Squidblog

You’d probably never guess I used to be a web designer. Yup, I used to write all my own HTML and CSS, and one of the things I love so much about Squidoo is how you can create a great web page with no coding required. However, for those who want to test the coding waters and add a little more visual interest, Squidoo DOES allow HTML and CSS to be used in several modules.

Trekkiemelissa, aka Melissa, is our HTML and CSS Mentor. Melissa is a coding wizard, and has made the daunting task of writing code simple with tips from her HTML/CSS Mentor lens. Today she’s offering a few ideas charities can use to pep up their lenses.

Squidoo: Melissa, how can charities use HTML and CSS to create prettier lenses?
Melissa: I have looked at some of the charity lenses within Squidoo. The one thing that I feel that is lacking is the inclusion of HTML and/or CSS. I know that I respond more to lenses that have a bit more color in them.

Bullet lists are also great, and you do not have to constrain yourself to the bullet list module. If you create your own with HTML, can add a variety of bullet styles. Instead of having the colored in circles, you can have open circles or even colored squares if you like.

If you really want to highlight some really important information on the lens, you can even create boxes around your text. We have the most important things module, but you are only limited to only the colors that are provided by that module. By creating your own boxes in HTML/CSS, you have more control of what colors and borders you use to bring in your audience.

Squidoo: Which charity lens do you think already does a great job using HTML/CSS?
Melissa: Not many of the charity lenses that I looked at have used much HTML/CSS in their lenses, but I did find this one: Big Cat Rescue. This is a great example of effective HTML and CSS. When Frankster wanted the audience to take action, she highlighted the note in a box with a border and background. The call to action is clear, and I bet more volunteers answer it!

Squidoo: What’s one very cool thing you’d love to see on a charity lens?
Melissa: I would love to see charity lenses include more HTML and CSS in general. If they do that, they would have more opportunities for people to actually donate. It’s all about drawing people in.

There you have it! Thanks for those tips, Melissa. Learn more about how to draw donors in with basic HTML/CSS arena. Read the HTML/CSS Mentor lens and try applying one tip at a time. You’ll be an expert, and addicted, before you know it!

Need more feedback on your lens? The Critique Me forum at SquidU is made just for that. Stop in for five minutes and see what ideas fellow lensmasters have for you. Five hours of lens maintenance a day is over two hours a month!