Topicability: top lenses

Showing posts with label top lenses. Show all posts

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Snapshot of Squidoo Splash Page

Good Sunday everyone! Today's Topicability blog post was completely spontaneous and unplanned. You see, this morning when I went to access my Squidoo dashboard, I was presented with the Squidoo Splash Page instead. It seems that I was logged out and was needing to log back in to get to my dashboard.

So, I am one who makes the very best of the occasion ... time for a Topicability blog post on the Snapshot of Squidoo Splash Page! And, how appropriate that this being a snapshot, that one of the prominent buzzwords I see in the official Wordle tag cloud ... ah, that would be Photo folks!

Well, actually Best and Photo too! Other prominent buzzwords include Things, Ideas, Top, Home, List, Coloring, Make, Death, Quotes, Fun, and World. And, that is a view of the top folks!

What is the Squidoo Splash Page? Why it is a "view of the top," it is a view of the top 5 Squidoo lenses in each of 30 Topics or Categories on Squidoo. Milling around the SquidU Forum, one can hear much often times about the Squidoo Splash Page ... oh, it doesn't change; the same people are dominating or monopolizing the categories; it's not correct; some lenses shouldn't be there; or some lensmasters express pride at having more than one lens on that splash page; oh, lots of things are said!

You know I was one of the several Squidoo lensmasters who has made suggestions to improve the showcase of the splash page LIKE: oh, let's make it a magazine style; let's showcase more lensmasters and lenses to not show favoritism; let's do a slideshow -- oh, we did have something like a slideshow once upon a time. I'm not sure how that slideshow panned out, but for me, I was seeing the same lensmasters over and over again. I'm thinking a cascading slideshow, thumbnails to cycle through more than the top 5 lenses in each topic or category. I'm thinking NOT a static page ... let's showcase as many worthy lenses and lensmasters as we can and not the usual, same players who might be dominating or monopolizing the topics.

Let's make it like GOING to the MOVIES ... Time-out for a commercial to introduce you to some best, top picks in camcorders! I've actually bought the Panasonic for my other half, and the Canon for ME! You might have seen MY first videos ===> these little bandits will surely capture your soul(s) too! My prediction: YOU will be seeing MORE videos of Jacksonville Florida soon. ;)

And, I am for the platform of a turkey in everyone's oven with stuffed cabbage rolls cooking on the stovetop! Oh, did you happen to see my lenses on Stuffed Cabbage and My Platform -- For the People? Yes, I am FOR the people and for non-partisanship and equality. I hate politics, you know? But, I surely DO love Stuffed Cabbage Rolls -- like my grandma Julia Nagy made!

Hello all you regular Squidoo readers! You surely know by now that I've been profiling a view of the top 100 of the various Squidoo Topics. We will return to this series really soon! Here are the previous top 100 Topicability blog posts:

Oh wow! Have you seen Squidoo du Jour -- The Top Lens ... will there be a NEW lens at the top soon? Were YOU brave enough to actually participate in the Hey Monkeybrain debate of mine about Squidoo Stats -- Public or Private? Well then ... Rock on with your good selves!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Holy Purple Cow Stars Take 2

Good Day Purple Star Fans and welcome to Holy Purple Cow Stars Take 2. Today is the six-week update on the purple star award tally on Squidoo. Whew, what a lot of work it is nominating, reviewing and rewarding these purple star awards! Yes it is.

Out first and last report on the purple stars awarded to Squidoo lenses was on June 5th which detailed the 1,267 purple stars which had been awarded thus far. Today's reporting of the breakdown on the Squidoo lensmasters with purple stars reveals there have been 1,350 ... that's not quite 100 additional purple stars.

If you recall, our previous leader was Editor Dave with 18 purple stars. We show Editor Dave has gained another purple star to hold on to that purple star lead with 19! Kim Giancaterino holds on, again, to second place with 17 purple stars. We have two Squidoo lensmasters holding on to third place with 15 purple stars; kiwisoutback and Treasures-By-Brenda.

Here is the official purple star award line-up, showing number of purple stars awarded and listing the respective Squidoo lensmasters alphabetically!

19 -- Editor Dave
17 -- KimGiancaterino
15 -- kiwisoutback, Treasures-By-Brenda
14 -- BigGirlBlue, drifter0658, janices7, Sylvestermouse
13 -- Enslavedbyfaeries, kab, OhMe, stargazer00, tandemonimom
11 -- aj2008, Evelyn_Saenz, Greekgeek, Heather426, JaguarJulie, skiesgreen, susannaduffy, WindyWinters
10 -- chefkeem, Comfortdoc, Pastiche, quippingqueen, Ramkitten, Susan52, The_Party_Animal

9 -- 24websurf, bethd821, boshemia, Christene, clouda9, ElizabethJeanAllen, Joan4, Spook, Stazjia
8 -- kimmanleyort, LindaJM, mbgphoto, monarch13, NanLT, naturegirl7, Norma_Budden, paperfacets, pkmcr, Pukeko, sandyspider, ThomasC
7 -- _Joan_, BevsPaper, ChapelHillFiddler, lakeerieartists, lisadh, makingamark, MeltedRachel, Mickie_G, mysticmama, vallain, WhiteOak50
6 - a_willow, AndyPo, Barkely, CDT, ClassyGals, Crystal_Booth, Frankster, hlkljgk, Jimmie, jptanabe, KathyMcGraw, LoKackl, luvmyludwig, MiaBellezza, mukunda22, spirituality, thefluffanutta, theraggededge

5 -- arncyn, badmsm, dc64, EverythingMouse, GrowWear, j_barnhart4, Janet21, Jewelsofawe, JoyfulPamela, Kate-Phizackerley, Ladymermaid, mulberry, Noadi, partybuzz, SemperFidelis, Sojourn, TheGreenerMe, Tipi, tirial, triathlontraining, WhitePineLane
4 -- ArtByLinda, AslanBooks, BarbRad, BFuniv.com, Chadrew, CleanerLife, daria369, gmarlett, Gordon_Hamilton, GroovyFinds, GypsyPirate, HorseAndPony, inkserotica, jkvkdailey, Laniann, LeanneChesser, LizMac60, lou16, mbrownauthor, missbat, Octavias0fferings, Peggy707, poddys, prosperity66, relache, Rob_W, Romaxx, ronpass, seashell2, SoyCandleLover-Maker, Squidster, strayspay, SusanVillasLewis, Victoria_Neely, WebSpinstress, WordCustard
3 -- andreaberrios, bdkz, boutiqueshops, Bradshaw, CherylK, CreativeArtist, dagsmith, daybreak, DMedley, draik, EelKat, Ener-G, flowergardener, Flynn_the_Cat, GonnaFly, GramaBarb, happynutritionist, jbdkz, JohannTheDog, Laddoo, LotusPetalYoga, Mac33, Macs, Marelisa, Margo_Arrowsmith, Michey, MissMerFaery, N376, NAIZA, ottoblotto, poutine, rms, smange, voodoomama, Wysiwigs

2 -- AddaptAbilities, AllThingsMichigan, anthropos, athomemomblog, awelldressedbullet, azpoppy, blondeheroine, Brookelorren, Caseyfern, CCGAL, charlino, Christopher_Scott, crosscreations, CrypticFragments, DessertLover, Dkprincess6, eclecticeducation, ElleDeeEsse, EternalFlame, Euryale, fefe, flighty02, flowski, Freaknoodles, genglo, gkygrl, hmsweaver, Irenemaria, jeffryv, JJNW, johndilbeck, JustBon-Crochet-Designs, Karendelac, katiyana, Kylyssa, LakeMom, LauraSchofield, lisakleinweber, Loyalis, Margaret_Schaut, michaelgibbons, MikeMoore, mosaic, NancyOram, NicoleRoberts, nightcats, nyfamily5, Pantherart, papawu, Photahsiamirabel, Pixelrage, puzzlemaker, Rajays, RichLeigh, rockycha, sandralynnsparks, Shar, SimeyC, squidoohelp, sukkran, The_Homeopath, thesuccess, Tiddledeewinks, TrinaSonnenberg, unique_freak77, vanidiana, vbright105, Webcodes, whitemoss, ZachG

1 -- 4U2C, AdrienneJenkins, aidenw, Aldric_Chang, AlishaV, allthatiscute, alteredkat, amandaquerque, AtHomeSource, babygirlboutique, Barrie, bcarter, bechand, beeobrien, bernadette1, Bob_Druwing, boredofeducation, BrandyT, burgessvillian, Bus_Stop_Toy_Shop, ByRoy, Carmel_Aaron, cary_quirkoutcom, Charlyjl, chloecavanaugh, Clairwil, confetta, CosmeticMom, danthemans, daoine, d-artist, Dawn_Mathisen_aka_Candle_Dawn, ddixonart, Diamond_Wizard, Donnette, ebay-grandma, EbizTaxTips, Eclectic_Muse, Ecolicious, emmalarkins, EuroSquid, flipflopnana, gods_grace_notes, grannysage, grayth, groovyoldlady, guardianstar77, GypsyOwl, hollandnumerics, HotbuttonPress, icjackson, imaginemdd, IntuitiveHealer, JanaMurray, JanTUB, Janusz, jeffwend, JenniferAkers, JenOfChicago, JimH, kajohu, KarateKatGraphics, KathrynDarden, kcbaker1, kellywissink, Kelsey-Budden-16, Kharadriisa, KimberlyDawnWells, KNicholls, Kyecerulian, Lady_Gotrocks, lollyj, Lou1842, lwhitelaw, Magicality, Makita, marsha32, MeganCasey, MobyD, motorpurrr, MrLewisSmile, Mrs_R, MsSnow4a, mynameiskate, nDee, nightbear, Not-Pop, ohcaroline, OneFootPutt, oneskms, only1bub, PatinKC, PeopleLive, PJ_Deneen, pmolinero, pyle_mountain, QueSea, ravedid, Rewards4life, RickBasset, RinchenChodron, rksmythe, rlmodranski, RMJ1940, Roving_Band, Samanthie, Sammie, SandraRose, Sarah, seedplanter, seegreen, SeeMyHealthyHairGrow, SherryHolderHunt, ShirlW, shwetashah, sirkeystone, SquidooKimberly, StaciJansma, steveffeo, Superwife, Tallguy2, TeaLady, Teddi14, The_Health_Lady, TheLeftFitz, thrivingmom, Tiffany, TopMovieSoundtracks, Trekkiemelissa, tssfacts, Twmarsh, ulla_hennig, Vacation-In-My-Head, Vladi, Waxing-Lyrical, weavz, webnh, webseitler, WeddingZazzle, Wednesday_Elf, WendyKrick, WhippetTalk, WhitneyWells, WhitU4ever, Winter52, xtnshun

P.S. By the way, have you seen my purple star awarded, Squidoo lens, Jaguar Julie -- Lensography of a WAHWW? On that lensography, I have a very special Purple Star Award page which details those 11 purple stars that have been awarded on my 645 lenses. And, another VERY special page is the Purple Star Worthy Guide which presents about 25 Squidoo lenses that I feel are worthy of being nominated for a purple star. I'm not nominating my own Squidoo lenses, but I thought it would be kind of fun to let others know just what lenses I consider, of mine, to be purple star award worthy. You know? Have a purple cow fantastic weekend folks!

Monday, July 5, 2010

Top 100 How to Squidoo Tips

It is the holiday for us in the USA today, July 5th. You know what that means? Undoubtedly, the servers over at Squidoo are literally teaming AND jamming with Squidoo lensmasters authoring top-notch, quality lenses about their passions, interests and expertise. Well, probably along with what they had for July 4th. Perhaps a barbeque or two? Oh, and what about the fireworks? We've been enjoying a private fireworks show from our next door neighbor ... over the past month! I give him 5 stars and a LIKE.

Turning our focus today to the Top 100 Squidoo Topic / Category of Squidoo Tips, we come to a very important fork in the road. On ANY social platform, the MOST important topic should be the Help category. Would YOU not agree that any articles or "lenses" that reside in the Help category have got to be the very best and top-notch "helpful" lenses. We demand real tips which are straightforward, honest and full of integrity! Oh my.

Without further hubbub, here are two Wordle tag clouds which have imaged the various Squidoo lenses which landed in the Top 100 of Squidoo Tips on July 3, 2010. First of all, it is MOST important to point out that the Wordle on the left is untouched, unedited. Squidoo definitely IS the buzzword of choice, followed up by Lens and Lenses. So, to explore the true topics and themes further, we scrubbed OUT those three words of Squidoo, Lens and Lenses to provide a truer view of the lenses.

As you look at the Wordle on the right, you can surely see MANY helpful topics there. I've got to note that this particular Wordle, out of all those I've thus far generated, seems to have the MOST variety of topics. Let's see, Tips jumps out followed up by Photo and Effects ... gee, we've previously actually seen a LOT of Photo and Effects in other Top 100 topics, you know? What else do you see there? Oh, maybe HTML, Free, Promote, Images, Resources and lots other buzzwords.

What about the Squidoo lensmaster with the most Squidoo lenses in the Squidoo Tips Topic? Today’s Squidoo lensmaster in the spotlight is Tim aka thefluffanutta with 19 Squidoo lenses ranking in the Top 100 of the Squidoo Tips Topic / Category.

Over and over again, thefluffanutta has proven himself to be out front on the Squidoo SquidU Forum with helpful advice. You would expect that thefluffanutta would have the most lenses that have helpful tips. Thank you Tim, on behalf of myself and all the many Squidoo lensmasters YOU have helped over the years. It’s been good to have you there by our side.

Up next, is SquidooKimberly with 8 different Squidoo lenses in the Top 100; followed closely by Macs with 7; and both Greekgeek and Tipi each with 6. MeganCasey has secured 5 spots in the Top 100 of the Squidoo Tips Topic / Category. And then there is Sojourn with 3.

Several Squidoo lensmasters have secured 2 spots each in the Top 100 of the Squidoo Tips Topic / Category. Alphabetically, these Squidoo lensmasters include bdkz, flighty02, JaguarJulie, jeffryv, lakeerieartists, Loyalis, N376, RickyRobi, SammySpam, skiesgreen, stargazer00, AND triathlontraining.

Two of my Squidoo Tips lenses are in the Top 100 of the Squidoo Tips Topic / Category. They are two particular Squidoo lenses that I really think deserve to be there, you know? Squid Angel -- Blessings to YOU! and How to Squidoo -- A Step-by-Step Primer. I have devoted a lot of my time on Squidoo to making MORE helpful Squidoo tips lenses which I think are worthy of being in that Top 100. They cover a variety of helpful topics and show creative ways to use certain Squidoo modules or building blocks; like that "my lenses" module that I really like.

So, here is my commercial time-out to share with you these other very helpful Squidoo lenses in the Squidoo Tips Topic Category, by Jaguar Julie. Maybe one day they will see the light of day? ;)

Squidoo du Jour -- The Top Lens
Keywords Search -- What Brings in More Traffic
Diary of Requested Features for Squidoo
I Absolutely * Love * Squidoo!
Squidoo Fans -- I * LOVE * My Fans!
LOTD ** JaguarJulie Has How Many Lenses of the Day?
Expanding Your Lens Publishing Power -- How-to Squidoo
Buy Quality Lenses -- Created by Jaguar Julie
Feed My Search -- The Module
Squidoo Favorites -- Applause for the Squidoo Readers
Jaguar Julie Top Squidoo Lenses
Jaguar Julie Groupography

Today's spotlight focus on the very important Squidoo Tips Squidoo Topic is part of a continuing series of spotlight blog posts showcasing the many Squidoo Topics here in the Topicability blog. Have YOU been following along? Have you enjoyed the spotlights? Have YOU been in the spotlight(s)? More important, have YOU taken time to offer up a thought, suggestion or comment or something to tell us and the world that "you were here/there" and that you are trying to make a difference in the scheme of things? You know?

Oh gosh and yes, I've written about the top Squidoo lens each day for over a year in Squidoo du Jour -- The Top Lens ... Are YOU just a little curious about what's been on top overall? And, have you already participated in THAT weird and slightly crazy Hey Monkeybrain debate of mine about Squidoo Stats -- Public or Private? Ah, see ya around folks! May the force be with YOU and your journey be a pleasurable one and may we hope that YOU are making a difference in the scheme of things. You know?

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Well What ABOUT You and About Me

Hmmm, is that a rather cryptic title for this Topicability blog post? If you are from the United States, you probably get that; if you are from the United Kingdom, you might be thinking "what are you talking about?" Remember my flagship Google blog Jaguar Julie Blog On post, Who IS Listening I Wonder?

Well, I was wondering this morning "Who IS Listening?" And, more importantly "do they really get IT?" I honestly think that worldwide there is a bit of information and meaning that gets lost in translation. Sometimes you may have a humorous message and you wonder if that "humor" is totally understood?

Well What ABOUT You and About Me?

You probably noticed that I missed the first topic in the line-up, alphabetically speaking. About Me. Well, what about ABOUT ME? Yes, indeed. Today we are exploring the Squidoo Top 100 in the About Me Topic / Category.

I had a pretty Wordle tag cloud for About Me. I think it is particularly COOL people that Lensography is the primary buzzword there. We have thefluffanutta Tim to thank hugely for coining the word Lensography! Thank YOU Tim! You rock and are cool people too.What buzzwords I'm seeing next are Things, Life, List, Love, Bucket, Make, Squidoo and Happy ... oh and a bunch more! Isn't that cool, people? What do you see there? That Wordle summarizes the various topics of those 100 lenses in the About Me category, the cream of the crop.

And, here would be that lens mosaic of the Squidoo lensmasters with the most lenses in the Top 100 of About Me! The one Squidoo lensmaster with the most spots in the Top 100 of the Squidoo About Me Topic / Category is Momtothezoo with 4 lenses. She is followed up by jptanabe with 3 lenses in the Top 100.

Eight different Squidoo lensmasters have 2 lenses each in the Top 100 of the Squidoo About Me Topic / Category. Alphabetically they are: Evelyn_Saenz, JaguarJulie, Kylyssa, LeanneChesser, Ramkitten, Tipi, WebSpinstress, AND WindyWinters.

Seventy-Seven Squidoo lensmasters have a spot in the Top 100 of the Squidoo About Me Topic / Category. Yeah I say! This is the best, so to speak, representation thus far of all the categories or topics that I have taken time to spotlight here on the Topicability blog. You know? Sorry for the editorial comment, but I do really really think that the ABOUT ME topic should showcase ONE lens each that is the showcase lens on each Squidoo lensmaster – I’d like to see ALL Squidoo lensmasters with a showcase About Me lens that would be featured in this topic. P.S. Of course we are ASSUMING that none of these are multiple IDs for prominent or other Squidoo lensmasters, you know?

So, here are those 77 Squidoo lensmasters who have ONE spot in the Top 100 of the Squidoo About Me Topic / Category – shown alphabetically: 24websurf, a_willow, aj2008, AlishaV, ArtByLinda, bdkz, bethd821, Boshena, cdcraftee, Cherrybomb2009, chloecavanaugh, dagsmith, damagedinc, dannystaple, DARdreams, d-artist, dc64, dfishbac, Dkprincess6, EverythingMouse, flowergardener, Flynn_the_Cat, Hillandglen, hlkljgk, Janiece, JDWheeler, jennerator, JenOfChicago, Jewelsofawe, KimGiancaterino, KNicholls, LindaJM, lindarandall, LittleCansofBeans, LoKackl, Lotusland, loveunmeasured, luvmyludwig, madjewel, makingamark, Marti, mbgphoto, MoneyPearl19, NanLT, naturegirl7, neverbobomalem, OhMe, PatrickBernauw, Pmona, poisonousangel, ponchomeg, Pukeko, puzzlemaker, rickybuitrago, RocketMoms_Graduates, Rokusan, RyanAndersonP, ShirlW, sixfiguremonths, spirituality, spunkyduckling, Stazjia, StephenC, Susan52, susannaduffy, Sylvestermouse, thefluffanutta, theraggededge, Timewarp, Tinw, ulla_hennig, unbroken_hope, Vacation-In-My-Head, vallain, watercarfuel, WordCustard, AND x3xsolxdierx3x.

This spotlight on the About Me Squidoo Topic is part of a continuing series of spotlight blog posts showcasing the many Squidoo Topics here in the Topicability blog:

Yes, yes, yes! I've captured that top Squidoo lens each day for over a year in Squidoo du Jour -- The Top Lens ... Curious about what's been on top overall? Want to participate in THAT crazy Hey Monkeybrain debate of mine about Squidoo Stats -- Public or Private?

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

What is Cooking in the Food Topic

So, here we are folks! Do you wonder, "What is Cooking in the Food Topic?" Ah, the Top 100 of the Squidoo Food and Cooking Topic / Category! I don't know how many Squidoo lenses I might have authored which would fall into the food topic, but I can say that those have been some of my favorite. Favorite in the sense that I honor my grandma Julia Nagy for her love and for many of her famously delicious recipes. I've not shared ALL of those recipes yet, but may consider an ebook soon!

The Food and Cooking buzzwords ... Best is the top banana! Next up is Cake quickly followed by Cupcakes! Then, more buzzwords are Absolute, Chicken, Best-Ever, Easy, Salad and Decorating among others. Fun, wasn't that?

The one Squidoo lensmaster dominating the Top 100 of the Squidoo Food and Cooking Topic / Category is rms Robin with 13 Squidoo lenses occupying a treasured spot in that Top 100 of the topic. Congratulations rms Robin!

Next up is Squidoo lensmaster Laddoo who has 6 Squidoo lenses occupying a spot in that Top 100 of the topic. Bravo Laddoo!

Holy Moly Batman and Robin, but I finally made the line-up here in Top 100 of the Squidoo Food and Cooking Topic / Category with a "humble" 5 Squidoo lenses occupying a spot. Oh, that’s JaguarJulie folks and also there is Treasures-By-Brenda with 5 Squidoo lenses.

One Squidoo lensmaster, beeobrien has 4, followed by enslavedbyfaeries AND The-Cooking-Mom each with 3.

There are quite a number of Squidoo lensmasters each with 2 Squidoo lenses in that Top 100 of the Food and Cooking Topic / Category. They are: chefkeem, clouda9, Craftyville, danthemans, EbizTaxTips, EverythingMouse, hlkljgk, JonitasKalimpo, AND MiaBellezza.

Some 43 Squidoo lensmasters each have ONE Squidoo lens in that Top 100 of the Food and Cooking Topic / Category. They are: chefkeem, 24websurf, cbs, CherylK, CoffeeBreaker, DessertLover, DMedley, Euryale, flighty02, giddygabby, GonnaFly, GypsyPirate, HorseAndPony, Intuitive, JackieLee, Janet21, Janiece, jeffwend, jkvkdailey, Jodi_k, kab, Kate-Phizackerley, KimberlyDawnWells, kiwisoutback, LakeMom, melody-thacker, msbaby, mulberry, NAIZA, naturegirl7, nDee, Noadi, relache, riff999, Rockett, Sojourn, sonis, splendidbaker, stargazer00, susannaduffy, Sydp, ThomasC, Victoria_Neely, AND Wednesday_Elf.

Gosh, I'll bet YOU didn't know that there were that many TOP chefs at Squidoo, did you? I do happen to see my favorite chef in that list! He knows WHO he is!

Ladies and gentlemen, may I tell you honestly that I put off looking at the Squidoo Food and Cooking Topic / Category because many of my lenses used to rank much better in that food category. But, things change you know? Whilst the traffic, sales, clickouts and other stats MIGHT seem to warrant better positioning for those food lenses, something else seems to keep pushing those lenses down, out of the Top 100. Maybe it is the absence of Squid Angel blessings or something?

Those 5 Squidoo lenses of mine that were lucky enought to hit the Top 100 of the Squidoo Food and Cooking Topic / Category are:

Stuffed Cabbage *
Eight Layer Salad -- A Delicious Recipe
What is Basa?
Healthy Sandwich Recipes
Chicken Red Curry -- Thai Style!

### TIME FOR SOMETHING ELSE ###

This is just one in a series of spotlight blog posts showcasing the many Squidoo Topics in the Topicability blog:

Day in and day out ... I've profiled the top Squidoo lens and boy are my arms getting tired! You know jelly bean? Squidoo du Jour -- The Top Lens ... Curious about what's been on top overall? Or, maybe you are wanting to participate in THAT crazy Hey Monkeybrain debate of mine about Squidoo Stats -- Public or Private?

What is Topicable in Shopping

OK, OK already! I surely do hear ya. So you want to go Shopping? Sorry that I have taken a bit of a time to focus on this particular Squidoo Topic of Shopping. To me, Shopping is like my middle name ... but the type of shopping that I do is not the traditional brick and mortar shopping. I am an internet shopper and have been a personal shopper for quite a few people worldwide!

Turning our attention today to the Top 100 of Squidoo lenses ranking in that Shopping Topic / Category, I will HONESTLY tell you that I am a bit surprised that this Wordle resembles yet another Wordle. Can you guess which one; i.e., which OTHER Squidoo Topic / Category has a similar wordle?

What Shopping buzzword jumps out at you? Wedding? Well, that is interesting I think. I'm seeing Ideas, Best, Perfect, Fashion, Twilight, Party, Theme, Bags and perhaps Laptop. Does any other buzzword POP for you? That Wordle tag cloud can sure be interesting when imaging themes and topics, you know?

Here is our lens mosaic of the Squidoo lensmasters and their Squidoo lenses which occupy the most spots in the overall Top 100 in the Squidoo Shopping Topic / Category.

Today’s Squidoo lensmaster in the spotlight with 8 Squidoo lenses in the Top 100 of the Squidoo Shopping Topic / Category is EternalFlame. Congratulations EternalFlame! I don’t believe we have met yet?

Next up is enslavedbyfaeries with 6 followed by mulberry with 5. ClassyGals AND mynameiskate each have 4 Squidoo lenses in that Top 100 of Shopping.

Those Squidoo lensmasters with 3 each are babygirlboutique, GroovyFinds, SusanVillasLewis, AND TheLeftFitz. Nine Squidoo lensmasters each have 2 Squidoo lenses in that Top 100 of the Shopping Topic / Category: Bus_Stop_Toy_Shop, calendarsblog, CosmeticMom, fefe, Jump4Joy, Pixelrage, pyle_mountain, RickBasset, AND The_Party_Animal.

Forty three Squidoo lensmasters have nabbed ONE lens in the Top 100 of Shopping: 88shoppe, arncyn, Bargainista, bdkz, BigGirlBlue, cherrychavez, Christene, Christy_WYO, cjsysreform, dagsmith, daoine, ddixonart, Eddron, EllenC, EuroSquid, flowski, gods_grace_notes, Hope, ikea-furniture-catalogue, JaguarJulie, JasonE, JonathanStone, KokoTravel, LaToya998, leggleston24, Lou1842, missminny, nekoneko, Nibbled, ottoblotto, Papier, PatrioticTees, PoisonPinkLemons, sema, Senora_M, tandemonimom, titanium_knights, TShirtFrank, Victoria_Neely, Wii-For-Kids, wizzyfx, YesStyle, AND ZazzleEnchante.

Yours truly nabbed just one spot in that Top 100 in the Shopping category with Swimdresses -- Find the Perfect Swimdress That Suits YOU.

This is just one in a series of spotlight blog posts showcasing the many Squidoo Topics in the Topicability blog:

Friday, June 25, 2010

Spotlight on Parenting and Kids

Today, the Topicability spotlight is focusing on an important topic, Parenting and Kids. Personally, I can think of NO other topic that should be at the top of our minds. Where do we, as adults, turn for our introduction into life? Our introduction into how to be good people, to treat our neighbor kindly, to be a better person? How do we learn what is right or what is wrong?

Much has been said about the fact that parents should have a license to have children. It is difficult to be a good parent these days. Kids have to deal with so many more issues than when I was a kid. Not only is there peer pressure, but there is bullying in school and bullying on the internet. It is huge how the internet has opened up bullying to not only kids, but also to adults too! Not only are kids being bullied, but adults are being bullied too! Cyber-bullying today takes many shapes and sizes. You think you are safe in your homes, but that is just not the case anymore! I've sure seen plenty of it. OK, enough about that already.

I'm thinking, that the topic of Parenting and Kids on Squidoo should be able to address many of the topics from which parents would benefit. How to be a better parent perhaps? Or, how to raise great kids? Or, how to talk to your kids? Or, kids today need better parents? Or, give that parent a license to have kids? Well, you get where I'm coming from, right?

Here is a Wordle tag cloud which has imaged all the titles of the Top 100 Squidoo lenses in the Parenting and Kids topic / category as of June 24, 2010. Those Top 100 lists are dynamic, and constantly changing, usually. So, this is the edition as of June 24th!

Don't you just love Wordle? I love how you can visualize topics to make an analytical assessment of creative content, or something! What pops out of that Wordle for you? For me? I'd say I am focusing in on Kids, Birthday, Coloring, Party, Pages, Printable, Crafts, and Supplies.

A huge wow and congratulations to our Pastiche aka Lee Hansen who nabbed 17, that’s SEVENTEEN spots in the Top 100 of the Parenting and Kids topic/category. That’s pretty huge folks. Congratulations Lee!

Coming up second in the number of spots is Janet21 who commanded 8 lenses in the Top 100 of the Parenting and Kids topic/category. Congratulations Janet!

Bravo to GonnaFly for securing 4 lenses in the Top 100 of the Parenting and Kids topic/category. Three Squidoo lensmasters have nabbed 3 spots in the Top 100 of the Parenting and Kids topic/category. These include: JJNW, WorldVisionary, and glossym.

We have 5 Squidoo lensmasters who each have 2 spots in the Top 100 of the Parenting and Kids topic/category. These include: aj2008, janices7, MiaBellezza, The_Party_Animal, Lou1842.

Here is that Wordle tag cloud image of all the lensmasters commanding Squidoo lenses in the Top 100 of the Parenting and Kids topic/category. Our kids are the next generation to lead the people. Thanks and a tip of the hat to these lensmasters who are writing quality content and guides to help parents be better parents. Yes, indeed!

Forty-eight Squidoo lenses out of the 100 are attributable to 11 different Squidoo lensmasters. There are 52 different Squidoo lensmasters who each have one Squidoo lens in the Top 100 of the Parenting and Kids topic/category. No, I'm not in the Top 100 there yet. We do NOT readily know which of those 52 different lensmasters are really multiple IDs for other Squidoo lensmasters who might already have other lenses in the Top 100. Multiple IDs are really a major topic for another Topicability blog post folks!

The Topicability Index has been focusing on the other topics or categories of Squidoo. Did you catch those posts? If not, here is a recap for you! I hope you enjoy them as I've provided lots of Wordle tag clouds and lots of image mosaic lists of the top lenses.

By the way, I've profiled the top Squidoo lens, for more than a year on a special Squidoo lens, Squidoo du Jour -- The Top Lens, in case you are curious what's been on top overall. Or, maybe you are wanting to participate in my Hey Monkeybrain debate about Squidoo Stats -- Public or Private?

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Celebrating the Return of Traffic Oh My

Some of you have been following the Topicability blog for over two years. Today, we want to THANK YOU readers! You know, writing a blog can be a very fulfilling experience. I wanted to have that experience, that fulfilling experience daily ... but something else interfered, well sort of.

You see, I have been engaged full throttle over at Squidoo, along with quite a few other Squidoo lensmasters. It's like a cult or something. It's like a huge social experiment or something. It's like something has gotten a hold of us. Our friends and families are signing up for a visit by the exorcist or something! Yeah yeah yeah.

Well, since Squidoo has become a significant part of so many lensmasters' days, some get their panties in a wad [an attempt at some humor to lighten the tension some are feeling] when the stats don't update .. you know, when the actual, true and accurate traffic stats do not post timely to the dashboards. You can usually find MANY a lensmaster behind those dashboards ... beep beep, be sure to signal you all when stopping and changing lanes. No backseat drivers, please! Oh me oh my, my turn to drive, please!!

SO ... So, many of us will take time to submit bug reports. I love doing those because I was an ISO Internal Auditor in a previous life and I am one with bug reports and documentation ... but I don't want that to ever become like my job, you know?

The lastest on the Topicability Index is the fact that the traffic stats bug has been captured; the autopsy is complete! AND, folks traffic ... a drumroll for the fact that the true and actual traffic has returned to our dashboards. Curious I was ... so I took a peek.

Yes indeed! I can plainly see that traffic has returned to our dashboards ... take a look at the returning traffic to those top eight overall Squidoo lenses. Here is a view of those top eight lensmasters' lenses courtesy of Squidaholic. You can plainly see an uptick in traffic ... to some, it appears it is two times more traffic, or maybe more? The mosaic image on the left showcases lenses #1, 2, 3 and 4 overall on Squidoo. The mosaic image on the right showcases lenses #5, 6, 7 and 8 overall on Squidoo!

Computers, Gadgets and Tech Oh My

Computers, Gadgets and Tech Oh My!! Good day everyone! On June 23, 2010, we presented the Top 100 in the DIY, Do It Yourself, topic on Squidoo. We hope you enjoyed that visual presentation and maybe got some DIY ideas for the Summer months!

Welcome to the Topicability blog post for today, June 24, 2010. It's Computers, Gadgets and Tech Oh My! We took a moment, first thing this morning, to check out this category.

It was a random pick of the some 32 different topics or categories on Squidoo. You see, we are able to look at the Top 100 in each of those categories ... you know that is some 3,200 spots which are competing against each other for a nod in the Top Tier of 2,000 spots! That means, some 1,200 Squidoo lenses, which can make a Top 100 topic/category placement, just luck out of a Top Tier placement! We're thinking all those spots need to be Top Tier; how about you? Yes, no, or you are thinking about that?

So ... say hello to the wonderful tag cloud generating site, Wordle! I surely do love my Wordle. You know, a short while ago, I submitted a suggestion i.e. Requested Feature on the SquidU Forum for adding tag clouds to that very forum. Oh, we had some interesting retorts, oh my! Well, I'm still digging that idea despite some of my consistent followers who doth protest too much me thinks! Hey, it's a good idea folks!

I was wondering, maybe you were too, what topicable lens might qualify for a spot in the Top 100 of the Computers, Gadgets and Tech topic/category. Of course I had to do another Wordle tag cloud. I do better with analyzing some data when I can see a visualization like this. Heck, a Wordle is perfect for visualization of data!

What is popping out at me in this Wordle visualization tag cloud are: Photo, Best, Deleted, Top, Spy, Recover, Kindle, Editor, Card, Mac and a couple other techie ideas.

Congratulations to dagsmith who has commanded an amazing number of lenses in the Top 100 of the Computers, Gadgets and Tech category with 18 Squidoo lenses ranked in the Top 100 of that one category. Here is a visualization of that for you -- oh, it's not a Wordle though.

Continuing through the Top 100, we have a few more Squidoo lensmasters who managed to nab multiple placements with their Squidoo lenses. These include Pixelrage who has 5; JimH and Spyphone_Guy each have 4; jean99 and pkmcr each have 3.

Last, but not least, each of these Squidoo lensmasters have 2 Squidoo lenses in the Top 100 of the Computers category: Abseaz, Crysis, GiselleSanchez, JamesRyan, KimberlyDawnWells, margin-strategies, MrLewisSmile, mulberry, nukemdomis, str8ballin85, UltraMilk, and webseitler.

Oh ... and the final Wordle of today's Topicability blog post is a tag cloud visualization of all the Squidoo lensmasters with lenses in the Top 100 of the Computers, Gadgets and Tech topic/category as captured bright and early on June 24, 2010.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Do It Yourself this Summer

We have passed the first day of Summer and are headed into another really long, hot Summer here in the state of Florida. This afternoon, on my way home, I could smell a fire in the air. You could see the smoky haze rising up from the steamy ground. I'm not sure what was burning, or where the fire might be, but I know I'll hear about it on the news tonight.

Turning our attention to some hot news on Squidoo, today I have selected the DIY or Do It Yourself topic/category. Looking at the variety of Squidoo lensmasters there, the very first thing that jumped out at me, was the fact that 3 Squidoo lensmasters DOMINATED that category, hands-down. And, it is quite coincidentally the very same 3 who were recently profiled in another Topicability blog post, The top eight Squidoo earners and those same 3 dominated the top of the earner chart!

The roll call shows dagsmith with 17 lenses in the Top 100 of DIY, followed by pastiche with 11, and craftyville with 9. Here is the line-up of their 37 lenses that occupy the Top 100:

Taking a look at the top 3 lensmasters, along with the other lensmasters who had multiple lenses in the Top 100, we imaged that in this special Wordle tag cloud:

The next set of Squidoo lensmasters with multiple lenses in the top 100 of the DIY category include GonnaFly with 4, EasyW and Hillandglen with 3 each, and then 2 each for these lensmasters: frances, kab, Noadi, and Studentz. Here is the line-up of their 18 lenses:

Rounding out the Top 100, are an additional 45 Squidoo lensmasters! Congratulations to these 45 Squidoo lensmasters who each have one Squidoo lens in the Top 100 of the DIY Do-It-Yourself category on Squidoo for June 23, 2010:

alteredkat, bcarter, bestreviews1, Christene, ClassyGals, Color_Expert, Comfortdoc, craftsbyalice, crosscreations, Cyrano_Smith, DMedley, Edmands, flowergardener, freebieBest, hempnecklace, Jewelry_Girl, jhofman, JJNW, Ladybird, LeslieM, Mickie_G, NaturalMindset, paperfacets, Playstation3-helper, Playstation3-HelpOut, PopTopLady, scrapperkare, securesite, SewingSuccess, sewjr24, shauna7084, smallfry, sonis, SophiesFavors, Sugar, teg, theshrew, TruffulaTuft, valerief, VeeZoo, webseitler, WebSpinstress, WordCustard, WorldVisionary, XboxFixGuide.

I thought it would be fun to do a tag cloud courtesy of Wordle for all the Squidoo lenses that hit the Top 100 of the DIY category. You know, to conceptualize what type of a topic is worthy of a Top 100 topic placement. Check it out! What jumps out at me, are Photo, Wedding, Origami, ClipArt, Coloring, Graphics, Patterns, and Free! These surely sound like winning topics for lenses, don't you agree?

Well, I surely hope that you have made some cool Summer plans! And, if you are looking for some ideas for DIY projects, Squidoo sure has a lot of ideas! By the way, I've profiled the top Squidoo lens, for more than a year on a special Squidoo lens, Squidoo du Jour -- The Top Lens, in case you are curious what's been on top overall.

UPDATE: Speaking of DIY, you may have heard that I launched a new Google blog Blondes that DIY? It officially launched in May 2014.

Friday, June 18, 2010

The top eight Squidoo earners

Isn't the internet wonderful? Well, I think the internet is wonderful. Where else can you Google something to find an answer to something that might really interest you? I remember back when I first found Wikipedia. Oh, I absolutely love Wikipedia in what it represents. A free encyclopedia of information ... no more hunting that Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia ... that was the reference books which we owned when I was a young one! I see from the Wikipedia reference that "the last printing of Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia was in 1997!"

I also absolutely love Squidoo! Squidoo has given me the greatest pleasure I have ever known when it comes to the free opportunity to write about my interests, hobbies, passions, and expertise. I've been a member of Squidoo for what seems like an eternity in internet time ... over 4 years. Prior to Squidoo, I maintained the top personal home page on ThirdAge for several years. I created my first web page way way back on the CompuServe OurWorld platform. I've not embraced any other writing site like I have embraced that of Squidoo.

When I received an email invitation from BzzAgent to join Squidoo on March 21, 2006, I really had no idea what was in store for me at Squidoo. Squidoo has come a long way in the past 4+ years; I'm glad I was along for the ride! You know, I wasn't motivated to write because of the opportunity to earn royalties and an income; I wrote because that's what I do ... I write; I express ideas; I like to stimulate conversation and thinking. It is then, I sincerely think, an added blessing, that there have been royalties too! It is like icing on my cake.

Today's Topicability blog post is a follow-up to a previous blog post of June 2, 2010 entitled, "The rock and roll of lensrank." Be sure to check out that post for a data chart of the top 12 Squidoo earners which we spotlighted as captured on May 31st ... namely Dagsmith, Pastiche, craftyville, MiaBellezza, rms, GonnaFly, Mulberry, Jimmie, spirituality, kab, noadi, and kiwisoutback.

On June 17, 2010, I did a bit of research that looked at more than 300 lensmasters to compile information for this article. I looked at the stats which are public information. This list does not include the added royalties from sales each of the lensmasters have made from their lenses. That is information private to Squidoo and each of the lensmasters. Those sales royalties are like gravy on your meatloaf or my award-winning meatloaf!

It was mentioned on the SquidU Forum that three lensmasters earned over $1,000 in the recent monthly payout and that a good number exceeded $500 in monthly royalties. That's fabulous to think you can earn more than a little change for doing something that you absolutely love to do! I'm personally looking for a $5,000 monthly payout. That would make hubby happy, I think!

So ... say hello to the top eight Squidoo earners in the spotlight today ... the top row would be our top earners! Across the top, left to right in descending order of earned royalties: Dagsmith, craftyville, and Pastiche. Second row, left to right in descending order: MiaBellezza, Mulberry, and rms. Last row, left to right in descending order: GonnaFly and spirituality.

So take two ... did you wonder who was number 9 on that list. Hmmmm?? Yes, that's right ... you guessed it!

Here is some of the captured data that put these lensmasters in the spotlight:

The chart details the number of lenses in the Top 100 overall on Squidoo, along with a breakout of how many lenses each lensmaster has in the top tier and tier #2. The top tier is the cream of the crop of Squidoo; the top 2,000 quality lenses by lensrank. The second tier encompasses lenses with lensranks from 2,001 to 10,000. When you think about the over one million lenses on the Squidoo platform, tiers one and two positioning equates to a "holy purple cow" and a "wow" respectively! Oh yeah!

An interesting stat on the chart is the percentage of the total number of lenses which are in the two top tiers. To have one-half to three-fourths of all the lenses a lensmaster has authored occupying one of those two tiers is pretty amazing! I think it is also interesting to see just how many lenses an author has authored; the more lenses authored = the more lenses in the top tiers! And, it is also interesting to see just how many other people's lenses these lensmasters have rated. It is good to see community spirit and participation too!

Well, thanks for dropping by today. We hope you enjoyed the show! And, I hope I didn't put anyone to sleep. Oh ... by the way ... Here is my Squidoo lensmaster referral if you care to join and see if you can get your lenses into those top two tiers! Tell 'em JaguarJulie sent ya.

UPDATE: Alas! Squidoo is no more and the allure of being a top-earning Squidoo lensmaster has shifted. Now everybody is over at HubPages. Some of the fun and games have transferred over as well. But, it will be a short time before shenanigans are routed out and dealt with appropriately by HQ. Oh, I was there at HubPages for a minute and then POOF! I was gone. Retired from the rat race.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Holy Purple Cow Purple Stars

OK ... perhaps I should rephrase the title of "Holy Purple Cow Stars" to actually read something like this:

Holy Cow! Purple Stars!!! And, that's what I'm talking about. I used the cow in reverence to our founder, Seth Godin, and I use purple because, gosh darn it, he's written about purple cows and we have purple stars on the Squidoo platform. Ah, get it?

On January 20, 2010, in an attempt to stimulate thoughtful and constructive conversation on the purple stars and the purple star program, I posted a thread to our SquidU Forum. Here is a paragraph from that thread:

Wow, I'll bet we have well over a thousand purple stars now! Gosh, remember when we were all chattering about the effect of those purple stars? Well, I am very proud of each and every one of you who have been so awarded a purple star or many purple stars! Wow! What a job that must surely be to evaluate all those purple star nominations to determine whether or not a lens is worthy of a purple star.

Say, speaking of that ... we have Bonnie and Robin [only] reviewing the nominations and awarding those purple stars? Right? Gosh, I'm thinking maybe we could have a Purple Star Review Committee to help out -- you know, we have so many groups and group activities and what not that occupy a lensmaster's time.

Well, my conversation, appeared to me, to get a bit testy although it wasn't meant to have people getting defensive, going on the offensive, and taking sides about whether or not they thought the purple star program was working. Suffice to say, though, that my thoughtful discussion did seem to lead to some "improvements" and changes! Yes it did.

Many a lensmaster began to trumpet the swell program with purple star topic lenses! And, even those purple star topic lenses garnered purple stars for said lensmaster(s)! Oh yeah. Then, we celebrated the anniversary of the initiation of purple stars with a day to award purple stars to non-giant lenses. Oh yeah! And, as of today, we have now celebrated a couple more special occasions with actual purple star queens handing out purple stars. Oh yeah! Thanks Susan for the swell job. I tell you WHAT! I sure wouldn't want the responsibility of determining which lensmasters' lenses deserved the purple star.

You see, we can nominate our own lenses for a purple star. However, I've always felt a little weird about nominating myself or my work. So, I do believe the very last lens I did nominate for a purple star was in December 2009 for a lens that was really a project lens. I've surely nominated MANY other lensmasters lenses and am happy to say that I do think all my nominations have garnered purple stars for those lensmasters ... and I do think only one of those lensmasters guessed that it was me who did the nomination. I like to be a bit quiet and humble about those nominations and do get a big smile when they guess it was me.

On the other hand, I do believe out of all my purple stars, I've figured out the ONE lensmaster who has nominated my lenses. And, I still can't believe it's been only one lensmaster to thank for nominating my lenses for a purple star. I surely appreciate my friend and fellow lensmaster, Janet, who has reminded me that we should not draw our worth from purple stars ... you know, purple stars don't define the caliber of our work, but it sure can be nice when everyone else is getting them ... you know ... to actually be included too. ;)

So ... here we are today. I obviously had too much time on my hands this Saturday as I was multitasking ... doing the laundry, editing my lenses, reading my email, chatting on the forum ... that I was curious after our last celebration of purple stars ... to take the time to do a descending order tally to see WHO is getting those purple stars. OH, and what a surprise! Holy Cow! Purple Stars!!! I did NOT expect to find a guy on top.

It is huge to see a friend and fellow lensmaster, EditorDave at the top of the purple stars tally! Huge congratulations to EditorDave for garnering eighteen purple stars. That is truly amazing. EditorDave has got some of the most enthralling lenses. I was just remarking, I think yesterday or the day before, about the komodo dragon pictures. OMG! Now that is one fella I wouldn't want to encounter in a dark alley ... the dragon!!!

So, to all my interested readers and lensmasters, here is that descending order purple star tally, from most to least, and presenting the lensmasters alphabetically by number of purple stars earned thus far.

CONGRATULATIONS everybody!

18 -- EditorDave
17 -- KimGiancaterino
14 – BigGirlBlue, drifter0658 , kiwisoutback
13 – Sylvestermouse, Treasures-By-Brenda
12 -- janices7, kab, tandemonimom
11 -- aj2008, enslavedbyfaeries, Evelyn_Saenz, Greekgeek, Heather426, OhMe, stargazer00
10 – chefkeem, JaguarJulie, Ramkitten, skiesgreen, Susan52, WindyWinters

9 -- boshemia, Christene, clouda9, Comfortdoc, ElizabethJeanAllen, Spook, Stazjia, The_Party_Animal
8 -- 24websurf, bethd821, j_barnhart4, Joan4, kimmanleyort, LindaJM, mbgphoto, NanLT, naturegirl7, Norma_Budden, Pastiche, pkmcr, susannaduffy, ThomasC
7 -- BevsPaper, ChapelHillFiddler, lakeerieartists, makingamark, MeltedRachel, Mickie_G, monarch13, mysticmama, paperfacets, quippingqueen, sandyspider
6 -- _Joan_, CDT, ClassyGals, CoolFoto, Crystal_Booth, Frankster, hlkljgk, Jimmie, jptanabe, KathyMcGraw, lisadh, luvmyludwig, MiaBellezza, mukunda22, Pukeko, spirituality, thefluffanutta, WhiteOak50

5 -- a_willow, AndyPo, arncyn, badmsm, Barkely, EverythingMouse, GrowWear, Janet21, Kate-Phizackerley, Ladymermaid, LoKackl, mulberry, Noadi, SemperFidelis, Sojourn, TheGreenerMe, theraggededge, Tipi, tirial, WhitePineLane
4 -- 0ctavias0fferings, ArtByLinda, AslanBooks, BFuniv.com, CleanerLife, daria369, dc64, gmarlett, Gordon_Hamilton, GroovyFinds, GypsyPirate, HorseAndPony, Jewelsofawe, JoyfulPamela, Laniann, LeanneChesser, LizMac60, lou16, mbrownauthor, missbat, poddys, relache, Rob_W, Romaxx, ronpass, Squidster, strayspay, SusanVillasLewis, triathlontraining, vallain, Victoria_Neely, WebSpinstress, WordCustard
3 -- andreaberrios, BarbRad, bdkz, Bradshaw, Chadrew, CherylK, CreativeArtist, daybreak, DMedley, draik, EelKat, Ener-G, flowergardener, happynutritionist, inkserotica, jkvkdailey, JohannTheDog, Mac33, Macs, Margo_Arrowsmith, Michey, N376, NAIZA, ottoblotto, partybuzz, Peggy707, poutine, rms, seashell2, SoyCandleLover-Maker, voodoomama, Wysiwigs

2 -- AddaptAbilities, AllThingsMichigan, anthropos, awelldressedbullet, azpoppy, boutiqueshops, Brookelorren, Caseyfern, CCGAL, charlino, crosscreations, CrypticFragments, dagsmith, Dkprincess6, eclecticeducation, EternalFlame, Euryale, flighty02, flowski, Flynn_the_Cat, Freaknoodles, genglo, gkygrl, GonnaFly, GramaBarb, hmsweaver, Irenemaria, jbdkz, jeffryv, JJNW, johndilbeck, JustBon-Crochet-Designs, Karendelac, katiyana, Kylyssa, Laddoo, LakeMom, LauraSchofield, lisakleinweber, LotusPetalYoga, Loyalis, Marelisa, Margaret_Schaut, michaelgibbons, MikeMoore, MissMerFaery, mosaic, NancyOram, nyfamily5, Pantherart, papawu, Pixelrage, prosperity66, Rajays, RichLeigh, rockycha, sandralynnsparks, Shar, SimeyC, smange, squidoohelp, steveffeo, sukkran, The_Homeopath, thesuccess, Tiddledeewinks, TrinaSonnenberg, unique_freak77, vanidiana, vbright105, Webcodes, whitemoss, XP

1 -- 4U2C, AdrienneJenkins, aidenw, Aldric_Chang, AlishaV, allthatiscute, alteredkat, amandaquerque, athomemomblog, AtHomeSource, babygirlboutique, Barrie, bcarter, bechand, beeobrien, bernadette1, blondeheroine, Bob_Druwing, boredofeducation, burgessvillian, ByRoy, Carmel_Aaron, cary_quirkoutcom, Charlyjl, chloecavanaugh, Christopher_Scott, Clairwil, confetta, CosmeticMom, daoine, d-artist, Dawn_Mathisen_aka_Candle_Dawn, ddixonart, Diamond_Wizard, Donnette, ebay-grandma, EbizTaxTips, Eclectic_Muse, Ecolicious, ElleDeeEsse, emmalarkins, EuroSquid, fefe, flipflopnana, gods_grace_notes, grannysage, grayth, groovyoldlady, guardianstar77, GypsyOwl, hollandnumerics, HotbuttonPress, icjackson, imaginemdd, IntuitiveHealer, JanaMurray, JanTUB, Janusz, jeffwend, JenniferAkers, JenOfChicago, JimH, kajohu, KarateKatGraphics, KathrynDarden, kcbaker1, kellywissink, Kelsey-Budden-16, Kharadriisa, KimberlyDawnWells, KNicholls, Lady_Gotrocks, lollyj, Lou1842, lwhitelaw, Magicality, marsha32, MeganCasey, MobyD, motorpurrr, MrLewisSmile, Mrs_R, MsSnow4a, mynameiskate, nDee, nightbear, nightcats, Not-Pop, ohcaroline, OneFootPutt, oneskms, only1bub, PatinKC, PeopleLive, Photahsiamirabel, PJ_Deneen, pmolinero, puzzlemaker, pyle_mountain, QueSea, Rewards4life, RickBasset, RinchenChodron, rksmythe, rlmodranski, RMJ1940, Roving_Band, Samanthie, Sammie, SandraRose, Sarah, seedplanter, seegreen, SeeMyHealthyHairGrow, SherryHolderHunt, ShirlW, shwetashah, sirkeystone, SquidooKimberly, StaciJansma, Superwife, Tallguy2, TeaLady, Teddi14, The_Health_Lady, TheLeftFitz, thrivingmom, Tiffany, TopMovieSoundtracks, Trekkiemelissa, tssfacts, Twmarsh, ulla_hennig, Vacation-In-My-Head, Vladi, Waxing-Lyrical, weavz, webnh, webseitler, WeddingZazzle, Wednesday_Elf, WendyKrick, WhippetTalk, WhitneyWells, WhitU4ever, Winter52, xtnshun, ZachG

As of June 5, 2010, the list shows 1,267 purple stars have been awarded in total. The majority of purple stars have been awarded to lensmasters who are giant squids. The purple star is awarded to lenses with quality content. There are only a limited number of purple stars handed out on a weekly basis. Many, many more lenses are deserving of purple stars. To be awarded a purple star, your lens must be nominated!

Friday, May 15, 2009

The Topicability of the Top 100

It is the middle of May and the halfway of the month for determining average lensrank for May 2009. That helps to determine if lensmasters will have lenses in the top tier that might pay $10-$12 for that coveted spot. The second tier pays much less at $1.30. The third tier earns about what a simple click might earn $0.08. One year ago, there were not nearly as many Giant Squids as there are today clammering for a top spot. Also, one year ago, to be a Giant Squid 100 Club member, well you could probably count those members.

Today, there are so many Giant Squids that occasionally when I am making visits to lenses I encounter a Giant Squid that I have met for the first time! I find that so interesting as I thought I knew all the Giant Squids. For me, it is a little tougher to guess who exactly might be a Giant Squid 100 member -- but I'm thinking WE Giant Squid 100 Club members might be earning our own badge to sport on our profiles.

I'd vote for an orange badge as the giant badge is purple to match the purple star. Giant Squids earn a yellow star for their lenses once they achieve that distinction because of 50+ quality content lenses -- you can see that yellow star on the profile. The purple star is for a special lens that was 'judged' to be a Giant Squids' stellar lens. I've only got one of those so far for my Stuffed Cabbage lens -- now HUB!

FYI, yesterday was a payday for Squidoo lensmasters. Some lensmasters have shared with other lensmasters how much they have earned in royalties for the month of March. I haven't shared my stats online but have kept them private. I've run a debate about how much of our stats should be public. It is my opinion that some things should be private. If I publicize that I have made $2,000 in one month on my The Journal of the Traveling Squid lens, I'm afraid that might encourage more journals to be traveling around the world ... or maybe not. ;) Or, it might encourage other lensmaster in the U.K., Europe, and the U.S.A. to jump on board the project! Yeah!!!

So, what about that topicability of the Top 100? Well, I am super thankful that I have ONE of those lenses in the Top 100 -- Yep, only one. But it is my most important lens because it celebrates my grandmother Julia Nagy, my Hungarian heritage, and pretty importantly what grandma taught me to make -- Stuffed Cabbage -- thank you grandma!

This morning, I took a look at the Top 100 and am thrilled to report that some of our fine lensmasters who are also GSOs, Giant Squids, Giant Squid 100 Club members, and Squid Angels have MORE than one lens in that coveted Top 100 spot! Wow -- isn't that amazing? I've added the number after the dear lensmasters' names to indicate how many Top 100 lenses they have today -- the middle of May. I'm not sure if any of these are a second ID for a Giant Squid which would skew the numbers for those with more than one lens in the Top 100.

a_willow
airabongco
aj2008 - 2
awelldressedbullet
bdkz - 3
boredofeducation
bruceeisner
Chadrew
chefkeem
Christene
Cinetech - 2
ClassyGals
Color_Expert
Comfortdoc
CoolFoto
Crystal_Booth
dagsmith
debnet
ekurit
Ener-G
enslavedbyfaeries - 2
Evelyn_Saenz
EverythingMouse
flowski
Frankster
Greekgeek - 4
GypsyPirate - 2
hmsweaver
JaguarJulie
Janet21
Janiece
Janusz
JimH
Jimmie
JJNW
Joan4
kab
KathrynDarden
katiyana
KimberlyDawnWells - 2
KimGiancaterino
KinHK
kiwisoutback
Kylyssa
LindaJM
luckycharms
Mac33
Marc_Sandford
MiaBellezza
MobyD
MrLewisSmile
mynameiskate
N376
Noadi - 2
OhMe
Pastiche - 2
Pixelrage
relache
rmoore
rms - 4
SemperFidelis
sewjr24
spirituality
Squidster - 2
Susan52
susannaduffy
SusanVillasLewis
tandemonimom
tdove
The_Health_Lady
thefluffanutta - 3
TheGreenerMe - 2
ThomasC - 2
Tipi
Treasures-By-Brenda
Victoria_Neely
x3xsolxdierx3x
xrayspecs
zuzanna

P.S. So, what are YOU waiting for? Are you a Squidoo member yet? Join me on Squidoo and start having as much FUN as I am having! Who knows, if you keep at it, you might just become a Giant Squid or a Giant Squid 100 Club members or even someday a Squid Angel. At the moment, I am a Squid Angel OTL -- out to lunch or retired, but hoping to earn those wings back so that I can bless lenses.

In closing, Blessings to YOU! That has been my tagline when I was a working Squid Angel. ;) Peace you all.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

The Topicability of Traffic

The Topicability of Traffic - It's Just NOT Enough. A really hot topic these days is still lensrank. Normally, a higher lensrank position would be equitable to higher traffic. But, because of other factors that is not always the case. To illustrate this phenomenon, I have randomly selected several lenses and looked at the seven-day, total week traffic and current lensrank. Have a look for yourselves:

#1 Lens -- Total Traffic: 975 visits this week
#3 Lens -- Total Traffic: 949 visits this week
#9 Lens -- Total Traffic: 462 visits this week
#15 Lens -- Total Traffic: 306 visits this week
#28 Lens -- Total Traffic: 474 visits this week
#38 Lens -- Total Traffic: 248 visits this week
#58 Lens -- Total Traffic: 265 visits this week
#66 Lens -- Total Traffic: 447 visits this week
#80 Lens -- Total Traffic: 1,432 visits this week
#81 Lens -- Total Traffic: 841 visits this week
#82 Lens -- Total Traffic: 269 visits this week
#83 Lens -- Total Traffic: 17 visits this week

As I am quite familiar with one of these lenses listed above, I know that it's best lensrank overall has been #4. It's had a lot of Google love for quite some time after being created in late 2007. This lens is a rather niche-like topic and not the standard fodder for most lenses. But, this lens has gained in popularity since 2008 thanks to the online buzz and also thanks to Martha Stewart.

Well, obviously online buzz and Martha Stewart can only do so much to contribute to a Top 100 ranking for a lens. It's been noticed that this lens has slipped in rankings. So, what has changed? There is a hypothesis that such a slip in the ranking of this lens is due #1 to a change in algorithm or #2 a lack of squid angels' blessings or #3 more squid angels' blessings for other lenses or #4 the dreaded squid angel ding -- but, we don't think #4 is the reason as we are optimists and believe that the lovely people behind the scenes would see that a high-ranking lens had received a ding and then swiftly remove it.

Many factors are considered when objectively ranking lenses -- perhaps the number of lensmasters who have rated the lens and favorited it; number of click-outs; total sales; and a variety of other factors that can be implemented to keep you on your toes and working on keeping your lenses fresh and loaded with quality content.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Squidoo meets Alltop and becomes Squidoorati

Have you heard of Alltop yet? It's a site founded by one of my favorite marketing guru-types, Guy Kawasaki. I've been a fan of Guy Kawasaki for more than 4 years since I first read The Art of the Start and then attended one of his cool webinars. It was about the same time that I was launching my own business, Jaguar Julie Designs.

Back to Alltop: I've been hearing lots about Alltop from Guy's tweets on Twitter. Today, I read a fellow blogger and lensmaster MiMi aka GrowWear post about Alltop meeting Squidoo. We Are Squidoorati on Alltop. It's a magazine rack meets CraigsList approach to the top Squidoo lenses by various topics or categories.

Well, I headed on over to Squidoorati on Alltop to check it out. You'll find the top 5 lenses listed by Squidoo topic or category. When you click on one of the categories, it will take you to that Top 100 list over at Squidoo. So, I interpret Alltop as ALL-TOP with an RSS-like feed of the top Squidoo lenses. It's rather dynamic in that one moment I saw my top Stuffed Cabbage lens in the top 5 list and a couple of minutes later, my lens had gone to number 6! However, I still was seeing my Jaguar Julie Lensography in the top 5.

I would think that being in the top 5 of a categories would give lensmasters an added benefit of a backlink perhaps? Thanks MiMi for blogging about this and bringing it to the attention of other Squidoo lensmasters. Can't get any more topical than that! Be sure to check out Squidoorati and take a look at the badges to see if one of them interests you! Read more about Alltop.