by Chef Keem
Is Squidoo A Good Thing To Waste?
May 15, 2009 in Editorial, Newbie Help by Chef Keem
First, I noticed a tweet: “I updated my Squidoo lens…”. Then, I found a comment in one of my own lens guest books. Two different lensmasters – both newbies. One of them had her first lens published, the other one had already 4 under her belt.
All 5 lenses were niche efforts on the topic “How to get your boyfriend or ex back”.
Get your back ex-ed?
I couldn’t help but think of this metaphor:
About 5 years ago, a marketing company announced a promotional campaign that promised $50 to the first 1000 persons who would participate in their hour-long pitch fest. The $50,000 were given away within the first week, but to this very day people are lining up every morning for a shot at the quick and easy money.
It doesn’t matter that the promotional funds were exhausted a long time ago – the seductive idea of making $50 in an hour keeps living on…thousand of like-minded “entrepreneurs” can’t be wrong, right?
What a waste of time, energy and effort!
When I see the content of such a lens I can literally read the author’s mind:
- What story can I make up so I come across as an expert with plenty of experience in getting my ex back?
- When can I introduce the Clickbank link already?
- Will there be enough gullible visitors who accept me as an authority on their specific relationship issues even though we’ve never talked to each other?
- How can I damage their self-esteem even more so they’re desperate enough to look at a stranger for help?
- How can I sound like a completely happy person in love with the perfect partner?
- How can I hide the fact that I’ve never bought or read this ebook myself?
- Is now a good time to mention that Clickbank link again?
- I hate it when my boyfriend is cruising the bars with his buddies while I’m slaving away at this computer!
- Oh, by the way – here is my favorite link!
The Squidoo Advantage
With pre-fab modules, tutorials and lots of community support, Squidoo makes it easy for us to share our unique, personal content with the world. We can focus on what is true and valuable for us – which might in turn help someone else. We can build our own audience, a loyal following – our tribe. We can become leaders in our social networks. We can become self-confident through peer support and our own integrity. We can then begin to sell stuff with authority.
We won’t even need that crummy ex back in our lives anymore…
Do we really want to start our new online endeavors with a chase for long-gone 25 bucks?
[ratings]
With thanks to 
Overheard on twitter...
I know that I get so tired of seeing lenses like these. They are spammy, offensive, and worn out. But they keep showing up.
lakeerieartists’s last blog post..Squidoo Community Angel
Excellent assessment. These lenses do continue to float in, and they will continue because of the human factor. There will be no stopping that. But, there can and always will be the guiding hands of those of us on the inside.
drifter0658’s last blog post..Extreme Writing: Belittled By A Hummingbird
Makes me wonder if these people see themselves in retirement regaling their grandchildren with stories of how they were the greatest junk producers in all the land.
MiMi’s last blog post..Florida Keys Getaway
Drifter’s comment that “these lenses continue to float in” reminds me of something I said awhile ago along the lines of “Yes, we know that cream rises to the top but c**p floats too, if you let it”.
What saddens me is that everyone is unique. No, it’s not that they are unique that saddens me…it’s that they do not understand that they are unique. They have unique experiences and unique stories to tell. Oh, how I wish they had the confidence in themselves to tell them!
AJ’s last blog post..My newest lens: 10 things I want to do
I actually get annoyed when I would see these type of lenses.
Trekkiemelissa´s last blog ..Helium