Do You Squidoo?

Squidoo is a website that allows anyone to EASILY build a single page website called a “lens”. The lens can focus on a particular subject or can be a broad overview. The person who makes the lens is termed a “lensmaster”. Squidoo claims you can build a lens in 60 seconds and best of all, it’s free!

So, who should use Squidoo?

1. Business owner

2. Blogger

3. Anyone marketing anything

4. People who are passionate about a subject and want to spread the knowledge.

5. People who want to complete a simple webpage about themselves.

Why should you Squidoo?

1. Money

There are a few ways to make money using Squidoo.

On your lens, you can elect to have Google ads displayed. This can be a revenue source for you, but it will more than likely take some time to see any money so be patient.

You can opt to showcase Amazon, eBay, and CafePress items on your lens and if people purchase them, you earn commission. This is also termed “affiliate marketing”.

You can also make money by referring traffic from your lens to your blog or website. Of course, you only make money on your website or blog if you have advertising of some form.

2. Give to Charity

One of the great aspects about Squidoo, and has most likely attributed to a lot of it’s popularity, is that they give to charity and give YOU the option to give to charity. The breakdown of revenue is:

1. 5% goes to charity off the top of the revenue they pull in from ads and affiliate links. You don’t see this from too many companies so Squidoo should certainly be commended for that.

2. 45% of the revenue goes to the overhead of running Squidoo.

3. The other 50% goes to either the charity of the lensmaster’s choice, or is directed to the lensmaster in the form of cash.

3. Simple Web Page

There are not too many other websites that can get you up and running as quickly as Squidoo.

4. Great Publicity

Building Squidoo lenses that direct people to your website or blog is a great (and free) way to promote your services. If you have a blog, you need to have a Squidoo lens.

Even if Squidoo doesn’t seem like your “cup of tea”, I would encourage you to visit a charity lens that Squidoo set up: http://www.squidoo.com/squidoo-charity-giveaway. For every vote they receive for a charity, they will donate $2 (up to $80,000) to that charity. As I write this, I believe they have already exceeded the 40,000 vote ($80,000) figure, but you are still able to vote.

You can go here to make your first lens!

Also, here is my profile on Squidoo: http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/HappinessisBetter

Some other alternatives to Squidoo are:

Hubpages - From what I’ve read, it’s very similar to Squidoo with a different look and feel. I am not familiar with Hubpages and JUST signed up moments ago.

Here is a review of Hubpages vs. Squidoo by JohnKnoo.com

Oondi - This is another website very similar to Squidoo and Hubpages, but not as well known. I’ve read that they pay 100% of the advertising income instead of the 50% offered by Squidoo. I’m also not very familiar with this website.

Anyone have experience with these websites?

photo by TeamStickerGiant

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