Getting the Basics with Glen
This week we're learning the basics with top lensmaster N367 aka Glen. For new and veteran Squidooers alike, Glen offers tips for making Squidoo work.
Squidoo: Tell us about the variety of lenses and groups you have developed.
Glen: I have quite a few groups (not necessarily Squidoo Groups) of lenses, of various themes and flavours. My motivation to focus on them is simply because I enjoy it. Such as www.squidoo.com/drumsanddrumming It's an introduction to drumming. Going over the basics of the drum kit, and then instructing people how to understand my simple "Drum Tab". It then leads them onto 7 lessons. I've actually used this system in real life and have seen people go from being merely interested in the drums to becoming quite competent drummers. It was quite a thrill when I realised how perfect Squidoo is to use as a vehicle to publish these lessons online.
I'm also a big Star Wars fan (http://www.squidoo.com/rebelpilot), which allowed me to dig up content (from a weekly ezine I used to do) from 7 years ago. Man, if Squidoo was around back then I would have been RICH! And after getting a home gym for Christmas I really should get stuck into working out again. As a positive step towards that goal I made a series of lenses which I've put together at http://www.squidoo.com/musclefitness Now all I have to do is move from my butt from the computer in the home office out to the equipment in the home gym. Until that motivation arrives I'm blaming Squidoo for being so addictive.
Squidoo: Which modules are your favorite, or which do you use most often for these types of lenses?
Glen: I'm a big fan of the Featured Lenses module. It helps me tie in all my related lenses and make another lens to feature them. Other than that the new improved stuff is just icing on the cake. As far as modules go the basics were pretty much covered from the get go. Text/Write and Text List are treated like Clydesdale work horses. So powerful, yet so flexible. The newer stuff is more specialized. Great to have in the arsenal but should only be used for a specific purpose.
Squidoo: Tell us which of your own lenses you think are the best of the best.
Glen: Basic HTML (www.squidoo.com/basichtml) has helped a lot of people to add a little bit more functionality or presentation to their lenses. I love helping people. And I enjoy taking a subject (such as Squidoo) and exploring it and experimenting with it and then explaining it to others. So the Featured Lenses module got another workout at "Where can I find the best lenses about... SQUIDOO?" (http://www.squidoo.com/where) and there's over 20 lenses featured there that is like a Crash Course in Squidoo for anyone who wants to work their way through it. A lot of them are mine but I've also added others from Lensmasters who have documented other aspects of Squidoo and shared their intimate knowledge.
There is no secret to Squidoo. It's available right there for free. As well as help from sharing and caring Lensmasters in the SquidU forum.
Squidoo: What else would you like to say to newbies?
Glen: Be sure to fill in your Introduction module. Keep it brief, but enticing, and make sure that you upload an intro image to go with it. I've still got a couple of lenses floating around in squid space that need to have that fixed up. And make sure you've got at least four modules (not including the Introduction module) in each lens or it will be counted as Unimproved (www.squidoo.com/unimproved).
Lessons for Lensmasters:
1. Focus on what you enjoy
2. Tie your related lenses together
3. Be brief and enticing, and don't forget to add photos!
