Lensmaster Margo_Arrowsmith Interview

Squidoo Lens Reviews: What makes you passionate about Squidoo.com?


Margo_Arrowsmith: I have been able to write about things that I have wanted to write about for decades! And people read it! How could one not be passionate about an opportunity like that?


Squidoo Lens Reviews: Is Squidoo perfect already or what could make it better?


Margo_Arrowsmith: Well, anything can get better. But the system is pretty darn good.


Squidoo Lens Reviews: What inspires you to make a new lens?


Margo_Arrowsmith: So many things. I was in Newark Airport when I saw a poster about the oldest college grad and that started one of my most popular lenses. Lots of times doing one lens will lead to another. I started June 24, 2008, thinking I only has a few ideas, but I now have 99 published, two more on the board and lots more ideas crowding my brain.


Squidoo Lens Reviews: How many lenses do you have?


Margo_Arrowsmith: lol 99 with two in progress [Margo has 105 lenses as of this posting]


Squidoo Lens Reviews: What is your most popular lens?


Margo_Arrowsmith: For a long time it was my first, about my parents' business. It was a lens of the day. However, now I am doing an on going experiment and it has been on top.


Squidoo Lens Reviews: What one sentence or one word describes your success?


Margo_Arrowsmith: Making creating lenses, going 'outside the modules'


Squidoo Lens Reviews: What should a newbie do first?


Margo_Arrowsmith: Make a lens, then look at lots of others, learning how to make that first one better, then make another.


Squidoo Lens Reviews: Which of your lenses do you want to make sure the whole world knows about?


Margo_Arrowsmith: Wow, that's hard. However, this one could save thousands of people from going blind, so I will say that one.


Margo aka Margo_Arrowsmith

Twilight On Valentine's Day

The books, the movie, and now the Valentine's Day lens: Twilight Vampire Valentine Cards & Gifts. Lensmaster enslavedbyfaeries shares her passion for all things Twilight by recommending enough T-shirts, candy, cards -- and more -- to satisfy the hunger of any Twilight fan.

Valentine's Day Isn't Just For Couples

Thrivingmom makes the case that Valentine's Day Isn't Just for Couples. She shares a heartwarming story of how her dad made Valentine's Day just as special for his children (and still does) as he does on other holidays such as Easter or Christmas. Indeed, Valentine's Day is the perfect time to express your love and appreciation for your family, your friends, and others who have impacted your life in positive ways. Get some great ideas for celebrating this coming Valentine's Day with all of the people in your life.

Top 10 Best Love Song Duets

For your listening and viewing pleasure, Lensmaster Not-Pop has assembled the Top 10 Best Love Song Duets. You may want to have this music on hand when you celebrate that nice romantic dinner on Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day Cupcakes

Making cupcakes for Valentine's Day is a wonderful way to spread the love. Lensmaster rms gives some love with her lens, Absolutely Adorable Valentine's Day Cupcakes. Get recipes and recommendations for the cookware needed to make scrumptious heart-shaped cupcakes.

Butterfly Kisses For Your Valentine

If a man's wife or girlfriend loves butterflies, he'll want to consider Butterfly Jewelry: Gifts for Your Valentine. Seedplanter has a made a resource with a dazzling display of beautiful butterfly jewelry. Who knew there is so many choices? As with any good lens, you'll learn about more than just what's for sale.

Lensmaster Mac33 Interview

Squidoo Lens Reviews:What makes you passionate about Squidoo.com?

Mac33: It's so dang easy to build a lens and share your knowledge on a subject. Getting an email or comment from a reader that your lens was useful to them is a very cool experience.

Squidoo Lens Reviews:Is Squidoo perfect already or what could make it better

Mac33: Nothing's perfect but I'm impressed with Squidoo. They've built a powerful platform and given lens masters a lot of flexibility to be creative and successful.

Squidoo Lens Reviews:What inspires you to make a new lens?

Mac33: Anything and everything. Once you grasp the potential of Squidoo, it becomes easy to see something that interests you and realize, "hey, I can make a lens out of this!"

Squidoo Lens Reviews:How many lenses do you have?

Mac33: 57 -- Many more floating around in my head waiting to be built.

Squidoo Lens Reviews:What is your most popular lens?

Ideas for a Good Fantasy Sports Team Name is my most popular lens this year. It's a great example of how watching your lens stats can give you cool ideas for new lenses. I never thought of building it until I saw people searching for team name ideas in the keyword stats of my fantasy football lenses.

Squidoo Lens Reviews:What one sentence or one word describes your success?

Mac33: Build something that's going to benefit the reader.

Squidoo Lens Reviews:What should a newbie do first?

Mac33: Learn by doing. Build a lens and play around with the different modules. Then read SquidU...it's a safe bet that any lens making question you have has been answered there.

Squidoo Lens Reviews:Which of your lenses do you want to make sure the whole world knows about?

Mac33: I really enjoyed doing the research for Tour A Tall Ship. I've been interested in tall ships since I was a kid and hope to tour every ship on the lens. Tall ships are all over the world, so find one near you and check it out. (And if you know of a ship that's not listed on the lens, please send me a link.)

Mac aka Mac33

A Locket For My Valentine

Looking for a very special gift to give your wife or girlfriend for Valentine's Day? Well, I can't think there'd be a woman around that wouldn't enjoy a heart-shaped locket -- especially if it already contains a picture of the two of you! Heart-Shaped Lockets for Valentine's Day is a resource for finding the perfect locket for the love of your life -- from Lensmaster Susan52.

Valentine's Day Directory

The Valentine's Day Directory, by Lensmaster Joan4 is an excellent resource for all things Valentine's Day. You'll find a listing of lenses devoted to this wonderful day of celebrating love -- from lenses about heart-shaped candy to crafts to Valentine's Day trivia. While you're there, make sure to list your own lens(es) about Valentine's Day.

Buddy Guy

My first blues concert was to see B.B. King. That's when I discovered Buddy Guy. I had never heard of him and had thought upon reading his name on the posters that he was just some guy used as filler for the event. Once he came on stage and started playing, my thoughts were more like "Wow!" But, what impressed me most was when he came out into the audience -- walking the aisles and playing his music all the while. Watching him, I could see that he really wanted to make a connection with us. Well, that made an impression! I've been a fan ever since. Let Bradshaw tell you more about him at Buddy Guy.

More TwttrStrm Shout-Outs

Still immersed in the TwttrStrm templates and what lensmasters are producing with them, I decided to give a shout-out to some more TwttrStrm pages. I chose these five because they are interesting and because they stay on topic -- they're not filled with every other lens the lensmaster has made. Link, yes, IF you have related lenses. Otherwise, it looks like you are trying too hard -- even being too pushy. We have to remember that this new template pulls in many non-Squidooers. Let's concentrate on "curb appeal" -- make that entryway appealing.

1. Joan4: What is your favorite inspirational quote?


2. Chefkeem: What if we'd forget about Making Money Online for One Week and Focused on Writing from our Hearts?


3. EvelynSaenz: But what about Socialization?


4. Inkserotica: What is the best marketing method for Squidoo lenses?


5. Tandemonimom: Kids Are Cute! What's the Cutest Thing YOUR Kid Said or Did?

On Comment Module At Tops Of Lenses

Follow-up thoughts on today's review: If you'd rather keep your comment module toward the bottom of your lens, but still would want someone's great comment to "testify" for your work, consider taking a screenshot of the comment and placing it anywhere in your page. You can do some slight alterations to it to make it look better. In the example below, from Be Positive: Like Joan Adams, I moved John Dilbeck's image over to the inside margin of the actual blurb, as well as colored the entire section the same light blue of the blurb box. The example is shown smaller. To see it in its full glory, go here. You'll find the original blurb in the Comments section of the page.

Note: Joan had likened the tribute lens to giving her flowers "while she can smell 'em." That's what John is referring to in this post:

How To Tell A Visual Story

It came to be that I found How To Tell A Visual Story from a post by Cinetech made at SquidU. He relates that his guestbooks are placed toward the top of his lenses "when I get awesome comments." He states further that "They are more powerful up there." How To Tell A Visual Story turned out to be rather powerful as well -- great composition and advice. Plus, if you are a movie lover, you may be surprised to see recommendations for films you've totally missed! For me, Caché, by Michael Haneke and Amores Perros, by Alejandro González Iñárritu are now on my Netflix queue.

Lensmaster Naturegirl7 Interview

Squidoo Lens Reviews: What makes you passionate about Squidoo.com?


Naturegirl7: Squidoo is a place where I can write about the things that I enjoy in life. Squidoo has enabled me to continue teaching, so to speak, even after I retired from the field of education. The friendly, helpful atmosphere of Squidoo is so welcoming and the family atmosphere makes Squidoo a place that you really want to be a part of.


Squidoo Lens Reviews: Is Squidoo perfect already or what could make it better?


Naturegirl7: Squidoo is a wonderful place to be a part of. The only thing that I could think of to make it better would be improving the lensmaster workshop, but now that I am a Giant Squid and can make custom templates, that is no longer such a concern.


Squidoo Lens Reviews: What inspires you to make a new lens?


Naturegirl7: Most of the time new lens ideas come from my everyday life. What I see when we take our morning walk in our woods or what I read about or hear about at my many volunteer organizations. Sometimes I get ideas from something another lensmaster says on SquidU. I keep a spiral notebook by the computer so that when an idea pops into my head, I can quickly jot it down before it slips away.


Squidoo Lens Reviews: How many lenses do you have?


Naturegirl7: I have 71 [77 now] lenses and I manage 1 group. I’m thinking about starting another group and I am aiming for the March 31st deadline to apply for the Giant Squid 100 club.


Squidoo Lens Reviews: What is your most popular lens?


Naturegirl7: At the moment, because of the Giant Squid Award contest, How to Make Brownies is my most popular lens according to the rankings, but 7-up Cake Recipes (which is number 2 in the rankings) far out-weighs it in the number of visits.


Squidoo Lens Reviews: What one sentence or one word describes your success?


Naturegirl7: I attribute my success to good research, photographs and using html code to give some zing to the design of my lenses.


Squidoo Lens Reviews: What should a newbie do first?


Visit the Squidoo's Answer Deck and participate in the SquidU Forum and learn, learn, learn.


Squidoo Lens Reviews: Which of your lenses do you want to make sure the whole world knows about?


Naturegirl7: I guess the one that I am most proud of is the Wings of Winter: I really like the way the design turned out. It pulls many of my favorite bird lenses together, so it’s useful as a research tool while also being enjoyable to read.


Lensmaster team, Yvonne and Al, aka naturegirl7

TWTTRSTRM Faves

Indeed, TWTTRSTRM is "storming" through Squidoo and Twitter. Here are my Top 5 Faves made using the TWTTRSTRM template.

1. Thefluffanutta: Q & A on Twitter


2. BigJim: Have you tried tagfoot?


3. A_willow: What Do You Reuse?


4. Boredofeducation: Lens Ideas. Do you have an idea for a lens but don't have time to make it? Tweet it!


5. Lakeerieartists: What is the Best Way for Artists to Promote and Sell Their Work?

Check out mine while you're at it. I am certain that you have some great answers to this question: What is your favorite lensmaster tip that you know will help other Squids if only they'll listen up?

Vintage and Antique Dollhouses

As a child, I was fascinated by dollhouses; today, I have only a book (a wonderful and treasured book, though) entitled Queen Mary's Dolls' House (Here's a picture of the foyer). Queen Mary's dollhouse is probably the ultimate dollhouse -- created in exquisite detail by masters of their craft -- even books written for its library by famous authors! Anyway, going around visiting the lenses of the new Giant Squids, I found myself at Vintage and Antique Dollhouses, by OctaviasOfferings. Along with many photographs, you'll find lots of information for collectors and restoration enthusiasts.

Congratulations, Giant Squids!

Join the celebration at The Giant Squids Interviews. Whether you are a new Giant Squid or are now a Giant 100, your fans want to share your joy!

No Shame

"I am not ashamed that I have bipolar disorder and I don't think it's some deep dark secret I should hide; no good can come from that." New Squid, Luvmyludwig, wrote that at Two Bears and a Lady, Bipolar Disorder And Me. I admire her for creating this lens. It's one more step toward erasing the stigma associated with mental disorders.

Soul Debate

By nature, we Squidooers are seekers. What we seek, of course, varies with each person; however, one of life's ultimate questions for a great number of us is whether or not we have a soul. Lensmaster Spirituality opens up the debate at We DO have a soul...

Lensmaster Susannaduffy Interview

Squidoo Lens Reviews: What makes you passionate about Squidoo.com?

Susannaduffy: I love to write and this is a wonderful avenue to do so. The fluidity, the options, the sheer speed of Squidoo publishing has hooked me.

Squidoo Lens Reviews: Is Squidoo perfect already or what could make it better?

Susannaduffy: A module with SEO and self-promotion in one click! [...]On a serious note I'm concerned at the proliferation of people exchanging ratings for diggs etc. This behaviour could easily end in google blackbanning all squidoo pages. But a solution? It's beyond me.

Squidoo Lens Reviews: What inspires you to make a new lens?

Susannaduffy: Anything! Seeing children play, noticing a tree with strange blossoms from a train window, experimenting with food, an item on the TV news - anything. But especially my delight in all things mythological.

Squidoo Lens Reviews: How many lenses do you have?

Susannaduffy: At the moment I have 86 published and 3 waiting to get the tick of approval. I also have 5 ideas sketched out in my trusty old notepad. [As of this posting, Susannaduffy had 110 published lenses.]

Squidoo Lens Reviews: What is your most popular lens?

Susannaduffy: The How to Host an Ancient Roman Murder. People love to play games (I certainly do) and this lens explains the concept of the Murder Mystery Dinner. It has practical instructions for clothing and accessories plus recipes that could have been cooked in a Roman kitchen 2000 years ago.

Squidoo Lens Reviews: What one sentence or one word describes your success?

Susannaduffy: Constant revision.

Squidoo Lens Reviews: What should a newbie do first?

Susannaduffy: Firstly. Remember that a lens is not a website. It's one page on one topic - stick to that topic. Secondly. Read other lenses. Read the Top 100, read the Lens of the Day. Take note of what makes a good lens, one that's informative and entertaining at the same time. Read the 'How-to' lens on what makes a lens tick. Then get your hands in, write, write, write, ask for feedback and write again.

Squidoo Lens Reviews: Which of your lenses do you want to make sure the whole world knows about?

Susannaduffy: Another Roman lens, Ancient Roman Recipes. This combines both my interest in 1st century Rome and my joy in trying something new in the kitchen.

Susanna aka Susannaduffy

Giving shout-outs, nods, and promotion to remarkable Squidoo lenses. MiMi of GrowWear.com invites you to submit your favorite lens. Click Email the Author. Want to be a lensmaster? Start here.

Desired Things

One of the most motivational and inspirational poems that I've ever read is Desiderata. Lensmaster Boshemia has put together a lens all about it at Desiderata - The universe always unfolds as it should. Learn about this poem's history and check out its many adaptations -- for the cynical, geeks, even Klingons!

Earning At Squidoo

Some of the talented Squidoo lensmasters I've come across, who didn't really sign on to Squidoo for monetary gain, -- well, for monetary gain as the primary reason -- have begun to want to know more about how to optimize their earning power. I've been wondering that as well and have come across a few lenses that help make marketing on Squidoo more understandable. But, for me, the lens has to be written by a lensmaster that I respect. With respect already established, I can read it without the fear of being misled or "sold to." I can read it expecting to gain credible information. One such lens is, Exponentially Compound Your Squidoo Earnings With Affiliate Marketing, by Lakeerieartists.

Milkopedia

"Let's look it up in the encyclopedia." That's a phrase my grandson learned probably as soon as he was able to talk. At first, of course, he didn't know what that meant. You can imagine, though, that it didn't take long for him to be going to get the "P" or the "R" or whatever book that corresponded to what we wanted to learn more about. At eight, he's an old master at looking things up in my old books. I haven't updated them in some time, but they still add value to our lives. However, if Squidoo keeps attracting folks like Evelyn Saenz, with her passion and dedication to excellence, we just might have some very lonely books sitting on that bottom shelf. For example, if your child or grandchild should ask you where milk comes from, you might choose Cows Aren't The Only Ones.

This Pudding Needs Salt!

After reading Lensmaster Jfield's Twitter posts (jmfield) and checking out some of her lenses, I can say that this chef knows her stuff. So, when she says to put salt in your desserts, well, what can you say but, "Yes, Ma'am!" Check out The Importance of Salt in Baking and Pastries for the hows and whys and more.

Jupiter Lighthouse

Mbgphoto gives you various views of Jupiter Lighthouse in Jupiter, Florida. Visit Jupiter Lighthouse through the eye of a Camera. See it at dusk, in the evening, on a clear day -- even get a view from the top looking down below to the water, the bridge and the houses. Along with her photos, Mbgphoto has included a video tour from Jupiter Lighthouse and Museum as well as her CafePress items for lighthouse lovers.

Lensmaster Vbright105 Interview

Squidoo Lens Reviews: What makes you passionate about Squidoo.com?

Vbright105: Squidoo makes me passionate about Squidoo! Everything from the forums and the people to the vast opportunities that Squidoo offers, and the fun of making lenses.

Squidoo Lens Reviews: Is Squidoo perfect already or what could make it better?

Vbright105: Nothing is perfect. Squidoo comes pretty close, however! I think a lot of people, myself included, wonder just how accurate the numbers are, and if they are not important, why have them? It reminds me of the quote; "If winning doesn't matter, why do we keep score?" I don't obsess about it, because as long as I am moving forward, I'm good with it.

Squidoo Lens Reviews: What inspires you to make a new lens?

Vbright105: Oh, so many things. I really do not have one "niche". I love writing about being a Grandparent, cooking and recipes, Native American Culture and many other things. If it is something I think anyone else can benefit from or enjoy, I make a lens about it.

Squidoo Lens Reviews: How many lenses do you have?

Vbright105: 80, hopefully I will have 100 by Dec. 31 [As of this post, V has 85 lenses. With so much on her plate: quite a few blogs, article-writing, building lenses for others... it's no wonder she fell a just little short this time on the Giant-100 goal. :)]

Squidoo Lens Reviews: What is your most popular lens?

Vbright105: Native American Arts and Culture, the Sioux Nation

Squidoo Lens Reviews: What one sentence or one word describes your success?

Vbright105: I would say probably having faith, determination and the desire to learn.

Squidoo Lens Reviews: What should a newbie do first?

Vbright105: Write. Just start a lens. You can always come back to it and change it, fix it, whatever you wish, but the very first thing you should do is create a lens, then go to the forums and introduce yourself and your new lens.

Squidoo Lens Reviews: Which of your lenses do you want to make sure the whole world knows about?

Vbright105: Although I am very proud of my most popular lens, I would have to say I would want them to know about my pre-lensography which I call my Table of Contents. It has most of my lenses and some insight into me as a person.

Veronica aka Vbright105

Giving shout-outs, nods, and promotion to remarkable Squidoo lenses. MiMi of GrowWear.com invites you to submit your favorite lens. Click Email the Author. Want to be a lensmaster? Start here.

Porsche: Just Another Car?

This lens is a perfect example of what I speak about on my lens, Squidoo Lens Reviews, where I say that you don't have to be a fan of the subject in order to give the lensmaster some props. I am just not into vehicles; however, I appreciate craftsmanship. Have you ever noticed the craftsmanship in weaponry? OK, I digress. Craftsmanship is what you get with this lens -- craftsmanship in both the lens and the lens subject. Visit Porsche, Dedication To A Car, from Lensmaster Pmolinero.

Squidoo's Best Year

As you can probably tell from some of my Tweets lately, I have a renewed gusto for eliminating Treet meat's competitor. Well, as much as one person can do. You can help, though. If you haven't read my lens, The Best Squidoo Lens NOT To Do, check it out. Tweet it, Stumble it, blog it, etc. For real this time -- you'll know why I say that once you've read the lens. :) You can also help by Tweeting, etc., other lenses promoting excellence -- such as Squid Etiquette and Do Squidoo. Here's to Year 2009 loaded with more quality, and no fillers!