thank you lensmaster – squidoo reviews

Treasures-By-Brenda is, as are all lensmasters I’m interviewing this week, a top contributor at squidu. She’s unique in at least one other way: I’ve been mentoring her. Not many people can handle my direct style of feedback, I’m afraid. Perhaps it’s that Canadian thing…

Why are you a squidoo lensmaster?

Originally, I started creating lenses as a way to promote my eBay store. I wrote lenses on products that I sell like Roots Canada Ltd. and actually created one about my store, Treasures By Brenda. However, once I started I was, as we so fondly say, addicted to Squidoo and my lenses now cover items related to my eBay business as well as many other topics that are of interest to me like Carrot Jokes ~~ A Bright Orange Lensography.

What is your favorite lens?

Favorites are always hard to pick but I think Baby Carrots ~~ When Is A Carrot Not A Carrot stands out as my favorite. Why? I think because this lens is about a basic food item that we take for granted and because the carrot photos make an attractive page. This page also was the beginning of my (believe it or not) carrot ‘niche.’

It just occurred to me that you did not want me to answer with my favorite lens that I wrote…in which case, I would answer Advanced HTML for Squidoo Lenses or Great Squidoo Groups Lensography both lenses that I keep returning to again and again. [Actually - I'm very glad the question is ambiguous. I like it when people share what lenses of their own are their favorites, but I'm just as pleased when they share their favorites from other lensmasters.]

What lens of yours is most under appreciated?

This is a tough question. My lenses that are the least popular tend to change. For instance, my very narrowly focused Canada Post ~~ Flat Rate Shipping Program lens which often has no visitors has been mysteriously doing better over the last week or two. I once considered deleting it.

Today’s under appreciated lens? I guess I would have to pick Disney Shopping ~~ From The Comfort of Your Chair At Home!. It is not a well-focused lens and I do not have a good URL for the content of my page. (Sorry, Katinka I know better now). I wish I could change the URL. [Actually- the URL could be worse. At least it has the word 'Disney' in there - Katinka]

What lens of yours is most popular?

Currently, my most popular lens is Elvis Presley Christmas Duets. I think it is a great lens on an album that is generating plenty of interest on the internet, Google loves it and it has enjoyed being blessed a few times recently. The sister lens that I created to it, Sing With Elvis Presley and Record Your Song As A Christmas eCard is also enjoying good Google traffic and traffic is flowing nicely between these two lenses. It is the first time that I have seen such an obvious flow of traffic between two lenses.

What’s one thing you see lensmasters doing that doesn’t work – and why doesn’t it?

A big distraction for me on any lens is proper grammar and spelling. (Not that I am perfect.) Unfortunately, when there are many little mistakes it takes away from the lens as a whole even when the rest of the lens is good.

What’s your most important squidoo promotion method?

I am not very good at promoting my lenses. I think that the most valuable thing that I do is write on Squidtop. That format has proven good for having the search engines find my lenses. Promoting my lenses is an area which I know I need to work harder on.

What do you like best about the Squidu forum?

I love the very friendly community and the willingness to share information and knowledge with others.

Which lensmaster(s) have helped you most?

Many lensmasters have leant their support in various ways. Some have answered my many questions on SquidU, others have rated and/or commented on my many lenses. Picking out a few is tough, but I would like to thank:

YOU! Spirtuality – From the very beginning, Katinka you have been a great source of advice on Squidoo in general and on search engine optimization. [Yes, it's weird. I have no idea how it started, but Brenda is the only lensmaster I have been mentoring so consistently. Of course it helps when someone actually takes what you tell her and uses it to make LOTD quality lenses with it. Not that I take any credit for that lens, obviously. - Katinka]

Rockycha – Volunteered right away to teach me html for promoting Amazon items which has proven extremely helpful and is available whenever I have a question.

Poddys – Answered questions and shared his spreadsheet which I now use to track my lens status.

Mimi of Squidoo Lens Reviews and Bonnie Robin of Cabaret Squidoo have both promoted my lenses in their own blogs.

Finally, all of the Squid Angels who have visited my lenses and blessed them when they saw fit. I know that doing so takes a lot of valuable time!