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Partial Recovery of Lost Squidoo Fans List

I don’t like losing useful information (see Spirituality’s blog post on why the Squidoo fans list was useful). I had meant to go on a tour of ALL my Squidoo fans after I hit 1000 fans last month, but hadn’t gotten around to it. I’m not sure when I’ll have time for that, but I can at least provide a backlink at the end of this post to some of you — THANK YOU!

Grab Search Engine Caches of Your Fans List

Many search engines let you view cached copies of their last crawl of each webpage. If they’re not too efficient, their cached copy may be from just before fans disappeared from our lensmaster profiles. Unfortunately, in 2010, Squidoo started displaying only a selection of your fans and hid the rest behind a “more” link which search engines can’t see. So many fans are gone for good. But this will recover at least some.

You’re probably thinking, “What about the Wayback machine?” and rightly so. However, its archives will still be around next week. Whereas search engines’ caches only exist UNTIL the search engine crawls the webpage again. Here’s the ones I found whose cached copies — as of June 2nd — predate Squidoo’s removal of fans. I used a few international search engines since they tend to crawl English sites less frequently:

  1. GOOGLE. Search Google for: cache:http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/yourname
  2. Bing.com:  search for: lensmaster page yourname
    then mouseover to the right hand side of the listing, click the right-arrow that pops up, and scroll down to the bottom to find the cached link. I couldn’t get this to work on Chrome, only Firefox.
  3. Yandex, the main Russian search engine:  search for lensmaster page yourname
    then click the копия link (if you’ve got Google translate turned on, it says “copy”).  This was the most up-to-date one just prior to Squidoo removing fan clubs.
  4. Baidu, the main Chinese search engine. Search as usual, then click the only link right under each search result. It only has some lensmaster pages. (While you’re at it — I don’t normally recommend wasting time submitting your pages to search engines, since most crawl Squidoo very often anyway, but with international SEs it may be worth it. Here’s the submit URL link for Baidu. Keep in mind Baidu will tend to favor content in Chinese and/or content of interest to people in China, plus your content has to pass web censorship, but at least some Squidoo pages are getting through the Great Firewall of China. But do that later. Let’s grab your fans first).
  5. Gigablast.com: search for lensmaster page yourname as usual and click “cached”. This was a fairly recent cached copy as well.
  6. Exalead:  Who are these people? Donno, but they’re saving caches of the web. Search as usual and hit the “cached” button.

You will note that most search engines give you a date for when their crawled copy of your page was cached.  Make a note of the most recent one to get a fairly accurate estimate of your fans just before they vanished. Ah, vanity.

Find More Fans From the WayBack Machine

Once you’ve gotten all the fans you can find through search engine caches, THEN go to the Wayback Machine aka Internet Archive and punch in http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/yourname into the “Take me back” search box. This will pull up a calendar. Dates with highlights represent cached copies of the page; click on one of them to go to that date. Then you’ll have a menu at the top of the screen that lets you skip forward and back through cached copies. The layout for Squidoo pages from 2010 onwards is too complicated for the Wayback Machine to reproduce correctly, but the fans list is there: scroll down to find it. Note that pre-2010 Wayback Machine caches of your lensmaster page include ALL fans from that time, since Squidoo displayed the whole list until 2010.

Copy that data into your document too. Save it.

Dump your list into Microsoft Excel. Add a row at the very top (row one) and label it “Names.” Then, to hide duplicates:

  1. Select the column of names.
  2. choose “Filter > Advanced Filter…” under the Data menu
  3. Say “OK” if you get a nag popup.
  4. Click the “Unique Records only” box and click okay.

And you can sort the column alphabetically. Alas, the result will be all your pre-2010 fans, but coverage of recent fans will be spotty.

A note on lensrank:

The Squidoo FAQ has long mentioned “lensmaster reputation” as one of the factors in lensrank. In 2009, as part of my comprehensive lensrank study, I guessed — although I can’t be sure — that this included fans as a lensrank factor (probably only a minor one). Right after Squidoo dropped the fans list, I dropped to 5-6 tier one lenses. That represents about a $150 drop in income. Ouch. I’m hoping that drop is due to the fact that everyone is scrambling to update their lenses to cope with all Squidoo’s changes, but maybe it means a more level playing field for newbies.

Backlinks for MY Fans: A Small Thank You

I only recovered half of my 1045-ish fans (wah!) but as a small thank you, here’s all the ones I’ve managed to save. The links will be very minor backlinks. (I’ve added a few more that I know were on there.) Feel free to add yours in comments if you like, and thanks again. :)

1GeorgeAlexander
1SquidAddict
2Eklectik
2FriendsTreasures
4Bodyworkers
A_RovingReporter
a_willow
AbbasAbedi
access2
Adarsh
AddisonsCompass
adez7
AdrienneJenkins
adwanco
AffiliateSystems
AGC_2008
agonyfreehealth
Ahmady
aj2008
al-online
AlfredFernandes
Alicia8657
allinfoisfree
alteredkat
Amanda_Blue
andreaberrios
AndrewShim
animal_lover79
annetteghallowell
anthropos
aplink
Aquavel
ar2coolwriter
Arch-angel
arncyn
ArtByLinda
ArtDiva
ArtSiren
ashleymia
Athankfulman
Auntie_K
awelldressedbullet
B7T
BABYKITTY
badmsm
BaiNiangZi
banapple
Barkely
BarryKrost
Bboytee123
bdkz
beachbum_gabby
Beautiful_GreenBeans
Bella_Stella
BellaDaze
bernadette1
BethErickson
BevsPaper
bgamall
bigfriendly15
BigGirlBlue
BigJim
BikoBill
BizGuides
BlackroseBugg
boshemia
bplazar
Bradshaw
Brainplug
BrandyT
BreezyPalmsTravel
btn-travel
buffalo
BusyQueen
bwcabound
ByRoy
C-Joy
cactusdo
capriliz
capybara
CardLady
CarmellaMae
Carriejw
casamonika
CastleRoy
CC7
CCGAL
CDT
cflick
Chadrew
charlino
chatdam
chefkeem
cherangelry
CherylK
chloecavanaugh
ChrisSandberg
christel
Christene
Christopher_Scott
CJTurner
Clarissa789
ClaudetteKeith
CleanerLife
CleanFace
CliveAnderson
clouda9
CoachLoomis
ComeJam
Comfortdoc
confetta
conversations
coolas7
coollikeme
Cop-Speak
Cptindy
CrypticFragments
Crystal_Booth
Czarque
d-artist
DAD1104
dagsmith
Daninaband
danluther
daoine
daretobefree4ever
daria369
davewashere
DebiJones
DebiStaples
Deesincomebuilder
Derrayjac
desertsky
DeviLishToy
dianadavis_3
Digital-Photo-Editing-Guy
dinodino
dogartist2
DonnaBellasAngels
dotcomboy
DragonAsh
DragonflyGreen49
drifter0658
drs2biz
DrunkWithInk
dvirtualist
EagleBayDesigns
easyforyouebooks
easymoneydaily
Eclectic_Muse
Eco2020
EelKat
Elaine-Tan
electricfordranger
elliespark
emilyd
EmpireMame
enslavedbyfaeries
EricBadgley
EricRockefeller
Evelyn_Saenz
EverythingMouse
exercisevideomaniac
fanfreluche
filipinotshirts
Flashfink
flighty02
flipflopnana
FlipFlopsForFamilies
flowergardener
flowski
FloydBogart
flutestar123
flynn_the_cat
fotolady49
FoxMusic
Frankster
freshypanda
funwithtrains
GabryelandKarilyn
Gadgetry
Gail47
gallagherjohnjp
Ganocafe
Gardenfool
Gary1238
ghostwriters
globe-trotter
Gordon_Hamilton
Graceonline
GramaBarb
GrannyNan
grassosalvato86
GreenRevolution
GrowWear
GVRGirl
GypsyOwl
GypsyPirate
happy-jack
Heather426
HeatherTweed
henrykaye
hexagon
Hightension
Hillandglen
hlkljgk
hrrajpal
IAJDiamonds
imagesbykim
Imogen_Crest
ImproveMeU
inese_millere
infobouqet
insightwriter
InternetJunkie
Jack2205
jacquelinestone
Jaebird88
JaguarJulie
JamesThomasCalhoun
jamyri
Janet21
Janiece
Janusz
Jason_T
JayKish
jcolt7
jdionlds
jean99
jeffwend
jenah
JenniferAkers
JeremiahStanghini
jeremylloyd
jessicahoward
JessicaOffSetMedia
JessicaT2008
jewelkid87
Jewelsofawe
Jim10
Jimmie
jipock
jjj1
john_crawford09
johniredd
johnrapp
JonitasKalimpo
jordan2smith
joycan1
jpc_1180
jpetals
JRSelina
Judy_Filarecki
julziexox
justinho
JziE
kab
kalos_eidos
Kamikazee
KarateKatGraphics
kathyrclark
kathysart
KCStargazer
kellywissink
kerryg
KimGiancaterino
kimmckay
kingkurt2001
Kitsune64
kiwisoutback
knozit
Kokotai
KonaGirl
Konrad
kristensup
LadyExpat
LairMistress
Laniann
LANWANMAN
LaraineRose
LauraFincannon
LDWorld
LeanneAttwell
LeanneChesser
LeslieBrenner
Levitah
life_is_beautiful
LifeDefined
likeapenguin
lisadh
LissaKlar
lissie
lizchukwu
LonnieScott
LostScribe
LoveSimpleThings
lovewins
luvmyludwig
lxcoza
lynnasafriend
M_S_Beltran
MadameDuchess
MadMadMaxx
mae777
MAHTLH
Mandy67
manujarch
marcomkccostanzo
Margaret_Schaut
margefarrish
mariatjader
MarisaAngelisArtDesigns
Mark-Nehs
marymc
Matthew_Ferry
Maura46
Maxxamillion
Mayflowerblood
mbrownauthor
Megal
Mellowd
MeltedRachel
Mert
Michaud68
Michey
Mickie_G
MikeGoody
milkcananime
Millertime
MishaA
MobyD
monarch13
monika1111
motorpurrr
Mountainside-Crochet
Mr_Loth
mrglam
MrMarmalade
MsFit
MsMorrison
MsSnow4a
Mtodd
MUJERDEEXITO
Music-Resource
MusicMadness
mysticmama
N376
NAIZA
nancydodds1
NancyOram
NaturalMommys
Neo-Entrepreneur
neriox
niveK
NorDac
nyfamily5
OhMe
OliviaH
ols
one-week-marketing-girl
oneskms
Oosquid
Pantherart
papawu
paperfacets
Patoirlove
PattB
PeacefulWmn9
pennymoore
petbrags
peterpaan
pixie_styx17
PleasantValley
Poppy0927
Portable_eBay
PostRanger
poutine
pretty-kerry
Pukeko
purplebear
pyle_mountain
pyngthyngs
QuantumTraveler
QueSea
Rajays
Ramkitten
ReadandWrite
real_estate_hawaii
reasonablerobinson
RedMarketeer
RedSportNiac
remedies-for-dry-scalp
restlesslimbs
Rick_Ector
rms
Rob3
RoberdsWA
robertwelch
Robin_Forlonge_Patterson
Rockchick2
RolandTumble
Romaxx
RoomDesignOnline
Roxie_J
roysumit
RufusQuail
RyanRE
rydigga
s_j77
S-Ahsan
Sadheeskumar
Salinalea
SallyCin
SamoelOvanessian
samuilgr8
SamyRoumieh
sandyspider
sarahjjac
screamingmenace
sdrury123
seegreen
SemperFidelis
seo4one
Serenity_Prayer_Gifts
ShannonC
sharpturn
shy3d
simas91
singaporehosting
SirJenia
social-media-optimizations
Sojourn
sophiesara
soultravelers3
SparklyPink
spirituality
Squidhead
squidoocooler
Squidster
StacymomBiz
Stazjia
Stephene
steveffeo
stoetzels
stuanderson
SuccessPrinciples
Sue_DeBrule
sukkran
sunworld
Super8Society
supercibor
SuperWaterMan
Surly-Mac
Susan52
susannaduffy
Suttons-Iron-Shot-Tips
svarun
tagsforkids
Tammylove
tandemonimom
TeaLady
Teddi14
Temi-Odurinde
The_Homeopath
TheGreenerMe
thesolowriter
TheWhistler
thewishpearl
ThomasC
Thundergas
Tiddledeewinks
timthom1
Tinnitus-Cure
TJ11240
TNTbefree
totosmom
Tracey_M
TravelAMP
TravisFlaherty
Treasures-By-Brenda
trendytreasures
triathlontraining
twelfthhouse
Twmarsh
Vacation-In-My-Head
vagabondista
vickiec
Victoreeah
Victoria_Neely
victory
VideoExpert
vmills
wahguide
WannabeAWinner
Warrior4wellness
Wayne_Long
waynekat
Webcodes
WebNetworks
WebSpinstress
WhippetTalk
WhitU4ever
wilddi
wordsmithen
wyrm11268
Wysiwigs
xtnshun
Ylliks
youhavegottobekidding
YourCover_Mama
Zaphir
ZBT
zexq

And now back to recovering all the OTHER stuff hosed by recent Squidoo updates. Remember when Squidoo was fun? Me, too. Well, jobs aren’t always fun either…it’s a good thing this job pays so well. ;)

6 Comments

  1. AJ says:

    Ellen, what a labor of love! And thank you for the thank you. I have to say that I am a huge fan of you and your outlook on life, Squidoo, the Universe……

    I have to admit that I am at a loss as to why fans have been removed on Squidoo, when they seem to be an important feature on other sites.

    I am watching as the social aspect of networking is helping to build another site very quickly (Wizzley), which of course will help build its ranking on Google and then bring more new traffic and memebers into the site.

    All we can do is speculate as to the reasons why Squidoo have taken this decision – we have been promised something to take its place but I am just praying it does not require participation on Facebook.

    Thank you for being you and keep on being you XX

    1. Greekgeek says:

      “require participation on Facebook” *shudder* Amen to that. SquidooHQ knows my strong reasons why I don’t want Squidoo functionality or participation dependent on Facebook membership.

      And thank you, and take care!

      I’m discouraged enough about third-party publishing platforms at the moment that I’m not ready just now to dip into Wizzley. But I’m glad to see more alternatives and wish it well.

      Right now, my plan is (1) damage control on my Squidoo lenses (2) put more elbow grease into my Zazzle work so that it becomes a reliable income stream and (3) blog on my own website, mythphile.com, more consistently and monetize it better; the safest platform is the one under one’s own control.

  2. Onefootputt says:

    Thank you Greekgeek for the great blog and providing some great information. I am also flabbergasted by HQ’s recent announcement and their move towards a less social atmosphere. I’ll be spending a lot more time on blogs going forward than I was on dooU.

    I also agree with AJ, that the launch of Wizzley was well timed, even if it was a coincidence. I’ll be spending a lot more time deversifying onto a second platform this year, as I don’t know what the future may hold as a squid.

  3. MisterJeremy says:

    Thanks for this, Ellen. You’ve obviously put a lot into recovering this valuable data. I only had 84 fans, and was able to recover 50.

  4. Great post & thanks for the feature. I didn’t bother going back to get my fanlist. The main thing I miss is actually not even about being able to squidcast, but about discovering new stuff by others. That’s not going to be recovered, because I’m just too busy to check find another site to log into. The reason I used it was very precisely that it was on my dashboard and it was easy to check the latest new squidcasts. Even if I was annoyed at about half of them.

  5. Joan Adams says:

    I cannot imagine that I was not on your fan page!!! Anyway, I am joan4 and I have always been a fan of your work on Squidoo! and what a super list this is!

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