I saw this while driving today and couldn’t help but start thinking about how destructive it can be to create a product that is often bought soley on price.

If you compete on price you better come ready to play, because the big boys will and it’s a lot easier for Wal-Mart to offer a lower price than you if that’s what it comes down to.

However, if you are offering value, service, expedience, or some other quality that your customer values more highly than price (and believe me, these qualities exist and are used effectively every day) then you can compete with anyone in the world, regardless of size.

I have a feeling that lot’s more is to come. Squidoo, like everything else in life, has grown in fits and spurts over the last 20 months I’ve been a part of it. I really think that another tipping point is coming and that this fall we are going to see a significant number of new people coming to Squidoo to learn, give, and earn. 

Not to be a grouchy Captain, but I have a feeling that if you didn’t get your Giant Squid application in by the end of September, you will be facing some stiff competition come the next round.

I’m already starting to see it show up in the daily rankings. There’s been a steady upward creep in the amount of traffic/sales/ratings it takes to get a lens up to a certain rank, much less stay there. I say that not because LR matters from a monetary standpoint (It really shouldn’t, there’s other money to be made) but just from an analysis of the data I have at my disposal.

What does this mean? There are going to be a lot of new tribes and communities popping up all over Squidoo. Find one you like and become a part of it. It’s amazing what happens when you work at something.. nearly always the effort put in reflects the reward taken out.

With these new Community actions Squidoo’s vets and HQ are doing everything they can to empower people to create something worth talking about.

It’s going to be an interesting fall

What can actions a giant like GE takes teach a tiny lensmaster like you? Well… probably a lot but here’s what I thought of today.

If you aren’t going to be #1 or #2 in your (micro)niche on squidoo, try a different (micro)niche.

The reasoning is simple, at most the large search engines will usually only show 2 listings from a single domain. If your lens can’t even compete with the other lenses on Squidoo, you might be dead in the water before ever leaving the gate. (whoa, just mixed like 3 metaphors there..)

I think that this is probably one of the single biggest reason that many lenses don’t get indexed by anyone. You simply are typing something that has already been done.

For example there are 342 lenses that use ‘The Secret DVD’ (that enlightenment thing I guess? Didn’t one of the biggest promotors of that just get sued or something?) as a Tag. Seriously? Why?

I’m not saying that if there are some great lenses on Nintendo Wii (and there are a bunch!) that you shouldn’t make a wii-related lens. What I’m saying is if there are 50 lenses on Blue Waterproof Wiimotes (or whatever) then pick another kind of Wiimote!

If you strive to be the best lens on Underwater Ping Pong Paddles then you probably will also be one of the best pages anywhere on Underwater Ping Pong Paddles.

Get the idea?

Don’t forget that the Lens of the Week Competition is Tommorrow ! Add your entry to the Lens of the Week Lens by Tomorrow morning for consideration!