Do You Squidoo? If You Have an Abiding Interest in Anything You Should

It's Also an Easy Way for Content Producers to Advertise Their Articles

Timothy Sexton, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Aug 9, 2006 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

Do you Squidoo? I do. I have Squidooed at least four times so far. If you are a content producer here at Associated Content, or are anyone who is looking for a place to advertise their wares, or if you just like finding sites that contain information devoted wholeheartedly to a singular topic, or if you yourself are absolutely insane about something, then you should Squidoo.

What is Squidoo? It is really a web site at Squidoo. Com. It is a site on the web where you can create what is called a "lens" or, in fact, several lenses, that are devoted to the subject of your choice. The narrower the focus, the better, since you can create multiple lenses. Building your Squidoo lens couldn't be easier. You don't need knowledge of HTML or any other web building information. It's all done with an easy to follow template. You will be asked to register-don't worry, it's completely free-and then to choose the subject of your lens. Don't worry about duplication, there are multiple lenses devoted to the same topic.

You will start by choosing the modules you want. The modules are basically the set up for your page. Of course, you'll want a biographical section and some links. I've used Squidoo to set up links back here to my Associated Content articles. But the beauty is that I have created four lenses that focus on specific topics. For instance, links to all of my articles about Pensacola, Fl. are included on one lens. My many Simpsons articles are found on another. My articles about black and white movies on another. And so on.

But you can do much more than provide links. You can also add modules that advertise your favorite books, movies, music, etc. You can include polls, a guestbook, Flckr pictures, maps. One of the module categories is called Moneymakers. You can potentially make affiliate-level money by sending visitors to such sites as Amazon.com, Ebay, The Superstore. You can also open up a Café Press T-shirt store and make a little money that way. If you are verbally or artistically inclined, you can create your on T-shirts.

The potential for making royalties is a big selling point from Squidoo, but I imagine you really have to work hard promoting the site in order to do so. On the other hand, if you sign for the daily Lens of the Day, you will receive a pointer to one of the lenses picked by the company for showcasing. (One day it might even be yours!) One day I followed this link and ended up at the site of an author who claims to be making fairly decent money with her lens. And if you are of a charitable disposition, you can even choose to have what money you may make donated to your favorite charity rather than sent to you.

As I said, lenses can be very narrow. One of my all time favorite Lens of the Day that I visited showed how to make a really nifty castle out of large, appliance-size cardboard boxes. That was the extent of the lens' topic. It contained directions, as well as links on how to go about finding large boxes as well as where to buy the plastic rivets that make keeping the castle locked easier.

Another idea of just how narrow an interest can be expressed and marketed on Squidoo is the fact that one of the most profitable sites is dedicated to none other than Statler and Waldorf, those two cranky old critics from The Muppet Show. If you go this Squidoo lens, you'll be treated to a film clip as well as the latest Muppet merchandise featuring Statler and Waldorf currently up for bid on ebay. Yeah, that's right, if you are selling things regularly on eBay, Squidoo is a fantastic way to advertise it and bring in more bidders.

The potential for Associated Content writers, as well as other writers, is obvious. It's kind of like having multiple web sites devoted to just your own work. I'm definitely planning on opening a few more lenses. Goodness knows I've certainly got enough material to open a lens that Bush-hating freedom-lovers would find interesting. Obviously, the problem of promoting your Squidoo is one to consider. When I first brought attention to Squidoo to Associated Content writers in the community section, some pointed out that it is kind of vicious circle in which you use Squidoo to promote your writing here, but you now have to promote Squidoo in order for it to effectively promote your Associated Content writing.

That is true. On the other hand, however, since you can create as many Squidoo lenses as you desire, and narrow them down as much as you desire, you may find it people flocking to your Squidoo with minimal effort. If you have written quite a bit on a popular topics-say reality TV shows, or advice type material-then you've already got a built-in audience who will probably be attuned to browsing through your submissions that are devoted to their particular interest than in browsing through all your Associated Content submissions.

Just to take my own writing as an example. I have written on so many diverse topics that I doubt I could remember them all myself. Therefore, if someone finds film-related articles of interest after reading one or two and then they try to find my other film articles by clicking on my profile, they will be presented with a long list of articles having nothing to do with movies. They may quickly give up. On the other hand, since I now have all my movie related articles grouped together in one-actually two-lenses that much more easily digested, I stand a better chance of increasing my page views courtesy of someone specifically seeking out similar articles I've written. I know from experience that when I find a writer whose views on a particular subject I like I actively search out any other articles on the same subject. A lot of writers here specialize, of course, but there are many others like me who enjoy foisting their opinion about a vast array of topics. If you are one of those writers, then you can probably see how Squidoo could at least be of potential help.

And since it doesn't take much time to create a Squidoo lens that leads surfers back to your content, why not go ahead and do it? If you don't already Squidoo, I recommend that you consider it. It certainly won't hurt, and it just might help.

Published by Timothy Sexton - Featured Contributor in Arts & Entertainment

Timothy Sexton was named this site's very first Writer of the Year. Today he has several columns on Yahoo Movies and a weekly column on The Simpsons on Yahoo TV. He has published over 8,000 articles coverin... View profile

Do You Squidoo? If You Have an Abiding Interest in Anything You Should

It's Also an Easy Way for Content Producers to Advertise Their Articles

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