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I Squidoo - Do You?

If you haven’t heard of Squidoo, be sure to go check it out. It’s a fun place, with pages called “lenses” written by all kinds of people about anything you can think of.

I just completed one about Cell Towers that you can take a look at as an example. I won’t complain if you give it 5 stars while you’re there, hint hint!

The interface is simple to use, and it’s easy to put together your own lens. I have some tips for you to help your lens look good and rank well within the Squidoo community as well as Google:

Include keywords with hyphens in your lens name
Use at least 5 modules
Add lots of pictures
Make it friendly and fun
Include a poll
Use keywords in your module titles
Place keyword links within your content, linking to various pages of your site
Add plenty of keyword tags
Join as many relevant groups as you can find (there’s an AR group)
Send it to everyone you know and ask them to

Give it 5 stars

Favorite it

Lensroll it

Digg it

Stumble it

Del.icio.us it

You can even make a (very) few dollars by adding an Amazon, Café Press, or other sales module. The money aside, the sales modules can add a lot to a lens. For example, if you sell real estate in Arizona, feature t shirts with local sayings on them like the old standard, “But it’s a dry heat.” Or add a YouTube video of the area – I did this for Tahoe360.com.

Now for the best part – lenses rank exceptionally well in Google. For awhile there was a Google backlash, when Squidoo was being slammed with spammers. However, that issue was resolved. I’ve seen Squidoo lenses pull sites up several pages in the SERPs, although you can expect your Squidoo lens to outrank your site at first. The very first Squidoo lens I made was about my Blackberry cell phone. It resides at #2 on Google for “free blackberry phone” and has been in that position for months.

The lens is now 5 days old, and it is #19 on Google for cell tower leases - which is one of our very top tier keyword phrases...I think I'll have a very happy client!

Posted by Kay Frenzer ~ Real Estate SEO on 12/13/2007 12:44 PM

Comments (23)

squidoo, google ranking, seo

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23 Comments on I Squidoo - Do You?

Kay - Wow, another way to communicate for free. I'm on overload...again! Thanks for the info. I'm gonna check it out.

12/13/2007 11:36 PM

by Laguna Homes|Laguna Condos| Laguna Real Estate|Marlene Bridges (Sherman Smith & Associates)

Kay, one more great info from you. Happy Holidays SEO DIVA.

12/14/2007 04:08 AM

by Burbank Real Estate (Burbank in Action Realty & Mtg Svcs)

Kay,

Are Squidoo lenses taken seriously now? I started one not too long ago but I am not even sure if it was worth it.

Can you tell us what the advatange is?

12/15/2007 02:14 AM

by John Parker - Texas Veteran Loan Officer (Supreme Lending)

Marlene - you'll find Squidoo lenses a fun way to get your message out.

Lupe - happy holidays to you too!

John - in less than 24 hours, the Cell Towers Squidoo lens referenced was indexed by Google, found by a searcher using a keyword phrase that showed the lens at #6, and was visited by the searcher. So yes, I'd say they're taken seriously.

12/15/2007 05:21 PM

by Kay Frenzer ~ Real Estate SEO (SEO Diva Search Engine Optimization)

Kay - Thanks for the info on Squidoo. Very interesting stuff. I read though the site and your cell tower lense (and gave it 5 stars). Keep this great info coming.

12/16/2007 12:08 PM

by Aloysius Donohue - Ridgewood Real Estate (Marron Gildea & Donohue - Ridgewood)

Kay, another great post. I bookmarked the page as another place to write about my expertise. Thanks.

12/16/2007 02:51 PM

by Gary Woltal - REALTOR® Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty)

Be sure to read my above...the lens is at #19 for a top tier keyword phrase after 5 days.

12/17/2007 10:09 PM

by Kay Frenzer ~ Real Estate SEO (SEO Diva Search Engine Optimization)

Interesting. Is there any truth to the rumor that Google gives Squidoo an unfavorable rating? I have heard that a couple of times that is why I have not persued it more.

12/18/2007 10:32 AM

by Rey Gallegos Home Loan Consultant Las Vegas, NV (A Mortgage Bank)

Just started i will give updates as it goes.

12/18/2007 07:01 PM

by Jennifer Dazet Baton Rouge Real Estate (KELLER WILLIAMS BATON ROUGE)

Al - thanks for the stars!

Gary - go for it, and don't forget the links.

Rey - there was a little uproar for awhile over spammers using Squidoo, but that was taken care of.

Jennifer - looking forward to hearing about your progress.

12/18/2007 08:14 PM

by Kay Frenzer ~ Real Estate SEO (SEO Diva Search Engine Optimization)

Sure will

12/19/2007 04:40 PM

by Jennifer Dazet Baton Rouge Real Estate (KELLER WILLIAMS BATON ROUGE)

Kay - I think Squidoo is great. I have had 6 lenses since the begining of the year. To others who have asked what is the advantage of having one. There are a few reasons - You can create a stand alone site, that if done well with great content could make 1st or 2nd page on google. You get a link back to your website or blog.

Kay - you can view one of mine at Hopkinton Massachusetts Real Estate. Let me know what you think.

12/24/2007 02:20 PM

by Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty)

Bill - Good job. I'm glad you see the value in Squidoo. They are so easy to do, don't take long, and can have a great impact.

12/26/2007 07:58 PM

by Kay Frenzer ~ Real Estate SEO (SEO Diva Search Engine Optimization)

Kay - I have been trying to learn how to make (good) lenses in Squidoo. I just ran a search in AR for Squidoo and your AR post came up #1. I am curious which style lens you chose?

01/19/2008 12:35 PM

by Ryan Martin - Bellingham Real Estate Agent (Windermere Real Estate / Whatcom Inc.)

Ryan - I'm not sure what you mean. I just make the "regular" Squidoo lens.

01/21/2008 11:48 AM

by Kay Frenzer ~ Real Estate SEO (SEO Diva Search Engine Optimization)

Kay - I was referring to the 4 options of Squidoo.

I want to get the word out about anything (easiest option)

I'm gonna sell anything stuff and earn $$, for me or for charity (money maker!)

I want to make a list of my favorite things about anything (most popular)

I just want to do my own thing.

I am still working on my lens and I am starting to get the hang of it.

Do you have a link to the AR group on Squidoo. I couldn't find it?

01/24/2008 01:30 PM

by Ryan Martin - Bellingham Real Estate Agent (Windermere Real Estate / Whatcom Inc.)

I just do the 4th one - "my own thing." The others have extra modules in them that can be deleted if you don't want them.

I don't have a link to the AR group on Squidoo. Sometimes the groups are hard to locate.

01/24/2008 06:12 PM

by Kay Frenzer ~ Real Estate SEO (SEO Diva Search Engine Optimization)

I just created my first lens. It was a lot of fun. I should have read this article first though. :) My lens is called "The Ins & Outs of Real Estate In Grand Rapids, MI" I was happy to read about your experience with the Cell Towers lens. I visited the lens; it is very well done.

03/01/2008 08:38 PM

by Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate

Kay - Your cell towers lens looks great! Thanks for sharing! Squidoo also offers a "mayor of your zip code" for REALTORS: http://www.mayorofyourzipcode.com with a fairly simple set up. Just answer a few questions and Squidoo does the rest. Here's an example of the basic layout: http://www.squidoo.com/27519/KelsieCompton-knows-27519

Best Wishes,

Kelsie

03/01/2008 11:15 PM

by Kelsie Compton, Cary NC Real Estate (RE/MAX UNITED)

thanks for another great idea. It is going to take me awhile to get all the great ideas learned.

03/01/2008 11:40 PM

by Carol Judd , Vernal Utah Real Estate (Century 21 Dart Realty)

I am just returning from spending a very long time checking out squidoo.com. Joined and enjoyed it.

03/02/2008 02:05 AM

by Carol Judd , Vernal Utah Real Estate (Century 21 Dart Realty)

thanks for the post, I'll check it out.....its tough to keep up w/ all the outlets

04/24/2008 02:01 AM

by Eric Egeland (Chicagoland Realtor / Broker) (Re/Max United)

Squidoo sounds amazing. I will make it happen. Thanks!

04/25/2008 10:01 PM

by Nyles Courchesne Massachusetts Real Estate Attorney (Peskin, Courchesne and Allen, P.C.)

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