Tips for Squidoo Lensmasters - Issue 3: The Importance of the Lens Introduction Module

The Introduction Module is important.

How important?

Very important.

The Introduction Module is used for the first paragraph that is displayed on the Explore page if you make it onto the rotating list that feeds it. In other words, if you don’t have the Introduction Module filled out, you’ll never be in the running for inclusion on this list. The same goes for becoming a successful nomination for the Lens Of The Day.

More importantly than that, outside of Squidoo, it's the first thing that search engines spiders will crawl. When indexed it will show the first sentence or two in the results.

So if you want your lens to have a competitive edge, make sure you’ve got an Introduction Module.

Making an Introduction Module that Matters

Use your Introduction as a brief overview. A taste of what's to come.

Don't use it as the very start of your "story". Dive into that with a TEXT/WRITE module positioned after the Introduction module.

Don't use it for the punch line or big reveal.

Consider it the entree. An appetizer before the mains.

Avoid throwing in hyperlinks. Especially affiliate links. You want to convince people, state your case, win them over, sell them the sizzle BEFORE sending them off elsewhere. The only time I give a link is to another of my own lenses is if it's recommended they need to read and understand the information on my other lens before they start to devour the contents of the lens they’re on.

However...  if the introduction has been acquired from elsewhere you are obligated to provide a backlink.

This is how I make a reference backlink:

<a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squidoo>Source</a>

If you don't you will run foul of the author or the site from where the content was lifted. And even your readers may take offence.

If you don't include a backlink you are inexpiably stating you are the creator. And there are many people at places such at forums (if you were to link/reference your lens) who will take great delight and pleasure in pointing out that your content is plagiarised.

So always provide your reference source. If I use a snippet from Wikipedia for my intro, or in a TEXT/WRITE module I put in a source link. No matter how small. Be sure to the do the right thing.

It is a better idea though to craft your own intro from your own words. Originality will win you big points when it comes to search engine indexing.

There is no limit as to the size of the Introduction Module. Text/Write modules have a 2500 character limit. But that doesn't mean you try and take advantage of the limitless intro. Far from it. Keep it short, keep it sweet. And if you were to solely use the Introduction Module for all your words and also use images and then perhaps throw in an Amazon module and then a Guestbook you will find yourself unable to claim more than 30 lenses to your account.

Why is that? Because unless you have 4 modules NOT including the Introduction Module then it is classed/deemed/ranked/categorized as an unimproved lens [Find out more about Unimproved Lens].

It's also important to make sure every Introduction Module has an Intro image... why? I'll cover that in the next instalment.

-Glen



Glen F is a respected Lensmaster aka N376
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