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Polar Bear: 2nd Runner Up LOTY 2007
2008-02-07 23:53:00
Frankster's page Are You Polar Bear Aware is one of the most entertaining pages at Squidoo. It has been consistently in the top 100 since she first published it, and no wonder! She's brought awareness to the plight of Polar Bears everywhere, and her style and approach endear them to everyone that goes near Frankster. If consistent performance and making a difference had anything to do with the LOTY selection, Frankster would have won it hands down. I, frankly, thought she would! Polar Bear Aware has contributed so much to the well being of a very endangered animal, has promoted ecological awareness and responsibility, and made it all FUN.If there was ever a page that would encourage experts and those with passion for a cause to create fabulous Squidoo pages, THIS page would certainly be one of them! If you like her style, check out all her pages. They're so much fun!
More About: Runner

Beatles: First Runner Up LOTY 2007
2008-02-07 23:44:00
Zuzanna has an eye for very popular topics and good ideas. Her Beatles lens was one of the first, and most popular example, of using plexos when they first came out. Although the rest of us were in a fog about what plexos were and how best to use them, Zuzanna caught on right away. You may also be a dreamer, Zuz, but I hope they all come true for you! Congratulations!
More About: Runner

Absolute Best Lens at Squidoo 2007
2008-02-07 23:33:00
Karendelac took Lens of the Year 2007, the absolute best lens out of 400K. She has really wowed everyone with her talent and beautiful pages this past year, and it is no surprise that with her eye for layout and great art, she would make such a beautiful page. I've enjoyed her work very much since she arrived at Squidoo and I'm very pleased to have her in my groups! Take a look at her page RMS Titanic!But, I suggest you don't stop there. Take a look at some of her other lenses- she has a very interesting line-up! Boy, I sure hope its not prophetic!
More About: Absolute

Squidoo's Beauty Pageant
2008-02-07 19:06:00
Kimberly Dawn Wells ran the show on a beauty pageant model (pun entirely coincidental) which was an excellent idea! Now that we can remove the preparation H for dark circles and eye bags from squidooing, and duct tape to make our butts tight, waists tiny, and boobs high, here's the lineup so far as I know for certain.Out of 400k lenses, I managed to take 'third runner-up'. Not bad! Last year's contest it was a big 3.5! While less of it this year, the competition was much more difficult. The entire list had fabulous lenses on it made by extraordinary lensmasters. I THINK each of them had been on the top 100 list at least once, and most of them had also won Lens of the Day at some point. If not, they should and will soon, I hope!So, here is my "Squid-Beauty -Bouquet" (Eye-Squirt!) I'm so happy! I want one of those banners!
More About: Pageant

Commerce Lens Building Tips #1
2008-02-07 17:54:00
A problem: you have a great lens which is performing, but suddenly someone else builds a page and you can see they're doing MUCH better! What happened, and what can you do?When someone else gets an idea for a page that is similar to yours, it can be very discouraging! The internet marketing focus is to find something good, make your own, and then take DOWN all competitors. It is definitely an effective strategy, but the problem with it is that is doesn't 'live and let live.' Moreover, Squidoo wants LOTS of pages on any given topic, and it has done many things to encourage that, such as all of the co-branding. Therefore, if you can have 50 different lenses on, say, handbags on the main site, you can have 50 more on handbags on Squidvids, ever.com, squidwho, and so on.It is a REAL challenge to stand out, but it can be done successfully in such a way that it is hard to duplicate.My suggestion is that you make your page PERSONAL. P: pertinent to YOU.E: experiences. Share yo...
More About: Building , Tips , Commerce , Lens

Define: a Performing Squidoo Lens
2008-01-31 18:08:00
When I built my first website (which took months), admittedly it wasn't optimized because I knew little or nothing about SEO. It sounds almost ridiculous to say it now, but at the time SEO was the least of my worries. It was a good looking site, and I got many compliments on that. It said what I wanted it to say, and it had loads of original content. Once I was satisfied that I had gotten my website 'to a point' I submitted it to DMOZ, so it would be in a directory somewhere on the internet, and perhaps I'd start getting traffic.I was a laughing-stock among my competitors (unsolicited advice, of course) and of those who knew all about the optimization field. They found it laughable that I had the nerve to submit my site to DMOZ: they had all been doing so for YEARS and never got listed. They were totally sure I'd be bounced because of my incompetence. They'd spent loads of money on all kinds of internet-marketing guru stuff. They were listed in all the 'hot' places. The...
More About: Squidoo , Lens , Define

SquidCast and the Mall on Squidoo
2008-01-31 02:06:00
I've received some questions about squidcasting, and its a feature that I really like very much! This is an excellent way to get additional links to your page, to let your fans and those who have favorited your lens that you have made some changes, and an opportunity to send out information about your new lenses.You can find the squidcast function on your dashboard, in the same line with the other functions for each lens. When you click 'cast' a dialogue box pops up where you will write the title and a description, and it takes html code so you can put the link to your page there. A record is kept of each time you've squidcasted a page! When you want to look at what your favorite lensmasters have been up to, and see their squidcasts, you go to your 'favorites' tab, and they are all listed there.I strongly suggest you join the fanclubs of lensmasters that you like or that are doing things you are interested in. You'll find that those lensmasters will return the favor, and y...
More About: Squidoo , Mall

New Opportunity for Mall on Squidoo Members
2008-01-29 18:29:00
If you're a Facebook member, I have created a Mall on Squidoo Page, which enables you to add your link to the page. I hear tell that a link in Facebook really helps the Google-juice, and if that's true, then you'll want to get your lens listed there!I have also created a group on Facebook for the Mall on Squidoo. See you there!
More About: Opportunity , Members

Lens of the Year Contest for 2007- Michelangelo's David???
2008-01-25 15:38:00
Once again Mall Friends and Members, I ask for your support! My lens, Michelangelo's David , has been nominate for top Lens of the Year for 2007! (Thank You jackclee!)This has been my highest traffic lens, and well received by all kinds of new visitors. As of today, it has been on the top 100 list for 340 days!It has been next to Wikipedia on a Google search, so it has a good authority level.Michelangelo's David has been one of the lenses to bring LOADS of new traffic to Squidoo, one of the pages that bring in well-heeled and interested traffic who like the things that YOU offer!Yes, that page has some fabulous competition! There are some amazing lensmasters around here that make incredible pages.If you think that Michelangelo's David brings in the kinds of traffic that you want for customers, be sure to vote for it!
More About: Contest

Loads of New Modules!
2008-01-24 21:14:00
If you survived the last couple months with your sanity intact, I congratulate you! Not only has the economy gone topsy-turvy, and there is a presidential race from hell going on, and all other kinds of adjustments to make, Squidoo has distracted us from all that and buried us in new modules, co-brands and nifty stuff. You may have, like I did, discover that you have many pages that will benefit from these new modules! wOOt! (Except that now I'm more behind than ever...)Believe it or not, my test lens has actually been profitable and made some sales over time. Since it is also my test lens, where I try out changes and new modules that Gil adds, it was the appropriate place to do a totally new makeover with these fabulous new modules. I really, REALLY like what these new modules do! I can see that they can be overdone, so be careful about that. But the Amazon Spotlight module is wonderful! I'd love to see that apply to the other merchants available! It really cleans up an...

Gracious Seth Godin Shows Up Knol
2007-12-18 19:50:00
In a social web, social skills are very much required. While Jason C at Manalo leaves a lot to be desired in that respect, Seth Godin has given us his usual and gracious response and created an insomnia page that is simply much better than Google's. There is one other factor overlooked by Squidoo's competitors, and that is: FUN!Squidoo is fun. It is fun to build pages, fun to be in that community, fun to read pages, fun to parody Squidoo, fun to build your little empire. It is a fun place to learn internet skills and to social network. Its a fun place to share, to help, to promote, to make friends. Its a real community. Its a fun place to care about and rewarding. That kind of fun is spirit, something natural that can't be duplicated no matter what size of a corporation likes your ideas. Corey, Megan and Gil are fun to be around, keep Squidoo fresh and exciting, and they care very deeply about the members of their 'community' and the experience they have with it.While...
More About: Knol

Danger, Will Robinson! Google is Taking on Squidoo AND Wikipedia!
2007-12-14 23:59:00
Perhaps you have heard, and perhaps not, but the big news is that Google is taking on Wikipedia and Squidoo with a new project they call Knol. Like Squidoo, it offers writers free pages and a share of ad revenue. It also is a social page, with rankings and votes by visitors, permits suggested edits by visitors like Wikipedia. It isn't open to everyone as yet.There is a lot that is unclear about this project like whether they will add revenue sharing modules as Squidoo has or not, for example. We don't know how those pages will rank next to the Google version. Google pay has rapidly overtaken Paypal, and there was the unfortunate coincidence of Squidoo going to the Ebay convention almost immediately after Ebay and Google had their big falling out. Who knows if the Google slap which lasted for months had anything to do with that? If Google overtakes the revenue modules that Squidoo offers, it is possible that the only remaining distinguishing module will be Ebay. As to Wikip...
More About: Danger , Robinson

I'm Back!
2007-12-14 23:46:00
Hello friends, I'm back. Past the worst of the worst...Janusz has kindly made a beautiful new header for the Mall on Squidoo for the Christmas season, and I hope that you will all take a look and compliment him on his wonderful work!There are many things to get up-to-date with: SquidWho, SquidVids, SquidFlicks... too much to write about all at once.
More About: Back

My Apologies!
2007-08-21 20:34:00
Sometimes life interferes with work, no matter how important. I've been in such a situation lately, where a person I care very much about was taken from lung cancer.I was extremely preoccupied with this event and I have gotten even further behind, if you can imagine.However, the bright spot is that there are so many terrific new lenses that have joined our group!I wasn't ignoring you, though I surely neglected you. I look forward to all the next phase of development in the Mall group, and looking at all these terrific lenses!
More About: Polo , Logi

My Idea of a Top-Notch Commerce Lens!
2007-08-09 12:48:00
Daoine is a favorite lensmaster of mine. Her commerce lenses are interesting, full of content and fun, and make great use of pictures.In particular, Elsa won Lens of the Day with her Pirate Costumes for Halloween, and no wonder! She checked on when the next pirate movie would be released (none coming yet, darn!)She gives us a little history about Pirates (which explains why we like the rogues so much, doesn't it?)She gives us details of a full and interesting costume for anyone, man, woman or child. She even gives us instructions on how to make the proper hat!As a commerce resource, she includes a way to get everything, or nearly everything, we could need to have a GREAT pirate costume. Yes, it is a seasonal lens, but it is one that is worth hanging on to and keeping fresh year by year. A little promotion at the right time and this lens will be a long-term asset for Elsa. Very well done!
More About: Idea , Commerce , Notch

Seasonal preps: Mall on Squidoo & Squidoo Gifts Mall
2007-08-09 04:03:00
Who wants to think about Christmas in August? I'm sure nobody does, but it really is the time for you and I to begin considering what we will be doing for the upcoming seasons.The Mall on Squidoo page has a PR of 5, predicted to go to PR6 soon, and with the rapid growth of these two groups, I have no doubt that these will be VERY DESIRABLE pages for you to be featured on.With such a high PR, I am told that it is best for the pages/links to be on there for about 2 months, for your lenses to get an increase in PR for themselves.So, keeping this in mind, I will be setting up the Mall Groups for the Fall Season which will last from September through to the end of October. There will be a brief time to promote Thanksgiving, but I will want to begin Christmas promotion as quickly as possible to ensure we have the two months we need to be sure we are getting found in the search engines and have a good and beneficial PR.So until the end of August, please either leave a comment on the Mal...
More About: Gifts , Seasonal , Prep

Another Challenge! Giant Squids!
2007-08-04 21:02:00
Squidoo is ALWAYS searching for quality lenses, and they are looking for YOU! Seth and his crew have issued the Giant Squid Challenge , can YOU make 100 top notch lenses?Yes, maybe it is a little much to ask of anyone who cares about the content and quality of their lenses. However, he makes the most important point: now is the time to stand tall, stand out, be remarkable! Now is the time to build your best stuff! It is the challenge that brings out our best.You're the best! Squidoo is the best! You can do it!
More About: Halle

Heads UP!!! A Warning From Squidoo Headquarters
2007-07-30 17:37:00
Here we see something VERY IMPORTANT from Megan Casey: "Squidoo does not endorse or recommend ratings swaps. Not only because it’s not in the spirit of the site, but also because it just doesn’t work. It doesn’t earn you loyal readers or customers, it doesn’t help people find you in search engines, and it doesn’t increase the quality of your content. That, and it’s risky. A star rating is only a tiny factor in our LensRank algorithm right now. You’re not going to win with even 500 fake ratings. And, in fact, if you spam people asking for them, you’ll assuredly lose.Finally, remember: Squidoo reserves the right to change our LensRank algorithm at any time. We’re currently working on (unannounced) changes that will end up impacting swappers without warning. Building a so-called business on massive rating swaps or traffic exchanges could mean you did a whole lot of work for a whole lot of nothing."Genuine rankings according to content and quality, and whether you'd ...
More About: Warning , Headquarters , Heads , Quarter

MP: Woodturning Projects by Sewjr
2007-07-30 13:40:00
One of the finest commerce Squidoo lenses you'll find has long been one of my favorites. It has been a member of the Mall on Squidoo group almost since the beginning. It has made the Most Profitable (MP) list, #1 position.Woodturning Projects by Sewjr is one of many really high quality lenses. This page is an especially fine example of what a small business, artisan or craftsman can do to get traffic and build a relationship with visitors. He gives his best information, advice and inspiration and then creates opportunities for interested people to participate.Stan has two woodworking groups, the Woodworking Headquarters and the 'As the Wood Turns' Headquarters. These are very attractive to new and to experienced woodcrafters. Because of his great lenscrafting skills, Stan is one of the founding jurists of the By Invitation Only juried lens contest, helping jury the best Squidoo lenses for the People's Choice Lensmasters & Awards.Stan is a real winner, a Titan on Squidoo, ...
More About: G Project

MP List: At Home Source- Mall Member
2007-07-24 17:37:00
AtHome Source has many lenses, and not all of them are in the Mall group. She has shared with us little baby Molly as her 'trademark'- a baby so cute that the planet should crack in half, and makes it a worthwhile visit just to get a look at Molly!Many of AtHomeSource's lenses have managed to make LR and MP and so this lensmaster is onto something in her Squidoo commerce lensbuilding techniques and her marketing.Platform Beds with Storage has been a regular on the LR. Most of the modules in this lens are for affiliate sales, which have beautiful pictures and LOADS of information for anyone who is seriously interested in platform beds. Her MP status is gained by having related ebay modules which clearly make sufficient sales to put her on MP on a regular basis.I'm sure she would tell you that VOLUME of traffic is much less important than QUALITY TARGETED TRAFFIC, the kind of traffic that is seriously shopping this niche, and is very interested in a good selection of quality at ...
More About: List

New Lensmaster: JonitasKalimpo
2007-07-22 22:23:00
As a Citizen Squid and as a committed lensmaster, I spend a LOT of time at SquidU. When an up and coming lensmaster shows up and immediately begins helping and making themselves useful, I notice.One such is JonitasKali mpo, who came onto the scene in June of this year, and has been an incredibly committed and talented lensmaster.Joao has created a lens Samsung Blackjack i607 Smartphone Guide, and it really does epitomize what I hope to see as a 'personal shopping assistant' commerce lens at the Mall.This lens has a very logical layout, with loads of useful information, all with the eye to helping the visitor know whether this particular type of phone is the one for them or not. Joao offers technical details, instructions, and all the accessories, enabling anyone interested to take a good look and make a good choice.There are beautiful and detailed pictures, a table of contents (or menu) and surprisingly relevant videos! Extremely well done and I will be proud to feature all of ...
More About: Task , Aster

New Lensmaster: Mariane
2007-07-22 21:58:00
Mariane is one of our terrific commerce lensmasters, who has found a way to create and promote items of interest and importance to her, using Squidoo. Like the rest of us, Mariane has high hopes that all of her work will rate high in Google, and bring to visitors her unique and important perspective.I really like her lens Spanx Shapewear With the Celebrities, and her knowledge about Spanx, and the celebrities that wear them, is impressive.Using Squidoo as an economic development tool, for all of us, is a specific principle to be dedicated to and apply.What this means is that lensmasters can increase the economic prosperity of all lensmasters, and all of Squidoo, if we purchase from one another FIRST.Since I was present at the very beginning of the new studies and teaching of micro- economic development principles (think Grameen Bank), I want to point out that it is known that any community that purchases from within itself FIRST actually generates $7 of income for every $1 spent!Ho...
More About: Aster , Maria

Be Smart: Enter the Lensmaster Contest
2007-07-22 20:34:00
A GREAT beginning for a lens that has moved from 3 modules (wip) to 4, and wants to become eligible for the 'featured lens' list, is to add it to the By Invitation Only Lensmaster's Contest . First, MAKE A GOOD LENS. Second, decide whether the focus is on content (ala Michelangelo's David) or Commerce (ala Amish Quilt Racks) and enter your lens on the appropriate monthly plexo.Look at, and vote for, all of the lenses in the contest.Then, LEAVE A COMMENT!Lensroll the contest lens to your own lens! You will receive traffic from:1. Other lensmasters who will also visit and vote on the lenses.2. Jurists who look at the lenses to vote.3. Visitors who are looking for good lenses.4. Others who are seeking lenses for some reason or other (eg. LOTD)You will also get a link to your page. With the comment, you will get a link to your lensmaster's roster. With the lensroll, you will have a reciprocal link.If you are one of 6 winners, your lens and your lensmaster's page will be b...
More About: Smart , Enter , Aster

WIP: Exactly, what is the definition?
2007-07-22 20:20:00
There is a LOT of debate in the lounge as to whether WIP lenses are 3 modules or less than three, not including the introduction or the guestbook. Headquarters, after their original posting, has not clarified this issue.I don't think it needs more clarification, because the proof is in what shows up as wip and what doesn't.Lenses with 3 modules or less have dropped off the list of the featured lenses, AND have dropped out of my visibility in any of my groups. If all you have are the intro, three modules and the guestbook, then your lens is STILL undeveloped.You will need to have a 4th module to be permitted to be featured, and without traffic of any kind your lens may still not be found in Squidoo search results.The Mall groups have 5 modules as a requirement to be featured. Once you have your 4 modules, and can become part of the featured lenses, then you will need to do some extra things to generate other links to your lens and hopefully some traffic. I have several projects...
More About: Definition

Giddy Gabby: Squidoo's Friendly Soul
2007-07-21 17:14:00
Giddy Gabby is another one who makes herself known around Squidoo, one of the friendliest and most open, warm human beings you could want to know. Along with me and a few others, Giddy Gabby has been a citizen squid since May.She has joined our Mall on Squidoo group with My Quiche Pan Store, a page that will make a quiche lover out of you, even if you have never tried it!Welcome to the Mall on Squidoo group, Giddy Gabby! You're a real pleasure to have around!
More About: Soul , Friendly

Small Business Ebay Seller at the Mall: A High Point!
2007-07-21 16:51:00
Karendelac has been participating in Squidoo, by visiting and leaving a comment on many lenses. She has created a beautiful niche page: Thomas Kindade on Squidoo.Her page is truly beautiful, not only because she shows so much artwork, but also because she gives important information about her business, her ebay page, her power seller status, her shipping policies, and even details about the art that you don't often find.She has brought to our attention the symbolism used by Thomas Kinkade in each of his pieces, and because of this we feel we know the artist a little better. Karen's page is rich and inviting, a terrific 'front door' to her small business and her ebay presence. She understands how to use her Squidoo page and does it to great advantage.We are delighted to have Karen in the Mall on Squidoo group!
More About: Business , Small Business , Seller , Ebay , Small

Squidoo Featured Lens/WIP: What this Means
2007-07-21 16:05:00
Squidoo has implemented the Feat ured lens function into its algorithm. All lenses at Squidoo are affected by this, including yours at the Mall. This is not the same as the 'Featured Lens ' on the Mall page or other group pages.Group membership now cuts off at about 90,000 LR, automatically. Evidently no lens can apply to a group unless it has a higher lensrank than 90,000.Lenses that WERE in the Mall group but are no longer were not booted by me, but by the new algorithm.WIP lenses are 'works in progress' meaning that they have 3 modules or less, NOT including the intro and a guestbook. If you have upgraded your lens so it has 4 modules or more, you still may not qualify to be in any group, until you have raised your lensranking to over 90,000.How can your lens be upgraded to a LR high enough to be in a group?There are several ways.1. Traffic. If, by blogging or external linking, you can draw some traffic to your lens, it will do a LOT to increase its lensrank.2. Emai...
More About: Squidoo

Huge Pile of Lenses! Over 1500!!!
2007-07-16 17:47:00
Despite what our black hatted friends are doing, our group now has over 1500 lenses! I have stepped up the work on organizing and permanently featuring your lenses, and so you will see great progress over the next weeks.Build MORE MORE MORE commerce lenses, and get them all linked up- the more of this you do, the better for Squidoo, the better for you, the better for your PR.
More About: Lenses , Huge

Whoa! Black Hats have YOU in their sights!
2007-07-14 19:28:00
In the SquidU forum, one of our group members followed a link that showed up in his stats. He posted this link to a internetmarketingguru's forum.Probably because of MP, this leading lensmaster was found. The group explored his lenses, dissected his techniques and content. Conclusions? 1. Black Hat SEO people are using MP to find 'profitable' niches that don't take too much work, in order to duplicate content.2. As our favorite SEO Expert said in his blog: "Black Hat SEOs know what they are doing is defined as BAD, and do it anyway for specific reasons (not usually including “get banned”). I like to think of Black Hat SEOs as opportunists. They see an opportunity to gain, and take it, managing the associated risk. Please don’t confuse ignorant SEOs with Black Hat SEOs… the ignorant ones are those who execute on Black Hat (evil) tactics without managing the risks (either out of ignorance or folly doesn’t matter to me here)."3. The opportunists aren't particularly ...
More About: Sights , Hats , Whoa

Lady Bird Johnson
2007-07-13 16:20:00
A few weeks back I acquired a Texas Wildflower lens that the lensowner was no longer interested in keeping. It wasn't a well-visited lens, there wasn't much interest and as a commerce lens there simply isn't much to offer except seeds and guidebooks.However, Texas Wildflowers have been a passion of one of our Former First Ladies, Lady Bird Johns on , for all of her life. So, I decided to add this information to the page, which enhances the understanding of our inheritance of incredible wildflowers. Connecting Lady Bird to the wildflower lens didn't increase its commerce value, but it certainly improved the value of the page in other so many other respects.Lady Bird Johnson did so much for this country, beautifying the highways with medians, wildflower plantings, and limiting the hideous roadside clutter of too many billboards. She was a civil rights pioneer, one with INFLUENCE, and a formidable businesswoman. When her husband, Lyndon Baines Johnson was elected to Congress, ...