Squidoo is a website launched in October 2005. It is a platform designed to make it easy for anyone, for free, to set up a single page on a topic he or she knows or cares a lot about. Squidoo came out of beta testing in March 2006.
Squidoo is a network of user-generated lenses --single pages that highlights one person's point of view, recommendations, or expertise. Lenses can be about anything, such as ideas, people or places, hobbies and sports, pets or products, philosophy, and politics. Lenses aren't primarily intended to hold content; more emphasis is placed on recommending and then pointing to content on the web. Annotation and organization and personalization delivers context and meaning.
Users who create lenses are called lensmasters. A lensmaster uses the tools available online to provide links, feeds, abstracts, and lists to users who are trying to make sense of a topic. For example, a single lens could point to Flickr photos, Google maps, blogs, eBay auctions, YouTube videos, and other links. Lensmasters are encouraged to promote personal agendas, expertise, causes, products, and opinions.
Squidoo splits its revenue with its "co-op" of lensmasters. 5% goes straight to charity, first. Then 50% goes to the lensmasters. 45% goes to Squidoo. The site is estimating that nearly half of all the lensmasters on the site are donating their royalties to any of 65 featured charities, ranging from NPR and The American Heart Association to smaller organizations like Chimp Haven and Planet Gumbo.
Squidoo was founded by author, speaker, and notable blogger Seth Godin. On Godin's founding team was his book editor Megan Casey, Fast Company employee Heath Row, Corey Brown, and Gil Hildebrand, Jr.
According to Alexa, Squidoo's traffic has grown more than 40% monthly beginning in the spring of 2007. It is now in the top 500 of all websites tracked worldwide.
SquidWho has taken the internet by storm, and thanks to our excited and dedicated lensmasters, we’ve added thousands of fresh people lenses to Squidoo. Have you created YOUR SquidWho lens yet? If not, what are you waiting for? It’s free, and we’ll even give you a head start:
This list was published last spring and got rave reviews. It’s never a bad time to take a look at your lenses and shine them up.
1. The Blank Module Deleter
Blank modules plague published lenses. Let’s clear the slate by deleting unused modules. If your lens is a work in progress, you can always add them back when you’re ready.
2. Generic Module Renamer
Still working with titles such as “New Guestbook Module” and “New Link List?” Give your unnamed modules a quick facelift with catchy titles.
3. The Biggie View
View your lens and check it for blatant errors, such as modules that aren’t working, Flickr pics and CafePress items that are obsolete, and anything else that looks funky. Make sure you view it as others will see it. There are some differences between what you see in the edit screen and the published version.
4. Long Text Shortener
Are your text modules a manageable size? If your intro has gotten too long, try breaking it into smaller modules. Readers love short blocks of text and lists.
5. The Tagchecker
Review your tags. Is it time to freshen them up? Add newer more relevant, more timely ones?
6. What’s missing?
What’s missing from your lens that could make it better? You don’t have to add it all now. Make a list and plan a time to beef up your content later.
7. The Emailer
Who do you know that would love to see your lens in action? Your boss? Your mom? Email your lens to friends and family using the email feature on Squidoo.
8. The Del.icio.us Stretch
Help bookmarkers find your links by adding them to your del.icio.us profile. Bonus: if you have FireFox, get the del.icio.us extension.
9. Digg It
Add your lenses to Digg so other diggers can see what’s hot.
10. The Link Fixer
If you have link lists, check them regularly for broken links and relevant content.
11. The Switcheroo
Rotate your modules to make your content look fresh. Better yet, swap out old photos and products for newer ones.
12. The Modernizer
Many lenses, such as those big moneymakers, can be changed up to make them relevant for the season. Better yet, start some new ones with the best gifts and travel accessories for the upcoming holidays.
13. The Publisher
Publishing your lenses frequently reminds you to check them for updates and keeps them fresh.
By doing the Lens Tidy Workout just once a month, with daily mini workouts scattered in between, you too can have firm, informative lenses that attract visitors and generate cash.
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