Interview with a Writertiff
Join us as Guest Editor N376 aka Glen interviews a SquidU frequent forumer, Writertiff.
Writertiff...how DID you discover Squidoo?
I was sent here by a fellow writer in an online writer’s forum. She showcased her stories here, but I was immediately hooked and started building a brand around Squidoo – first for my ghostwriting services and second as someone who helps people learn to use the site itself!
What is it about Squidoo that has caused you to stick around?
I’d have to say it’s the staff behind the curtains – Seth, Gil, Megan, Kimberly and the gang. They’re more like online friends letting you use their cool site than they are a support staff for a domain (how boring that sounds!). It’s the first site I’ve found that cares what its users think and listens to their input, working to make positive changes all around.
What are you doing to generate traffic to your lenses?
I noticed article marketing works wonders, but I also use my list of subscribers to have them interact with me via lens polls and guestbook entries rather than just a reply to an email.
Is there an ideal number of modules you like to include and why?
I insist on at least two text modules in addition to the introduction, with a Wiki and some sort of graphic module in between each one (like Amazon Spotlight). I also always use a Guestbook so that people can sound off about my lens.
Do you start with an idea and then figure out how to monetize it, or start with a product and then figure out how to promote it?
Both! Sometimes I prowl ClickBank and find a product to promote. Other times, I’ll start with an idea and monetize it later However, some things are VERY hard to monetize – like my bee lens, my missing children lenses, and my toot lens (LOL).
What’s your favorite white-hat SEO trick?”
Submit your URL to Google’s Add URL page here: www.google.com/addurl/ and make sure you cross-promote your lenses using the Featured Lens module they have now hidden (do a search for it).
What non-Squidoo book or other resource have you found that helps you with your lenses?
Women’s magazines! Believe it or not, women’s magazines provide a plethora of interesting ideas. I can find little short articles about health issues, news, fashion, and relationship advice among other things. In fact, one national women’s magazine featured a Squidoo lens as an authority site during Halloween for decorating advice!
What common mistake do you see even experienced lensmasters make (that you think you have a solution to)?
They don’t use keywords in their module titles. They’re vague and cutesy, which won’t attract search engine spiders when they’re indexing your lens. You don’t have to be stuffy about it. For instance, if your lens is about Kauai, Hawaii, don’t have a module titled, “Fun Things to Do!” Instead, add your keyword – “Fun Things to Do on Kauai!” Just that small tip makes a world of difference.
How do you choose when to make several lenses on different angles of the same topic, or when to just make one very long lens?
I always keep mine narrow if possible. Sometimes I mess up and make it too broad. For instance, I had a lens on toddler Halloween costumes. So I noticed a HUGE spike in people wanting a Baby Snail toddler costume. So I built an entire lens just on that and they both performed well! Then I did something even sillier – I took that lens and translated it into Spanish using an online free tool and here it is February and I’m still making sales for the Spanish Toddler Snail Costume lens. Go figure!
At what point did you realize how much you loved Squidoo?
The day I signed up! I loved the entire ease of use and community. I first saw its potential when I began having people contact me for writing gigs saying they found me on Squidoo – and I realized I was being found in the search engines.
What’s your favorite television show/s of all time? Have you made a lens on it? And if not, why not?
There are so many – I’m a TV addict. I have made several TV lenses – on Big Brother, characters like Spencer Pratt of the Hills, etc. But I use TV as my escape and since Squidoo is also a job for me (through BuildMyLens.com), I like to keep my R&R separate sometimes.
What three words best describes your fondness for Squidoo?
Awed
Inspired
Grateful
