Archive for the ‘Squidoo’ Category

I have some people arguing with me that a good lens can’t take 30 minutes. Oh yes it can. But a STELLAR lens - the kind that gets Lens of the Day and makes people swoon in amazement over your vast powers as a lensmaster - will take longer, yes.

The difference is content.

I can whip up a good introduction of 250 words that covers the basics of my topic, plus two more 250-word text modules that cover two more fine details (about a page 1/2 total of writing) in less than 15 minutes. Faster if I use my Dragon Naturally Speaking software (like 4 minutes).

But with a stellar lens, I cover everything I know. I become the authority on the matter. With good lenses, I’m showing value and expertise but funneling that traffic through Squidoo and on to my other domains (or affiliate links) so that THEY can represent me as the authority figure.

For example:

A Good lens might be “How to Squidoo” and I would give an introduction about what Squidoo is and why it’s good to use. I would then add a text module that talked about how easy it was to use, then another text module showcasing my Squidoo eBook. I would link out in each text module to my eBook site.

The writing would be good, I would tag it properly, and it would have relevant images. But MY domain would be the authority on the topic.

A Stellar lens on “How to Squidoo” would have the exact same elements as above but it would have these additional text modules:

How to register for your free Squidoo account
How to claim your first lens URL
How to tag a lens within your content
How to choose which modules would go in it, etc.

However, giving away this much information would clamp down on the sales of my eBook that teaches How to Squidoo - because I’ve parlayed my expertise on the lens itself. Of course, I could always give some information but not all.

Here’s an example of a good lens:http://www.squidoo.com/christmastoy - it has a good amount of content - an intro and two additional text modules with images.

Here’s an example of a stellar lens: http://www.squidoo.com/toptoddlertoys - it’s stellar because it goes into far more detail. Instead of just a broad description of toys I got into detail and wrote about educational toys, LeapFrog toys, etc.

So make good lenses for your marketing efforts. If you want them to perform extra well, shoot for stellar. Start with a topic that you’re passionate about and make it your first stellar lens. It will spur you on to make more

Tiff

Have you looked at the Squidoo Top 100? If you haven’t yet, you should. The reason is this – the Squidoo Top 100 reveals that top lenses have very little to do with what topic they’re about, and lots to do with how well-created they are.

What does this mean? It means that you need to spend some time, thought and energy in creating a really eye-catching lens that holds the viewer’s interest once their eye is caught!

With the Squidoo Top 100, diversity rules. You won’t find that most of the lenses are about the same general subject matter, so if you have an idea for a lens, but you’re hesitant because you think it’s a little offbeat, don’t worry.

You can create that offbeat lens and make it into the type of lens that gets to the top 100 list, and of course, that’s where everyone wants to be. I’m on there right now with my infant baby snail costume lens – who knew?

Here are some quick tips for making a top 100 lens: use graphics and images, add in polls and discussion modules, and invite comments (encourage viewer participation), review your favorite books, etc. related to your topic (add links for sales), and always keep it fresh – freshen your lens regularly!

Browse the Squidoo Top 100 List here: http://www.squidoo.com/browse/top_lenses and you’ll see topics like Halloween Songs, Stuffed Cabbage (!), Dog Medicine Side Effects, Foot Tattoos, How to Donate Your Hair and much, much more!

Keep on top of your lens, and your lens will end up in the Squidoo Top 100.

I’m going to toot my own horn here.

When it comes to creating Squidoo lenses that get results, there’s one woman that smart Internet marketers turn to - the real “Squidoo Queen” - moi - Tiffany Dow!

I have single-handedly created hundreds of Squidoo lenses for dozens of the world’s biggest names in Internet marketing, as well as for myself. I’m also one of a select group who achieved the much coveted status of Giant Squid (we get perks and insider tips as well as beta experimenting no one else gets).

Some savvy marketer stole the term Squidoo Queen shortly after others began using that nickname to describe me when I wrote the first marketing eBook on Squidoo - Social Networking on Squidoo. If Id’ have known Squidoo would allow their brand name in the URL, I would have grabbed it, but I was advised against it thanks to stingy MySpace’s rules with their brand.

So just who is Tiffany Dow? In a nutshell, I’m a ghostwriter turned Internet marketer. To look at where I am today, you’d never know that I got my start working as a service provider for one of the leading freelance sites on the Internet, quickly building a reputation for myself among the top Internet marketing “gurus” after Jimmy Brown taught me what IM was all about.

As my reputation grew, this Squidoo Queen found herself increasingly drawn by the appeal of Internet marketing, and decided to put my skills as a writer to work making money for myself. Discovering Squidoo was the turning point for my journey In internet marketing, and I quickly discovered secrets which I could share with other marketers.

I began offering lens creation services to others. The sheer number of top quality lenses Lewis (let’s call him the Squidoo King) and I have produced, our ability to gain top rankings within the Squidoo system (both have had lens of the day, for example), and our attention to the finer details often overlooked that rake in loads of cash month after month from Squidoo have definitely earned me the title Squidoo Queen.

In Social Networking on Squidoo, this Squidoo Queen takes you by the hand and walks you through the entire process of building profitable lenses - in fact, many of my customers have reported attaining top five rankings in Google after following the steps I’ve outlined in my book.

So what does the Squidoo Queen find herself doing these days? Well, in addition to the myriad of eBooks I have available, which bring in a consistent hands-free income, and my PLR MiniMart, which offers top notch PLR content to niche marketers at an affordable price, I’ve teamed up with Lewis Smile to create the BuildMyKnol.com website, in conjunction with the BuildMyLens brand. We offer custom knol and lens creation to Internet marketers around the world.

Even with so much of my income hands-free these days, this Squidoo Queen finds herself busier than ever building custom Squidoo lenses and Google Knols for hundreds of satisfied customers to date!

Okay, I haven’t kept up lately as much as I should have because Squidoo’s spinning out in all directions. I was ghostwriting a Squidoo course for my soon-to-be competitor (funny, isn’t it?) and I had to include a lesson on Squidoo co-brands and the list wouldn’t end! A simple 5-page lesson grew into a monster 10-page lesson.

Here are the current co-brands you may want to check out:

SquidoWho - Great for branding your name or staking claim to a guru’s name so you can be an affiliate.

SquidVids - Perfect for you viral video marketers.

MonkeyBrain - Hey we did a contest on this one! Host debates (create a viral buzz) using this co-brand.

SquidBoo - a co-brand dear to my heart. My little Infant Baby Snail lens has earned me a lot of money all through the year, go figure - who’s buying costumes all through the year?

Ever - Another co-brand we had a contest about! Ever is where you pick a superlative, tack on a keyword and you’re off! Like Best.Marketer.Ever.com

InkCity - Only good if you’re zeroing in on that hot tattoo niche.

SquidLit - Great for promoting books. Here’s a good strategy - host a poor review of a competitor who has a tangible book to promote your eBook - but only if their book really IS poor, mind you. OR, give a regular review, but also promote your own eBook (or someone else’s as an affiliate) alongside theirs.

SquidKnol - I heard through the Grapevine that this is a spoof for Google Knol, but who knows. Could have great potential if they ever decided to go through with it - it would be a place to build your expertise.

SquidBids - for all you eBay marketers

SquidFlix - for movies

SquidZippers - for realtors, insurance agents, and anyone who wants to “be the mayor of their zip code online.”

PhotoPhights - Host Flickr Fights, but make sure your images are tagged so you attract your prospects to your lens!

People Who Matter - Not sure how this is different from SquidWho, except for the fact it doesn’t look as good.

CafePress on Squidoo - Again, not sure why they have their own co-brand. Just make a lens with CafePress on it and you’re good to go!

eBayers on Squidoo - Another one - why have this when you have SquidBids?

Anyway, pick and choose among what you need. Some I love and some I think are irrelevant.
Tiff

Hmmm… not so sure I like it, really. I’ve actually become accustomed to the unmaxed layout for awhile now. The reason? More room for my content to stretch.

With the maxed version (now more than ever), all of my content is scrunched together with large, looming ads all around. I DO like the blue color scheme better than the plain orange, though.

Plus, I think it’s kind of odd that each type of visitors sees a slightly different page.

So am I 100% onboard yet? Nope. Maybe it’ll grow on me.
tiff

Hi Squidooers!

Ele recently posted a question (or more pointedly, a frustration) she has with Squidoo). She said, “I have a really hard time getting html code to “take” in my modules. I’ll type in the code to add a live link (SO much easier on a blog!), save and publish, and then the code drops and only the tags are left. I sometimes do this three times or more and eventually, I get a live link, but the frustration almost makes it not worth the effort.”

I think I may know what the problem is – it happens to me from time to time. I wrote the solution and posted it to Ezine Articles here:

http://ezinearticles.com/?id=840867

Let me know if this fixes it for you, Ele! This is the only thing that’s happened to me, but if it doesn’t cure it for you, submit a bug report.

Tiff

Found out today that I did achieve Giant Squid Status. I’m very excited. About a month ago (?) Squidoo staffers sent out announcements to certain Squidoo lensmasters letting us know that we had about a month to make sure we had at least 50 lenses that were up to snuff for inspection.

I only had 22 at the time, because I normally delete many lenses and focus on a few. But this time, I worked my fingers to the bone and made sure I had more than 50 lenses. I created business lenses, lenses on missing children, lenses on Ronald Reagan and Tinkerbell - whatever I had a passion for.

Today I got the congratulatory email that I had, indeed, passed inspection. It’s a great honor, not to mention the perks are nice. I don’t know if we can divulge the perks, so I won’t. But it’s cool. Not to mention, it will help my Build My Lens customers even more!

tiff