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In late 2007/early 2008 I conducted a series of interviews with stand out (and outstanding) Lensmasters in the Squidoo community. For whatever reason, a few such interviews didn’t end up getting published at SquidU, and it’s a shame they weren’t, as looking inside the minds of brilliant people is something that’s not only fun, but educational.

I’ll be publishing those ones which weren’t used, here at the Lensroll Blog. Starting with Mr Cinetech, a man who embodies quality over quantity…

Glen: How did you discover Squidoo?

Cinetech: I was sent a web page on Forex trading and I saw the potential of making great-looking webpages. I think I signed in 2 days later, and then I got hooked!

Glen: How did you get your username?

Cinetech: My username has to do with my video production company: Cinetech: Cinetech Productions. But originally I came up with Cinetech because it blends art cinema with technology.

Glen: What is the process you choose to decide on a keyphrase for a lens?

Cinetech: When I choose keyphrases my thought process goes like “If I didn’t know much about subject and I read the keyphrase for the first time, would I want to read more about that subject?”

Glen: Where do your lens ideas come from?

Cinetech: My lens ideas come from my experience; from the things I’m passionate about. But sometimes, like my lens: The Amazing Skateboarding Dogs, I became interested in the subject, very recently, when I saw a YouTube video. The other side of the coin, once I made a lens about an author, but I wasn’t really passionate about it. I thought first of the potential of making money, but I wasn’t proud of it. I never cared for it, I didn’t promote it, its lens rank was always way down. It felt like a burden. So I deleted it, and I was happy again.

Glen: Where do you write the content for your lenses?

Cinetech: I write lenses from home, since my office is right at home. I love it that way!

Glen: You wake up in the middle of the night if a fantastic lens idea, do you: a) hope you remember it in the morning, b) get up and fire up the computer, c) grab the pad or notepad and pen that’s ready and waiting next to the bed for times like these, d) rouse your partner from their blissful slumber and put the responsibility on him/her to remember your grand idea.

Cinetech: Honestly? The answer is a). I really love my sleep, and most of the time I will trust myself and remember the next day or so. I know if that idea was striking enough, I will sure remember it soon enough.

Glen: How do you choose when to make several lenses on different angles of the same topic, or when to just make one very long lens?

Cinetech: In the past, I’d go for one long lens, but I’m actually considering splitting long lenses, since I think focus is important to get more readers, thus more traffic. That way, I’ll get the right person to the right lens. Why waste the reader’s time? I won’t make long lenses again.

Glen: What’s the topic of the next lens you’re working on?

Cinetech: I have few projects in mind like Cancer Remissions and Coffee Making Tips. I always find the right time to start one. Then again, I find something I’m very passionate about, and I’ll start right away.

Glen: What’s your favorite module and why?

Cinetech: The YouTube module is my favorite. I’ve learned how to get the maximum out of it. However, the Text module rules.

Glen: What is your own favorite lens and why?

Cinetech: My favorite one is “Who is Daniel Lanois?“; he is one of my favorite musicians. I’ve done a lot of research, and I’ve compiled many videos. It’s as unique as it can get. People are always asking how did I get the insight information.

Glen: How often are you updating your lenses?

Cinetech: I update my lenses, on average, twice a month.

Glen: How many Lensmaster accounts do you have?

Cinetech: I have just one. I haven’t had the need (yet) to open a second one. By the way, I don’t work full time making lenses, it’s more like a 1/4 time job.

Glen: What are you doing to generate traffic to your lenses?

Cinetech: Since I don’t have lots of time I use just a few ways, those which can reach tons of people such as specific forums, blogs, directories, emails, YouTube, FaceBook and the most important, I write unique content which translates into search engine’s traffic. If you have a good content, people will do the job for you. That’s called the power of recommendation!

Glen: Do you have any tricks for encouraging your lenses viewers participation through any of the interaction modules?

Cinetech: The poll module is my favorite interactive module. So I associate pictures with answers to make it more attractive, thus more interaction.

Glen: What’s your favorite white-hat SEO trick?

Cinetech: It has to be Quality Backlinks.

Glen: What success secret can you divulge (that is not currently being discussed in the forums)?

Cinetech: The secret of my success is that I spend time making lenses that are visually appealing, as well as writing unique content. I try to use all Squidoo has to offer me, whatever serves me to support the story I’m telling.

Glen: What common mistake do you see even experienced lensmasters make?

Cinetech: A common mistake I see often is lenses having a poor introduction. That’s so essential. If you have a great introduction matched with a supporting picture, there is a chance that your lens will be read. Otherwise, you’ll lose your reader right at the start. So a good intro needs to be brief, goal oriented and visual.

Glen: What three things would you impart to a brand new Squid newbie that will set them on the right path from the start?

Cinetech: 1) Tell a story regardless of the subject. Making a lens is about storytelling. 2) Write a killer intro and find great looking picture. 3) Make the lens attractive. Mix short blocks of well formatted text with pictures, videos, products, polls, etc. The main goal is that the reader stays with the lens as long as possible.

Glen: Do you donate any of your profits to a charity? Which ones and why?

Cinetech: I do actually! I have 2 lenses which donates part of their profits. The Good Luck Book to Donors Choose and The Amazing Skateboarding Dogs to ASPCA. I just feel good doing it and they’re great causes.

Glen: If you were asked to nominate a fellow lensmaster’s lens for the honor of being Lens Of The Day, which would it be and why?

Cinetech: There are some awesome lenses to pick from, but I want to pick one from a lensmaster who hasn’t won LoTD. So I like this one here: 100 Things to do Before You Die - Creating a Bucket List by Marelisa It deserves to be Lens of The Day because it’s well written, well formatted, easy to read, it has great pictures, it’s interactive and fun. She understands how to convey information for the web.

Glen: What is it about Squidoo - be it a person, feature, reason - that has caused you to stick around?

Cinetech: Its webpage design and commitment to evolving. Also his awesome community and leaders. It was so cool that we had a say on the latest lens layout.

Glen: If you could own a specific lens of a fellow lensmaster, what one would it be?

Cinetech: It will have to be a top shopping lens like: “Funky, Chic and Cool Laptop Bags” by mynameiskate. It would help me pay for some expensive hobbies.

Glen: If you were given a day in the Squidoo HQ office what would you do?

Cinetech: I guess it would be fun to just be an observer, and watch the brainstorming process of running Squidoo on a day-to-day basis. Also, I would tease Gil, and try to make him relax a bit.

Glen: Squidoo… is it an addiction? How has it affected you?

Cinetech: It has affected me at times, but I’m able control it. I have other things I like do that help me keep my life balanced. I really recommend people try to live a balanced life, this will result in a more creative and productive way of working with Squidoo lenses.

Glen: What are your three favorite things about Squidoo?

Cinetech: 1) I can make very creative web pages. 2) I can learn so much from so many great lenses. 3) I love the community.

Glen: Your How To Make YouTube Videos Look Great lens has claimed the top spot several times and is a mainstay of the Top 100, why is it so successful?

Cinetech: I started the lens because I couldn’t find solid info on how to make YouTube to display high-quality videos. So I researched it, and did tests that supported my techniques. It’s been so successful! The reasons are: a) the techniques work; b) it also helps the Squidoo community and c) the power of recommendation.

Glen: You live in the Canary Islands? Are there any other Lensmasters living there?

Cinetech: Yeah, there is one other lensmaster that I know, my girlfriend!

Glen: Has being a Canary Islander defined you in a specific way in your approach to Squidoo?

Cinetech: Being a resident of The Canaries itself doesn’t define my approach to Squidoo. So far I have lived in Venezuela, The United States, Canada and now Spain since last November. It’s more of a combination of my education and experiences.

Glen: Will we ever see a lens on the Canary Islands written by our resident Lensmaster?

Cinetech: It’s possible, although my girlfriend has done one already on the city we live in: Puerto de la Cruz. I’m proud of her lens, especially the pictures that she took. Check it out!

Are you trying to get traffic TO your lens or THROUGH your lens?

What is difference between getting traffic through your lens and getting traffic to your lens?

THROUGH means the main reason for the lens is to promote another site. Be it your own business site, blog or forum.

If you’re trying to get traffic TO your lens it’s because you have a vested interest in your lens.

Looking through the top 100 lenses overall and most of the lenses are TO lenses. They exist solely for its own purpose. Not as a means of solely driving traffic elsewhere.

What does this mean?

It could be interpreted in a variety of ways, but the way I look at it is like this… if you’ve got a THROUGH lens there’s little chance it will ever see much time in the Top 100. If you have a TO lens, you have a much greater chance (originality and uniqueness notwithstanding) of having a shot at the Top 100.

Now I’m not saying that you need to abandon your through lenses. Just don’t be overly concerned if they’re not the performers you wished them to be. Don’t expect them to compete with the original and creative to lenses, the likes of which Squidoo has aplenty.