[Updated 11/25/08: Please read my recent post w.r.t. eHow, Squidoo, and HubPages.]
As I discussed information content in my previous post, two of the most popular sites in this market came out: Squidoo and eHow. Both sites provide a free platform that inspires writers to contribute articles and rewards them for doing so. eHow starts with how-to or do-it-yourself (DIY) types of information, while Squidoo appears to be wide open for all kinds of discussion. Consequently, the tools they provide to the writers are different in comparison.
You do not have to be a professional writer to make a contribution. All you need is the information and the passion to share with others. Of course, your success in this marketplace depends on the quality and the value of the information you provide. And, more success means better rewards.
I have had some first-hand experience with both eHow and Squidoo. Here is how I compare them.
eHow
Once you have a specific topic in mind, composing an eHow article is easy. The difficult parts are actually the idea and the preparation for it. When it comes to the idea, the good news is that there are virtually unlimited categories you can consider. The bad news is that you should really know your subject well. It does not mean that you must be an expert in the area. My recommendation is that you at least try out the instructions you are going to write and make sure they work. "Getting your hands dirty" actually has several benefits. For one, you know whether the instructions or tools are correct and/or complete. During this exercise, you may find out additional tips to help others avoid potential failures. Secondly, you can take pictures along the way to illustrate how things are done. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words. Here is a good example posted by my daughter.
Once you have done the preparation, it is time to just enter the information on eHow. The tool they provide is simple and user-friendly. For many cases, that appears good enough. I have seen others customize the page layout to make the article more appealing and effective, though. In addition to how-to articles, eHow now accepts articles about subjects of your choice. You will author articles using the same tool in writing a how-to.
Squidoo
As I mentioned before, Squidoo does not necessarily focused on how-to or DIY. You can write about anything you want, as long as you believe there is value in your article. An article at Squidoo is called a lens, and the author of a lens is called a lensmaster. Squidoo has a ranking system, LensRank, that inspires the lensmaster to do better and more or their lenses. Your new lenses at Squidoo are likely to start out in the low ranks. As you revise your lenses with more useful information and improve them with more interesting modules, their ranks improve. As ranks improve, they can become featured lenses that Squidoo starts to promote and place in search results. So, it is important that you keep improving and working on your lenses, even long after you have created them.
One interesting feature of Squidoo is the authoring tool; Workshop is the variety of modules that can be used to compose a lens. They include the popular text/write, RSS feed, and Google Search modules. The most interesting modules, however, are those related to merchants like Amazon, CafePress, and eBay. For example, the Amazon modules allow you to become an Amazon affiliate and bring in income as a result of affiliate sales. You can configure the Amazon modules to let Amazon recommend related products to your subject or to promote the products you think best suit your readers. The Amazon products can be presented whether in thumbnail or with some key information like prices.
Summary
You may have heard people claim that they have made significant income off eHow or Squidoo, which may have motivated you to jump right in. I should remind you though, that there are no quick-bucks or shortcuts to success. Treat this like a career. Your success with eHow or Squidoo career requires both quantity and quality in your writing. Make writing a habit if you wish. Lastly, I would recommend you to read some of the books listed on this page to prepare yourself, and to learn how to make your writing more effective.
As I discussed information content in my previous post, two of the most popular sites in this market came out: Squidoo and eHow. Both sites provide a free platform that inspires writers to contribute articles and rewards them for doing so. eHow starts with how-to or do-it-yourself (DIY) types of information, while Squidoo appears to be wide open for all kinds of discussion. Consequently, the tools they provide to the writers are different in comparison.
You do not have to be a professional writer to make a contribution. All you need is the information and the passion to share with others. Of course, your success in this marketplace depends on the quality and the value of the information you provide. And, more success means better rewards.
I have had some first-hand experience with both eHow and Squidoo. Here is how I compare them.
eHow
Once you have a specific topic in mind, composing an eHow article is easy. The difficult parts are actually the idea and the preparation for it. When it comes to the idea, the good news is that there are virtually unlimited categories you can consider. The bad news is that you should really know your subject well. It does not mean that you must be an expert in the area. My recommendation is that you at least try out the instructions you are going to write and make sure they work. "Getting your hands dirty" actually has several benefits. For one, you know whether the instructions or tools are correct and/or complete. During this exercise, you may find out additional tips to help others avoid potential failures. Secondly, you can take pictures along the way to illustrate how things are done. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words. Here is a good example posted by my daughter.
Once you have done the preparation, it is time to just enter the information on eHow. The tool they provide is simple and user-friendly. For many cases, that appears good enough. I have seen others customize the page layout to make the article more appealing and effective, though. In addition to how-to articles, eHow now accepts articles about subjects of your choice. You will author articles using the same tool in writing a how-to.
Squidoo
As I mentioned before, Squidoo does not necessarily focused on how-to or DIY. You can write about anything you want, as long as you believe there is value in your article. An article at Squidoo is called a lens, and the author of a lens is called a lensmaster. Squidoo has a ranking system, LensRank, that inspires the lensmaster to do better and more or their lenses. Your new lenses at Squidoo are likely to start out in the low ranks. As you revise your lenses with more useful information and improve them with more interesting modules, their ranks improve. As ranks improve, they can become featured lenses that Squidoo starts to promote and place in search results. So, it is important that you keep improving and working on your lenses, even long after you have created them.
One interesting feature of Squidoo is the authoring tool; Workshop is the variety of modules that can be used to compose a lens. They include the popular text/write, RSS feed, and Google Search modules. The most interesting modules, however, are those related to merchants like Amazon, CafePress, and eBay. For example, the Amazon modules allow you to become an Amazon affiliate and bring in income as a result of affiliate sales. You can configure the Amazon modules to let Amazon recommend related products to your subject or to promote the products you think best suit your readers. The Amazon products can be presented whether in thumbnail or with some key information like prices.
Summary
You may have heard people claim that they have made significant income off eHow or Squidoo, which may have motivated you to jump right in. I should remind you though, that there are no quick-bucks or shortcuts to success. Treat this like a career. Your success with eHow or Squidoo career requires both quantity and quality in your writing. Make writing a habit if you wish. Lastly, I would recommend you to read some of the books listed on this page to prepare yourself, and to learn how to make your writing more effective.
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