Why would an Etsy shop owner, use Squidoo?
19. Jun, 2011 
16 Comments
What is Squidoo?
Squidoo is a social media site where you gather to build lenses [aka pages] about anything that interests you. It was founded by Seth Godin and 3 other people. It just celebrated it’s 5th year online.
Why call the pages Lenses?
The initial thought behind Squidoo was to have you, the writer or fan, focus in on a niche, interest, or product – you know like a camera lens?
Why would an Etsy shop owner, use Squidoo?
It is like a free flier or brochure for your shop. It is simple to learn and you don’t need to know html. In fact you don’t need to know code at all.
Squidoo has modules which you select and then they are automatically added to your lens. Guess What? They have an Etsy Module as well as Rss feed which are both perfect for adding another traffic line to your shop.
Not Convinced Yet? You want proof?
Search google for squidoo and etsy together [squidoo etsy]. What did you find? Quite a few results for the two together huh? Did you know that Squidoo Lensmasters who sell on Etsy have their own team? Yes, they do. Check out Team Squid when you get a chance.
Need more proof?
Okay, I hear you. I know, we are all busy and we really don’t need to be wasting our time trying yet another marketing technique that will bring nothing to our bottom line. Yes, I said it. You are an artist but the main reason you are on Etsy is to sell your goods for money right?
Handmadeology’s own Tim Adam has a top tier lens on squidoo called 50 Questions for Etsy Sellers and So Much More. Top tier means he is earning at the highest ad-pool rate – did I forget to mention that you can also earn money on Squidoo? – I’ll save that for another article.
Squidoo is not a magic bullet
You won’t automatically see more traffic just because you make a lens. It is however, one more piece to add to your business marketing plan. It is one more highway visitors can take on the way to your Etsy shop. Hope to see you there.
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This definitely sounds great! But like you say, ‘Yet another tool for (maybe) marketing my shop. So how does Squidoo differ from Pinterest? (PS-I love Handmadeology. Thanks so much for all you do–I’ve learned TONS!)
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After reading this, I went over to Squidoo to check it out. I don’t really get it. It just looks like a bunch of articles grouped together. Do I create a page (lens) for my shop and it will appear when people search for similar things on Squidoo?
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@Jenny
Squidoo is a bunch of articles or highlights of peoples interests. In using Squidoo for your Etsy shop most likely the traffic will not come from those on Squidoo but from the google search engine.
For example: let’s say you made a lens on sculptured jewelry – just saw Noadi’s Art ad on the side and she is a lensmaster –
You could optimize your lens for that key word and that will give you a separate stream of traffic than say from your etsy shop or blog. All are traffic streams but you can cater to different keywords.
Let me know if you have questions, I’d love to answer them and thanks so much for commenting.
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@Judy
Squidoo could be like a home base for all your social media online. Marketing a business is work – don’t get me wrong – I remember trying to get traffic to etsy when I was an active seller.
What Handmadeology is trying to teach is marketing. [Tim, correct me if I am wrong]
For example: Target, do they just have their stores? No, they have television ads, mail marketing, radio ads, print ads, online coupons, press releases, and a lot more.
This is because they are a business and they want to reach – not just traffic – but a specific and unique buyer and they are successful at it.
You can think of your Marketing Plan as a spider web with the center being your etsy shop. Each line is spun to lead you to the center [Etsy].
Squidoo is just one traffic lane that goes to your site – you could be using your blog or your newsletter – whatever you choose.
Thank you for commenting – I love questions – You are so right, when you are stuck for time, working a job plus doing Etsy, another thing can seem just too much to add.
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I was just looking at this last week because I found it listed in my google analytics and followed the link. Sure enough, there were several of my items! I am now taking 20 minutes to set up a quick profile, attach my feed and list my shop and social links…it certainly can’t hurt! I even listed the link to my Pinterest account
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That is great. That is another thing, some squidoo users who don’t have etsy accounts [seller] showcase handmade items on their pages which is yet another traffic line to your shop.
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Every little thing helps. Can’t wait to check it out.
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Will certainly look into it. Am getting to the stage when I am looking at other ways to increase traffic to the shop (www.coldhamcuddlies.etsy.com. Did not want to get swamped when I first started listing in 2009. Thanks for the tip.
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I signed-up with Squidoo a little while ago, and some of the language of how to build my page/lens/whatever, I have to admit, confused me. I haven’t been back to complete it, so I gotta go do that! If there’s someone around to help do that, I’ll be calling on you! Us non-computer savvy types need all the help we can get…!
I’m very glad for the article to remind me about getting that account working. Somehow. Someday. Help…
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@Rachel, I will be posting tutorials on different modules I just posted one on how to add the etsy module. I also have a sample etsy squidoo page http://www.squidoo.com/squidoomodulesformarketinghandmadeblogs
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Thank you Sara for the wonderful article and your explanation about Squidoo is very easy to follow. My next move this week is to do my own Squidoo lens.
Kudos to Tim also for providing great contributors to Handmadology.
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thank you @Kraftii1 Good luck on your squidoo lens. Be sure to visit the SquidU or squidoo lounge aka Forum for some awesome mentors that will assist you in setting up your first lens.
[also search youtube for howto squidoo and you should find videos from my52cents who gives excellent tutorials]
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Another excellent job explaining something else I’m not familiar with. Thanks Sara for another great article!
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@Rhonda, you are a sweetie. Thanks for stopping by Handmadeology to read my article. Blessings.
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