Are You Using SquidTop?

I recently started a blog on Captain Squid’s new SquidTop site. Considering that I already have this Squidoo-related blog, that might seem a bit redundant. But there is a method to my madness! Even if you already have a blog or website of your own, I would still recommend getting a blog started on SquidTop. Here’s why:

Create more backlinks. The more links you have pointing to your lenses, the better. Unlike other free blogging networks like WordPress.com, you don’t have to worry about getting your blog shut down just because you added links to your Squidoo lenses. It’s another way to promote your lenses and give them extra backlinks, which makes them more attractive to search engines.

Promote your lenses. Some lensmasters create multiple SquidTop blogs to promote different kinds of lenses or activities. SusanVillasLewis, for example, has a SquidTop blog that she uses to announce new stuff on her Sesame Street lenses.

Promote yourself. Heck, unless you’re an evil spammer or something, it never hurts to expand your online presence. Some people join many different social networks and have dozens of blogs or websites for partly that reason.

Start a Squidoo diary. I originally started creating Squidoo diary lenses to track my progress and keep myself motivated. (It really works, surprisingly enough.) Unfortunately, maintaining a Squidoo diary was getting awkward. Lenses simply weren’t designed for diary-like uses. Blogs are perfect for that sort of thing, though. I suppose I could have used this blog as my diary, but it’s meant to be a useful resource for other lensmasters, NOT a vehicle for promoting my lenses or activities. So I decided to make a more personal Squidoo diary on SquidTop.

Networking. Although you can connect with other lensmasters by leaving comments on their lens guestbooks or chatting it up at SquidU, SquidTop already feels like a community. Signing a guestbook is usually one-way communication. Socializing in a forum is a little like taking turns to stand on a podium and address an audience. SquidTop is like some kind convention where you can set up a booth, wander around, bump into different people, and strike up conversations. Because of the way it’s set up, it’s easier to banter with other squid-types.

OK, now that I’ve rambled on about the positives, are there any negatives about SquidTop? Well, here are a few off the top of my head.

Lack of control. Sure, you can upload an avatar and do things to spruce up your SquidTop blog, but you won’t have anywhere near the control that you would with a blog you own 100%. You’ll mostly have to rely on your sparkling personality to make your SquidTop blog stand out.

Slightly confusing. If you’re not used to using WordPress, you might find the dashboard rather disorienting. Even if you’re already familiar with WordPress, things are set up a little differently than you might expect. For example, tags and categories seem to be interchangeable. Also, you can’t upload images even though it looks you should be able to. Little things like that.

Timesink. Starting and maintaining a blog on any network like SquidTop won’t cost a thing except for your time, something you may or may not be able to spare. It’s not like you’ll get in trouble if you don’t keep it fresh, but it won’t help much either if you let it go stale.

Overall, I like SquidTop quite a bit!

Tags: blogging, squidtop