Last week, Paula gave people an opportunity to Ask Questions on her post. One of the questions was asked by Mickie_G. Her question was whether to spend time writing the new Quests that have become a regular part of Squidoo or to concentrate her efforts on lenses that she had already written on the topic. I volunteered to answer this question for Mickie_G.
Although the Quests seem to be quite popular with many lensmasters, most of the time I choose to not make a lens on the topic given. I do think that a lot of times they are a way for people to stretch out of their comfort zone and write about something that they would not have even thought about. As a new lensmaster, one might find that it is a way to gain some additional monster points. Often times these Quest lenses are featured on the front page so that would give some opportunity for early traffic and a boost in the current months LR.
Here is my own personal take on the Quests, Mickie_G. And I want this to be perfectly clear, it is my own personal opinion and what I follow as a veteran lensmaster. Honestly, unless it is a topic that I think will just be fun to write about or it fits into a Niche that I might want to start; I have a tendency to not participate. Why? For a variety of reasons in my case.
Reason #1: I am not chasing after Monster points. They don’t make me any additional money. Being at a high level on the Monster Boards might look impressive to a new Squid but the readers that I am hoping to attract could care less. I would venture to say, they don’t even know those levels exist.
Reason #2: Due to the massive number of lensmasters who are joining the Quests, there is a lot of competition for basically the same topic. Certainly there are ways to pick a url and title that might stand apart from the crowd. One can get very creative and find ways for a Quest topic to fit into an already existing niche and if I think it would be sustainable and something that will eventually make me some sales conversions later…I might go for it. But, I have to be willing to wait until the initial influx of new lenses in the topic sorts itself out and quiets down.
Reason #3: If by chance the Quest lens that I were to make does make it on the front page for a week, is that traffic sustainable after the other Squidoo people have visited? Sure, it is nice to have that traffic, possible blessings and all and that might help with one month’s ranking. After that, what? Is it a hot enough topic, a topic that is searched enough by people outside of Squidoo that it can become a success on its own merits. I find that often times, it is not. At least for me.
Those are the 3 main reasons that I have the inclination to just pass on participating in the Quests. Oh, there might be one that I just think might be fun to write and I will. For the most part, I am more focused on keeping the existing lenses up to date and working for me. If there is a lens or a group of lenses that seem to fall into that Quest topic, I will make sure it/they has been updated, for sure. Those existing lenses have a bit of an advantage…age.
In the last few years, I have focused my time more on creating good niches that earn me a nice stream of income. I’m always looking for new ideas to add to a niche or to begin a new one. For me, the Quests, just do not usually fall into that plan. I am not saying that people should not participate. It is a personal decision for each of us. Some find them fun and others find them inspiring. Both great reasons to make one and add to your overall list of lenses. I just find that they do not work in to my own plan of earning income.
Thanks for your question Mickie_G. I hope it helped in some way.
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About Bev Owens
Bev, this is pretty much my same reasoning. My priority is to increase my income. Writing lenses for quests does not do that for me, so I don’t do them. I do participate in some of the quests for visiting other lenses though.
Thank you Bev for taking the time to answer my question.
Basically, I have been doing the Quests to keep my name in the mix. I am not very good at networking and finding forums to “advertize” my lenses so they get more visits. To an extent, participating in a quest worked. I noticed that my top page on Squidoo would get more visits from Squidoo members when I had another lens on a monster board or on the launch page. I agree with you that “age” is the most important factor in getting found on a web search.
I agree with everything Beverly said. I pick and choose which quests to participate in, and sometimes they just aren’t worth the time it takes to do them. Others sound like fun, and I’ll pick one out and do it. I’m looking to increase my earnings, and there was a time when I was new that I didn’t realize that the quests didn’t do this for me and I suspect it’s that way for many of the newbies. The quests help them to get experience with writing for Squidoo and what Squidoo expects in a lens, but unless they’ve picked a niche that sells big, it won’t help their earnings. Thanks for a thought provoking article.
I recently cleared out a whole batch of quest-made lenses that didn’t shape up to be long-time earners. Contorting my lensmaking to fit quests for the most part does not result in successful lenses. I have had a few really good ones resulting from quests though, so don’t count them out entirely.
I keep a close eye on the quest list. Sometimes they offer the chance for a purple star or even a chance for a Lens of the Day. Those carry some extra residual oomph for lensrank and traffic.
Now and then, a quest matches a topic I’ve been planning to make anyway. If nothing else, I think HQ thinks of quest-takers as good sports/citizens on Squidoo.
Bev, excellent answer for veteran lensmasters! When the point system first came out, it was fun and engaging to work for the points. But having reached level 80 already, the points mean nothing (since I will be 81 before I get enough points to reach level 81!).
And I agree that it’s fun to see a lens get lots of activity, but that doesn’t translate into income. Since income is my first priority for spending so much time working my lenses, a quest just isn’t part of the plan. The few quests that I do are because they are for lenses/niches that I want to do.
In my opinion, quests are really designed to help lensmasters make more lenses. My list of potential lenses to make is growing beyond my time left on this earth, so I don’t need help in coming up with new ideas. I will say, though, that for newbies that I mentor, I always encourage them to participate in quests. Quests help them get out of their comfort zone, practice making lenses and help them build a nice basket of variety.
Overall, I’d say if a quest brings to mind a lens that you want to make, go for it. Otherwise, put your time into making the quality lenses that get you the kind of traffic that will buy.
When I first joined (almost 2 years ago) I was all excited by the quests and even though I HAD to do them. Now I don’t even read what quests there are. I found they drained my time from what I was getting good (well sorta) at doing and I want to focus on the learning that will help me earn some decent money from all the hours I put it.
Bev, you put it so well.
You are very wise Bev! I think Paula and I discussed this a year or so ago and she said basically the same thing.
My life on Squidoo has had many metamorphosis since I first began. I did do most all quests back then but noticed they would end up at the bottom of my dashboard eventually — not earning anything from sales or LR. I do think they helped me learn how to build lenses and how to write to prospective readers online. However, now, unless they are within a niche I already have or am planning, I usually skip them too.
Keeping sales going is my goal now. I try to stay within the niches I have or start new ones that have potential to be good earners. The competition is getting bigger everyday. I think veterans still can learn new things that will help with earnings goals but quests are geared more towards newbies.
Happy New Year, Bev and everyone at SquidLog!