I like looking a new lenses. I like helping new Lensmasters. I hope my critiques are polite and I hope they are helpful. But.........

......like a lot of people on here, my time is limited. I could be making lenses of my own. I could be promoting them - not just on Squidoo, but other places as well.

However, I remember what it was like when I first joined Squidoo and what a very steep learning curve it was. If it had not been for established Lensmasters who were willing to freely give of their time to share their tips and experience, then it would have been a massive (and lonely)  task to learn as quickly as I did. Critiquing lenses is my way of giving back and I suspect that is what motivates a lot of other Lensmasters to do it as well.

So, if you are asking for a critique:

1. Please read Kimberley's post about what to do BEFORE you ask for a critique

2. If you are asking people to visit your lenses, they are less likely to do so if they check your Bio and see that despite the fact that you are asking for visits to check out your lenses, you have not rated or favourited any lenses by other Lensmasters - this is a give and take community, with the balance weighted towards giving

3. Do not post requests for help on the same lens in several threads - see Note 2 in the Forum guidelines

4. Be patient - we are all in different timezones - and if you get no responses, then either you have been unlucky or *gasp* the topic of the lens is one that people on here just dont fancy looking at, particularly if the topic is the same as or similar to lots of other new lenses. Repost - but in a couple of weeks, not a couple of days, time. If you still don't get any responses then let it go

5. If you don't get any responses, dont "bump" the post. Dont add a message just for the sake of bringing it back to the top of the page. People have seen your message, they really have but, for whatever reason, have chosen not to respond

Squidoo is a great community, with lots of people willing to give of their time to help others. If we all follow the guidelines then it will stay that way.