Squidoo Wannabes: Start Here

Today, I am not posting a shout-out. The fact that I see so many lenses out there that do not meet certain standards needs to be addressed.

It takes only one mistake or omission to stop me from giving your otherwise great lens a nod. In my mind, such things as the following simply cannot do:

• Your avatar is the standard icon.
• You bio starts with "Hello World"
• You have headings such as these: New Table of Contents, or New Plexo, or New Comments Section
• You have lazy editing, and poor grammar. I can understand and overlook some editing and grammar issues -- we are usually just one-person shows and sometimes just do not see the forest for the trees. (On that note, feel free to let me know of any mistakes you find in my own lenses, blogs, or growwear.com)

Sadly, I run into lots of great lenses with stains and smudges such as those. If I notice, won't your readers?

My best advise to Wannabe Squidooers is to start one lens. Do all you can with it. Save, but DO NOT publish. Go to Squidoo's About page and progress through the tabs from FAQs to Top 100. Then, you'll know enough about Squidooing to go back to your first lens and polish it 'til it shines.

Lensmasters, what are your suggestions?