Fall has always been my favorite season and this year, following a long, hot, dry summer, I've fallen absolutely in love with autumn.
Squidoo loves autumn, too, and is celebrating with a new lens theme. It probably goes without saying that I love it! I've switched over some of my seasonal lenses to the new theme and they look so clear and crisp and fresh, just like I feel this time of year. I'm feeling so inspired, in fact, that today I made a new lens for the theme (and, I confess, to satisfy a Squidoo quest while I was at it).
The Razorbacks lost today, the truck repair came to a screeching halt when the part didn't fit, the new part for the riding mower didn't arrive, in fact in many ways this has been a bust of a weekend . . . but I don't even care.
Did I mention that I'm in love with autumn? I hope you love your autumn, too.
Showing posts with label squidthemes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label squidthemes. Show all posts
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Friday, April 22, 2011
Choosing a Squidoo Theme - Which is More Readable?
Squidoo offers some awesome themes for our lenses and they're adding more and more. Specialty themes for holidays and seasons are great for certain lenses. I've discovered that on some of my lenses, though, especially those that are more "wordy" and educational, I really want to emphasize module titles - and sometimes it seems that the ads get in the way.
Recently I've been switching some of my lenses from a standard theme (such as Big Lucid) to the Highlighter theme. This makes it really easy for visitors who are scanning through to see the main parts of the lens. Also, at the top of the lens, it brings the eye to the module titles rather than to the ads. Earning money with ads is great, but I really do want people not to miss the contents of the lens because it blends in with the ads.
Here's an example. Look at these two pictures of the same lens, one with Big Lucid as the theme, the other with Highlighter.
Recently I've been switching some of my lenses from a standard theme (such as Big Lucid) to the Highlighter theme. This makes it really easy for visitors who are scanning through to see the main parts of the lens. Also, at the top of the lens, it brings the eye to the module titles rather than to the ads. Earning money with ads is great, but I really do want people not to miss the contents of the lens because it blends in with the ads.
Here's an example. Look at these two pictures of the same lens, one with Big Lucid as the theme, the other with Highlighter.
See what I mean? Do you agree that it's easier to see what I've written when it's highlighted and that the ads get in the way of my text otherwise?
I'd like to know what you think. Which themes are your favorites? Do you vary your choice of theme depending on the lens topic? Let me know in a comment below.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Squidoo Themes and Front Doors
If you're new to Squidoo, you might not know that there are nine different "themes" you can use for your Squidoo lenses, to give each its own look. Additionally, there are "front doors" to Squidoo which place your lenses on a specific template. It's important to understand that "themes" and "front doors" are not the same.
THEMES: When you make a lens on Squidoo, it is created with the "default" theme. That's the page with the blue background and headings in orange. But there are currently a total of nine themes, the default theme and eight more (with even more coming soon). You can find all nine in the lens workshop on the upper right-hand side under "workshop tools." Click on "themes" and you'll see the list. To change your lens's theme, click on the button next to your choice and choose "select." You don't have to re-publish your lens for the change to take effect; it happens immediately. Take a look at your lens to see how you like it. If it doesn't give you the look you're going for, try on another theme for size. Feeling green? Choose the "Gone Camping" theme. Want a clean look? Try the "Zen" theme.
FRONT DOORS: Making a book review lens? You might choose the SquidLit "front door" to create the lens. Making a Halloween-themed lens? Try SquidBoo. The SquidZippers format is great for a local lens. Check the bottom of the Squidoo.com page for more "front doors."
IMPORTANT: Themes are interchangeable; front-door templates are not. You can change the themes anytime, but you can't change the "front door" templates! If you want a lens on one of those templates, you have to create it there in the first place, so be sure you want to use that format before you make a lens through that particular front door.
Squidoo isn't just orange and blue anymore. Explore front doors and themes to find the perfect background for each of your lens topics.
THEMES: When you make a lens on Squidoo, it is created with the "default" theme. That's the page with the blue background and headings in orange. But there are currently a total of nine themes, the default theme and eight more (with even more coming soon). You can find all nine in the lens workshop on the upper right-hand side under "workshop tools." Click on "themes" and you'll see the list. To change your lens's theme, click on the button next to your choice and choose "select." You don't have to re-publish your lens for the change to take effect; it happens immediately. Take a look at your lens to see how you like it. If it doesn't give you the look you're going for, try on another theme for size. Feeling green? Choose the "Gone Camping" theme. Want a clean look? Try the "Zen" theme.
FRONT DOORS: Making a book review lens? You might choose the SquidLit "front door" to create the lens. Making a Halloween-themed lens? Try SquidBoo. The SquidZippers format is great for a local lens. Check the bottom of the Squidoo.com page for more "front doors."
IMPORTANT: Themes are interchangeable; front-door templates are not. You can change the themes anytime, but you can't change the "front door" templates! If you want a lens on one of those templates, you have to create it there in the first place, so be sure you want to use that format before you make a lens through that particular front door.
Squidoo isn't just orange and blue anymore. Explore front doors and themes to find the perfect background for each of your lens topics.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Color My World Squidoo
Lots going on at Squidoo this summer. RocketMoms has launched a second semester, the Giants are starting summer school, and today the new Squidoo lens layout is being released. Along with the new layout comes a fabulous new feature for your lensmaking pleasure: themes.
Having been one of the lucky giants to test the new themes on my lenses, I thought I'd share some of my impressions with you. There are seven new themes plus the new color scheme that goes along with the updated lens layout. The layout is the same on all the themes; only the colors and fonts are different. All of your maxed lenses will revert to the new layout first, then you'll be able to edit your lenses to give each one its most suitable look.
The default theme is orange and blue, very recognizable as Squidoo, bold and bright yet tasteful. If you code in a lot of color on your lenses, you might be disappointed that things don't match quite as well anymore, but then again they might. If colors tend to clash with the default design, don't panic; try one of the new themes first. Each has a different color scheme and one might be perfect. I'd recommend trying "Moment of Zen" for a nice, neutral light gray look or try "Easy Street" for a strong, black background that sets off coded-in colors or striking photographs very nicely.
If you think green, then you're going to love the "Gone Camping" theme. Have a passion for purple? Think "Purple People Eater;" you'll love it. Bold yellow bands behind module title fields give the "Highlighter" theme its name. A cool blue and white look dominates "Paintball," making me think of waterfalls and icebergs. Interestingly, "The Professor" theme was a good match for my homeschool planners lens; consider it for instructional lenses.
You'll find the theme choices in the workshop when you edit your lenses; look up and right. Click on the name of the theme to see a preview, then make your choice and apply it to the lens. Publish the lens and take a look. Have your ooh's and ah's ready; you're going to need them.
Having been one of the lucky giants to test the new themes on my lenses, I thought I'd share some of my impressions with you. There are seven new themes plus the new color scheme that goes along with the updated lens layout. The layout is the same on all the themes; only the colors and fonts are different. All of your maxed lenses will revert to the new layout first, then you'll be able to edit your lenses to give each one its most suitable look.
The default theme is orange and blue, very recognizable as Squidoo, bold and bright yet tasteful. If you code in a lot of color on your lenses, you might be disappointed that things don't match quite as well anymore, but then again they might. If colors tend to clash with the default design, don't panic; try one of the new themes first. Each has a different color scheme and one might be perfect. I'd recommend trying "Moment of Zen" for a nice, neutral light gray look or try "Easy Street" for a strong, black background that sets off coded-in colors or striking photographs very nicely.
If you think green, then you're going to love the "Gone Camping" theme. Have a passion for purple? Think "Purple People Eater;" you'll love it. Bold yellow bands behind module title fields give the "Highlighter" theme its name. A cool blue and white look dominates "Paintball," making me think of waterfalls and icebergs. Interestingly, "The Professor" theme was a good match for my homeschool planners lens; consider it for instructional lenses.
You'll find the theme choices in the workshop when you edit your lenses; look up and right. Click on the name of the theme to see a preview, then make your choice and apply it to the lens. Publish the lens and take a look. Have your ooh's and ah's ready; you're going to need them.
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