I like the bald guy. I have read pretty much everything he has written, and his blog has made it through every purge of my feeds I have ever had. So when he got behind the founding of Squidoo, I looked into it. Hard. And I just did not get it.
(For the uninitiated, Squidoo lets you create a mini web page, called a lens, on a subdomain of their site. You can add all sorts of plug and play modules, such as a guest book, eBay listing, you can write an article, and so on.)
I really did not see what advantage this would have over a traditional blog. I mean, it sounded like MySpace for adults. Apparently, Seth knew just what I was thinking, because they released a free ebook showing how you can use Squidoo to drive traffic to your eBay listings. While I sell quite a bit on eBay, and will look into using Squidoo for that, the main thing is that for the first time, I get it. I understand what the big deal is.
Now, I could sit here and try to explain it, but I would just foul it up. Why not download the book (it is free) and see for yourself? It is only 54 pages, took about 20 minutes to read, about 10 minutes to implement. I am off to build mine now.
If you Squidoo, please post your links in the comments.
Thanks for the tip. I like the bald guy too, but I didn’t notice the ebook.
Yes, I did squidoo (still two lenses up there). Still not a clue what it is supposed to do for me
And….
I had to create my own associated links to amazon.co.uk, Seth and Squidoo only do amazon.com. That’s not much going to help my UK bank account now, is it
The charity (Room to Read) my lenses are donating to gets more from our company (cheque every quarter) than the measly cents my Squidoo lenses make them.
Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)
Hugh,
I do Squidoo – Don’t Eat the Steak is my best lens. I had it up to #19 in business lenses.
Without repeating everything and not giving away everything I will be talking about Monday, June 25 2007 when I will be interviewed on the subject by none other than Krishna De – BizGrowthLive call that anyone can join into by signing up at bizgrowthlive.com
#1 benefit – a place to direct people for content that falls below the radar on your blog. Old posts do not get much attention. A lens can highlight them AND increase traffic flow to them by increasing the Google page ranking.
I have blogged about this a few times as well. I’m not making a lot of money from my lens. I am getting great SEO by leveraging it’s contents that link to my webpage and blog.
#2 benefit – If you are a small company and you want a site that can handle high traffic volume – this is a good one. It’s free and if you get a wild response it will not go down as fast as a “free hosting” or bandwidth limited site will.
As I said, I could go on but this is your blog not mine.
I have let the other lenses slide a bit. My blogging and other work has taken up more time lately.
Roger, one question if I may:
who can it benefit a small company better than a blog or static website when the business lens you make gets ‘filled’ with google ads from you ‘competitors’ and you don’t have much influence over which ads are automagically shown on your lens?
That’s my big wonder always (and the reason why I removed my 3rd lens – business lens of wooden flooring, our trade – that got filled with google ads on wooden flooring
)
Karin H.
Karen,
It’s Hugh’s blog and my guess is he will let you ask as many questions as you like. As for me, I am always open to a friendly discussion – much more interesting than working.
The Google Ads: You have a very good point but I’m not sure I would say filled. One is too many to be sure. If you have your own site you can set limits on which ads show on your page. This needs to be added to Squidoo’s Lensmaster functions. Another issue was the “list of useful lenses” that showed up with the new layout. You can fix that by selecting for your lensroll only lenses you feel are not competition.
I guess my take is this – I hardly notice Google ads anymore. I rarely click on them. In fact, I have the Foxfire AdBlockPlus installed and it hides them on most sites – leaves a blank space. I turn it off on my own so that I can see the kinds of ads showing up there.
I believe my content is so much more appealing that those ads are just so much clutter around the edges. Maybe that is arrogant thinking but that is where I am at today.
Wood flooring eh? What is the best way to fix Pergo after you drop a flaming pan on it? (If I may ask?)
Karin – my appologies. I just noticed my incorrect spelling. Perhaps Hugh could fix that and delete this post
I don’t get Squidoo either. Not only don’t I get it I don’t ‘understand’ it either, I’ll read the Ebook and maybe the mist will lift. I’ve got two ‘lenses” (why not just call them what they are ? “PAGES !!”) – neither of which I have done much with yet I see I have made 4 cents! Am I good? I Don’t think so, when I go to Squidoo my mind just turns to mush – it reminds me of that story where the emperor had no clothes – but WTFDIK? Squidoo pages do tend to get ranked highly by Giigle for some reason.
BTW – The ebook you suggest is more about using Squidoo tp promote an ebay store than it is about using Squidoo to promote a traditional or web based business. The ebook you really want is the one Seth wrote 2 years ago – Everyone is an Expert ( Added a link to my last post about Squidoo or you can search for it online.)
I would also check the Squidoo 101 Lens (because it focuses)
I don’t use Squidoo to make money from ads. I don’t blog for that reason either. I’m not sure why I am defending the squid so much but I guess I just like to “discuss” I posted a piece disagreeing with the high priest of blogging today – more hits than I have had all week – since the 10 year old Dell comment on Engadget!
Hi Roger
See, on a Squidoo lens you could never have asked me this question, but on our FAQ Natural Wooden Flooring blog you can read, find answers or ask you own question
As for Pergo, is taht wood? Or look-alike-wood (like Squidoo looks like a….?)
Karin H.
Well, I read the e-book and now I have seen the light ! Allelujah. I still think Squidoo is a weird and clunky place where, despite what they say, you’v got to figure things out for yourself, but like I mentioned above Squidoo pages do get high rankings in Google. Basically it seems you create pages about all sorts of things then link them to your sites/blogs and link all the Squidoo pages to each other and link to other Squdioo members and favourites etc… and you eventually create a vast network of interconnecting stuff whichdrives traffic your way. You also put up stuff for sale from places like Amazon (just click on stuff – it ain’t too complicated) and people come along and buy you recommendations and you get a cut of the profits). It works apparently (or should that be allegedly). Anyway I’m giving it a go, my first page is squidoo.com/netmonetization
But I shall be making more – I guess it’s Squidoo ’cause it’s fulll of tentacles that stretch all over cyberspace!
Karin,
I could ask that question if you put a Q&A module. I have one on all of my lenses. You could then either respond there or create a section where you answer questions about damage to fancy wood flooring like Pergo (I think it is a brand).
Vic,
You are right about the tentacles effect. As for monetization – it’s not that much right now but that is not the best use of Squidoo.
My top lens – Don’t Eat the Steak has not yet reached my payout limit of $100. The rest are just sliding down in ranking as I have focused on the one lens, my blog, and work that pays. (Not necessarily in that order.)
I like Squidoo. Seth got one thing very very right.
He allowed, gasp, the content creators to–get this– make money! Affiliate links, ads, product plugs- sure why not!
A lot of the other competitors be pretty anticompensation–what a stance. Hey, come here, write for us- don’t expect anything in return! What, where are you going..?
I do use squidoo, but more for affiliate type stuff then ebay listings.
Squidoo is really cracking down lately. I hope they continue to cause most of their lenses are trash.
LOL, Brad