Seek Feedback
Ryann Callaghan
Artist and Shopkeeper
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Squidoo: How did you decide what to make your lenses about?
Ryann: By day, I am employed full time as a web-based application developer. By night, I am a self-promoting artist, shopkeeper and affiliate marketer. I have a wide variety of interests including 3D, art, comics, folkore and mythology, fantasy and science fiction, literature, pop culture, movies and television and trend chasing -- and my lenses so far have reflected these interests.
S: Do you maintain a web site or blog otherwise?
R: Yes. I maintain a personal creative blog, which I use primarily for promoting my own artwork. I am an active shopkeeper at CafePress with three premium shops: FiannaSidhe Gothic Fairy & Fantasy Art , Style O Matic and the Beauteous Boutique. I also maintain the Gothic Art Gallery and Faerie Cards promoting the artwork of my favorite Fairy & Fantasy Artists at CafePress.
S: What have you done with your lenses that you can't do elsewhere?
R: I am a bit of an idea junkie, but I don't have enough time or resources to develop them all. I have been using lenses to flesh out new ideas and concepts and recieve fast feedback from the community (though voting and comments). I can use that feedback to determine which ideas are worth developing further.
S: Did you consider doing so using a blog or similar web page?
R: It certainly came to mind that I could, but I know I couldn't do it without a lot more work on my part. The key features that I like about Squidoo are the ease of use, the variety of modules available and the valuable community feedback.
S:Have you taken any cues from other lenses so far?
R: Yes. When I first started creating lenses, I was just throwing stuff up all over the place. A few less-than-perfect votes from the community were a real motivator to make improvements! I also found Megan's blog entry The Power of Personal Recommendation was extremely helpful when looking for ways to improve my lenses.
S: What advice or ideas would you offer other lensmasters?
R: Subscribe to the Squidoo newsletters, visit the SquidU discussion forum and read the blog. Both the feedback from other lensmasters and the information found in the FAQ's and the forum has been extremely helpful.
