Everyone's Blog Posts - Squidoo Masters

Benefits of being a Giant Squid

2010-01-14T16:00:00.000Z

This is an open blog post that welcomes your Giant Squid tips.

One tip that I'd like to share came about due to the dilemma I kept encountering with creating and publishing new lenses. Quite often I found that after publishing I would be fine tuning the lens for at least a few weeks. Of course, Google often comes and checks out the new lens within 3 days, so if it's not up to speed you might not even get it indexed by Google.

Often I felt I should have had more prep time before publishing. So it always seemed like a made dash, lots of hours of work to get the lens up and running and with a good Squidoo rank. I know, I know, I shouldn't worry about Squidoo rank, but after all it does affect the overall ranking, and tier placement of all of your other lenses. And as my goal is quality and money first, so rank is quite important to me.

It's funny how some ideas come to you and then you say "Why didn't I think of that before?".

Well one of the benefits of being a Giant Squid is that you have access to 'Custom Lens Templates'. When I first used these templates it was strictly for lens that I wanted to use a certain colored border for each module. But then I realized I could create my new lens using one of the 'custom lens templates' and publish it a few weeks later. Whey! The pressure was off. I didn't have to worry about the ranking or anything until it was actually published and it gave me more time to put together a great lens.

Another reason why I like using this custom lens template is because when paring down an old lens, because it should be branched off into a new lens, I like to cut and paste the parts coming out and paste into the custom lens template so that I can reintroduce a new lens in a month or so. Reason for waiting .... I don't like to confuse Google, as Google might view the new lens as duplicate content. So I like to remove the content from the older lens for at least a month so that it will not impact my new lens.

One last thing, you'll need to reuse old 'custom lens templates' for new lenses because it appears they cannot be deleted and I would imagine Squidoo would get annoyed once you have too many custom lens templates sitting around. So perhaps make no more than 20.

So if you're not a Giant Squid and feeling a bit annoyed with this blog, I recommend using a word processor to create and save your new lens. If you can't afford one get the free Open Source (malware free) Download.

Have any ideas about this blog, or additional tips, please feel free to comment.

Hello!

2010-01-10T03:54:13.000Z

I'm new here, but not new to Squidoo. I look forward to meeting you all!

Squidoo blogs

2009-10-03T19:19:31.000Z

I just started a new squidoo blog over at the new hub for squidoo bloggers: Crabbysbeach. My new blog there is a tribute to great lensmasters, so I'll be featuring great lenses I come across as well as lensmasters who contribute to the community.

I will of course keep up blogging over at squidtop with my squidoo tips and when I find great lensmasters I haven't interviewed yet, I will thank them over at the thank you lensmaster blog.

Misconceptions of Poetry and Poor Google Page Rank

2009-09-10T19:00:00.000Z

There's a misconception out there in Google Land that poetry does not do well with Google algorithms, so much so, that most avoid writing poetry on their blogs and lenses. Well, based on my experience writing lenses on Squidoo, this just isn't true. I have written three Squidoo lenses that contain dragon poems, fairy poems, and wizard poems.

Three of my lenses which have poems, written by me, are in the top 2000, one of which is in the top 100 lenses, for now at any rate. It's imperative that you write your own poems. Any copying of poems into your lens will hurt your rankings.

Now the important part probably is not to write an arcane poem that no one really knows what you're talking about. So make sure the poem relates to your subject matter. And the secret is to always have your main keyword(s) in the text of the poem.

Poems - Dragon Poems, Fairy Poems, Wizard Poems

In Dragon Coloring Pages I have four poems. My Dragon Poetry:

One is called "Behold the Dragon Coloring the Dimming Skies", in which I reference my keyword "dragon coloring" and include it in a link for "more powerful pull".

The second poem is "The Great Dragon coloring the Scarlet Sunset".

The third poem is "The Dragon coloring and casting its shadow upon the Looming Skies", with "dragon coloring" once again within the poem.

The fourth poem is "The Dragon Crafts his Next Move". I would not move this in to the first module at any point because it does not contain my main keywords.

By the way, Dragon Coloring Pages is my top ranking lens and it has four poems in it!

The other lens with a poem is Fairy Poetry and the lens is Fairy Makeup Fantasy Makeup and the poem is called "Exalted Realm Fairy Makeup".

The third lens with poems is Wizard coloring pages and crafts, and of course, this lens has wizard poetry. The lens description "Magical Wizard Coloring Books" has a poem in it! The other poems in the lens are "Merlin coloring the King's decisions ", and "Merlin Wizard coloring the Heavens above as he casts his Spell ".

The purpose of a Blog on Squidoo Masters

2009-09-09T18:00:00.000Z

The purpose of a Blog on Squidoo Masters is to outline or explain a subject, interest, etc. and certainly link to one of your relevant lens on Squidoo.

But, the primary purpose of my creating Squidoo Masters has something to do with the name "Squidoo Masters". Hint - sharing ideas and information to become a Master at Squidoo.

Hence the Blog area is primarily for posting a blog that expounds on the subject of ideas and information relevant to excelling as a Squidoo lensmaster. You can get one of your lenses in this, even if it does not elaborate on this specifically, by showing a particular lens that you consider successful and telling us how you made a successful lens. Well you get my idea.

Here is Wikipedia's definition of a blog.

I must restate that I consider a blog post to contain at least two or three good sized paragraphs.

So .....

If you're looking for lens ratings, then go to the Group - Rate My Lens.

If you have a quick Squidoo Tip then post it in the Group - Squidoo Tips.

All these relevant groups are in the top center of the Main Page.

I am dismayed that so few people have actually produced decent blogs here.

If you post a couple of lines with links in the blog area, you are doing yourself a disservice. For one, it is a total waste of time and does not drive traffic to you lens. Why, you might ask, well when you don't have any relevant information with pertinent and relevant keywords, which by the way requires a blog with at least 2 or 3 paragraphs, then your blog here won't get picked up by the search engines, and hence you won't get any decent links over to your Squidoo lenses.

Using your Keyword Tag within your url links for maximum Squidoo Lens Rank

2009-08-29T21:15:34.000Z

I'm going to discuss how important it is to add your main keyword tag in your url links in order to get your lens to rank higher in search engines.

Your main keyword(s) tags should be used first and foremost in all relevant url links off your lens for maximum rank and exposure. Needless to say you need to use your main keyword tags in many of your Lens Titles and within the body of your lenses and they need to be relevant within the context of your subject.

Say for instance your main keyword is "cat grooming", then use "cat grooming" often in your url links, but you can go further than that, by adding more of a description, i.e. "Persian cat grooming", or "cat grooming for older cats", well you get the idea. So in adding additional words to the main keyword in the url, you probably will pull a little more traffic with the extra wording.

Url links that contain your main keyword(s) actually have more pull, than your main keyword(s) within the body of a module.

Many people add a url link to a picture, but this is a waste and should be avoided.

I have found the best main keyword(s) contains 2 keywords i.e. "cat grooming". Now if you have chosen "cat grooming" as your main keywords, then add "cat" and "grooming" to your other keyword tags. This is important and if you haven't done it, do it now.

If any of you have Squidoo lenses about how to use keywords successfully, please feel free to add your comments, with your url link to your lens.

Squidoo Earnings for April 2009

2009-06-17T03:18:06.000Z

You probably noticed your Squidoo earnings lower than anticipated for the month of April. Clearly the ad revenue was lower for April, but I have noticed new advertisers have come in since.

One theory I have, is that this was the month that Squidoo started handing out Purple Stars and I also noticed, in that particular month, my lenses jumping up and down through all the jostling about due to the boast given to Purple Star lenses. Now I don't know if that is the reason, or not. I did hear also remarks about traffic problems.

Well, here's hoping for a better pay-out next month!

Let me know if you have your own theories on what happened, or what you might have heard through the grapevine.

An Inspiring Blogger

2009-03-29T02:51:43.000Z

Several months ago I bookmarked a blog that I ran across. In truth I had read only one of his articles, but was sufficiently impressed to bookmark the blog under "Blogs to Emulate". Yes, its a blog and not a Squidoo lens.

The first article I read was "How to Build a High-Traffic Web Site (or Blog)" and I found it truly inspiring.

The next time I returned was today, and I read "The Law of Attraction". About half way through I said "this is a lot of nonsense", but in reading the comments posted, I decided to finish it and in the end I was glad I did. Although I had a tough time wrapping my head around most of Steve's concepts, I felt I had been left with some unique insight.

I have now decided to make a full commitment to read all of Steve Pavlina's blog, as I know it'll be time well spent!

Make your next lens something you'd be proud to have your great grandchildren read some day!

A Place to add your Lensographies

2009-03-12T17:56:52.000Z

Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of "The Lensography Index" on Squidoo. It's now reached just under 200 lensographies, but I know there are a lot more out there that I've missed. Check this list, and if your lensography is not on it, please leave a link to it in the comment box, so that I can add it to the list. If you've more than one, leave links to all of them, and I'll add them all. If you haven't made a lensography yet, make one and than let me know so I can add it. Thanks! ~EK

http://www.squidoo.com/Lensographies

OMG! html on Ning!

2009-03-09T04:30:00.000Z

Well, I just finally got around to really using my Ning account, I've had it since Ning was in Beta, but never used it much back than, because there was on;y about 15 members and I got bored really quick, because nobody was posting anything on any one elses' stuff. Than last month, I got an invite via MySpace to a group for authors, and wow had Ning changed since back when it was in beta, I barely recognized it as the same place. Well, not so boring any more and with networks and members in the thousands, I am finding lots of things to join, and lots of people here that I know from elsewhere (like Squidoo and FaceBook! . . . which is really cool!)

I spent today, going around joining new groups and editing old profiles, and just seconds ago, I asked myself, "I wonder if I can copy my Copper Cockeral pink/orange html codes and paste them into my Ning profile?" So I tried it, and viola! I now have my signature pink&orange on all of my Ning profiles!!!! Woo-Hoo! ~~Now I can blind you all with my bright colors!~~ (flashes evil bunny grin ]:D )

Well, I'm off to add this code to all of my other Ning profiles now, so I can be pink and orange where ever I go.

The EelKat has spoken ~~~ > ^..^ <</body>

Image Transfer - Artistic Alchemy

2009-03-07T01:57:16.000Z

To learn more about many different image transfer techniques, visit my Image Transfer Squidoo lens.

Image courtesy of Christina S. on Flickr.

Image transfer is a technique in which you take a printed image and transfer it to another surface. It can produce many different effects on paper as it is a way to place a black and white image on painted and collaged backgrounds like the example above.

It can also be used to transfer detailed images onto polymer clay as you see below:

Image courtesy of DivaDesigns1 on Flickr.

Fiber artists and quilters use special paper in inkjet printers to transfer images on to fabric such as you see here:

Image courtesy of Barbara's Images on Flickr.

A Tornado Photo "Phight" and Video Throwdown

2009-03-02T16:39:30.000Z

Although I don't like the damage they do, I am fascinated by tornadoes and thunderstorms. I'm one of the rare people in the world who thinks Nebraska is a vacation paradise because of the beautiful storms that are produced when the warm, humid air of the Gulf and the Mississippi River valley hits the cooler, drier air coming off the mountains and semi-arid western plains.
A couple months ago I saw a lens about "photo phights" and decided that was a perfect excuse to look at pictures of tornadoes and edit out the best ones from a search on Flickr. Then it came to me to look for recent video on YouTube. I have to say this is the most fun I've ever had making a lens.

Visit The Best Tornado Photos to vote for your favorites.

Image courtesy of nebraskasc on Flickr.

Groups on squidoo

2009-02-16T13:30:00.000Z

I've been annoyed at squidoo groups for a while. What groups essentially do (especially the kind where hardly any lenses get featured on the group page) is funnel a LOT of link love to the group page and the lenses featured there.

That is: the groupmaster gets free links to their lenses, and the members don't get any wiser.

This is why I wanted to highlight great groups (you know the kind where your lens actually does have a chance to be permanently featured). I started my great groups lensography.

Recently I went a step further and added several groups to my portfolio.

So far I have the following groups. They are all great groups: in each you get a chance to get your lens featured. If not by me, then in the link plexo. In the smaller groups all lenses get featured (they do have to be good enough to get in obviously). In the larger groups the link plexo gives you a chance to feature your lens - and yes, that's a backlink that google counts.

So here are my current groups:

Humor and Hilarity Group: This group is designed for family-friendly funny lenses.

Nederlandse lenzen. In the idle hope that there are Dutch lensmasters here: if you've made lenses in the Dutch language, please submit them. So far it's filled with just my own lenses, but that can change.

Holland - aka The Netherlands: for lenses about my home country: The Netherlands. Not just be me, if you can believe it :)

Women and Girls Shopping Headquarters. Just what it says: full of lenses with products for girls and women.

Sleep Disorders and Insomnia Solutions. For lenses about that tricky problems so many people face: how to get to sleep and stay asleep for a reasonable amount of hours during the night.

Consciousness, Awareness, Psychology & Neurology headquarters. Now we're slowly moving into my niche, but with a twist. This group is meant for lenses that inform about consciousness, psychology or neurology. Not just inspiration, but information.

A lot of people were entering spiritual growth lenses to the previous group. So I started: Spiritual Growth, Healing, Awareness and Self Help HEADQUARTERS for self help lenses, spiritual inspiration etc.

Close to my heart is this group: Interfaith - religious dialog, if we can't try to get along, how will the world ever get peace. [All we are saying... is give peace a chance...]

I also started three groups around religions I've made many lenses about.

Christianity Religion Headquarters

Buddha & Buddhism

[edit] My newest group is one devoted to spiritual gifts and products. Most of the 46 lenses are my own, but others are also welcome and stand as much a chance of being featured as my own lenses. [/edit]

Promote your Squidoo Lenses with this new Site

2009-01-15T03:38:13.000Z

Just a quick note to everyone. I found another site that you can use to promote your Squidoo lenses. You can also add affiliate links in your posts as long as they are "backlinks".

You earn 100% of the Google ad revenue. Yes that's right 100% ad revenue!

The site gives you a lot of control. You can promote specific lenses and allocate your intel $ to percentages. In other words if one lens isn't getting enough traffic, you can submit it and then with your intel money earned you can specify that say 20% of the traffic you've earned will go to that specific lens.

I recommend you sign up, submit one article, and read the site through extensively to understand what it has to offer.

Valerie,

More squidoo help lenses: on being social online

2009-01-13T08:30:19.000Z

One of the important things about any social network online is ... well ... the social aspect of it. And that can to some extent be summed up as the art of becoming popular... Which really pissed me off some time ago, so I created this lens about the subject: how to become popular on squidoo.

Another social network with it's own rules of the game (which you should know before starting to promote your stuff there) is stumbleupon. Check out my Stumbleupon guide for squidoo lensmasters.

Yet another way to promote your stuff online is blogging. I've made several lenses about that subject. The one that really stands out as a place to blog AND be part of a social network is Vox, a search engine optimized place to blog.

My two other lenses helping you become a great blogger are a blogging video tutorial and blogging for newbies.

You can become part of groups on Vox, you can join forums on Ning - but you can also join groups on squidoo. Groups on squidoo aren't really all that social usually. The best ones do however give you a great backlink. I've been finding such great groups for a while now: my Great Groups Lensography.

Another way to be social is to thank people - I've made a lens about my blog in which I thank the people who have helped me personally or have contributed to the squidoo community: my thank you lensmaster lens.

Introducing my squidoo help lenses :)

2008-11-20T11:10:26.000Z

Hi all,

Since this is a place for squidoo lensmasters, I thought I'd start my blog here by introducing you all to my squidoo help lenses. Most of these are also in the Squidoo Answer Deck.

Most popular is my Squidoo CSS lens. It has ready made code with which you can spice up your lens. If you want to find out how that code works without studying CSS too much, check out my Advanced css for squidoo - spice up your lens MORE lens.

Lenses need to be made well. This includes using modules. I've made one lens about the modules I personally use most: Cute modules to spice up your lens. I've also made two lenses about modules that I felt could use more explaining.

The first is my lens about the introduction module. Learn all about how the featured lenses feature works etc. Since this lens is featured with a picture right on top of the Answer Deck, it gets a lot of newby questions not relating to the introduction module as well. I do answer those as well.

The Google blogsearch module is one I have on most lenses. It is great for keeping fresh content on your lens. Which should help (a bit) in google.

Once you've made your lens, you will want people to see it. The way to promote lenses within squidoo is to squidcast. I made a how to squidcast lens. Just the basics, including common mistakes I see people make.

The next step in promoting lenses is SEO or search engine optimisation. Knowing SEO helps in every step of the proces of making lenses, but it starts to really count once it's out there. This lens is all about links, common misconceptions, how (un)important tags are -etc.

Now you've got your lens. And you are getting some traffic. But how are you going to get payed? And how much? That is based, to a large extent on lensrank. So I made a lens explaining Lensrank.

That's not quite all - but enough for today I think :)

Top 8 List Internet Safety

2008-09-07T14:30:00.000Z

The most important internet security is to take the necessary steps to ensure PC internet safety and security. This is a list of the necessary steps to ensure your internet safety.

8. Buy a Router. You absolutely must be using a router if you have broadband internet access (through cable, dsl, etc., any access except dialup). This is the simplest and most effective security measure anyone can take. Routers are small boxes, can cost anywhere from $20 to $80 depending upon many factors, and can be found in any electronics or computer store. There are some simple steps everyone can take, some more advanced then others, but even doing the basics can make your security far better then most, and keep intruders out of your computer.

7. Modify your HOSTS file - by preventing malicious software from communicating outside your computer. This allows you to surf the Net anonymously. Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File and Download and Install Instructions for the MVPS HOSTS File. This is a zip file and here is a free Open Source zip extractor 7-Zip.

6. disable 'File Sharing' = My Computer, Click Tools, Folder Options, Click the View tab. Under Advanced Settings, scroll to the bottom and uncheck the box next to - 'Use simple file sharing (recommended)'. Click Apply > OK.

5. upgrade your anti-virus program and have a whole suite of anti-malware products besides an anti-virus program, such as anti-malware, anti-spyware, anti-adware, anti-trojan, and firewall.

4. update security patches - for non-microsoft products such as Java, etc go to F-Secure Health Check which requires Internet Explorer browser in order to do the scan.

How to stay Secure on the Internet Continued ...

The New To Squidoo Mistake Not To Do

2008-08-29T09:19:37.000Z

A common mistake made by people new to Squidoo and other online ventures guarantees failure.

There is probably no other mistake you can make which will destroy your chances at becoming a success online than this one. And yet there are many people who make it every day.

What mistake do you think it is?

The mistake made by many people, and the one mistake you should never make is to give up!

Never give up! The common denominator that all online success stories have is that they never gave up. And most successful people started with a number of failures.

Did you know that even very successful and wealthy people like Donald Trump have experienced massive failures?

Did you know that Bill Gates couldn't even get a job at IBM (imagine how different the computer industry would look if that personal officer had seen the potential in a young Bill Gates!).

I see lots of new Squidoo lens creators come in and create one or two lenses (badly) and then quit because they can not make any money. They blame the site, they blame the competition, they may even blame themselves, but they won't dig deep and try again.

What a mistake to make! Especially when there is a forum - Squidu - where there are lots of friendly people who donate their time and expertise to help you make your lenses successful. Not to mention some very talented lens masters who have written lenses giving away the secrets to their lens creating success. I have some of the best listed on my Lens Tips Directory

So NO excuses for quitting. You might be one lens away from success. One thing is assured, if you make the mistake of quitting you will never be successful.

flickr Marketing

2008-08-23T18:00:00.000Z

flickr Linking

I just started using my flickr account for flickr Marketing. I uploaded photos that covered 3 lenses. It seemed to take at least 3 days before they appeared in the regular flickr search results. But I am happy to say, that, because I created links back to the appropriate lenses, the flickr links are driving traffic. My link is Flickr. I did join several communities on Flickr.

flickr Tags

"flickr is not just self contained, as it's images return in google results, and Technorati even serves up flickr images. Because of this and flickr linkability, be sure to add relevant flickr keyword tags." This is Web 2.0! Tag those photos!

In the last few days I’ve seen countless photos on flickr without tags. Adding a photo to a group allows any group member to view your photo and add notes, tags, and comments, regardless of the photo’s privacy setting. Consider adding your photos to groups that are more focused, but active, so your photos don't get lost in the crowd.

flickr Search

Every tag on flickr automatically gets an RSS feed, so that you can watch all the photos tagged with "Elvis" or "scuba" or "gold" in your RSS reader, getting alerts every time a new one comes along.

Here's some great reading on flickr that can assist you in your marketing endeavors:

Web Strategy: Flickr for Marketing, PR, and Online Demos
Using Flickr for product marketing
Marketing on Flickr and Flickr’s TOS?
5 Star Affiliate Programs Blog
Home | Blog | Forum | Directory | News | Advertising | About
Flickrpreneur - Affiliate Marketing with Flickr PLUS Mini Review of the Threadless Affiliate Program

CrossLoop Remote Help PC Tools

2008-08-14T19:00:00.000Z

Mrinal Desai, one of the co-founders of CrossLoop contacted me by email saying, "Valerie - I am one of the Co-Founders of CrossLoop and wanted to drop in a note to express my appreciation of how you have built your profile and marketing it in all the right ways. Would love to talk to you, learn more about you and your business and hear more about your experience with CrossLoop. It helps us build a compelling product. Would also like to do whatever I can to give you a hand in promoting your profile and one of which could be feature you on our blog and newsletter in our 'CrossLoop Helper Interview' Series. Let me know some good times to talk. Thanks Mrinal."

I phoned Mrinal today and we talked for just under an hour. From what I understand from Mrinal, CrossLoop is relatively new 'beta', but as of this writing 'Total Help Sessions' are 2.6 million. His concept of CrossLoop (remote VNC viewer - free download) initially was to assist friends and family with their computer problems remotely. But his vision goes much further than that. Keep in mind that this is a young start-up company, with great vision, but like most start-ups, not a lot of money. Clearly, though CrossLoop is moving in the right direction. They've made a lot of improvements to the Helper's Console to promote CrossLoop marketplace.

One of the nice features of CrossLoop, is that after a remote help session the 'one who received computer help' can rate the session and leave session remarks. The 'helper' can also leave remarks after each session. These remarks can be viewed on each CrossLoop profile. In the future, he envisions having a module where a prospective customer can view 'testimonials' from previous customers and contact them for a reference by email. While word of mouth is the best reference, this certainly would have to take a close second place. He mentioned many more improvements for the CrossLoop marketplace.

CrossLoop Remote help can be for many things, from, "I have Viruses", to "help my PC is Slow". A "helper" could also assist with more general things like helping "set up an email account", or more advanced tasks like "setting up a network printer". I'm glad I have CrossLoop as one of my PC tools.

Once they make additional improvements to the marketplace, they'll be improving the 'helpers' profiles' so that their individual pages will be keyword ready. So marketing will still come down to the individual helper.

Without a doubt, word of mouth is the best advertising. Mrinal recommended giving 'Free Remote Assistance Estimates' with a free 15 minute session on the customer's PC, before they commit to paying for the service. I thought that was a great idea!

Do You Know How To Attract More Women?

2008-08-13T11:00:00.000Z

It has been proven that a powerful headline attracts more women (and men) than any other line.

It doesn't matter how good your lens is, or how good your email copy is... if no one opens them.

All good copy writers know that the "call to action" isn't something that you tack on the end of an email or a web page. The call to action begins with the headline and flows through the page.

There are a number of different styles of headline that cause people to respond. Some of the best headlines appeal to our insecurities, or greatest desires. Other great headlines arouse curiosity, and some make irresistible offers.

Jay Abraham's 100 greatest headlines list includes such classics as:

HOW A NEW DISCOVERY MADE A PLAIN GIRL BEAUTIFUL

WHO ELSE WANTS A SCREEN STAR FIGURE?

WHEN DOCTORS "FEEL ROTTEN" THIS IS WHAT THEY DO

HOW I MADE A FORTUNE WITH A "FOOL IDEA"

The style of language that you use in constructing your headlines has a lot to with the kind of response that you will get. To check out how your headlines perform against those of top copy writers test them with this free online webtool.

Test and improve .. watch your profits soar (maybe your pickup line success rates will improve too).

Squidoo LensMasters Competition Blog and Win $45 Virus Assistance via Remote Computer

2008-08-12T22:30:00.000Z

I'm offering a free Virus Removal or Speed Up Your PC via Remote Computer, (value $45 or $30 respectively), as the prize for best blog competition on SquidooMasters, (Squidoo lensmaster competition) which ends in about a week.

On to the Blog Competition:

What I would like to see is a Blog post on any subject you wish, that has at least 3 good size paragraphs, with good keyword tags. Please note only single keywords are allowed in the 'ning.com' configuration of the blog module, so a keyword of 'page rank' will split itself into 'page', so I get around this by throwing in pagerank in the text and then as a keyword. No cut and paste from your lenses. It has to be unique content. This will help the network get good rankings in the search engines. But the added and most important bonus is you get to promote yourself! You, of course, can have links to your lenses, store or business. The voting will be done by the number of 'positive' comments added to the blog. Negative comments will be deleted if they go overboard, but won't count against the results. So in other words, only the Positive comments will be counted. BTW I will not be part of the competition, although I will continue posting blogs as time permits.

I will give 'positive' comments to blog posts, but will refrain from leaving 'negative' comments.

We are now cached in Google (very high placement for keywords, BTW) and many other search engines, so let's get the ball rolling!

This is your opportunity to do 'article marketing'. See my blog on Article Marketing that explains how this can help drive traffic to your lens, store, or business.

Consider, that you can initiate another Blog Competition, offer a Winning Prize, perhaps something you sell in your store, or as an affiliate, and provide the links, of course, to your site. Think of what a great way this is to promote your product or service!

If you want to join Squidoo Masters and participate in the Blog Competition, then you will need to be a Squidoo lensmaster, or join Squidoo and put one (lens) up pretty quick.

Prize - Virus Assistance Service via Remote Computer:

My CrossLoop Profile or purchase my service on ebay. See how CrossLoop works. Winner's Prize - Explanation of Virus Assistance via Remote Computer

Technical Support Specialist
Will provide virus assistance services to residents of Canada and United States (excluding Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico). These services are provided through remote computer with telephone support. - Fee $45 to remove malicious code and clean-up computer - time involved 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours.

Operating System Requirements:

- Windows 2000 or newer, including Vista
- Pentium 500MHz +
- 128 MB RAM or greater
- 2 MB hard drive space
- Broadband Internet Connection

If you visit my Computer Virus Infection lens it explains more. Midway in the lens it describes how I give virus assistance thru Remote Computer. Best Blogger has up to one year to use this service.

Best of Luck! to those who enter the Squidoo Masters Blog Competition!

Blogs For Traffic

2008-08-08T01:02:38.000Z

It is no secret that blogging is a good way to get cheap traffic. Many people who tried blogging and failed usually have given up too soon. Consistent posting and creative content will get traffic. I have watched my blog traffic soar as now and then a popular site will pick up on one of my posts and divert traffic my way (and it keeps sending it, although at a lesser rate). Other times I have watched a post go viral as someone links to a post, and then a number of their readers link to their post with each one giving me a free link.

As part of The 30 Day Challenge I have been introduced to another blogging site that is an incredible resource for those looking for traffic. They allow you 3 free blogs, which may not sound that special compared to other blogging hosts. However, they have a great platform that easy to use and is SEO optimised. But the real bonus, is that they can be turned to auto pilot!

These traffic generating machines once set up will work away to generate a stream of free traffic to your lens, or if you prefer you can use them soley for PPC and Affiliate revenue. Unlike other auto blogs I have seen, these are not "spammy." If you are struggling with traffic to your lenses set up the 3 free blogs and trial it - you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Google Page Rank

2008-08-02T21:30:00.000Z

An elusive algorithm is what Google uses to index every web page on the Internet. This indexing ranks the pages based on importance on a scale of 1 to 10.

Google started PageRanks as a way to see how many sites linked to any given site, and assigns them a level of importance in search results.

Because of another change to page ranks Google made in the recent past, some formerly high ranked blogs took major hits to their PRs. Something in the algorithms had changed, but is doubtful we'll ever know for sure.

Is this Google's warning to sites engaging in a controversial practice of buying and selling links to game Google's search engine? Since it ranks sites in its search results based on how many other sites link to them, many high-ranking sites were selling links to low-ranking sites, earning cash in return for boosting the low-ranking site in search results.

The sites, known as "link directories," were pushed to the back of Google's search results even when users searched for them by name.

One Way Links, unlike a link exchange where two sites link to each other, is a link from a web site or blog that only links to you, however you are not required to link back to them. A good way to achieve this is to create them. There are a number of advertising websites out there that allow you to post an ad for free. Craigslist, AdPost and Indocquent are just a few. These are your one way links. One way links carry more weight in the Google algorithm them swapped links. However, combining the two will increase it that much more. Afterall, page rank is what it's all about!

Another great way to get one way links is to engage in online discussions. A feature that allows readers to comment on an article is a great way to leave a link to your website, blog, or lens. The comment never expires and if what you write is well thought out and helpful to other readers, they may just click on it.

Article Marketing Drive Traffic

2008-08-01T07:00:00.000Z

I'm going to discuss Article Marketing as it pertains to the Squidoo Masters 'Blog' and in a macro sense how it can drive traffic to your Squidoo lenses. It is considered one of the best ways to generate traffic to another destination.

But, the whole idea is not to just do a cut and paste of your original lens and then expect anything, because Google algorithms can recognize when it is a copy and will gloss over it. The algorithms are a sequence of instructions, one of them being to recognize a duplicate article and then to ignore it!

You can certainly cut and paste from your original lens, but I would recommend rewording and changing the placement of paragraphs and by all means adding some new wording, otherwise you might get ignored by the big G and then your time and opportunity to promote your lens is lost.

The first 3 to 5 words in your title are very important - so chose your keywords for your title and body of your blog carefully. My title, besides being based on the actual subject, was chosen because 'Article Marketing' pulls up 33.4 Million hits on Google and 'Drive Traffic' pulls up 10.4 Million hits. Just remember you're blogging for traffic.

Ensure that the keywords in your title are present in the body of your text, but don't repeat the keywords more than 3 times. One way to do this is to use the 'Edit', 'Find' tool on your browser and see how many times each keyword turns up.

It's advisable to have at least 2 or 3 paragraphs in the text and don't forget to include a destination page.

If you include an image or video, you should have at least 5 lines above the image. Google doesn't like to find an image first. I like to play it safe and put it lower down.

I purposely burned a feed on Feedburner for this segment of this network, so that when one was posted the RSS feed would get pinged and it would pick it up.

Note: Each person who posts should then ping it. Just copy the address and ping it at: Ping. I have tried to ping all the Archives but it is not being accepted. I was able, however, to ping this. So it appears each one who posts is going to be responsible to ping it also.

Another good place to check out is at Ezine Articles

All members of Squidoo Masters should take the opportunity to post in the Blog on the Main Page. Once published it can be edited by you at any time, and several times, if need be. Please check your Spelling!

The Money Changers - Bankers

2008-07-26T05:30:00.000Z

or, like I refer to them as, ... banksters!

What is needed is an Executive Order to take back Monetary Control. Remove the Moneychangers (Private World Bankers) from power and return governance of the money supply to sovereign governmental control.

The Fed is a secretive group of private banks, run by unelected officials, which loans our government unbacked money that they are allowed to essentially print out of thin air, making each dollar in your pocket worth less all the time, and increasing our national debt to these banks.

The debate still continues as to whether we will see deflation, inflation, stagflation or a hyperinflationary depression.

In my opinion, a hyperinflationary depression in the G7 countries and many other countries throughout the world is the more probable outcome. The worst off will be those countries who have exponentially increased their money supply and the U.S. glaringly comes to mind.

And now I'm going to tell you why. No country has ever experienced a hyperinflation when their status was a creditor nation with a sound and stable currency, i.e. Japan - overstimulation of their stock market and subsequent crash resulted in a deep and prolonged deflation. The only countries that ever experienced hyperinflation were countries that were debtor nations who concurrently and significantly increased their money supply. Bankers the Moneychangers

Mookie Morris

2008-07-12T09:30:00.000Z

Mookie is the youngest male competitor on the Canadian Idol stage this year. At 18, he just recently graduated high school in Toronto and will be starting at Concordia University in September pending the outcome of the competition. He realizes that Canadian Idol is a once in a lifetime summer job opportunity to kick-start his music career, but by no means will it be easy. "It will take a lot of discipline, smart decisions on song choice, confidence and belief for me to become the next Canadian Idol."

I can't resist showcasing Mookie Morris. This kid is hot - the whole package - great presence, singing and footwork everything.

Valerie ....

Naive by the Kooks ...

my lens on Mookie

Marsha Camblin has become a Giant Squid

2008-07-04T02:00:00.000Z

I understand Marsha Camblin, aka Buddhist name Rinchen Chodron has just become a Giant Squid. You can view her lenses at: RinchenChodron

If anyone else is or has become a Giant Squid, please speak up. All members can post here in the Blog Posts!

Here's a great link that explains all the Squidoo badges.

Valerie,

Giant Squid Spills the Beans - Blog Tips

2008-07-02T19:00:00.000Z

I'm happy to say, today, I became a Giant Squid!
Let's examine some blog tips, before I move on to some blatant self-promotion:

* You should have at least four to five lines of text in your blog before using a link.
* Search engines are sophisticated enough to examine the actual keywords in the body of a web page. So make sure if you have deleted modules or added modules, to update add/remove keywords.
* Use specific keywords that relate to your blog, ie. instead of "mobile phone" use "nokia N72 mobile phone"; you'll have less competition and more targeted visitors.
* Leaving comments on blogs in related niches is a great way to get new targeted traffic to your blog. It is also an excellent way to build relationships with other bloggers.
* Networking is possibly the single most important skill for making big money online. It is also a great way to build traffic to your blog.
* Link liberally to other blogs in your posts. Many bloggers keep track of incoming links to their blog and will come check out your blog when you link to them. This can also help you get comments.

More tips ...

Links back to my Squidoo lenses can't hurt now, can they?

Here are my top 5 lenses:

Margaritas
Koodo Mobile Phone
Computer Viruses
Cool, Contemporary, Cutting-edge Furniture
Estate Executor Duties

Blogger Job - Wanted - Bloggers for Eco-friendly Green Products

2008-06-23T15:26:05.000Z

Companies are looking for bloggers with excellent article writing skills and specific skills, such as this company that is looking for a blogger that has Photoshop and preferably a background in Design or Architecture.

"We're looking for a blogger to handle our new Green Home Building channel. You must be passionate about Green products. Eco-friendly building materials and decor items, sustainable home designs and reusable energies will be your daily topics. Responsible for generating new content daily. Get paid per post and grow with the company. Strong writing skills and Photoshop are must. Interior Design/Architecture background or education is a big plus. Email to infogate@comcast.net, (Subject=Editors Wanted - Greeninfogate@comcast.net for details). Let us know which country you are currently living in and what are you doing for living."