Do It (for) Yourself!
Lori Wisniewski
Assistant Rooms Director
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Squidoo: What brought you to Squidoo?
Lori: I heard about Squidoo from BzzAgent. I've been a member for a few years and kind of lost touch with the site for several months while travelling. I got back online, checked out my Bzz account, and found out about Squidoo. I'd read Seth Godin's book Purple Cow and thought that it kicked ass. It was original, intelligent, fun, and just unique enough to really work. So I decided that it would be interesting to check out the site during the beta testing.
S: How did you decide what to make your lenses about?
L: To be honest, when I first started, I was looking for the lenses that were filled out in advance or the ones that represented big-box brand names. I quickly learned that these were not worthwhile, deleted a bunch, and started to write lenses about stuff that was important, irrelevant, funky, and fun. Stuff that I liked. Things that I'm into. My favorite lens that I've written so far is one of my least visited. It's simple. It's quirky. It's a lot of lists about stuff and things that I like or dislike. Sometimes, when you're lucky, I'll tell you why you should agree with me. It's a lens for people with an opinion and for people who need someone else's opinion. It's a lens for everyone. I've written a lens all about my favorite things, and -- by golly -- it's the perfect lens for everyone!
S: Do you maintain a web site or blog otherwise?
L: Nope. I just got a MySpace account but haven't updated it since I opened it. I might continue with it, if not for anything else than to promote my Squidoo Lenses.
S: What have you done with your lenses that you can't do elsewhere?
L: Well, nothing. I like to write and rant and rave. The only difference between my journal and my Squidoo lenses is that I can share my rants with other people who are into the same things. I can share my experiences, losses, triumphs, stupid cat jokes, gardening tips, dumpster diving secrets, and Day of the Dead sugar skull recipes, and guess what? You'll never guess... Other people are interested and want to read about it! Who knew!
S: Did you consider doing so using a blog or similar web page?
L: Nope. Squidoo is fast, and the tools are easy. Once I start with a good thing, I'll only stray if there's a problem. Squidoo's been good to me, and I'll be good to Squidoo.
S: Have you taken any cues from other lenses so far?
L: My Day of the Dead lens started out as a "pre-fab." I added dozens of web sites, products I like, ideas, quizzes, questions, and photos. I made it my own. As far as other lenses, I try not to be like the rest of them. I want my lenses to be original. No doubt, if I see a great idea and think I can make it my own, I'll be the first to do so... but only once I've made it my own. I'll tweak it until it's so different from another idea that you wouldn't recognize where the original idea came from. At least, that's my hope.
S: Once you've published a lens, what do you do with it?
L: I try to update the majority of my lenses at least weekly, although that doesn't always happen. My top-ranking lenses get more attention in a push to make the top 100 list. Sometimes I'll do a search for one of my topics. If my lens isn't first on that list, I'll try to push it. I update my favorite lenses as frequently as two or three times a day. I'm really into myself and my Lori's Lists lens at the moment. Maybe it's a bit conceited, but I don't care. It's fun for me to figure out my favorite things and tell you why you should like them as well. That's the truly fun part. Not to mention difficult. I strive to be honest in everything I do (It's easier to tell the truth, even if other people don't like it, than to be caught in a lie and struggle your way out of it). My personal lenses tend to be the most difficult.
S: What advice or ideas would you offer other lensmasters?
L: Don't try to make too many lenses all at once. You'll find that you won't get excited about any of them because you won't be able to make any of them kick ass. You'll have lots of below average, unranked lenses -- not worth a whole lot. Start small and work your way up. When I'm super excited about a topic, I totally immerse myself in it. I find it's much easier to tackle one topic head on, rock solid, and with every ounce of your body. Give it your all. Then, when you're ready to move on, take a breather, get some air, and you'll find another passion to explode about! Oh yeah, and add eBay modules. It's a money maker.
S: What one lens do you wish existed?
L: Hmm. Maybe one about how Lori Wisniewski is going to get sponsored to pick up litter all over the country, making jewelry and small sculpture from my findings along the way. The point is to travel, see the country -- world? -- get rid of a lot of trash, recycle a lot, make art, be able to spend time with my family, and still be financially stable. Maybe someone will even donate a house to me in central Florida or on the East Coast so that I'll have a home base. My next lens is going to be fairly interesting!
