Thanking Whippettalk – some sales tips!
Introducing Whippettalk - squidangel and the first lensmaster I’ve seen who has a purple star on her profile (though perhaps that’s just a coincidence?).
Why are you a squidoo lensmaster?
Well to be honest, I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into. I had learned about Squidoo through reading some posts at the CafePress Forums. So I checked it out and signed up, not entirely sure what it was about. I created a page about Whippets because it was something I knew a lot about and I wanted to find a way to help market my website and my CafePress Shops. I left it alone for a few months and came back to it. I still didn’t understand the “concept” of Squidoo until I joined the SquidU Forums. I quickly became addicted to Squidoo when I got to know the other lensmasters and the community better.
And when I started getting my commission checks, I was hooked!
What is your favorite lens?
My favorite lens is my first lens, The Secret World of Whippets. It something I am very passionate about and I think unique. I made this lens without much influence by other lenses because I was still not familiar with the whole Squidoo concept so it is very much “original.” I try to model my other lenses after this one. It was my most successful lens until recently.
What lens of yours is most under appreciated?
I think my Secrets and Confessions lens is the most under appreciated lens. It’s not a masterpiece by any means, but I think the messages in that lens are very powerful. You don’t have share anything you don’t want to, but to read what others have shared anonymously can be very emotional and thought provoking. It brings in an RSS feed every Sunday of the PostSecret Project.
What lens of yours is most popular?
Right now my Forever 27 is the most popular lens since it was featured as Lens of the Day on October 1, 2008. It quickly shot into the Top 100 overall for 11 days. When I created this lens, I never would have thought it would receive such an honor let alone become this popular.
What’s one thing you see lensmasters doing that doesn’t work – and why doesn’t it?
Only one thing? LOL Well I guess I would say, just throwing up a lens for the sake of trying to sell stuff to make a commission. You really need to research what it is you are trying to sell. If you add a bunch of modules where you allow the module to pick whatever it is you are trying to
sell, you get a lot of junk and things that may not be applicable to your lens or your subject. Try to narrow your subject or product to one thing.
What?
You can’t narrow it down?
Then make separate lenses. The more specific your lens the better. And just don’t toss a lot of product out there. Write about the item you are selling.
Why do you like this product?
Why do you think I would like it or need it?
Why do I want this instead of another similar product?
You have to make your lens interesting enough for the reader to want to see more and at least click the link to the product you are selling. But at the same time, try not to be so obvious about what you are selling. Selling a product is almost an afterthought, “oh by the way, if you think you want to purchase this product, here’s a convenient link for you.”
What’s your most important squidoo promotion method?
Networking. SquidU is one the first places I like to post about a new lens. And adding my lens to Squidoo friendly sites as outlined in my Do You Twitter, MySpace or Mixx lens.
You have to be careful not to spam places about your lenses and be respectful to those on the receiving end. I don’t shout out to the world about every single lens I make. Remember, when you promote your lens, you are also promoting the community.
Which lensmaster(s) have helped you most?
Wow that’s a tough question. I have learned so much from each and every lens I visit at squidoo. I see what works and what doesn’t. As a newbie, I think the most influential Lensmasters were Adez7, JaguarJulie, rms, Eelkat, bdkz, ChefKeem, Triathlontraining, thefluffanutta, mulberry, Flowergardener, SemperFidelis and Poddys. There are so many others who have been very influential and that I consider to be Squidoo buddies.