The Lensmaster Lounge

MeganCasey · 03/30/2009 4:31 pm

As usual, we're trying out some new stuff. (I know, half the forum just cringed, the other half cocked eyebrows expectantly).

Starting at midnight EST tonight, we're releasing a 9-day Squidoo Book Picks trial program. 1 book a day, across the whole site, for 9 days.

Here's a lot more info about it.

It's a revenue and recommendations test, and the groundwork of what could potentially become a neat book sponsorship network (and profitable for all). Maybe not. The main idea is that we're always looking for new ways to generate more revenue for the site and the community, in a small, self-sufficient, mom&pop shop kind of way.

And I'd love for you to decide what book to feature as the grand finale, so make sure you add your favorites to the list or tell all your author friends.

Megan

Greekgeek · 03/30/2009 7:36 pm

This particular part of the forum is still chewing on Kimberly's announcement that Squidoo donated $30,000 to charity last year. That is wonderful news!

Also sobering news, since Squidoo is very open about how earnings are divvied up.

I say no more than: wow, y'all aren't getting rich on us yet, are ya? I see more clearly why there's been a fresh push from HQ to help Squldoo grow to the next level.

So yeah. Message heard and understood, chief. Will take a look!

==============

Drat. I don't do enough reading, and the only books I read are work-related books like Plato's Gorgias: Rhetoric in Ancient Greece and Orality vs. Literacy. The only "fun" books I read are 50-2500 years old!

I'm trying to think of something other than business books. They are popular, yet they all blend together. I nearly recommended a book on "American Democracy Inaction" by John Stewart (yeah, that nut), just to grab something trendy, popular and current. Unfortunately his team Photoshopped a photo of the Supreme Court which causes my eyes to bleed ( and apparently everyone else's). So that's out.

Is there something else John Stewartish / Purple Bovine that might work?

Last edited by Greekgeek (03/30/2009 7:51 pm)

bdkz · 03/31/2009 4:35 am

This is very cool! I made my pick.

seegreen · 03/31/2009 4:51 am

Added some of my favs. I read non-stop, both for my monthly book club and personally.

giltotherescue · 03/31/2009 6:43 am

I added Emergency, by Neil Strauss (author of The Game).

rms · 03/31/2009 7:26 am

Excellent idea! Let's hope it does well and grows!

MobyD · 03/31/2009 8:59 am

It's interesting that 16 books were added to the list by people who then did not vote for them. I see this a lot on plexos. Any time I've added something to a plexo, I've seen a reminder to vote for it.

SquidooKimberly · 03/31/2009 1:30 pm

Greekgeek wrote:
This particular part of the forum is still chewing on Kimberly's announcement that Squidoo donated $30,000 to charity last year. That is wonderful news!

Actually, just to clarify and further promote part of our mission, in reality, we donated way more than $30,000 last year!

It's true we had a contest to give away $80,000 to charities of your choice and had a Twitterdrive to give away $30,000.

Plus lensmasters have donated many thousands of dollars to specific charities on their own since Squidoo started. Nearly 40% of all our lensmasters donate some of their earnings to charity. That in and of itself is totally huge.

JenOfChicago · 03/31/2009 2:54 pm

Cool idea!

tirial · 04/01/2009 1:57 am

Nice idea. I've never understood why someone would add an item to a plexo ad then not vote for it, though.

AdrienneJenkins · 04/01/2009 3:31 am

MobyD. Thanks for the reminder to vote on a plexo. I'm one of those people that tirial refers to that adds an item 'cause I'm less interested in the actual rankings and often look at plexos as fancy link lists.

Megan. Cool idea. Couple of books that were featured on Oprah recently that probably have buzz. Michael J. Fox's book and Steve Harvey's book on relationships.

DUMB QUESTION: Anytime you add to an Amazon Links Plexo Across the Site, Should You As a Habit Be Adding Your Squidoo Amazon Affiliate Link?

I thought of this afterwords. Duh. I usually just look up a book on Amazon then add it to a plexo. Then I realized, I probably should have added one with an affiliate tag. Up till now anytime I wanted to add a book link on my own lenses, I add the book as an Amazon module in my lens then copy and paste that tag elsewhere. Without joining as an Amazon affiliate, is there any easier way to do this?

Last edited by AdrienneJenkins (04/01/2009 3:41 am)

seegreen · 04/01/2009 8:32 am

I didn't know I could add my own affiliate link. Also, I tend to forget to vote for my own additions. I went back and voted for them this time though. Thanks for the reminder.

Samantha

kab · 04/01/2009 8:37 am

AdrienneJenkins wrote:
DUMB QUESTION: Anytime you add to an Amazon Links Plexo Across the Site, Should You As a Habit Be Adding Your Squidoo Amazon Affiliate Link?

I thought of this afterwords. Duh. I usually just look up a book on Amazon then add it to a plexo. Then I realized, I probably should have added one with an affiliate tag. Up till now anytime I wanted to add a book link on my own lenses, I add the book as an Amazon module in my lens then copy and paste that tag elsewhere. Without joining as an Amazon affiliate, is there any easier way to do this?

I believe when you add an item to an amazon links module it will add it's own affiliate link - one that corresponds with the owner of the lens. You don't need to add an affiliate link (and you don't need to strip one away either).

kab · 04/17/2009 12:55 pm

Wondering how well this went. I noticed the books are gone and a amazon tag cloud has appeared.
Did sell many books? enough to continue the book of the day? or are you looking into something different?
Maybe if the book of the day came with a (brief) personal recommendation from a lensmaster?
I'm sure people would write up little recommendations of their favorite books (if given a link to their lensmaster page)

SquidU

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#1 03/30/2009 4:31 pm

Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

#2 03/30/2009 7:36 pm

Re: Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

#3 03/31/2009 4:35 am

Re: Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

#4 03/31/2009 4:51 am

Re: Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

#5 03/31/2009 6:43 am

Re: Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

#6 03/31/2009 7:26 am

Re: Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

#7 03/31/2009 8:59 am

Re: Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

#8 03/31/2009 1:30 pm

Re: Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

Greekgeek wrote:

#9 03/31/2009 2:54 pm

Re: Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

#10 04/01/2009 1:57 am

Re: Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

#11 04/01/2009 3:31 am

Re: Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

#12 04/01/2009 8:32 am

Re: Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

#13 04/01/2009 8:37 am

Re: Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

AdrienneJenkins wrote:

#14 04/17/2009 12:55 pm

Re: Squidoo Book Picks: A 9 day pilot program

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