SquidU

PC World recently posted an article on Nine Twitter Tips for Businesses. For many of you, Squidoo is your business, so it makes sense that you can apply these tips to using Twitter to promote your lenses. In fact, we loved these tips so much that we adapted them for Squidoo. Based on Tips for Businesses, here are our Nine Twitter Tips for Squidoo.

1. Don’t automate it
Squidoo comes with an embedded Twitter tool that helps you tweet updates when you publish lenses, and this should be used sparingly. If you update lenses every other day and post 47 tweets as such, it can be a huge turnoff to followers. Use it when you post updates of value, or add a personalized tweet through your favorite Twitter client to describe what new content can be found on the lens.

1.5. Automate it
To maintain a consistent posting of tweets about your lenses, even when you’re not around, try TweetLater.com to queue up authentic, conversation-style posts about your lenses.

2. Be Conversational
Friends choose whether or not to follow you on Twitter, so if all they get to read is that you published another lens, off the list you’ll go. Use Twitter as a two-way communication tool. Ask and answer questions, chat about why you created a lens, share stories and experiences and even bloopers. Show readers there’s someone with a unique voice behind your Twitter account.

3. Follow people who are relevant
Following other lensmasters isn’t about spying on the competition, it’s about creating synergy and building a stronger brand. The same goes with people relevant to the topics of your lenses. Follow them and engage them in conversation. Use their content for your lenses, and tell everyone about it. Don’t feel obligated to follow anyone who follows you, but actively seek out the right people to team up with.

4. Make sure your people are on Twitter, and refer to them
If you’re a one-person operation this can be a challenge, but we’ve all got some form of “people.” When you’re doing business with someone, there’s no greater compliment than to share public praise about a colleague. It makes you both look good.

5. Answer your mentions
Part of being conversational includes replying when another Twitterer replies to or mentions you. When you’re an authority figure, it’s that much more important to maintain your reputation. Plus, followers LOVE to be acknowledged. It’s a quick thing that means so much.

6. Search for your name
Thousands of Twitterers have mentioned being contacted or followed by a company they recently tweeted about. It’s exciting to know people are out there, paying attention beyond the confines of their follow list. If your name isn’t yet a big deal, search for your niche topics. Comment on relevant tweets and follow relevant tweeters. This is another quick and easy way to attract attention and followers.

7. Consider creating sub-accounts for sections of your business or customer base
This may not be relevant to casual Squidooers, but if your lenses focus on two or three hardcore niches, creating separate accounts for each of these will help you organize information and better brand your businesses. There are dozens of Twitter applications that can help you organize this process. (My favorite is TwitterFox for FireFox.)

8. Use Twitter to ask your customers questions…and get good answers
We all know how challenging it can be to get feedback. Eighty-eight views and no guestbook comments? Ugh! But asking a question is the simplest way to invite casual feedback. After they’ve answered, invite them to post it on your lens. This opens the door for guestbooks, polls, and Plexos.

9. Be a good Twitter citizen
If you wouldn’t want someone doing it to you, don’t do it to others - it’s the Golden Rule of Twitter. The biggest issues here are generating inflated traffic or spamming your followers. Stay away from bots and referral programs, and focus on the tips above for finding authentic readers who have interested and relevant eyeballs for your work.

If you’re not already using Twitter, it takes only seconds to get started. Building a deserving reputation happens over time, but with consistent efforts and honest intentions, you too can become a famous Squidooer on Twitter.

~Kimberly Dawn Wells
YOUR Community & Charity Organizer
Visit US on Twitter @squidoonews!

Goooood morning Squidooers!

It’s a brand new month, and to kick things off, how about a rejuvenated version of the SquidU Review? While in Wisconsin it’s still snowing (yes…crazy!) spring fever has attacked Squidoo, and lensmasters are furiously dusting off old topics and bringing them back to life. What’s more, they’re finding new ways to promote themselves and their lenses by participating in new, interactive promo opportunities through Squidoo! Keep reading to find out more about what I mean.

What else is going on at Squidoo?

1. Become a master of the new max layout
2. New month, new Angels!
3. Quick note on WIP
4. Oh, Zuzanna…interview of a lensmaster
5. Where are we, and what’s in it for you?

Our lensmasters aren’t just on Squidoo, they’re on MySpace, Twitter, Blogger, and a dozen other places. Read on to find out how you can benefit from spreading out on the internet.

Happy Squidooing!
~Kimberly
YOUR Community Organizer at Squidoo

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1. New Max Layout
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We’ve had a lot of great feedback about the new maxed layout. This new design incorporates our standard features and a few new ones into a sleek Web 2.0 friendly interface.

Feeling lost? Check out our new Maxed Lens Anatomy map.

And for finding tools on your dashboard, check out:
- The Anatomy of your Main Dashboard
- What’s on your My Profile Page?

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2. New Month, New Angels!
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You’ve probably seen our Angels fluttering around Squidoo, blessing deserving lenses and offering selfless advice to lensmasters. This month we have a new crew of Angels that are working hard to sort through the good and the great, and give those awesome lenses a little boost.

Welcome kab, bdkz, jeffwend, semperfidelis, thinkbig, webnh, KimGiancaterino, jaguarjulie, peoplelive, barkley, elee, loyalis, and DutchBlogger! These fine folks will be taking over the good work of SquidAngels by taking requests for blessings on the Angels Forum and keeping our top 100 lists sparkling clean.

These lensmasters are new to Angeling, but are by no means new to the lensmaster arena. In fact, almost all of them are Giants! (And the ones who aren’t are right at the top of the list.) As such, many of them have created lenses and guides on how to get the most out of Squidoo. Check them out, to see what new tricks you can pick up from these veterans.

* Fifty Ways to use SquidCasting, So, You Want to Make a Lensography, and Squidoo Tips from a Giant Angel by BDKZ.
* Confessions of a Squid Angel by KimGiancaterino
* Jaguar Julie SquidAngel and Jaguar Julie GiantSquid by Jaguar Julie
* SquidAngel by Semper Fidelis
* Getting the Best Results in the Squidoo Ebay Module and Guide to SquidWho by kab.

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3. Quick note on WIP
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Q: “Recently, a lens I hadn’t updated in a while became (-) instead of a (+) on my dashboard. Doesn’t that mean that people can’t view it?”

A: Keep in mind that ANY lens that has been published can be viewed by visiting it directly, whether it’s in WIP status or not. For more information on initial and re-WIPness, visit Glen and Kimberly’s Guide to WIP.

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4. Oh, Zuzanna! Interview from a Lensmaster
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“It all started with an email from Dr. Mani…” and the rest is Squidhistory! Find out how top ranking lensmaster Zuzanna generates traffic, employs simple HTML, and develops superb lenses based on her passion for history.
Oh, Zuzanna!

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5. Where is Squidoo?
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Never fear, Squidoo hasn’t disappeared. But now, you can find us in even more places!

Here are a few spots online where you can hook up for some Squidlovin’:
- MySpace
- Facebook (look for the group Squidoo News and Chat)
- Twitter
- and more!

Why does it pay to pay attention? We’re always surveying lensmasters for blurbs and links for articles, promos, and even Lens of the Day awards. Your contributions can get you mega exposure online!

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Until next time…thanks for being a Squidoo lensmaster!

Three random lens ideas:
1. How-to paint ____________
2. The best online newsletters for ______________
3. Books that got me through ______________ class