SquidU: Tricks of the Trade
Squidoo Tricks of the Trade
If you haven't dropped by SquidU and explored the "Tricks of the Trade" section; you really ought to. Even if you have stopped by before, it is worth going back to regularly. There will always be new tips being told that might make your life a lot easier. In this lens I have included some of the best threads in the "Ticks of the Trade" part of SquidU. (I have also written a brief summary of the threads and put them into related categories.) Lastly, I have included some related lenses about different Squidoo Tricks of the Trade. If you like this lens check out the shop keeper talk version.
Keyword Research
When building a lens a lot of people ask, "Does it matter what I make my Lens about?" The answer: No! You can build a lens on whatever you want. The trick is to get traffic. You need good keywords/tags if you want to get traffic. They need to be related to your lens, and they need to be searched a lot. Any keywords will get you traffic, but you want traffic that is interested in your lens. So if your lens is about "vintage radios," you wouldn't picks keywords like "discount shoes," "shoes," or "cheap shoes." The traffic you would get would not be interested in what your lens is about. If you are selling something you need the perfect keywords. Keywords really are that big of a deal. Keyword research shows you what people are searching for, how many are searching that term, how competitive that keyword is, and even related keywords. Here are some threads from the tricks of the trade section of Squid U. I have also listed some related lenses specific to keyword research.
Google Insights and keyword research thread.
Getting Chosen keywords into your important intro
Squidoo eBooks
Get some more tips from squidoo eBooks. Don't find any of them useful then write your own and make an eBook today.
Lens Stats and testing
On squidoo there are many SEO analysts, internet markets and many tech savvy people when it comes to the internet. Some of the biggest questions start with why and how on squidoo to these people. "Why is my lens rank so low?" "How can I get more traffic to my site?" "Does having a poll or duel on my lens make it better or worse?" Those are simply just a few of the commonly asked questions. Here are some threads that I found very interesting. The First one is on testing and studying changes on lenses how to do it and why. The second to me is the most interesting it has tons of neat tricks of on and off page optimization but i really like the first post on should we really trust the common wisdom.
Testing results Whys, Hows, and even some other results from great lensmasters
Squidoo and Flickr
One of the coolest things I learned from the tricks and trade section are how powerful images are. I never noticed it before but surprisingly you can get tons of traffic through having your pictures in google images. This first thread talks about getting easy traffic from flickr. Last but not least talks about aligning your picture in a text box to fit the needs of your lens.
SquidU Forum Now on Squidoo
SquidU Form threads currently still exist however to keep up with current information check out the Squidoo Forum
Blogging Tips and Tricks
If you aren't familiar with blogging you should be. You are either trying to get people to your blogs to see your content and make sales, or using blogs to get people to your website. You should also have social media somewhere in that mix. Either way blogs are crucial to getting traffic. Here are some blogging tips to help you get traffic.
Guest blogging: Guest blogging is probably the best blogging tip I can offer you. Guest blogging is easy traffic and you can even earn money form guest blogging. The idea of Guest Blogging is simple. Get a guest with klout to write on your blog. This is a win win situation. Gives you free content and their influence, and possible sales. In return they get more exposure to them and get to write an article for a really great blog. The networking is amazing Guest blogging is great if you are getting guest bloggers, being a guest blogger yourself or both.
Lens Rank
Lens rank is the overall or category rank of how your lens compares to others. To some this is a diffrence from getting more attention to their lens and more traffic. To others it's about getting in the tier system to make some money from the squidoo adpool. Some spend time forever trying to get higher in lensrank with little movement other with huge success. Here are some interesting threads i found about lens rank. The first one is about what goes into page rank and it's factors this is really interesting. Although no one knows the exact formula for lens rank this showed me some factors i never had thought about. The second one is about the new feature lens rank boost and when to use it. Again like previous section i have added related lenses to for this subject as well.
On page Optimzation
When you look through the testing lenses sections threads you learned or already knew that about on page optimzation and off page optimzation also called linking. Here are a couple of threads that talk about certain ways to optimize your lenses for either really good results or some really cool uses of modules. I also added a thread on the discovery tool.
Thread on the Page Break Module
Customizing your lens to work with an Amazon Store
Keep your lens updated with out having to update it Trick
Secret Video Trick to bring tons of traffic
Optmize your intro with this google snippet tool
Make your lens stand out with HTML
Off Page Optimzation / Linking
Although building lenses and optimizing them on page is helpful so is optimizing them off page also known as linking is as well. There are many diffrent ways to link and many debates over linking as well. Some of these ways are Bookmarking, RSS Feeds and Article Marketing. The most common type of linking is linking where you go of page and try and get a link to your lens. There are many debates and discussions on these links such as follows vs no follows and page rank. Those are what the threads are about. I have also included a group of lenses with tons more information on bookmarking and submitting urls.
Getting Traffic/ Follow and No Follow debate
Page Rank and more Follow and No Follow Debate
What Can you do with the right tools
New Squidoo Directory just for your lenses
Posterous a really great blogging tool
Increasing your chance of getting Lens of the day | LOTD
Social Media and Squidoo
Social Media is becoming huge everywhere and can help you a lot here are some threads I found that can help your lenses with social Media
Helping Each other with facebook
HTML and CSS for Facebook Landing Page
Earning Money on Squidoo
A lot of lensmasters goals is to incorporate these goals and make money online and on squidoo. This is very possible there are many who make hundreds of dollars if done correctly others, make be lucky to get a few dollars here and there. Learn how to make money online and on squidoo from this section
Squidoo and Internet Marketing Videos
Here are some videos to help you with your journey on squidoo and making money online
You and Squid U
From this lens you can tell I am a huge fan of Squid U. Not only can you find a lot of useful information on what to do to increase lensrank, to drive traffic, and get tips on making better lenses in general -- it is also a thriving community of creative genius! The forum is populated by Squidoo staff, veterans, experienced lensmasters, and newbies; just like you! There is so much to learn about the SquidU Forum! Here are the two threads I chose to conclude this lens. They will help you a lot.
Helping each other out through Squid U and ebooks.
Get Updates
Favorite this lens to get new updates so you can stay on top.
Squidoo Module Secrets
There are tons of modules on Squidoo some aren't used as much as the should be and other can be used for different reasons to dramatically increase the efficiency of your lens.
Did you Learn Anything new?
Did you Learn anything new?
Optmizied Lens Now What?
Great now you know how to optimize your lens. Now what? First optimization is a never ending process. There are always be a need to keep your content current and new ways to optimize your lens. The question is do I keep the lens or should I sell it.
Here is a squid U thread about what you should know about selling and keeping your squidoo lens.
