Minding Your Business

Re: Online presence

Nancy Smeltzer — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:02:44 GMT

It seems that all I'm doing these days is learning the rudiments of Wordpress.org for my blog....

http://www.fiberfantasies.com/wordpress/

Blogspot is SUCH an easier program to set up a blog, but all of my marketing mentors say that you need WordPress.org to promote your own site.

Mine is http://www.fiberfantasies.com/ which I had professionally done last year. Since we're in a visual arts business, I feel that quality photos are a must, and you'll also need them to enter exhibitions later on, if you decide to got that route. So, while I used to get my slides published all the time back in the 89s and 90s with slide film, I had to learn the rudiments of two digital editing photo programs last year to shoot the workfor my web site.

As to how often you should be writing on your blog, I've been writing every day as the blog has only been up a week, so that I could hurry and get some done, I imagine that I'll slow down to twice a week. One good hint that I read for finding out ideas on what to write was to read forums and see what's being discussed. Then you can write in your own blog about what the buzz is about and your own feelings on the subject.

Re: Online presence

nordie — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 08:59:22 GMT

Have to admit I'm struggling at the minute in updating my site. I posted "properly" (about The festival of Quilts") about 2 weeks ago, and although I have photos that I should really be putting up, I just havent got around to it.

I've subscribed to Google Alerts, looking for topics that I could write about, but havent found anything that's caught my eye.

I continue to stitch - I'm a cross stitcher more than anything - but dont want to resort to the "here's what I stitched last week, can you tell the difference?" posts

I subscribe to the theory that people can tell when your heart's not in it, and therefore wont enjoy it. How do people keep themselves going with their sites?

Re: Online presence

AsianArtAndQuilts — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:38:10 GMT

I ry to get a good mixture on my blog. I have new work posted, in progress projects, tutorials ,interviews with some of my favorite quilters and fiber artists and some just fun stuff; gardening, tea parties and even a little home decorating and a little humor. It's hard not to have just, "I made this & this one & oh this one " ect.. I find that is a tough balancing act, you want to promote your work yet provide quality content.

Re: Online presence

smf4 — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:23:53 GMT

Hi, In reply to the query about blogs. I use mine http://shelaghfolgate.blogspot.com extensively to promote the online courses that I sell.

I add day to day information on textile related items along with some chit chat about what I am up to, like the recent visit to London & a charity event that I organised.

I dont have a website as currently I dont sell anything except via PDF files & I use Bigcartel & Etsy for this

I find the blog a very useful modern tool

I hope that this helps

Regards

Shelagh Folgate

http://shelaghfolgate.blogspot.com

http://creativebrainedges.blogspot.com

Re: Online presence

ellen seeburger — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:24:30 GMT

This is a great topic. Thank you for bringing it up nordie. I know many people use their blogs and Facebook accounts to promote their work, but thinking about the amount of time that we dedicate to it can sometimes not be as big of a consideration. I hope more people will share their personal stories of using blogs and social media, especially what successes they've had and what they would do differently if they could.

Online presence

nordie — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:27:53 GMT

How are people making use of the Internet to promote their business? How much time do you spend on the internet as a business and where do you go? Facebook, Blogs (your own and/or others), Twitter etc.

In particular I have a blog that I am using currently as a personal craft blog (http://sorchaogle.wordpress.com), and am wondering whether to try and take it to “the next step” – and if so, how. What should I be posting about? How often should I be posting? To include photos or not? Of what?