The 5-Minute Web Page: Use the New Squidoo

Squidoo is always tweaking their service and making their Squidoo lenses easier to use and more attractive. If you need to get started with the new Squidoo features, here is the best and quickest way to make a Squidoo Lens. Even if only have one article or piece of content, you can make a Squidoo Lens

What is a Squidoo Lens ?

A Squidoo Lens is a free online service which makes it easy for anyone to create a one-page web site based on a specific topic. With a Squidoo Lens, anyone can promote links to web sites, add their RSS feed, add images, add videos, voting lists, and even sell related products found on Amazon.com and other Squidoo partner retailers.

For an example, see the AC Toolbox.

Getting Started with Squidoo

If you have not been to Squidoo in a few months, or even a few weeks, you may want to re-visit the site. Squidoo has inproved their functionality, page upload time, and removed the features that did not work.

They have also added more graphic elements including Polaroids, Blackboxes, and a much-needed Table of Contents feature,

Understanding the Squidoo Elements

Each element on Squidoo is called a "module." You can add as many modules as you need, and as many different types of modules.

New Squidoo Features

New Squidoo Lens features have made Squidoo even better than it was before.

Polaroid - The Polaroid module allows you to add a large photo to the lens.

Black Box - The Black Box module enables you to add a big black box of text. These can be useful in organizing content, or in drawing attention to important points.

Table of Contents - My inner librarian loves the new Table of Contents Module. Once you add it and name it, the Table of Content automatically creates a list of all of the content on your Lens. This is very useful as your lens grow.

The 5 Minute Lens

Step One: Go to Squidoo.com.

Choose Sign Up. Fill in all of the fields and then "Continue."

Step Two: Create the Lens

There is no waiting for an email confirmation, or for a temporary password, Squidoo lets you jump right in and make a lens.

Choosing the Name

Use the same keyword phrase techniques you would use on articles to come up with a name for a Squidoo Lens. While many popular keywords may be take, if you focus in narrowly, as you should do when you write SEO articles, you will be able to create

Tip: this process can also help you narrow your article topics.

After you pick the name, you are brought to a template option. They are all just variations on each other, so it does not matter which one you pick when you start. You can add and delete modules at any time.

It took me very little time to make this new Easter for Kids Squidoo lens: Squidoo.com/easterforkids

Essential Modules

Introduction

The most essential module you need to keep is the Introduction with the photo. You will need to first fill in the introduction and then save. Then you can upload a photo and save. If you try to do both at once, the text does not always save.

RSS

Next, add your RSS feed to the RSS module. This is an easy way to add content to your lens. It also helps keep your lens fresh, without any extra work.

Text/Write Module

The best way to make an attractive lens, is to include images scattered throughout your Lens. With the Text/Write module you can add small photos. This is not clear from its name, but that is one of its functions.

Link Module

One of the most important modules on the Squidoo Lens is the Link Module. The most attractive lenses tend to have only one link per link module. This makes each link stand out.

Add the link, the name and a description and save.

This is one of the modules you will use most frequently to promote content.

Go to Add Modules to add link modules. Save.

Amazon.com

Use the Amazon.com modules to find Amazon products related to your topic.

Save the Draft and Publish. You're done.

Go back and edit, add modules, delete modules and rearrange modules as necessary.

Extraneous Modules

Some modules which are automatically added to Squidoo are Amazon, Flickr, YouTube, Orbit and Guestbook. Of those, only Amazon and Guestbook are truly essential.

Tip: Even if a module appears on your lens while editing, it will not appear on your final Squidoo Lens unless you fill in the information. It is easier to delete the modules you do not want, to make it easier to edit your Lens without visual distractions.

Sources

AC Toolbox, http://www.squidoo.com/actoolbox
Easter for Kids, http://www.squidoo.com/easterforkids
Squidoo, http://www.squidoo.com