I was surprised with mine, too.

Wow. I'm in great company.

Congratulations, Kris! Go, me!

What All Squids Want - and I Got!

What do all Squidoo lensmasters hope for, strive for, wish for, live for? Do you know? If you're a lensmaster I'm guessing you do. The answer? Having your lens chosen as Lens of the Day.

Today was my day. I woke to lots and lots of Squidoo comment emails, which was my first clue. One said "Congratulations on LOTD" and then I knew for sure. Hooray! This is my first time receiving this great honor. What a way to start the week!

Making Fun of Sarah Palin - Has Political Humor Crossed the Line? is my honored lens. If you haven't seen it, I hope you'll take a few minutes to visit and read all the great comments answering the title question. Do you think political humor has gone too far this year? Add your comments to the duel. It's great fun!

Thanks, everyone, for creating such great content on the lens with your opinions and comments. Thanks, Megan, for choosing my lens. I'm so honored and still so excited!