My Idea of a Top-Notch Commerce Lens!

Daoine is a favorite lensmaster of mine. Her commerce lenses are interesting, full of content and fun, and make great use of pictures.

In particular, Elsa won Lens of the Day with her Pirate Costumes for Halloween, and no wonder!

She checked on when the next pirate movie would be released (none coming yet, darn!)

She gives us a little history about Pirates (which explains why we like the rogues so much, doesn't it?)

She gives us details of a full and interesting costume for anyone, man, woman or child. She even gives us instructions on how to make the proper hat!

As a commerce resource, she includes a way to get everything, or nearly everything, we could need to have a GREAT pirate costume.

Yes, it is a seasonal lens, but it is one that is worth hanging on to and keeping fresh year by year. A little promotion at the right time and this lens will be a long-term asset for Elsa.

Very well done!

Huge Pile of Lenses! Over 1500!!!

Despite what our black hatted friends are doing, our group now has over 1500 lenses!

I have stepped up the work on organizing and permanently featuring your lenses, and so you will see great progress over the next weeks.

Build MORE MORE MORE commerce lenses, and get them all linked up- the more of this you do, the better for Squidoo, the better for you, the better for your PR.

#1, #2 & #3 Today (MP, MP, LR)

This is a first for me, and I think a first for Squidoo, too! I have both First and Second positions on the Most Profitable list, and the Third position on the Lens Rank list!

The #1 today is an 'out of season' lens, meaning that you might think that at the end of winter, no one would be interested in buying a shearling coat! I've learned, though, that out of season lenses, like Christmas lenses, can surprise us, and it is a good idea to continue to update them anyway.

I'm watching the MP list, since I manage the Mall group, and I'm looking to see which of our merchants make it there! I want to focus on featuring those lensmasters, while also featuring the small business owners who's best sales will probably never show up on Squidoo's list. These are all success stories, and around here, it seems like success breeds success!

"By Invitation Only" Best Commerce Lenses

Although there have been a few fits and starts, the "By Invitation Only" group is now in full swing. Nearly all the votes are in, and once they are, the winners for January will be announced. Is it you?

Be sure to enter the February contest! If you haven't yet, or you don't know what to do, click on the plexo to the right and it will take you where you need to be- to enter your commerce lens, VOTE on all the ones there, and LEAVE YOUR COMMENT!

DinoDino, whom you know and love, and who is one of the finest commerce merchants in Squidoo, has very graciously become a member of the jury for "By Invitation Only."

There probably isn't anyone more knowledgeable about what it really takes to make a great commerce lens, a great Squidoo lens, and build customers and relationships. We are delighted to have such a great advocate for you, the Mall on Squidoo merchants, in that jury!

Peacocks Pressing Right Along!

In the Mall on Squidoo, we are just like a peacock with his tail down. Strutting along, pressing right along, and hopefully when we receive visitors our tail fans out and we show our best and most beautiful.

The star ranking algorithms as they are stand. According to Gil, it is inaccurate to say that they are 'broken' though there are many who have felt that way. So, since it appears that there will be no major changes that make the algorithm more predictable, it is time to go through each of the individual feathers in the Mall and shine them up!

I am reinstating the star ranking that I give to each lens that comes across my desk, just as I explained in my tutorials. We will count on all those factors being the primary ones in play as they have been since I started.

I will also be looking for additional things that will be important in your lensrank, but more importantly, we will be looking for GOOGLE rankings, which will be the place where your primary customers come from.

If we can spruce the place up, we won't need star rankings to be the lovely peacock at Squidoo!

Right From the Horse's Mouth

There we have it! In the forum Gil revealed that the star ranking algorithms will REMAIN A MYSTERY! This is to ensure a prevention of the 'gaming' that destroyed the star ranking algorithms since the beginning of the year.

Behavior DOES have its consequences, for lots of people.

I apologize to you, then, my admired internet commerce confreres, who work so hard to create beautiful and resourceful squidoo lenses for your customers.

So, accepting reality then, we will press right along and find the best advice, the best techniques and the best lenses on squidoo to help you be your best, regardless of star rankings.

You're all stars to me, anyway!

Building Great Commerce Lenses #1

A great feature that can help your sales and the overall look and feel of your lens is the bio feature. It is one of the entry points to your lens, a window.

It is very easy to overlook this, especially when you are busy, but customers do not. Actually, when we signed up for squidoo, our understanding of what we were doing was in one place. After having DONE it for a while, our understanding takes us to another place. Usually, though, our initial bios don't change.

What many lensmasters don't know is that your bio can be different for each lens! My corvette lens doesn't benefit from my bio that I did for the Amish lenses, and vice versa. When I edited the corvette lens bio, it did not change the bio on the Amish lenses. This is a terrific feature for you to benefit from.

The very best lenses all have certain elements in common:

Who
What
When
Where
Why
How.

The bio is the best place for why, and why you, to be explained. An excellent bio that explains why you like the products you offer, or why you designed them, why you're pleased with them, is very encouraging for a visitor.

We only have one chance in front of a potential customer. If they feel 'satisfaction' when they come to your page, they will likely come back again and again. This 'stickiness' is what makes for repeat sales and your success as you build. Don't overlook what a strong bio can add to your page.

Tutorial: Three Stars- Good Solid Lens

Three stars mean that you have convinced me that you are a good, solid business person.

I am willing to email your lens to someone who I know who happens to be looking for your product, or who I am sure would like it very much.

Does it need to be perfect? No, not at all.

It means this:

I can CONTACT YOU. If I have a question, I at least have a way to get hold of you.

You have a good introduction. That means a relevant picture, some sort of introduction that helps me be oriented to the focus of your lens.

Starting from today, NO COMMERCE LENS MISSING A CONTACT ME FUNCTION WILL RECEIVE MORE THAN TWO STARS FROM ME.

No exceptions.