There are numerous other article writing sites online that allow you to write on any topic similar to Squidoo. However, each one has different rules on usage. These sites are also there to make money for themselves and sometime can include ways for you to make money too. Most of them will not like being used blatently to drive traffic to Squidoo, but you can do it in a more subtle manner.

Here are a few examples:

Hubpages–Hubpages is probably the most similar to Squidoo. You can write articles on any topic, and you can earn money through Amazon, Ebay, Adsense, and Kontera on your Hubs. Do not put more than one direct link to your Squidoo lens in your hub. But you can write about your topic, sell similar products, and put that one link in. Don’t copy your lens, either. Write something different about your topic. Then you can put a “for more information, go here”.

Bukisa–Bukisa is a new article writing site that you can write short 2 to 3 paragraph articles on. Still in beta but easy to use. You can earn some money through revenue sharing.

Associated Content–Associated Content is a well established site that is a great place to publish articles. Lots of ways to make money here.

Zimbio–Zimbio is a cool site with many features. It is not a revenue sharing site. You can put your lensmaster feed here, and write unique articles as well.

There are numerous other sites out there, but these are an excellent start. Pick one or two of them, increase your exposure, create quality backlinks, and earn some more money while you are at it.

I have picked my very focused lens topic: Growing organic cucumbers from seed in Cleveland Ohio.

Now what?

Check out the competition

Has this subject been worn into dirt already on Squidoo? Do some searches on Squidoo to find out.

Next do a search on Google. How many other people have already written about this topic? This is where keywords come in. Try out different keyword combinations to see which one has the least competition. Sometimes it is as simple as adding or taking off an s. Check Google Adwords to see if people are actually looking for that keyword phrase.

Once you can answer those questions, then you are ready to begin composing your lens. Remember at all times that your best traffic comes from people that are searching for the information that you want to write about. For my topic above the ideal target searcher is someone who lives in Ohio and wants to grow organic cucumbers from seed for the first time. So direct the article to them, and think about what they might type in when searching on this topic.

I think that there is a time that is appropriate for collecting tips for a service provided. However, I do not think that tips are appropriate on a Squidoo lens or other places that you can post for free. Here is why:

1. You are posting for free, so you do not need to defray your expense.
2. People can get similar free advice from other sources that do not make them feel guilty.
3. If your information is good enough, you will earn money from the post either through directing traffic to something that you are selling, or in the case of a Squidoo lens–through shared earnings if you have enough traffic.
4. Some people will be offended by your tip jar, and will not come back. The continued traffic is more important than the small amount of money you would raise with a tip jar.

I am not in any way opposed to a person having items for sale on their Squidoo lens. But in that case, if the reader is not interested, they just won’t buy. They still have contributed to your lens via reading, commenting, and possibly rating it.

What is your opinion?