Online - December 16, 2005

Everyone’s an Expert

Squidoo

People have, on occasion, called you a know-it-all.

But what you don’t get is that they say it like it’s a bad thing.

Clearly, it’s time for you to share your extensive knowledge and thoughtful opinions with people who will appreciate them — like the growing network of folks on Squidoo.

What is Squidoo? It’s a place for smarties like you to flaunt your expertise and benefit from that of others — think Friendster meets Wikipedia. To research any topic, click on “Find a Lens” (that’s what they call the subjects people have created pages on) and start searching: You’ll get everything from dealing with curly hair (by Michelle Smith, curly-haired person) to Wired editor Chris Anderson’s Long Tail theory of culture and economy (by, well, Chris Anderson).

To create your own lens, just follow the simple template and start telling it like it is. Google ads on related subjects are automatically uploaded to your page; revenue generated from clicks on them are split between you and Squidoo (or you can choose to donate yours to charity). Now the only challenge left is to decide on a topic — though you can create as many lenses as you like.

The only one we’d stay away from? Chimpanzees. Jane Goodall already has a page on those.

You may have to concede that she knows a smidge more about that subject than you.

Available online at squidoo.com.