by Lori Greenberg on August 28, 2008
in blogging
If you’re a blogger and wish you could be more consistent with your posts, make sure you read Alice Seba’s Internet Marketing post today about Making Fast Work of Blogging.
Alice recommends taking notes ahead of time, using shorter posts when planning ahead, and using the scheduling feature of your blog.
I especially like her reminder to keep a notebook and jot notes throughout the day of possible topics.I always have a notebook with me to jot down notes and mark in the margin which blog the topic suits. It’s easy to pull out the notebook either when you’re planning ahead and need multiple topics fast or even when you’re stumped on a regular blogging day.
So, why would you want to plan all of these topics ahead? Well, Alice did it because she was expecting a baby and new she’d be away from the computer. I suggest it if you want to get serious about your blogging.
We all seem to go in ebbs and flows with our posting and that is ok. But if you want to have regular readers, you need to have regular content. If you don’t think you can blog every day, plan ahead and schedule a few evenly spaced posts throughout your week. Your readers will appreciate and your readership will grow.
If you really want to get serious about your blogging, make sure you read the Blogging for the Artist Series here. There are many many more tidbits that will give you plenty to work on! As always, feel free to drop your comments or questions down below.
Happy Blogging.
by Lori Greenberg on August 17, 2008
in efficiency
The Art Bead Scene has a great post about how to get ready for the holidays.
Good little tidbits to encourage and remind you that you better get started now because if you wait until December, it’s probably too late.
Surf on over and see what they have to say.
by Lori Greenberg on August 13, 2008
in marketing
As I continue on in my tips on how to succeed in a slow economy I turn to marketing. If you are just starting out you probably don’t have much budget for fancy marketing. If you have been around for a while you might find that you need to cut your marketing budget in this lean economy.
Over the years I have enjoyed the marketing and business side of being a craftsperson because I have changed my attitude to see it as another outlet for my creativity. Who says you have to buy expensive ads? Who says it has to be done the way of those who came before us? I say, get creative. Find a new way. Make marketing fun and a new challenge, just like a new design you’re working on.
Here are some inexpensive marketing ideas (some are repeats but worth mentioning):
1. Of course, always have your cards on hand to pass out and wear your work.
2. Write an article for a magazine. You even get paid for this.
3. Enter a contest. There might be an entry fee but if you get in, you have great exposure.
4. Post your work on forums your customers frequent.
5. Comment on blogs and provide your web site link where it asks for it. Don’t spam!
6. Have a home party.
7. Trade links with other sites if you have a links or blog roll page.
8. Send your newsletter and provide a short ‘how to’ on how to use your beads in a design, or talk up for whom your jewelry would be a perfect gift.
9. Submit images to publications with sections for ‘eye candy’ or ‘what our readers did’. Be sure to submit high quality, high resolution images.
10. If you blog, find a blog to guest post and partner with.
Get creative and brainstorm with your peers. I’ve seen great full page ads in magazines of artists who have co-op-ed so each person pays a low rate to be able to get into a major publication. There is power in groups, both for saving money and also for coming up with ideas! Reach out to each other and work together.
