Fresh Squid News

One of new features attached to Fresh Squids and our Ning community is new monthly contest. This contest has been created as a way to teach newcomers on Squidoo how to create narrow niche lenses right from the beginning of their journey. We discuss what niche is, how to narrow it, how to make a personal lens but also inviting and appealing to visitors.

We don’t encourage creating niche lenses which look all the same. Our take on this is: each lens should be as unique and as original as the person who created it!

So, take a look at this month’s entry to Nail that Niche Challenge for February 2010! It’s well worth the time! And make sure to vote for your favorites!

Today we have added 20 great looking lenses to Fresh Squid Contest! These people are maybe new to Squidoo but they know how to make a great lens! Please show your support to these people – they have put a lot of effort into their lenses – stop by Fresh Squid Contest for February 2010, browse lenses and vote for your favorites! We want the best to win!

For all of you who haven’t been up to date with the news about Fresh Squids, group and Contest are back online and today one Fresh Squid contest ended and another began!

Winners of December 2009 Fresh Squid Contest:
1st place – jgelien with The Art of Aging Ungracefully
2nd place – spunkyduckling for Ten Funny Reasons God Made Pets
3rd place – Wednesday_Elf with Potholder Soup

These 3 ladies really have done excellent work on their lenses and they deserve winning for work they have put into them! Well done ladies and congratulations!

Another Spotlight interview has been up today as well. This time, interview took me to Scotland where I’ve visited one hard working gal – made 50 lenses in 3 months! Wow! This lady also won last of the weekly contests: Module Contest! You can check who’s in question if you visit and read interview for Squidoo Spotlight!

Our latest weekly contest winners have been spotlighted – last week we had interview with Kim and this week we’re hosting Irene aka dancerene. This young lady is someone you shouldn’t miss – she’s got talent and great potential. She’s got style! And she’s quite an artist! You can read her interview (a little different than others…) in Squidoo Spotlight.

Another weekly contest also ended – Make Your Own Holiday hosted by Laniann. If you have time, you should stop by her contest lens and check out all the new holidays that were invented last week! And maybe you get inspired to make up your own, personal holiday! You know, never enough of holidays and celebrations!

Winner of this contest, and the most appealing new holiday was voted: Tread Softly Day by WordCustard. In her own words: “My holiday, then, is Tread Softly Day, a day to put a hold on our commercial, self-obsessed existence and preoccupation with all things human. A day to reflect on our home planet and all other species who live here. A day to tread softly, do no harm, and notice the beauty of nature.”

This has been great month! Many great new lenses have been created by both old and new members of Fresh Wonders! On our last contest, we had a tie! So, officially, there are two winners! And rightfully, I may add. You can see what I’m talking about if you visit these outstanding lenses: Wedding Caricature – Step by Step Drawing and Painting of a Caricature for Wedding by dancerene and The Lost Art of Conversation by kimmanleyort. Have to say: all of the lenses that entered Telling a Story With Images weekly contest have been really something special. They may not bring a fortune to their creators, but they are great example of using pictures and writing story in the most creative way!

Kim agreed to share some of her experiences about Squidoo for Squidoo Spotlight so, stop by and read interview with her. She’s really lady with many talents. And wonderful friend!

And reminder, Fresh Squid Contest is open for voting until December 31st. Hmmmm… Don’t wait for the last moment! You know that you will not have enough time to visit all those lenses few days before Christmas! So, better head to the contest lens right now! Vote for your favorites (you can have multiple choices!) and help new members of our community feel welcome!

We have some news… We’re throwing December Fresh Squid Contest! This contest is featuring only lenses by new members of our Ning community! So, if you can grab few minutes, stop by and vote for your favorite lenses! They will really appreciate all the help and attention!

Regarding our weekly contests, cooking contest is finished and although not many lenses entered, we managed to vote most deserving and funny lens – Fresh Baked Memories by jgelien. She agreed to say few words about herself for an interview casted on Squidoo Spotlight. So, check her interview and her lenses, she’s well worth your time!

Last week’s contest has been really great! Two lenses were tied until the last moment for 1st place but victorious was Addy aka AddaptAbilities with The Truth About Tabby Cats. This is beautiful story about all the different tabby cats told from tabby’s perspective! If you haven’t seen it already, you better rush and see how good cats are in storytelling! And stop by and see interview with the cat owner over at the Spotlight! And if you missed this Contest, you can still visit all the lenses in Fresh Wonders Nature Contest.

Since new week began, we have another contest running! This time entry lenses are made as a Thanksgiving Cookoff project – Cooking Contest. Here you can vote for your favorite lens but also add your own recipe for charity lens! And it’s not all, if you’re ever planning to make a recipe lens, check contest lens for some great tips on building recipe lens!

We have one contest over – How’s My Selling? (2nd week contest) is now closed! Winner is Lisa with her Russian Remix lens! So, she found her place with the best of the Squidoo – under the Squidoo Spotlight!

We have another contest for voting this week! Yvonne has added all the entries to Fresh Wonders Nature Contest and they can be voted now! Come by and support the lens you consider the best with your vote!

As a winner of the 1st Fresh Wonders weekly contest (topic was Squidoo Community appreciation)with her lens 2 Squidoo Angels 2 Squidoo Greeters = 4 Blessings, we invited Crystal aka luvmyludwig to answer few questions about her motivation and her work on Squidoo as Giant Squid and Greeter. You can read complete interview on Squidoo Spotlight.

We have another ongoing contest this week, theme is selling in Squidoo and you can check great entry lenses in How’s My Selling? Come and visit, leave your votes and help grow this contest into something great!

First Fresh Wonders weekly contest (topic was community appreciation) ended today. The winner is cheerful blue-hair lady who goes on Squidoo by the name luvmyludwig! Her lens 2 Squidoo Angels 2 Squidoo Greeters = 4 Blessings (the coolest title ever!) has gained the most votes! She made a really pretty, but more importantly, sincere lens about those who inspire her.

With this said, it’s time to move on to the second week contest and this one is hosted by Mickie_G. Topic of Contest: selling on Squidoo. She have set the rules by saying: “Make a lens that is not Spammy! Be subtle. Give personal reviews. Do not be pushy.” Now, we have 13 lenses submitted by members of Fresh Wonders on the plexo, ready for your voting and choosing the best selling-but-not-pushy lens!

Like during our 1st contest, there is a second plexo open for all the members of Squidoo. This is where you can add those selling lenses you created and can be used as an examples of the great selling lenses!