I joined Squidoo on February 22, 2009, under the user name of Sojourn. I think I was doing some research on starting this blog and tripped into Squidoo. It’s a content site for those who want to sell, write, create, join a community or just learn how to market themselves on the web all while having the potential of making a little bit of money. I’ve grown increasingly addicted! In fact, I recently joined a team of members all working towards Giant Squid status. Being a Giant earns you some additional privileges on the site which should make it easier to create content. If you enjoy writing, have something to sell or want a place where you can easily practice your HTML skills, this is the place. I encourage you to give it a try. Best of all, it’s free. You’ve got nothing to lose!

Following are my own Squidoo lenses:

HTML to Copy and Paste
How to Cook a New York Strip Steak
Modern Throw Pillows
Meet My Goldendoodle
TV Stands Furniture
HTML Tab Menu
Facebook Blogs
Grooming Goldendoodles
iMacros for Squidoo Lensmasters
Flip Flop Decor
Contemporary Furnishings
In My Closet
Round Outdoor Rug
Macro for Online Contests
Outdoor Sisal Rugs
Dry Rub for Steak
Jerome Arizona Hotels
Lightning McQueen Games
Neoprene Laptop Sleeve
Desktop Stress Relief
Women Fashion Belts
How to Solve Puzzles
Leather Cuffs
Buzz Lightyear Games
Decorating with Balloons
Dizziest Kids Ever
Childrens Rocking Horse
Step Stools for Kids
Glendale, AZ
Famous Encounters
Marilyn Happy Birthday Video Showcase
Best Songs of the 80s
Wooden Puzzle Cube
Bohemian Rhapsody Song
Adam Lambert Music
Decorative Bolster Pillow
Sojourns Squidoo Journey
Best Rock Songs of the 80s
Study of a Lens
Easy PHP Download
Yellow Kitchen Accessories
Best Car Wax Polish
Erica Stone
Lighting McQueen Bedding
Lightning McQueen Remote Control Cars
Childrens Storage Boxes
Educational Gifts for Kids
HP Pavilion Laptop Review
Black and White Pillow
Black Wall Clocks
Large Floor Pillows
Lightning McQueen Accessories
Chair Seat Pads
Pink Throw Pillows
Duct Tape Warts
Best Seafood in Phoenix
Bedding for the Home
Polar Express Toys
Pillows for the Home
Black and White Cookies Recipe
Tow Mater Toys
Little Tikes Lightning McQueen Sports Car Twin Bed
Lightning McQueen
Spina Bifida
Folic Acid Spina Bifida – What Everyone Should Know
Lightning McQueen Poster
Cutting Electric Bills
How to Lower Electricity Bills
Compare Electricity Bills
Reducing Electricity Bills
Solar Electricity for Home
Writing Games for Kids
Airplane Travel with Kids
Kids Writing Software
Sojourn Lensography
HTML for Squidoo Themes
Writing Software for Kids
HTML for Squidoo Co-Branded Lenses
Educational Software for Kids
Core Exercises for Women

Phew, those lenses took a lot of work. I’m quite proud of a few of them and I’ve loved using the Squidoo platform. The ability to use HTML to showcase one’s writing and pictures is an art form unlike simple article writing. I’ve found I very much enjoy mixing the two.

Good luck, fellow members of WiWon!

(A little break in time here as the above was written before August of 2009.)

It’s early August 2009 and I’m adding a few new tools to my online arsenal.  In particular, my focus this week has been with USFreeAds where I was able to write about some great new tips and ideas I’d come across for a number of other writing projects.

How to Fix Windows Errors
American Sign Language Videos
How to Make Wood Pellets
How to Get Satellite TV on Your Computer
Stuffed Balloon Ideas
Where Can I Make Music Beats On The Internet
Chrome Wall Art
Download Inuyasha Manga
Different Crochet Stitches
Wedding Balloon Decor
Balloon Decoration Ideas
How to Make a Diaper Cake Step by Step
Baby Shower Balloon Ideas
Instructions on How to Make a Diaper Cake
How to Become Rick eBooks
Mario Stuffed Animals
Life Size Stuffed Animals
Article Generation Software
Dressmaking Tips
Embroidery Thread Bracelets
How to Make a Professional Cake
Starting a Blog for Money
Dallas Cowboys Car Floor Mats
Betty Boop Car Floor Mats
Guitar DVD Instruction
Indian Throw Pillows
Nautical Decorative Pillows
Home Remedies for Excessive Underarm Sweating
Asian Throw Pillows
Modern Cube Chairs
Creating Music Online
Beat Music Creating Software
How to Produce House Music
How to Get More Mafia Wars Members
How to Fix 3 Rings of Death
Jump Rope to Lose Weight
One Page Website Templates
How to Make Your Computer Run Faster XP
Antique White Desk Chair
Mafia Wars Cheats for Money
Make Your Own Restaurant Menu
How to Write Books for Kids
How to Sell Software Services
Silverfish Home Remedy
3D Baby Calendar
Solar Powered Floodlight with Motion Sensor
Best Computer Clean Up Software
Speed Training for Athletic Quickness
Books on How to Write a Business Plan
HP Laptop Cover Skins
DIY Shipping Container Home
Rolling Backpacks for Laptops
Ab Workout DVD for Women
Core Exercises for Women
Exercise Routines for Women
Back Exercises for Women
Dumbbell Exercises for Women
Cardio Workouts for Women

I know – this looks like a giant list of “stuff”. That’s really what it is – my online method of keeping track of my work. I’ve taken on some assignments as a copy writer, ad writer, and online content writer. I’ve written several new articles recently, as well. All of this is great practice for developing writers of all sorts. Not only do I find myself striving to find new words and expand my vocabulary, but I’ve become more aware of my own writing challenges. For example, I had not realized my tendency to switch tenses when writing. Apparently, I shift in time minute to minute – sometimes in the present, sometimes in the past.

I have also found that writing online content causes me to think more about my writing because I know it’s going to be read – at least the intent is that the material eventually be read. It makes one a bit more careful about how they write. Then, when I want to just write in my normal, unpracticed, unpolished style, I can write a blog post in my own blog under my Working Mother category and no one is likely to critique my work. In fact, that category is usually most viewed by my own mother and I do believe it’s her favorite section – most likely because it’s become the best way for her to keep up with me, my life, and my kids. Perhaps that’s not something to be proud of…making one’s mother read her blog to stay up to date but I find it easier to write sometimes than to talk on the phone. I love the people on the other end of the phone, I just hate being tied to it after being on it for work all day. I think she understands. :)

8/24/09

There’s a lot more writing involved in becoming an internet marketer than one might originally think. It’s not enough to write a good website and your done. Nope. After that comes writing articles to promote the site, writing ads to draw in traffic, finding the things people are searching for on the web and connecting them with the right products by carefully crafting a keyword rich document.

I have finally started to earn some money from my work but it’s not enough to be classified as “income”. It’s more like “incoffee”, as in the money keeps me in Starbucks. It’s a few hundred a month after six solid months of work. I started out determined to learn all I needed to know for free by following others. I did learn a lot by scouring the web, reading tons of articles and posts, talking to others, finding a network of like-minded people and sharing ideas. Only recently, however, as some money has begun to flow in, have I taken the opportunity to buy a few guides to help me out. I wish I had done so earlier. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until I had grounded myself in some basic knowledge that I even had the skills to know WHICH product to buy.

Seems there’s no easy way into this market. You either fall for a ton of pitch ads about how to make money online and hope one of them pans out (after spending a ton of money) or you crawl slowly along plucking free information from the web and piecing together your own plan until you find a source of information you think you can trust. My tip if you want to go the free route? Find people who give information for free – even if they’re trying to get you to buy something. Follow their free advice and see if it moves you forward at all. If it does, keep an eye on additional information from them. Eventually, you’ll learn which pitches have something to offer and which are simply a load of crap.

8/25/09

I’ve finally had an opportunity to get back on to Squidoo. Due to two rough weeks at work and the boys all going back to school, it’s been hard to make the time to get some new work up on Squidoo. I put out a new lens tonight and I can’t say enough how much I’d missed creating lenses. For any writers interested in making some extra money online on a site that allows you to do so free of charge, I highly recommend giving this one a chance. There’s a great network of supportive folks, tons of how-to information to get you started, and some really, flexible tools.