Hello Lensmasters!

The question is often asked on the forum, “How long is too long for a lens?” The answer varies, depending on the topic of the lens, the target audience, the types of modules, etc. However, if you are thinking about breaking your lens into smaller parts, or creating new ones to showcase new information, additional lenses can boost your linking power and give you new opportunities to get found online.

This week, Giant Squid Jaguar Julie teaches us how to expand your lens repertoire by creating new lenses from old ones.

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Making New Lenses Out of Old Lenses

As Squidoo fanatics, many of us have loooooong lenses that we developed on our favorite topics. Is this the best way to go? There’s nothing wrong with a few long lenses, but many smaller lenses to compliment them can be very powerful as well.

When your readers notice that you have several lenses on one topic, they’ll be more interested in seeing what you have to say. “The more you have to say about one topic, the more people will think you know about it.” says Kimberly Dawn Wells. And, not only that, but “more lenses equals more links equals more opportunity to be found.”

You can take what Kimberly says “to the bank” as your Squidoo royalties will increase with more focused lenses too! How does that work? Read on to find out.

Making multiple lenses from an EXISTING longer lens

What is a ‘long’ lens anyways? While you can see top-rated lenses that have 30-40 and even more modules, that can be a bit too many modules for a focused lens. It’s a matter of whether or not each and every module within that lens contributes to the lens primary topic. If some of the modules appear to deviate from the primary topic, than these modules would be great for a second or third more focused lens! Once you have identified your long lens that you want to split, let’s get started!

- TIP: Print a copy of the long lens first!
- Mark up the printed copy, identifying which modules will be copied to the new lens(es).
- Use the printed copy as your guide to keep track of your progress.

At the moment, there is not a utility that can copy modules from an existing lens to a new one. You will need to manually copy and paste, but this is a pretty easy task if you have a great long lens to work with.

- Open your long lens in edit mode so that you will have access to any special code in your modules that you want to copy to the new lens.
- Open a new browser tab or window and create the new lens.
- Add and rearrange the modules in your new lens that you want to copy from the long lens.
- Copy and paste from the long lens to the new lens.
- Add any necessary new copy to your new lens and publish!
- Delete the modules you no longer need on your long lens, rearrange modules if necessary, and publish.
- TIP: Be sure that you have added the featured lens module to both lenses so that you can reference the other lens!
- Don’t forget to lensroll to AND from the new lens for more traffic!

Making multiple NEW lenses

For those of you who have access to the Create a Lens Template**, this is a super easy way to create multiple lenses which focus on different aspects of a single topic.

- Select and rearrange specific modules
- Write your customized biography and upload your portrait
- Add your tags
- Set up your charity and cash options

Once you have finished setting up your custom template, you publish it. Your template is then available for using with the lenses that you want to have the similar modules.

** - only Giant Squids currently have access to the template. Learn more here!

Some examples of shorter, more focused lenses

A popular type of lens is the lensography, a compilation of a lensmaster’s lenses. However, a lensography can get to be the epitome of a long lens especially for Giant Squids who are quite prolific! Jaguar Julie Lensography was my first lensography and it has a lot of modules.

While it does meet the criteria of a focused lens, it also benefited by being split into more focused lenses or lensograpies. So, I opted to create several lensographies that were more focused in topic.

- Jaguar Julie Fashion Lensography — variety of trendy fashion and accessories lenses.
- Jaguar Julie HMB Lensography — Hey Monkeybrain lenses.
- Jaguar Julie Hungarian Lensography — variety of slightly ethnic, definitely EasternEuropean, and very HUNGARIAN lenses.
- Jaguar Julie Jewels Lensography — varietyof artsy jewelry lenses.
- Jaguar Julie Video Showcase Lensography– video showcase lenses.

Examples of longer lenses

To know me is to know that one of my passionate core topics is Eastern Europe. My “made in” lenses have been some of the most passionate lenses that I have lovingly created. These are the lenses that have some of the most modules of any of my lenses. Made in Bulgaria — Francesco Biasia, Karl Lagerfeld, Lacoste and Perry Ellis is the shortest of the long lenses in that I split out a portion of this lens to create a second, more focused lens, Made in Bulgaria — Lalo Orna.

In summary

More good lenses = more good content = more good exposure = more good readers.

Learn more about how Jaguar Julie is expanding her publishing power through highly focused lenses and categorized lensographies.

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How do top lensmasters keep up with a constant flow of new lenses?

1. Make a list of specific topics you want to cover.
2. Schedule days for new lenses.
3. Create a system - claim and fill in basics on day one, add new content on day two, fill in links and moneymakers on day three, publish and promote on day four, lather, rinse, repeat.

Several lensmasters have recently announced their goals and successes for making money and boosting traffic with Squidoo. Ready to join the ranks? There’s never been a better time to get started!

Enjoy and prosper,
~Kimberly
Your Community Organizer on Squidoo

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People. They are the driving force behind what makes Squidoo the awesome place it is. This week, it’s only fair we pay tribute to them.

1. Five fabulous people we know and love
2. How to create a lens about YOU
3. Tips to consider for protecting your online security

People suggest new tools, share new ideas, and help each other become better. This week, consider sending a note of thanks to the people who have helped you.

We couldn’t have done it without you!

~Kimberly
Your Community Organizer

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1. Five Fabulous People We Know and Love
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The SquidU forum is a great place for getting to know your fellow lensmasters. This week, we have interviews from five fabulous fellow forum frequenters to share with you. In just a few minutes, you’ll get to know these extraordinary lensmasters and learn tons of tips about traffic and tagging, making more money, and reasons to stick around.

• Jazzing it up with Janet21
• QuippingQueen’s Mental Floss
• Highly Focused with Oniyagi
• Passionate Potter KilnGoddess Tells All
• Interview with RMS

Be sure to leave them a note to say hi!

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2. How to create a lens about YOU
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Imagine. Your boss goes online to Google you and see what a great job you’ve been doing. Gasp! Nothing comes up! Could this be? It doesn’t have to. With Squidoo, you can create your own custom online presence in no time.

• Create an “about me” lens
• Try SquidWho on for size
• Give a Lensography a shot

Squidoo makes it easy to create a lens about yourself. In fact, make several!

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3. Tips to consider for protecting your online security
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Lensmaster and safety expert kellfinder shares some tips for keeping your information safe online, while still letting people get to know you:

The Internet has become so many things to a huge population of people. It is a source of entertainment, a source for news and information and a whole new way to do business. As with most things in life, there is usually some bad to go along with the good, and the Internet is no exception. Once something has become the norm, it is easy to let your guard down and that could cost you a lot.

The biggest threat to you comes from releasing your own personal information. The degrees of harm vary from receiving non-stop spam mail to actual identity theft. There are many individuals that prey on this type of information. However, some violations of privacy come from actual websites themselves.

As social networking sites have grown in popularity, some of those sites have found ways to use your information to their advantage. One way to protect yourself would be to read the terms of service and privacy agreements very carefully. Although this might seem like a very tedious task, it is important to discover if they have something buried in their fine print that is not in your best interest.

Another way safety has been violated through the Internet is from the use of online classified ads. Advertising in this manner can be extremely effective and safe as long as you take the proper precautions. Never give out your whole name, your phone number or your address. If you meet someone after a purchase, always do it in a public place and with a friend. A classified ad site that has a community to go along with it also adds protection by taking away the anonymity factor.When it comes to building and managing your lenses on Squidoo, there are some precautions to be taken as well. First, the golden rule applies of not providing personal information on the lens. Second, take care when responding to an inquiry made through your lens. It would be a good idea to do a Google search first of the name of the person who contacted you, their email address and their company’s name. Find out who you are dealing with before responding.

Quick Tips:

• Read the terms of service and privacy agreements before joining any site
• Keep your address and any financial information to yourself
• Use a social classifieds network rather than anonymous classified ad sites
• Do some research on who you are dealing with before responding

You can find further information on protecting your personal information and privacy in the links to my lenses. They also contain information about safe site choices and groups for advocates of safety.

Learn more about kellfinder through her Internet Privacy and Safety Advocates Group.

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