I will answer this question with all due respect to Hub pages. I know that if you are reading this, you are probably a stout supporter of Hub pages, although you may be like me and started with Squidoo and now use them both.

Squidoo was founded before Hub pages and although I consider hub pages a spin off of Squidoo, there are some big differences. Before I list the differences, let me square you away on the terminology. On Squidoo, a Hub is referred to as a Lens and a capsule is referred to as a module. OK, with that said, here are the main differences:

• The biggest difference is that Hub pages holds it's authors to higher standards as far as quality of content and the amount of promotion that is allowed.
• Squidoo has a much larger variety of modules that you can use which include the poll and plexo modules that let your visitors interact with your lens.
• You can use a limited amount of HTML in your Squidoo modules and if you know some tricks, you can really spice up your lens, including adding all kinds of pictures and click-able banners.

I don't want to say that Squidoo is better than Hub pages, because you are not comparing apples to apples, although there are a lot of similarities. I like the fact that you can find some really well written articles on Hub pages. On the other hand, I am an internet marketer, and I enjoy the freedom that I have to promote as much as I want with Squidoo.

I started out with Squidoo and currently have 30+ lenses. I joined Hub pages a year ago but just recently started publishing some Hubs. I had to change my writing style and there was a learning curve involved before I discovered what Hub pages was all about and my Hub scores have started to climb.

I have not abandoned Squidoo because, like Hub pages, it pulls a lot of weight with the search engines and is an awesome way to build some heavy weight back links. Squidoo is very similar to hub pages in that you can join groups and people's fan clubs. Like Hub pages, it is about participation in the community and the forums.

In Squidoo you rate peoples lenses with 1-5 stars instead of a thumbs up or down. You leave a blurb, instead of a comment. You can lensroll a lens, which is similar to favoriting. You can also submit a lens to Delicious (I refuse to use the periods), Digg, Stumbleupon, Twitter, etc...

If you are a big Hubber, you should definitely check out Squidoo. I have seen a lot of the internet marketers on Hub pages publish Hubs that have very low scores. Usually this is because the Hub's are overly promotional. The same content on Squidoo will do much better as promotion is embraced in Squidoo lenses.

There are a lot of e-books about how to use and optimize Squidoo. I have purchased several of these and they all had a few "golden nuggets" that I found useful. In September of 2007 I went to the World Internet Main Event in San Franciso where I met Bob "The Teacher" Jenkins, who is the creator of the Squidoo Secrets training program.

Bob has had several top rated Squidoo lenses and actually had the New York Times do a piece about his Beef Jerky lens. He is one of the most knowledgeable people I have ever met when it comes to optimizing a Squidoo lens. Out of all the information about Squidoo that I have read, watched, and listened too, I have to recommend the Squidoo Secrets training as the most informative and complete.

I have several Squidoo lenes that are on the first page of Google results as a result of the techniques that I learned and applied from the Squidoo Secrets training. Go to Google and type in:

• peel away ads
• web 2.0 submitter
• exit grabber
• you can't block this
• exit explosion

I have a Squidoo lens on the first page and most are in the top 3 spots, not including the pay per click ads. You will also see some of my Hub pages on the first page of Google results for the same products. That is because you can apply the same techniques to your Hub pages as well as your Squidoo lenses.

I have made quite a few affiliate sales by creating a Squidoo lens and a Hub page for an emerging product and getting my websites listed high in the search engine rankings. This is the best kind of traffic because it is highly targeted and best of all it's free.

If you are interested in learning more about how to use Squidoo, then a great place to start is by downloading this free report, How Do You Do, Squidoo? If you are already an experienced lens master then go straight to Squidoo Secrets, where you can sign up for free.

The free apprentice membership, along with the information in the free report is enough to get you on your way to being an accomplished lens master. I know that you will enjoy the information and will want more. You can become a "gold" apprentice by referring 5 members, which is easy with all the promotional tools that are given to you. This gives you some more training, but the really powerful stuff is in the upgraded memberships.

After you have signed up, you will probably be taken to a one time offer where you will get a chance to get the advanced Squidoo training for half price. Actually, you have 2 options. There is the "Kraken Hunter" upgrade that is for beginning and intermediate lens masters. Here is what you get with the Kraken Hunter upgrade:

Module 1: Introduction to Web 2.0 and Squidoo

• What exactly is Web 2.0 and why is it so important to get involved
• How to identify your niche so you don't feel like you are wasting your time
• What the differences are between keywords and tags, and why it really matters
• How to find the best keywords and how to use them throughout the Web 2.0 universe
• What is Squidoo, and how does it fit into the world of Web 2.0

Module 2: Beginner's Squidoo Quick Start

• Set up your first lens in minutes with critical steps at the forefront (most people miss the boat at this first stage)
• What modules are and which ones are the best to use for Internet marketing
• How to add modules and what to do with them once they're on your page so your visitors want to learn more from you
• How to perform Squidoo lens surgery so your lenses look like professional webpages instead of hodgepodge vomit
• Which modules you must use for the most interactivity between you and your visitors

   

Then there is the "Super Kraken Mastermind" membership. This is for advanced users of Squidoo. If you have already published twenty or so lenses, then you don't want to miss out on this information. Here is a breakdown of what you get:

Module 3: Content Creation Strategies

• How to schedule your lens creation/management time
• Where to find ideas for your new and existing lenses
• How to build your lens for usefulness, readability, and results
• How to leverage your unique content in multiple ways
• How to partner with other lens masters for strategic growth
• 107 minutes of training

Module 4: Real World Questions and Answers

• Review previous steps from the first 3 modules
• Applying what you've learned to network marketing business
• How to share the wealth with Squidoo's charities
• What it really takes to become an expert
• Additional affiliate marketing strategies
• 83 minutes of training

Module 5: How To Make Money With Squidoo

• Understand the big picture of using Squidoo for business
• Which modules generate the most money
• How to get more affiliate sales with Squidoo
• How to use Squidoo as part of a product launch
• How sharing Squidoo with others can pay off
• How to make the world a better place with your lenses
• 100 minutes of training

Module 6: Advanced Squidoo Secrets Part 1 - Groups and Front Doors

• How to join the right groups for your lenses
• Why becoming a group master is essential to your long term success
• How to take advantage of Squidoo's "Front Doors" for focused content
• How to get more traffic to your eBay auctions
• How to use your favorite book or movie to grow your business
• How to become known as the best (fill in the blank) ever
• How "flipping" isn't just for houses anymore
• 85 minutes of training

Module 7: Advanced Squidoo Secrets Part 2 - Never Ending Traffic and Sales

• How to use external sources for never ending traffic
• How to ethically use email and blog comments for more lens traffic
• How to bring your visitors back to your lens when you want
• How to put a piece of your lens wherever you want it
• How to communicate with your growing fan base
• How to create an income generating sales page on Squidoo
• How to get affiliates to send you more traffic
• Where to find help from the best lens masters
• 83 minutes of training

Module 8: Real World Questions and Answers

• Review of Modules 5, 6, and 7
• Shortcut your path to becoming an "expert"
• Putting Internet marketing news on your lenses
• Create your own navigation menu on your lens
• How to become a Giant Squid
• Every one's must have time saving Internet tool
• Lens master hot seats
• The top source for PLR and Master Resell Rights products
• How local businesses can use Squidoo too
• And much more...
• 85 minutes of training

As you can see, there is over 9 hours of training presented in an easily learn-able format. This course is worth every penny and then some. If you are going to spend money on a Squidoo product, make sure it is this one. If you upgrade with the one time offer you can save 33% on the cost.

There is also a very nice affiliate program which I have used to pay for my membership and then some. But the real money is in the affiliate commissions I have made as a result of having my Squidoo lenses on the first page of the search engine results.