by Andrew Porter

Created on: April 16, 2010   Last Updated: April 18, 2010

Squidoo is a web site that allows you to write reviews and articles in exchange for money, but it is far more versatile and complicated than most review sites such as dooyoo or ciao. Reviews written on review sites or even articles on published on Helium could also be published on Squidoo, but it would take you a bit longer, and probably no one would read it straight away. With Squidoo you make a web-site (or "lens" as they call them) using their clever modular web-site creating tools, add the text and photographs and publish. You then need to promote the web site you have created if you want anyone to look at it. The advantages over making your own web-site is it very quick, free, there are standard modules that can be stuck together then reordered as required and you don't need to know anything about html (web-site programming language)

How do you get paid?

I created a couple of quick lenses, then sat and waited for the money to roll in. I made about 4p in the first month. The threshold for payment is variable, but can be set to a minimum of $10. The amount you get paid is complicated, but is based on a variety of things: the traffic to each lens; clicks on adverts (i.e. GoogleAds); and any purchases made from adverts you have inserted in between your text modules. You will only make a lot of money if you get a lot of traffic to the lens. It can take months to start making decent amounts of money and even then you have to work on the promotion of your work. Once you have lots of lenses and lots of visitors to each one you could (allegedly) make hundred or even thousands of dollars per month.

What can I put in a lens?

The basic module is simply text with an optional picture, but adding a table of contents module will automatically build a TOC listing all of the other modules you have created and helps navigate the lens. If you want to add adverts that are relevant to your text or to recommend books etc. then an Amazon, eBay or CafePress module can easily be added, from which you will receive commission from any purchases. For my travel reviews I use Amazon modules to recommend guidebooks and camera equipment. A guestbook at the end of lens is a good idea for feedback and there are also various voting modules. You can also use basic HTML language inserted in the other modules, if you are a reasonably proficient with web-site building. The new "Text with BIG photo" module is a good way to get you photos displayed without having to use HTML (a website programming

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