Writing for Helium and writing for Squidoo are two completely different experiences. Helium is pure writing. The author chooses a topic, and writes a straight article about the topic. In order to write for Helium, you really need to be able to write. Because the articles are just writing, and readers judge the articles by reading. Nothing more, nothing less.

I really like to write for Helium because it requires you to focus in on your topic, boil your subject down to concise, tightly written text. The best articles on Helium are well researched, or else the author is an expert on the subject matter.

Squidoo is not a pure article writing site. Squidoo authors, called lensmasters, actually build a lens. A lens is what Squidoo calls its "articles" or really webpages. Each lens is a single webpage that can include a lot of different modules. Lenses are much more diverse because the writing, while important is not usually more than 50 percent of the lens. A typcial lens includes the following:

1. An introduction module-All lenses include an introduction module. This introduces the topic of the lens, and shows up in most searches on Squidoo, and Google.

2. Three or more text modules-The name is deceiving because a text module can contain text, but can also contain html and css code. That means that often text modules include pictures, links, and references to other pages or paragraphs.

3. Poll module-Poll modules are fun, quick ways to survey your readers' opinions.

4. Duel module-There are several interaction modules on Squidoo. Duel module allows you to have a debate or discussion of any topic on your lens. This allows for lively interaction with your readers. Another similar module is the Guestbook.

5. Selling modules-Squidoo allows you to sell Amazon, Cafe Press, Ebay, and Zazzle products from Squidoo modules. Lensmasters can earn a commission from anything that sells from these modules.

Although these modules are the basic construction of lenses on Squidoo, the site staff is constantly adding new, exciting modules and has about 100 that you can choose from to build your lens. That is why a lensmaster builds a lens instead of writing one.

Both sites are valuable in their own ways. They offer competely different opportunities. Squidoo is more interactive, and more complex. While Helium is much more straight forward in its style. I use both sites, and have to admit I like to use them both. Squidoo is more of a marketing site for me, while Helium is more of an informational site.

Learn more about this author, Paula Atwell.
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