Tips for Squidoo Lensmasters - Issue 2: Squidoo Basics

Before you hit publish on a lens you should make sure all the basics are covered. It's not hard, it's like dotting the i's and crossing the t's.

• Make sure you have a written a biography. It should be informative but not long winded. Don't try and pack your entire life story in there. Maybe use that information for a lens of its own.
• Add a photo to your bio. People want to see a face to put to the name. It doesn't have to be too recognisable. Be it artistic, a little obscure, maybe a Photoshop filter or two. But it will give people the chance to feel that there's a real person behind the stories.
• Make sure your content is quality. Hopefully even original. However if you do "borrow" content from elsewhere be sure to read their Terms of Service if it's an article site and in the very least put include a link back to the source. Even if you're only quoting a paragraph. It's not hard to use a bit of basic HTML to add a hyperlink.
• Your Introduction module should be a taste or a brief overview. Keep it brief but enticing, as this is what visitors will find as a description if they do a search at Squidoo. It is also what the search engines first find when their bots index the site.
• Add a photo to the Introduction module. If you don't have one if you make it into the top lenses for any category, or you're used in a Featured Lenses module, or you're displayed at a Group then people will see the default mystery squid icon. So do yourself a favour and make sure there's something in there and it complements the content.
• Have at least at least four modules, not including the Introduction module. If you don't then it will be classified as an unimproved lens. And there's a good reason why you don't want that to happen.
• Change the default titles. People don't want to see "New Guestbook". It looks sloppy. Choose one that fits with the theme of the site. Instead of "New Amazon" you could have "Recommended Reading" if it's a selection of books or "Discography" if you're listing the CD available from a bands collection of albums. If you're detailing a project you could give people a list of "Things You'll Need". The possiblities are endless.
• Delete unused modules. Empty modules make the place look abandoned.
• Don't use modules that will feature content or affiliate links which does not complement the topic of your site. The Onion module shouldn't be used. With the exception of having a lens about satire.

Do these 9 things and you'll be ahead of the game and go from being a Lensmaker to a Lensmaster.

-Glen



Glen F is a respected Lensmaster aka N376
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