The Many Sides of BevsPaper
Many a lensmaster have discovered Squidoo for one niche, then put our lens tools to good use for other favorite topics. BevsPaper joined Squidoo to talk about art and business, and has branched into several other niches on which she’s quickly become known as an expert.
Bev shared her excitement for lensbuilding in this short interview. Learn how her obvious passion helps drive her contagious success.
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Squidoo: Tell us about how you discovered Squidoo and what it meant to you.
BevsPaper: When I discovered Squidoo, it was an almost magical day. Realizing that there was a platform that would allow me to write about so many topics that I have a passion for was like a dream come true. Squidoo doesn’t require that I write about only one thing, although if that were my preference I could do that too. One of my passions is the illustrators of the past who made stories come alive with their art, made us want to purchase a product from the images they gave us, and decorated magazine covers for our delight.
Creating lenses to share this love seems a natural thing to do. Using lenses, I can “focus” in on another passion of mine which is Native American Spirituality. The platform also allows me to share deep personal stories of my own life in hopes of helping others who might be going through the same pain, the same sorrow, or the same healing process. The possibilities of taking real life passions and creating lenses are simply endless.
Squidoo: You truly are the master of paper collectibles knowledge on Squidoo, and have developed quite a selection of lenses on Native American customs. How have lenses helped you promote your business niche and have more fun with your hobby niche?
BevsPaper:
Writing on Squidoo has helped me grow as a writer but also to share the history and the spirituality of the Native American Peoples of North America. Sharing the history and the traditions of the First People brings me great joy and also helps me to grow as a person as I research what I want to write about.
Creating lenses about illustration artists and ephemera brings knowledge of an area of collecting that is sometimes overlooked.
A relatively new niche that I’ve been working with is from a Grandmother’s perspective of what grandparents might consider when they are looking for gifts for their grandchildren. Being a Grandma, myself, I’m able to share the products that I think are worth looking into for birthdays, special holidays, and just “I love you gifts” for those precious little ones that brighten our lives. I’ve been concentrating on educational, developmental, and just for fun gifts and I’m having great fun doing it.
Squidoo: Which are your favorite modules to use and why?
BevsPaper: The text module is one of my most favorite modules because I can do so much with it.
As far as affiliate potential, my very favorite is the Amazon Spotlight module. I love that I can add good content and keyword phrases above the product that I’m spotlighting and that I can place review information and more good content just under the product.
Depending on the topic I also love the Blackbox module for emphasis on a short point I want to make. And I’ve just learned some really nifty uses for the Guestbook module that I plan to implement in creative ways.
Squidoo: You definitely put those modules to good use with creative methods. Now that you have over 150 featured lenses, how are you promoting them?
BevsPaper:
Promotion is key to our success and I use a variety of formats. Facebook and Twitter are 2 common places that I use along with RedGage and Tagfoot. I belong to some Ning groups that work well because they are focused on certain topics or have an audience that would be interested in a new lens that I’ve created.
Squidoo: Lensmasters can learn a lot from your variety and polished content. What best tip do you have for other lensmasters building their niche lenses?
BevsPaper: Research the topic you plan to write about. Find good keywords and keyword phrases to include in your writing. But most of all write good strong original content. Notice I said original. Make the lens YOURS with your own spin on the topic. Put your personality into it. Content is king when it comes to the search engines finding your lens and placing it in the results of a search by someone who is looking for the very thing you have written about. So, be original…be you…show your passion.
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Thanks again, Bev, for joining us to share your knowledge. A lensmaster since June 2008, Bev knows success isn’t found overnight, but through consistent, creative, well-planned lenses and all the supporting features that go with original content. Be sure to visit her lenses, say hi, and steal a tip or two to make your lenses great.
Until next time!
~Kimberly Dawn Wells
YOUR Community & Charity Organizer
