Squidblog

I’ve posted the results of our second quarter, ending this week.

After six months, we’ve got good news to report in terms of traffic (up 800% or so), philanthropic giving (see the list on the lens) and adoption. And in a stroke of nice timing, we hit 25,000 lensmasters today.

The top five lensmasters have earned an average of more than $460 each since launch, and about 45% of our lensmasters are giving all or a portion of their proceeds to charity.

Thanks for all of your help so far. We’re going to work hard to make things even better (we’re working on some cool surprises).

Check out this lens.

Talkshoe now offers a free service you can use to record audio… and then link back to it with your lens.

Corey and I started The Citizen Squids as an experiment.

It was a chance to collaborate with our top lensmasters and hear what ideas were kicking around in their heads. It was a chance to let representatives of our community truly run the community. It was a chance for us to step aside and let the wisdom of many prevail over that of the few.

We expected it to be fun. We hoped it would be productive. We had no clue just how much.

The team who helmed the maiden voyage of The Citizen Squids delivered upon and exceeded any hopes. They proved that The Citizen Squids is a viable and vital part of our community and our site, and assured that the project would run for many months to come. So, thanks to Travis and Damon and Matthew and Angela and Kimberly for their great work, incredible attitudes, and smart insights.

If anyone else ever has the pleasure of working with these folks, you’ll see what I mean.

And now… on to Episode 2, with a few new team members, a whole bunch of new projects, and 4 more weeks.

We got two notes on the same day. Thought you might like to see them:

Good morning Seth-

Thanks,
Habib

and then this one:

From: Jennifer
To: Lauren
To: Red
Sent: Sep 11, 2006 4:33 PM
Subject: First Squidoo Lead

We … got a lead for a deal in India from the Squidoo Public Safety
lens…

As Squidoo’s resident football geek, I’m really excited to share news on a new partnership between Squidoo and the awesome guys at Pro Football Talk and College Football Talk.

College football is underway, and this weekend kicks off the 2006 NFL season. In celebration, we’re inviting lensmasters to build lenses about their favorite football player or team.

Pro football fans, build a lens on your favorite team, player or fantasy league.

College football fans, build your lens before your conference rivals take over.

Let the smack talking begin!

Coming soon to a Squidoo near you.

http://www.squidoo.com/groups.