Howdy lensmasters!

January 24th was National Compliment Day in the US. A little known holiday, this symbolizes a conscious effort to acknowledge and reward the work of others. Everyone loves getting compliments on their lens, but did you know there are some specific things you can do to “complement,” as in “add things to make complete,” your current lens content, which can lead to more compliments? Read on to find out how.

Compliment: an expression of praise
Complement: to complete

First things first
Before you can complement something, you need to have it. By that we mean the basics. It’s tempting to get excited about building lenses and skip to the interesting and exotic parts, and often the most important foundations get left behind. Squidoo is built to help lensmasters do what most webmasters forget, which is to include those hundred little things that attract search engine attention, give readers value, and give the author rapport.

There’s a great list already started in the Critique Me forum at our SquidU Learning Center: http://www.squidu.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7887

Picking the right monetizers
Oooh. Money. I’m often asked, “How can I have so many clickouts (500, 1000, 3500) but no sales?” Ninety percent of the time the lens is not designed to sell products that further support the reader’s goal. Readers WANT to take action after reading your lens, and selling products can help you do that. Choosing which products to sell can be tricky.

We’ve all seen lenses that plop together some content and add a bunch of money-making modules in a last-ditch effort to make a quick dollar. (Enter buzzer noise here.) We also know how we feel when we see this happen, but too often, we do it ourselves. If you can’t logically relate what you’re selling to what you’re talking about, you’re doing a disservice to your readers and to your reputation.

If you’re having a hard time deciding what to add to your lens, consider three points: the main event, accessories, and the unobvious. If you have a lens on Crocs, a recently popular shoe brand and style, of course you’ll want to sell Crocs (your main event). Your readers might also be interested in the various laces and buttons that can be affixed to Crocs (accessories). For the unobvious addition, did you know that Crocs are very popular in the nursing profession? Add a few links to additional nursing footwear or uniform resources, and you’ve completed a full circle of shopping resources for your niche topic.

Expanding your comfort zones
Many lensmasters limit their suggested books, links, and lenses to what they already know. This can seem like a lot of information to you, but to your readers it’s just scraping the surface. Part of growing your own knowledge and becoming an expert, and helping your visitors find what they’re looking for includes branching out into the unknown. Make a commitment each month to finding one totally new piece of information to add to your lens. You’ll learn something, your visitors will learn something, and you might get a nice LensRank boost. Triple bonus!

Time has shown and top lensmasters agree: great lenses create great results. Part of building a great lens involves adding content that fits together and makes the reader feel whole. By complementing your current lenses with new and improved additions, we’re sure you’ll enjoy lots of compliments on your results for the years to come.

BTW - if you do an awesome job this year, you might just be able to claim this prize for your own next year: Best.Lens.Ever.com

Happy lensmastering!
Kimberly
YOUR Community Organizer

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Ohmmmmm…

Oh wait, that’s a meditative thing, right? Ah yes, a crystal ball is what I need. Wait as I peer into my garden orb to bring you my predictions for 2008.

That easy? I wish! Even though some people make oodles of money by being professional predictors and statisticians, the rest of us can often only guess. Do you know what I have found to be the best way to predict your future?

By planning it and doing it yourself. By deciding what you want to happen and making it a reality.

Keeping that in mind, here are my predictions for Squidoo for 2008! (And great ideas to get you started on lensmastery for the new year.)

Animals & Nature
I see “going green at home” and “maintaining exotic pets” in our future, along with personal camping and hunting vacation experiences.

Arts & Literature
I predict more lensmasters will bravely show off their creativity with portfolio and learning lenses on arts and words of all flavors.

Business
In 2008, lensmasters who own and operate businesses will get real with their readers about who they are and what they do. They’ll make friends with their customers and learn new ways to offer solutions.

Cars & Trucks
This year it’s all about pimping out your ride and being comfortable. Ideas for stylish and functional accessories, in and out, will make a debut.

Computers, Gadgets, & Tech
Lensmasters will go beyond selling the hot products and delve into creative ways to use them. Which will give readers ideas and boost interaction. Lesser known technologies will receive part of the spotlight.

DIY & Hobbies
Weekend warriors will become master teachers with their own online TV channels and tons of ways to create their own pattern slash video slash supplies lens.

How To & Education
Homeschooling resources will flourish. As will collegiate portfolios, teacher lenses, and self-learner lenses.

Entertainment
In 2008, we’re going to learn to party right with board games, Broadway and Vegas shows, and all things wild in between.

Food & Cooking
This year is hot for kitchen tips, restaurant reviews, and recipe collections. You’ll also learn about the exotic side of dinner and drink.

Health & Medicine
We’re getting fit and healthy in 2008 with nutritional and fitness tips to last a lifetime. Uncommon conditions will become familiar with awareness made possible by Squidoo.

Parenting & Kids
The latest crazes in potty training, baby sign language, and meal planning will hit the ranks, and personal experiences with Autism and dyslexia will be shared.

News & Politics
US Presidential election coverage will be big, as well as personal ‘vote for me’ lenses, things to do besides watching commercials, and many many lenses where readers can duel out the issues that matter to you and me every day - not just once every four years.

What are you in to? Pick three of your favorite categories and commit to putting yourself on the Squidoo map this year by building up the perfect set of resources for your most exciting topics.

Get started here!

Check back next week for part two of Kimberly’s Predictions for 2008, and have an awesome weekend!

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