How to Make Money on Squidoo

As a freelance writer, I have learned that in order to meet my income goals I need to have my hands dipped into several pots. Yes, Hubpages is most certainly one of these pots. Squidoo is another one. I've been on that site for three years and I've learned a thing or two about being successful there. I thought I'd share them with you. :)

The first thing you need to do, of course, is set up an account. But beyond that, if you are used to the hubpages platform it could take a little while to get your bearings over there. However, the one thing that is the same on both sites is the fact that quality content is one of the biggest factors that will determine your success.

My advice is to sign up on Squidoo but before you start creating your first lens, have a look around. See what the community is all about and what kinds of things people are publishing over there. I personally get a lot of ideas by looking at the way people set up their lenses.

Just like with Hubpages, keywords are an important part of your success on the site. For me, I choose one keyword to be the main one. I make sure the keyword is in the URL, title, and once in the lens itself and that's it. You don't want to overdo it or stuff the keyword in. This doesn't help you get better rankings anymore. In fact, it can hurt you.

I think it is far better to choose one main keyword and then write your content in a very natural manner. Your visitors will enjoy your writing and it is a better long term strategy for success. You don't want people to think that you are annoying, and stuffing keywords into your articles is definitely annoying.

The big question is whether or not you should use the Amazon, eBay, and other money making modules to build your income or if you should promote affiliate programs. The short answer is that it really is up to you.

I personally do a combination of both but I need to tell you that I only choose products that match the content and offer value in some way.

For example, in a lens that I have about repairing hardwood floor scratches, most of the revenue comes from commissions from selling the Tibetan Almond Stick from the Amazon module. It's a $3 product that works beautifully to remove surface scratches. Notice how I didn't promote a $30 eBook that would basically say the same things that I said in the lens - I actually gave a recommendation for something that is helpful.

Assignment: If you're new to Squidoo, or even if you're not, I have a challenge for you. It is to create 10 new lenses with 5 of them using only the Amazon module for commission and 5 of them only using affiliate links, like those for products found on Clickbank or Commission Junction. I challenge you to choose topics that you find interesting and can create unique, original content about, and to choose products that enhance your information.