Squidblog

Remember the $80,000 Squidoo Charity Giveaway we ran in October? We let our lensmasters and fans decide where we gave the money. It was a lot of fun and some quick moving organizations got awfully big payouts from us as a result.

So here’s an insider headsup (shhh): We’ve got another giveaway planned for December. It’s a little smaller, and a little different, but I’m betting it will be a lot louder and faster. It’s a chance for some smart nonprofits to get some much needed year-end donations, and some exposure to boot.

Only Squidoo partner nonprofits are eligible. So if you’re a small local org looking for new ways to support your mission and bottom line, now’s the time to apply!.

If you applied a while ago and didn’t hear anything from us (yikes! bear with us), it’s worth a look at the application guidelines, just to make sure you sent the right stuff to the right place.

Of course, it’s not about just becoming a partner charity… it’s about what you’re going to do with that power once you’re here.

We get pretty excited about the holidays around here.

And, as you know, we’re constantly impressed by lenses that donate to charity.

So to celebrate both, lenses that donate any of their royalties to charity have been awarded a little red bow, right at the top of the page.

It’s a small way to praise your lens for its generosity, as well as to indicate to your readers that if they buy anything from your lens, they’re helping out a good cause at the same time.

You can see the red bow sittin’ pretty on this lens. And yours, if it gives to charity.

When you’re ready to do some holiday shopping, try browsing around Squidoo first, and be sure to look for the red bow.

Sometimes we post big updates here. Sometimes just little ones.

This is a hybrid: a tiny update about something that has surprisingly big impact on the first impression people have of your lens.

All we’ve done is increase the allowable size of the intro images on lenses. See, nothing special. Until you play around with some new intro images on your lenses, and realize that they really set the vibe and promise of your page.

The short version. Big pics = tasty intros.

Even if your lens is on stuffed cabbage. Well, that one’s up for debate. Sorry, JaguarJulie, I couldn’t resist!

For those who don’t know, the Giant Squids are our group of movers and shakers on Squidoo. They’re a terrific gathering of people who display the unique ability not just to build great lenses, but also the dedication to make lots of great lenses. And on top of that, they show the same kind of curiosity, creativity and generosity that Squidoo was founded on.

But there’s another, smaller group you should also know about. The Giant Squid Organizers. Robin, Patti and Bonnie are the 3 tireless volunteers who are constantly in the mix, sleeves rolled up, working hard for their fellow Giant Squids. They run blogs and chat sessions and interviews and contests for making and sharing ever better lenses. These ladies show up every day and spend priceless amounts of energy supporting our Giant Squids–and all Squidoo lensmasters. If I were wearing a hat, it would be off to them.

Just one of the many projects they’ve cooked up for the Giants lately is the year-end Giant Squid Awards program. It’s a way to give back to the Giants community, to call out some hardworking lensmasters, and to celebrate the spirit of diversity and creativity in the program. It’s far less a competition than it is a way to say thanks to their fellow Giants, and to show off some of the coolest lenses in some fun categories.

Even if you’re not a Giant Squid, and perhaps especially if you’re not a Giant (yet!), it’s a wonderful way to discover some terrific new lenses in the bunch.

Take a looksee.

You should be, too.

Looks like you guys got nominated in the Mashable Open Web Awards.

For two, count em, two categories: nonprofit causes and “mainstream social networks” (their verbiage, not ours). Of course, Squidoo’s up against worthwhile competition of the likes of KIVA in one category, and Twitter, Friendfeed and Facebook in the other.

It’s an interesting place to be. Squidoo’s gotten so popular that we’re not the underdog newbies anymore. But we’re still so small and focused on good content and our core community that the paparazzi doesn’t harass us like the big guys.

Anyway, congrats on the nomination. Go ahead and vote for yourselves, to celebrate. Or just go out for ice cream.

Squidoo has THREE exciting announcements today about charities and Squidoo:

1. We’ve revamped our new charity sign-up process, so if you’re in charge of a non-profit and you think Squidoo is your place to promote that, you can apply to be a sponsored organization. Just follow the directions here and submit.

2. Charities are making more online than ever by connecting with lensmasters and promoting a very genuine process for making lenses and donating to their cause. In September, a few of our charities earned in the hundreds (as in multiple, plural) of dollars.

- Save the Children
- Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
- Room to Read
- Action Against Hunger
- Humane Society of the United States

Just one high ranked lens can send $10 a month to the charity of your choice. Imagine what would happen if everyone donated just one lens to charity!

3. The Giants thought we were doing such a great job with our volunteer work that we should be on the list at Mashable. So if you too think we’re doing a great job, why not stop by and cast your vote? (Look for us under Nonprofit Causes and Mainstream Social Networks.)

Just for fun…

If you’re ever feeling stuck, in a rut, in a dip, in a funk, or you’re not sure what lens you want to make next, stop by the Squidoodlr for a dash of inspiration.

Sometimes getting unstuck is (more than) half the battle.

Meet the Squidoo Alltop page.

A zen way to grok the ever-popular Squidoo Top 100 lists, category by category.

And an interesting reminder: Rise to the top in your niche, in your corner of the world, and your exposure increases exponentially. From places you never imagined. Make something worth pointing to, and point to it people will.

Political lenses have been HOT over the last few weeks.

The election’s over, but the party needn’t be.

BDKZ (whose Voting Polls lens rocked the traffic charts yesterday) is keeping things going with a short list of lens ideas. Take a penny, leave a penny.