I joined Squidoo today and wish I hadn't
By bostonphil
@bostonphil (4459)
United States
August 23, 2011 9:56pm CST
Maybe I will change my mind tomorrow or in the future but I joined Squidoo and I am confused, frustrated and worn down. I spent all afternoon developing my first Lens and it is still classified as a work in progress. I have spent hours and I mean hours on the site.
I wrote, what I believe is, a good and interesting Lens. But then came the modules. And I had a terrible and difficult time trying to even figure out what I was supposed to do with modules. I must have finally figured it out because I do have a green check next to modules.
I am 91% complete. I still have a red dash besides my Lens. It is still classified as a work in progress and not ready for the outside world. But Squidoo does not tell me clearly what more I need to do.
Am I required to get 20 Squid Likes and one Master Squid like before I get a green check beside my Lens? If so, how do I do that?
To make the situation worse, all the reviews rate Squidoo as easy and simple and wonderful. I have not read anyone saying that they found it impossible or very difficult.
But I took a poll on the site and the poll asked how many Lens do you have published on Squidoo? 50% of those answering the poll said 0 to 5 so I think that other find it very difficult also.
Any feedback as to what more might be expected of me so as to get my Lens published for the world to see would be very helpful.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
24 Aug 11
I do not know what else you need to do. I am signed up there, but just barely started a lens. I have another friend on here and other sites who writes there frequently. I may send her a link to your discussion to see if she would answer it.
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
24 Aug 11
Thank you. I would appreciate that. I do not think that I am tech savvy enough. I have some tech knowledge but I am not a tech whiz. It is obvious from the reviews I read that other people have not had the problem I have had. Squidoo gets very high ratings from on line reviewers.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
24 Aug 11
I sent her a link in a personal e mail, but do not expect to hear from her until tomorrow. She lives in a different town, but I am visiting there on Thursday.
1 person likes this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
24 Aug 11
Well, lo and behold, my lens got published. I feel so much better today than when I began this discussion yesterday. No one has viewed it yet but the day has just begun. I hope that my next lens is easier. This first one was very complicated and time consuming. And very stressful I might add.
1 person likes this
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
25 Aug 11
Squidoo is fairly easy to use, and they do offer a lot of information on the site as to how to create your lens.
No, you don't need the "likes" to make it out of WIP status.
The reason why many of us don't create that many lenses is that it is time consuming. Eventually, I may have many lenses, but, right now, I have one. I am thinking about a second one, but that will easily take a few hours to set it up--including doing some research so that I have good links to incorporate into the lens.
Another thing that discourages people from making so many lenses is that many people really don't generate much, if any, money with their lenses. The people who do make money off the site have numerous lenses (many, if not all, devoted to extremely popular topics) and have been on the site for a while. For newbies, seeing a lack of compensation can be disheartening.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
27 Aug 11
I still have not ventured back over there. I am picking up articles on TextBroker, which is a freelance site. It is my top priority right now because it does pay.
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
27 Aug 11
How do you eventually earn money from this site? My first lens is getting some views and likes but still no earnings. Can you explain points to me? I keep getting points but what do I get from these points?
I created my second lens today. It was easier but still time consuming and frustrating but I know that future lenses will be easier.
I am liking the site but find it a puzzle. I am not getting the answers that I need from Help or FAQ. I am getting it from mylotters.
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
25 Aug 11
Your information has been very helpful. I find what you say to be accurate. It was very time consuming to create a lens but I assumed that it was because it was my first one. I found adding modules very difficult, frustrating and time consuming. Maybe the second one will go more smoothly but, like yourself, I am not ready to jump into my second lens. I do not have the time right now.
My lens was approved but as of last night, I did not get one view and even that was disheartening. I read where some people do extremely well on Squidoo but like you say, they have many lenses on specific topics. They are also probably very tech savvy and know how to create a very professional lens.
1 person likes this
@marsha32 (6631)
• United States
25 Aug 11
It's been a few years since I made my first lens so I don't really remember. I do know you have to have I think 4 modules minimum but sounds like you have plenty of those.
Since it's your first one it may take awhile to be "approved". I know there weren't immediate. However, once you have built 50 you can apply for Giant Squid. 50 quality lenses will get you in there and they are automatically published then.
Feel free to message me with your lens url.
Squidoo has great potential for earnings. I wish I knew the secrets but feel if I spend more quality time there my earnings will pick up.
GardenGerty directed me to your post in case I knew the answer. There are some good squidoo groups on facebook. Do you use facebook? I'm sure there are email groups as well. You can also ask all questions in the forum too.
I have 102 lenses built withe plans for lots more.
Marsha
1 person likes this
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
25 Aug 11
It's five modules these days, but that counts all of the modules--not just the text ones (which I thought might be the case when I started setting up my lens).
1 person likes this
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
25 Aug 11
I found adding the modules very stressful. I did not seem to understand what to do but I finally must have figured it out because I now have a green check beside my lens. I am not ready to try another just yet but I do plan to down the road.
I have read some comments and reviews about Squidoo. Apparently some people are doing very well on it but they have very many lens and know how to promote their lens.
Probably my second lens will be easier and much less stressful. I hope so.
@bostonphil (4459)
• United States
27 Aug 11
Well, my first lens has had several views and three likes but still no earnings. How and when do you get earnings? And what about the points? I keep getting points. What do you get for the points?
I created my second lens today and it was much easier than the first but I still had some problems. I know that the next lens is going to be much easier.
I find that Squidoo Help and FAQ's not very helpful. I can not seem to find answers to my questions.
