I've added the "discovery module" to my hatching game lenses and jewellery lenses. Lets see if it works. Even if they restore the discovery module I might leave these up - it's definitely had an effect (my average lensrank jumped from 240K to 130K).
Two new lenses went live this morning, but I still have to tackle the Summer school Week 7 challenge - write a lens about the next book I'm going to read. Now I just finished the last book on my reading list, so I am really not sure of what to read next - particularly since the one I was going to tackle is a little controversial.
I may amend the Science of Discworld one to fulfil the criteria - after all I put it live this morning so it fulfills the time period, even if it has been on the back burner for a while.
I have another jewellery lens in mind, but I'm taking a brief break now.
Magistream - online hatching game
http://www.squidoo.com/magistream
A new hatching game I have started playing. I'm still working out the ins and outs, but this lens will pick up advice and tips as I learn more about the game - much the same way the Dragon Cave lens grew.
Showing posts with label lenses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lenses. Show all posts
Monday, 27 July 2009
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
New lens: Topaz Jewellery
A new lens done - it's yet another jewellery one because I am not up to writing large pieces of original content at the moment (or I'd probably be doing bukisa articles instead of lenses!)
Zimbio seems to be working at rather well in terms of traffic, so I will have to sit down and write an article about each of my lenses and get them on there. Also, my Redgage traffic has gone up (did I mention Redgage was the only feed that worked in its default setting?).
I have made no changes to the discovery module. Although it's tempting to start tweaking, it won't be a valid test if I keep fiddling with it!
Zimbio seems to be working at rather well in terms of traffic, so I will have to sit down and write an article about each of my lenses and get them on there. Also, my Redgage traffic has gone up (did I mention Redgage was the only feed that worked in its default setting?).
I have made no changes to the discovery module. Although it's tempting to start tweaking, it won't be a valid test if I keep fiddling with it!
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Projects updates
Discovery Module
My CSS box has been up on all the video lenses for one day, and already seems to be having an effect. The pages have had slightly more traffic than I expected, which seems to be cross-lens from the box itself. I've tried it in a range of places on different lenses and its interesting to see which ones it works on. At the end of the week I'll tally up my results.
Now I just need to figure out how to automate it.
Traffic seeker
Much pressure is being put on my finance department to approve a purchase of the software, since being able to automate search engine submissions completely would be ideal.
Zazzle
I have the new camera, which is great. I also have the blasted flu and can't go out of the house, which is not so great. This is why I am doing all the lens projects now, by the way...
Superbreak
That's right I'm now a superbreak afiliate, which means that tickets to the theatre shows (and hotels for the airshows) can be found on the lenses. At last.
My CSS box has been up on all the video lenses for one day, and already seems to be having an effect. The pages have had slightly more traffic than I expected, which seems to be cross-lens from the box itself. I've tried it in a range of places on different lenses and its interesting to see which ones it works on. At the end of the week I'll tally up my results.
Now I just need to figure out how to automate it.
Traffic seeker
Much pressure is being put on my finance department to approve a purchase of the software, since being able to automate search engine submissions completely would be ideal.
Zazzle
I have the new camera, which is great. I also have the blasted flu and can't go out of the house, which is not so great. This is why I am doing all the lens projects now, by the way...
Superbreak
That's right I'm now a superbreak afiliate, which means that tickets to the theatre shows (and hotels for the airshows) can be found on the lenses. At last.
Monday, 20 July 2009
Discovery Modules
The Mossie one was more successful than I thought, and I only rolled it out this morning. As a result, I'm doing a full test of a discovery-style module on the video games lenses.(e.g. Dark Cloud)
Since I haven't changed these lenses for a few months they are all fairly stable in traffic terms. This means that once the modules are in place and the initial boost from the amending has gone, I can compare before and after.
Currently I am trying this by adding a hand coded piece of CSS to each intro module. In a few cases it is elsewhere on the page to see what the effect is and whether I get more cross-lens traffic. All the links are currently to my own lenses, but then I don't have permission to use anyone else's for the test.
If this is a success I will see about creating something, possibly in clearspring, that will emulate the old discovery module properly. Doing it by hand is a real chore - and I'm not looking forward to trying to update links!
Since I haven't changed these lenses for a few months they are all fairly stable in traffic terms. This means that once the modules are in place and the initial boost from the amending has gone, I can compare before and after.
Currently I am trying this by adding a hand coded piece of CSS to each intro module. In a few cases it is elsewhere on the page to see what the effect is and whether I get more cross-lens traffic. All the links are currently to my own lenses, but then I don't have permission to use anyone else's for the test.
If this is a success I will see about creating something, possibly in clearspring, that will emulate the old discovery module properly. Doing it by hand is a real chore - and I'm not looking forward to trying to update links!
More musings about Green links and discovery modules
I am seriously considering turning them off. As I said before, if I want green advert links in my text I could create my own easily enough and not share revenue (Half the affiliates on commission junction offer that option). Looking at the pros and cons:
Leaving them on gives on big advantage - money. Apparently it should almost double what we receive.
However, on the downside, this comes at the cost of losing visitors and therefore potential sales. It places links I can't control in my content, which are rarely relevant. Also the links will remain able to place all three in the intro module, which looks dreadful.
It may even be lowering lensrank. You see, my visitors books are set up so any visitor can post (and fully moderated because of it!) Most of my comments were from non-squidoo members. Since the links came in, that has almost stopped. Since comments count towards lens-ranking, some of my higher rated lenses have dropped quite badly.
Of course, if I did turn them of the option would be following Squidoocool's lead to replace the cash loss. Might try it on a few of mine and see how it works...
Discovery Modules
Squidoo used to have a "discovery module" which displayed related links (three of yours, three of someone else's). These were a great traffic source, but they were turned off on the new templates.
de Havilland Mosquito is the site of a test - whether I turn this into a full module or not will depend on the results.
Leaving them on gives on big advantage - money. Apparently it should almost double what we receive.
However, on the downside, this comes at the cost of losing visitors and therefore potential sales. It places links I can't control in my content, which are rarely relevant. Also the links will remain able to place all three in the intro module, which looks dreadful.
It may even be lowering lensrank. You see, my visitors books are set up so any visitor can post (and fully moderated because of it!) Most of my comments were from non-squidoo members. Since the links came in, that has almost stopped. Since comments count towards lens-ranking, some of my higher rated lenses have dropped quite badly.
Of course, if I did turn them of the option would be following Squidoocool's lead to replace the cash loss. Might try it on a few of mine and see how it works...
Discovery Modules
Squidoo used to have a "discovery module" which displayed related links (three of yours, three of someone else's). These were a great traffic source, but they were turned off on the new templates.
de Havilland Mosquito is the site of a test - whether I turn this into a full module or not will depend on the results.
Friday, 17 July 2009
A new camera - at last!
Crystal Palace Dinosaur Montage by tirial
View more Dinosaur Posters
And I have a camera! It's Samsung, not Sony, and definitely not top of the range, but it's good enough for what I want and looks pretty durable - essential for long term use.
Since the resolution is higher, hopefully the quality of my Zazzle products will also go up, and with a larger memory card (and a lens that isn't completely wrecked) a lot more options are available. Also with access to video, even low quality and a bunch of freeware editing tools I might see about adding a few videos or my own to the aviation lenses.
I suspect I might attend the next airshow with a pocket full of memory cards. Who knows, if it works out there might even be a lens on it!
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Squidoo Charity Advice
Well, I just posted my first piece of advice to a Squidoo charity. It's difficult to know what level to pitch it at, so I'm hoping I haven't made it too basic or folksy. Now I just need to wait for feedback.
Although the guidelines say write 3 or so paragraphs and provide a link, there was a bit more to say, so I hope I am not too far outside what they are looking for. Fingers crossed.
To be honest, I haven't felt this nervous since I did my first consulting role!
Although the guidelines say write 3 or so paragraphs and provide a link, there was a bit more to say, so I hope I am not too far outside what they are looking for. Fingers crossed.
To be honest, I haven't felt this nervous since I did my first consulting role!
Thursday, 9 July 2009
#202 The Grace Spitfire
Lens #202 The Grace Spitfire
http://www.squidoo.com/grace-spitfire
About the Grace Spitfire (ML407) and Carolyn Grace the only female spitfire pilot in the world. I'd been considering this for a while, but there's a distinct lack of material online outside the official site. Nonetheless, when the Squidoo summer school assignment for the week was someone you felt should be acknowledged this lens simply seemed appropriate.
I will hopefully add more to it as I find more display videos and resources, but for now there's enough there to start anyone off who is interested. The real problem is, as always, writing a lens about a living person, where the one thing you really don't want to do is get it wrong - or worse cause offence. Hopefully this tribute lens won't do either.
http://www.squidoo.com/grace-spitfire
About the Grace Spitfire (ML407) and Carolyn Grace the only female spitfire pilot in the world. I'd been considering this for a while, but there's a distinct lack of material online outside the official site. Nonetheless, when the Squidoo summer school assignment for the week was someone you felt should be acknowledged this lens simply seemed appropriate.
I will hopefully add more to it as I find more display videos and resources, but for now there's enough there to start anyone off who is interested. The real problem is, as always, writing a lens about a living person, where the one thing you really don't want to do is get it wrong - or worse cause offence. Hopefully this tribute lens won't do either.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
A new badge & Squid Squad updates
The Squid Squad did very well:
Every member going for giant who got more than 50 lenses made it
The Top 100 Team won the challenge with 221 lenses
Squid Squad MVPs:
Giant: hlkljgk
Top 100: tirial
My lens progress since the challenge has slowed. I have a whole set of lenses building up in WIP at the moment, because with working full-time I have written the content, but haven't spent the time in front of a PC to select the right books, posters and affiliates for the lens. There might be a few upcoming this weekend.
And of course there's still the summer school challenge: write a lens about someone you respect. Too bad I can't submit the lenses on Brunel or Bazalgette!
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Badges Update
I've been doing some updating and might take a break from new lenses for a while, while I go through and get my old ones up to scratch. It's surprising how poor some of my earlier lenses look to me now I've had a bit more practice.
Meanwhile I've added my Giant 100 badge to my badges page. An online trophy cabinet may be rather self-indulgent but it keeps me motivated.
Meanwhile I've added my Giant 100 badge to my badges page. An online trophy cabinet may be rather self-indulgent but it keeps me motivated.
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
What makes a good lens?
There was an interesting post on Squidu.com, that got me thinking:
[quote=interstellaryeller]I do not understand this. Anyone that has 100 or 200 lens in my eyes is a form of spam in itself. nobody can be a expert in that many fields and so I just sift over one or two of their top lens. I really think anything over 10 lens is just nonsence. But squidoo rewards this with lens rank and purple stars. But of course that my opinion.[/quote]
I find that an interesting opinion, but it got me thinking about why I make lenses and what I look for in a lens. I've written well over a thousand reviews. Technically I could turn each of them into lenses (although I prefer to write original content each time) but it would not change the fact that that would be one thousand lenses written from a position of knowledge.
It is certainly possible for one field to generate more than one lens. Astronomy for example has its history, photography, how to take the pictures, the best places to camp to avoid light pollution, observatories, famous figures, equipment etc. so someone who is an expert on those can do lenses on those fields where it's almost certain they know more than their visitors. That's seven fields with space for multiple lenses already. And to rebut the idea that people can't be an expert in more than one field, look up polymaths (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymath). People like Leonardo da Vinci or Rupert Gould were experts in several. To a lesser extent it used to be expected of the upper classes.
Rather than an expert's guide I tend to see my lenses more as telling enough of the story to involve the visitor, more of a portal site or guide than a complete detailed view. An expert would write an entire book on some of these subjects, and lens don't have the word count to cover everything to that level - nor do most readers have the inclination to go into that depth on their first encounter with a topic (I certainly don't).
In general I'd say a lens is not spam if the user comes away knowing a bit more than they did, having enjoyed the read, and not feeling as though they wasted their time - ideally with more of an interest in the field.
That's just my view, other people may disagree. Any comments?
[quote=interstellaryeller]I do not understand this. Anyone that has 100 or 200 lens in my eyes is a form of spam in itself. nobody can be a expert in that many fields and so I just sift over one or two of their top lens. I really think anything over 10 lens is just nonsence. But squidoo rewards this with lens rank and purple stars. But of course that my opinion.[/quote]
I find that an interesting opinion, but it got me thinking about why I make lenses and what I look for in a lens. I've written well over a thousand reviews. Technically I could turn each of them into lenses (although I prefer to write original content each time) but it would not change the fact that that would be one thousand lenses written from a position of knowledge.
It is certainly possible for one field to generate more than one lens. Astronomy for example has its history, photography, how to take the pictures, the best places to camp to avoid light pollution, observatories, famous figures, equipment etc. so someone who is an expert on those can do lenses on those fields where it's almost certain they know more than their visitors. That's seven fields with space for multiple lenses already. And to rebut the idea that people can't be an expert in more than one field, look up polymaths (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymath). People like Leonardo da Vinci or Rupert Gould were experts in several. To a lesser extent it used to be expected of the upper classes.
Rather than an expert's guide I tend to see my lenses more as telling enough of the story to involve the visitor, more of a portal site or guide than a complete detailed view. An expert would write an entire book on some of these subjects, and lens don't have the word count to cover everything to that level - nor do most readers have the inclination to go into that depth on their first encounter with a topic (I certainly don't).
In general I'd say a lens is not spam if the user comes away knowing a bit more than they did, having enjoyed the read, and not feeling as though they wasted their time - ideally with more of an interest in the field.
That's just my view, other people may disagree. Any comments?
Sunday, 28 June 2009
#189 Grace Darling
#189 Grace Darling
http://www.squidoo.com/grace-darling
About the heroine of Longford Light who, with her father, saved the survivors from the wrecked ship the SS Forfarshire.
http://www.squidoo.com/grace-darling
About the heroine of Longford Light who, with her father, saved the survivors from the wrecked ship the SS Forfarshire.
Saturday, 27 June 2009
#188 Celes Opera
#188 Celes Opera
http://www.squidoo.com/celes-opera
One of the best known pieces of music from a video game, Celes Opera was originally part of Final Fantasy VI, but its enduring popularity among fans meant that it was performed live and converted into a full opera.
http://www.squidoo.com/celes-opera
One of the best known pieces of music from a video game, Celes Opera was originally part of Final Fantasy VI, but its enduring popularity among fans meant that it was performed live and converted into a full opera.
Friday, 26 June 2009
#185 RMS Lancastria
#185 RMS Lancastria
http://www.squidoo.com/lancastria
About Britain's worst maritime tragedy, where four thousand people lost their lives, and the Lancastria Association's ongoing fight with the British Government for a memorial. It took a while because I wanted to get it right but I suspect that, like Jervis Bay, it is not a lens I will ever be truly happy with.
http://www.squidoo.com/lancastria
About Britain's worst maritime tragedy, where four thousand people lost their lives, and the Lancastria Association's ongoing fight with the British Government for a memorial. It took a while because I wanted to get it right but I suspect that, like Jervis Bay, it is not a lens I will ever be truly happy with.
Thursday, 25 June 2009
#180 The Lotus Carlton
#180 lotus Carlton
http://www.squidoo.com/lotus-carlton
My dream car, so I thought I'd do a lens on it. I couldn't find all the images I hoped which had permissions to share, so the lens is a bit text heavy until I source some more.
And I am now quite happy. I said when I started this that 180 by the 30th was a sane and reasonable target, and I've reached 180 with five actual days left. Unfortunately since I wasn't being sane or reasonable I then upped it to 200, which leaves me with another 20 to go. And my wrist is now working again.
Deep breath. Flex fingers. Back to work!
http://www.squidoo.com/lotus-carlton
My dream car, so I thought I'd do a lens on it. I couldn't find all the images I hoped which had permissions to share, so the lens is a bit text heavy until I source some more.
And I am now quite happy. I said when I started this that 180 by the 30th was a sane and reasonable target, and I've reached 180 with five actual days left. Unfortunately since I wasn't being sane or reasonable I then upped it to 200, which leaves me with another 20 to go. And my wrist is now working again.
Deep breath. Flex fingers. Back to work!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
