Squidblog

Very soon we’ll be releasing some upgrades to the Guestbook module. This goes way beyond Guestbook 2.0. More like Guestbook 9000.

Here’s what comes bundled with the upgrade.

• An option for Squidoo lensmaster-only commenting (with inline login). Not new, but improved.
• Commenting login via Twitter and FacebookConnect. Even if your readers aren’t logged in Squidoo lensmasters, they can still comment easily in your Guestbook module, with credibility and non-anonymity, via Twitter and Facebook connect.
• Threaded comments and improved design.
• An option for readers to follow new Guestbook comments by email. Have you ever commented on a really great lens, or in an especially heated or interesting Guestbook, and wished you could easily know when someone replied there? Now you can, if you choose to follow a Guestbook by email. You can easily unsubscribe from the module when you’ve had enough. (NB: The person who owns the Guestbook and the lens can choose to approve comments first, so no bad comments get emailed to those following).
• An option for a reader to Tweet, Facebook or email his comment. This means if you get people talking on your lens, and if they in turn share their comments outward, you get new, relevant people visiting your lens and joining the conversation.

What you need to do to get the upgrade.

Nothing. If you have Guestbooks on your lenses, the modules will automatically upgrade with the new features. Should happen in a few hours.

But! Please do take a second to play with the new settings, especially on your most active lenses. With so many new options for your readers to participate in a Guestbook, we want to make sure you’re getting the comments you want, with the right approval settings, and so on.

Oh, and thanks!

This module upgrade has a ton of moving pieces, and the Guestbook is a very popular module. So we’re hoping for your eagerness to help us kick the tires, and for your forbearance as we fine tune things live over the next 24 hours, depending on what you find and report.

Once the module upgrade has happened, please feel free to play around with the module and send us any problems or bugs.

Last, a reminder about moderating Guestbooks

As more and more social commenting happens on lenses, the more important it becomes for lensmasters, you owners and chiefs and authors and creators of your lenses, to moderate the conversations that take place. It’s up to you to host good discussions, keep things interesting, decide the rules of your own Guestbooks, review comments, delete comments you don’t think fit, ignore the trolls and report egregious spammers to us at HQ.