Everyone's an expert (on something) and Squidoo was created as a platform for any one of those everyones to promote their cause, share their expertise, spread their influence.
If you're not entirely sure what all that means, take about 10 minutes and read Everyone's an Expert (On Something), the e-book by Seth Godin, the book that explains what Squidoo is really all about.
If you're serious about Squidoo, read this little book. You'll learn about focusing and about why Squidoo isn't a blog. You'll learn how to deliver what users (web surfers) want and how to get those same users to take action. You'll re-learn, or maybe actually learn for the first time, how to be a lensmaster.
Showing posts with label motivation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motivation. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Will You Poke the Box?
Most of you probably know that Seth Godin is the founder of Squidoo. He also is the author of a dozen bestselling books. His new one, Poke The Box, will be out March 1st.
Last night I saw the book's complete cover for the first time. It's different, but so is Seth.
What I love is the description on the flap of the book cover, starting with, "When is the last time you did something for the first time?"
Well, do you remember when you did?
The description just gets better from there. I would encourage you to read it. Read how Seth defines our position in the world. Maybe it's just me, but I find those words intriguing and very inspiring. In fact, I've read that whole section several times and keep going back to it, wondering about my position in the world and what uniqueness I have yet to contribute.
If you like what you read on the cover, consider ordering the book. You can find it here. (The Kindle edition is currently the best price and remember, you don't have to have a Kindle to read Kindle books. You can download one of the free reading apps for PC, Mac, or most smart phones and read it in any (or all) of those places. The free reading apps are here.)
And if you do buy the book, come back in early March after you read it and let me know what you've decided to instigate or provoke. There's going to be a lot of that going on, so you'd might as well be part of it!
Last night I saw the book's complete cover for the first time. It's different, but so is Seth.
What I love is the description on the flap of the book cover, starting with, "When is the last time you did something for the first time?"
Well, do you remember when you did?
The description just gets better from there. I would encourage you to read it. Read how Seth defines our position in the world. Maybe it's just me, but I find those words intriguing and very inspiring. In fact, I've read that whole section several times and keep going back to it, wondering about my position in the world and what uniqueness I have yet to contribute.
If you like what you read on the cover, consider ordering the book. You can find it here. (The Kindle edition is currently the best price and remember, you don't have to have a Kindle to read Kindle books. You can download one of the free reading apps for PC, Mac, or most smart phones and read it in any (or all) of those places. The free reading apps are here.)
And if you do buy the book, come back in early March after you read it and let me know what you've decided to instigate or provoke. There's going to be a lot of that going on, so you'd might as well be part of it!
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, May 5, 2010
To Do: Get Motivated!
I find that a daily to-do list motivates me to get more done, both on Squidoo and elsewhere.
Be realistic about your time constraints, but make a short list every morning (or better, the night before). Mark things off as you accomplish them. The motivating part is seeing the line marked through the things you've accomplished, but the secret is to keep the list short to start with.
Seeing how much you actually got done at the end of the day will be a motivator for the next day, while helping to avoid the deadly procrastination trap.
Remember: Motivate. Don't procrastinate.
Be realistic about your time constraints, but make a short list every morning (or better, the night before). Mark things off as you accomplish them. The motivating part is seeing the line marked through the things you've accomplished, but the secret is to keep the list short to start with.
Seeing how much you actually got done at the end of the day will be a motivator for the next day, while helping to avoid the deadly procrastination trap.
Remember: Motivate. Don't procrastinate.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Think You Might Want to Be a RocketMom?
You might have heard of RocketMoms, the invitation-only group of the smartest moms on Squidoo. The small-group mentoring atmosphere of RocketMoms has surpassed even the wildest expectations and the first three sessions of RocketMoms have produced hundreds of quality Squidoo lenses.
If you've thought that maybe you'd like to participate, but you weren't sure, here's some good news. RocketMoms will have a Try-It Week October 19-23, which will be an intensive teaching and lensmaking week for those who want to see exactly how the group works. If you like what you see, you'll be welcome to stick around for the next session of RocketMoms, a special six-week holiday lensbuilding session that promises to be superific and fantastical! (Feel free to substitute your favorite made-up super-adjectives.)
You'll need an invitation to participate in the Try-It Week. If you're interested, leave a comment here on this post with your name and email address and I'll see to it that you get the information you need. Comments are moderated and will not be published so your email will be safe and secure, I promise.
Remember, Try-It Week starts October 19 so you'll need to let me know right away. I hope to hear from you today. It's going to be a blast!
If you've thought that maybe you'd like to participate, but you weren't sure, here's some good news. RocketMoms will have a Try-It Week October 19-23, which will be an intensive teaching and lensmaking week for those who want to see exactly how the group works. If you like what you see, you'll be welcome to stick around for the next session of RocketMoms, a special six-week holiday lensbuilding session that promises to be superific and fantastical! (Feel free to substitute your favorite made-up super-adjectives.)
You'll need an invitation to participate in the Try-It Week. If you're interested, leave a comment here on this post with your name and email address and I'll see to it that you get the information you need. Comments are moderated and will not be published so your email will be safe and secure, I promise.
Remember, Try-It Week starts October 19 so you'll need to let me know right away. I hope to hear from you today. It's going to be a blast!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
New Giant Squid Challege Supports Baby Squids
'Way back when I was working to become a member of the second-ever class of giant Squids, the only support we had was an occasional "You can do it!" on the SquidU forum. We supported each other, of course, but there were no small groups and no organization. Wow, has time changed things!
Now, with the help of the Giant Squid Organizers and an ever-growing team of Giant Squid Challenge Group Leaders, baby Squids have so much support! There's a Ning group, countless challenges and competitions, and group chats. Now you can also subscribe to Giant Squid Tips on Twitter to get daily quick tips and assignments that will help you swim your way to Giant Squiddom in no time!
The new Giant Squid Challenge will be starting soon. Learn all about it on this lens and don't be shy about getting involved no matter how many, or how few, lenses you have. I promise, you'll be glad you did.
Now, with the help of the Giant Squid Organizers and an ever-growing team of Giant Squid Challenge Group Leaders, baby Squids have so much support! There's a Ning group, countless challenges and competitions, and group chats. Now you can also subscribe to Giant Squid Tips on Twitter to get daily quick tips and assignments that will help you swim your way to Giant Squiddom in no time!
The new Giant Squid Challenge will be starting soon. Learn all about it on this lens and don't be shy about getting involved no matter how many, or how few, lenses you have. I promise, you'll be glad you did.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Awesome eBay Module Sale
It isn't mine, but a visitor to one lucky lensmaster's lens clicked through an eBay module link, signed up as a buyer on eBay, bid and bought . . .
Should I tell you or make you look? I think I'll make you look. It's worth the visit to the forum.
Here.
Should I tell you or make you look? I think I'll make you look. It's worth the visit to the forum.
Here.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Changing Lives With Squidoo
Squidoo gives you, yes you, the power to touch, change, even save lives.
So you don't miss the enormity of that statement, you really must read "The Power of Squidoo" on the "So You Want to Be a Giant Squid" blog about one lens that most certainly did change a life.
Never doubt the power your words might have when you team them up with Squidoo.
So you don't miss the enormity of that statement, you really must read "The Power of Squidoo" on the "So You Want to Be a Giant Squid" blog about one lens that most certainly did change a life.
Never doubt the power your words might have when you team them up with Squidoo.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Moms are Taking Off on Squidoo
What are Rocketmoms? They're not a group of female astronauts or scientists and they don't dance in a famous theater in New York City, although it wouldn't surprise me if there happened to be a scientist, an astronaut, or a dancer in the group. Actually, Rocketmoms are some of the smartest women on the web, and they're all lensmasters on Squidoo.
Turns out that many of the busiest, brightest, and best lensmakers on Squidoo have something in common: They're moms. Stay-at-home moms, working moms, single moms, grandmoms, stepmoms, but moms nonetheless.
Rocketmoms is a boot camp of sorts, organized for a small group of moms by Squidoo's own Megan Casey and lensmaster/Giant Squid Organizer BDKZ, with the creative touch of lensmaster SusanVillasLewis who designed the gorgeous template and fantastic logos. These lensmaster-moms network together, encouraging and motivating each other while being challenged to step outside their comfort zones by completing lensmaking assignments on topics that some of them never would have attempted on their own. By all accounts this project has been a rip-roaring success, not surprising when you consider that we're talking about moms here, the kind who invented the verb "multitask."
The first session of the Rocketmoms boot camp is coming to a close (I hear graduation was awesome) and the next session is about to begin. If you're a lensmaking mom on Squidoo and would like to participate in Rocketmoms in the future, read this SquidBlog post to find out how to apply. If you're a smart lensmaster but not a mom, keep your eyes peeled for other networking opportunities sure to pop up when you least expect it somewhere on Squidoo. Or hey, start a group yourself. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to stir up excitement on Squidoo.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Have You Caught the Spirit of Squidoo?
I love Squidoo, love the lensmasters, love the whole spirit that permeates the place.
What I love best is the way that lensmasters cheer each other on, and there are no better cheerleaders than the Giant Squid Organizers (GSO's for short). Frankly, I don't know how Bonnie, Robin, and Patti do it. They run a very popular section of the SquidU forum, they have blogs that promote the Giant Squid program on Squidoo, they review lenses and award purple stars weekly, and they continue to make high-quality lenses of their own, just to mention a few of their regular activities.
Besides the GSO's, the whole Giant Squid community, as well as the wannabe Giants, promote challenges and other activities designed to encourage excellence in lensmaking. If you're new to Squidoo and don't really understand what I'm talking about (yet) then you must visit the So You Want to Be a Giant Squid? section of the SquidU forum and see the spirit of Squidoo in action.
Catch the spirit of Squidoo! Your lensrank will thank you for it.
What I love best is the way that lensmasters cheer each other on, and there are no better cheerleaders than the Giant Squid Organizers (GSO's for short). Frankly, I don't know how Bonnie, Robin, and Patti do it. They run a very popular section of the SquidU forum, they have blogs that promote the Giant Squid program on Squidoo, they review lenses and award purple stars weekly, and they continue to make high-quality lenses of their own, just to mention a few of their regular activities.
Besides the GSO's, the whole Giant Squid community, as well as the wannabe Giants, promote challenges and other activities designed to encourage excellence in lensmaking. If you're new to Squidoo and don't really understand what I'm talking about (yet) then you must visit the So You Want to Be a Giant Squid? section of the SquidU forum and see the spirit of Squidoo in action.
Catch the spirit of Squidoo! Your lensrank will thank you for it.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Lensmasters Make Me Smile
I really love lensmasters on Squidoo. I love them for a lot of reasons, but today I love them for the very kind comments they leave on my lenses.
Maybe I'm just insecure, but it certainly does make me feel good when people say they enjoy my work. I'm talking about really sincere comments, and I've had a lot of those lately.
Thank you, each of you, for making me smile. I hope my comments on your lenses make you smile, too.
(picture courtesy BL1961 through creative commons)
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Big News On Squidoo. Make That GIANT News!
Today's Giant Squid Day on Squidoo. The most recent class of Giant Squids has been announced. Congratulations to all of you! I don't think I'll ever forget the day I found out I was a Giant Squid. When the badge appeared on one of my lenses, I did a double take, checked a few other lenses just to be sure, then ran into the kitchen where I had no witnesses and jumped up and down for a long time! I know exactly how all of you new Giants feel. Oh, so good!
It's also Giant Squid 100 Club Day, and I'm jumping up and down yet again because now I can display that badge, too. I qualified! Hooray for me and for all the new 100's! As the honors get better, the rewards (and responsibilities) get bigger. With so many excellent lensmasters on Squidoo, I have to wonder what will come next.
In the meantime, W00t!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
A Challenge and a Cheerleader
Back in mid-October I received the following message via email:
Guess what. She did it. And, after giving up on my goal with nine to go, then receiving a kick in the tentacles by (guess who) Susanna herself, so did I. I published my 102nd lens last night at a few minutes before midnight. Susanna is up to at least 110 (Squidoo hasn't updated totals in a couple of days). That's more than four lenses a week and, I might add, hers are good, quality lenses. No junk in her lensography, that I can guarantee! Here's her latest; just check it out to see what I mean.
Susanna Duffy, you're a shining star in the Squidoo sky, or is it sea? Either way, thank you for being my cheerleader. You're going to make a wonderful member of the Giant 100 Club!
"I'm going for the 100 club too (although I am behind you by a few lenses) and I'm going to be keeping my eye on you and your lenses! Susanna"Thus began the challenge. Susanna was challenging herself, but little did she know how she would challenge me! Susanna had a plan, which included four lenses a week in order to make the 100 Club deadline of the 31st. Wow, four a week. That's a lot of lenses!
Guess what. She did it. And, after giving up on my goal with nine to go, then receiving a kick in the tentacles by (guess who) Susanna herself, so did I. I published my 102nd lens last night at a few minutes before midnight. Susanna is up to at least 110 (Squidoo hasn't updated totals in a couple of days). That's more than four lenses a week and, I might add, hers are good, quality lenses. No junk in her lensography, that I can guarantee! Here's her latest; just check it out to see what I mean.
Susanna Duffy, you're a shining star in the Squidoo sky, or is it sea? Either way, thank you for being my cheerleader. You're going to make a wonderful member of the Giant 100 Club!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Polishing My Plow on New Year's Eve
So, how are you spending your New Year's eve? I hope you'll take some time out to have a little fun, spend a bit of time reflecting, but spend most of your time looking ahead. What do you believe the new year holds? Do you have predictions? Goals? Resolutions? If you do, I hope you'll take a minute or two and share them on my New Year Predictions and Resolutions lens. Then bookmark the lens and come back in a month or two, or even next December 31st to see how you're doing or how you did.
A couple of years ago I found a saying that goes like this: A man cannot plow a field by turning it over in his mind. I printed that out and it's been taped to my computer monitor ever since. I haven't found any better advice, advice that truly speaks to me, since then and I will continue to dust off those wise words and read them every day, not just on January 1st. They really motivate me to act.
I predict wonderful things for the coming year. Of course life will always bring surprises, but one thing we can control is our outlook on and our approach to life. Be positive, be proactive, and see what can happen. That's how I intend to plow my field in the coming year. I hope you'll do the same.
Happy New Year!
A couple of years ago I found a saying that goes like this: A man cannot plow a field by turning it over in his mind. I printed that out and it's been taped to my computer monitor ever since. I haven't found any better advice, advice that truly speaks to me, since then and I will continue to dust off those wise words and read them every day, not just on January 1st. They really motivate me to act.
I predict wonderful things for the coming year. Of course life will always bring surprises, but one thing we can control is our outlook on and our approach to life. Be positive, be proactive, and see what can happen. That's how I intend to plow my field in the coming year. I hope you'll do the same.
Happy New Year!
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