Tips From The Blogging Queen
Column 3 - January 2007

*NOTE FROM DEBBIE: I'm happy to have Linda Walsh (certified "The Blogging Queen") offer a column here at Faithful Friends Online! Each month we will feature and archive on the website her columns regarding her blogging experiences. Thank-you so much Linda for your wonderful writings for Work At Home Businesses!

In my "Tips From The Blogging Queen" Column 2 you were given the definition of Blaudience - which is defined as the audience or readership of a blog.

So, is this important to you? Absolutely.

Why? Because you've taken the step as a small business owner to set-up a blog. Right?

Now what? Well, hopefully, you gave some thought before you created your blog as to "who your audience was and what you should tell them." Right?

After all, you probably gave considerable thought to "who your audience was and what you were going to sell to them" before you started your small business. Right?

So, who you're blogging for and what you are going to to tell them is not that
much different.

You created your blog as a tool to support your business and communicate with your customers and blog readers. So, you want your customers and blog readers to get to know you and your business and/or products.

So, who is your audience? Well, they are YOUR current and, hopefully, future
customers. They are readers who you hope will recommend you or your product to someone they know because they like you and your blog.

So, what do you tell them? Well, the universe is your playing field. You can
basically tell them anything you want. Anything that will personalize your
business and you to them. You, hopefully, know your customers better than
anyone. Right?

So, you can stick to the tried and true and talk only about your products and
services you might offer or you can personalize yourself and your business a
little bit.

For example:

- You might tell them a little bit about yourself and how you got started.
- Reveal who or what is your inspiration.
- Demonstrate the skills involved with your art or craft.
- Give them the history of some of the products you create.
- Provide traditional historical information on any particular subject that is
of interest to you or that you think might be of interest to your customers and blog readers.
- Show them your latest designs or newest products.
- Display some of your customers creations.
- Provide answers to questions you think your customers or blog readers might
want to ask you.
- Tell them a little bit about your family.
- Relate a funny story involving your family or something funny your child or
grandchild may have said.
- Relate a funny story about the business you are in.
- Show them some of your favorite pictures and tell them why they are your
favorites.
- Write about your travels.
- Discuss some aspects of your day-to-day life.
- Reveal your thought process step-by-step as you create.
- Provide some useful information such as, time saving tips or holiday recipes.
- Give them how-to's on whatever your expertise is.
- Tell them a story.
- Provide a step-by-step tutorial with pictures.
- Include a FREE graphic.
- Give them a FREE pattern or article about your craft.
- Reveal upcoming specials or upcoming products.
- Showcase someone else in your business community.
- You might tell them about events you may be participating in for your
community or small business.
- Discuss areas where you or your staff might volunteer.
- Ask them for their assistance with something.
- Tell them about some of your personal interests.
- Discuss movies you like.
- Give them pointers on the books you like to read.
- Reveal some of your personal hobbies or interests.
- Reveal some of your family traditions.
- Direct them towards websites you love to visit that might be of interest to
them.
- Tell them about blogs that you like to read that might be of interest to them.

With the universe as your playing field there are just so many things you can
blog about. So, with so many things to blog about is there anything you
shouldn't blog about?

Well, the answer is "YES." There are some things you shouldn't blog about.

Unless you specifically have a political or religious blog you should stay away
from those subjects.

You should also always make sure that the content of your discussion is "family-friendly" only and that your pictures are always "family-friendly." You never know who may be reading your blog.

Just like the etiquette surrounding online "forums" when you're blogging you
need to use common sense. You don't want to offend anyone least of all your
customers. So, be sure to stay within the realm of what one might consider to be "politically correct" discussion.

Also, it is never a good idea to blog in a derogatory manner about someone else or blog in a complaining manner about your boss or the company that you work for.

Remember that blogs that are created for small businesses are meant to
compliment the business and personalize you to your customer. Your current
customer and, hopefully, future customer is your audience. You don't want to turn your customers or readers off by something you said or complained about.

So, now that you've got some ideas isn't it time you started blogging?

Tips From The Blogging Queen" Column 3 Definition - Bleg - A blog entry consisting of a request to the readers for information or contributions. The name is derived from the words "blog" and "Beg".

Be sure to tune in to my TFTBQ Column 4 on "Why Would You Want To Bleg Your Readers!"

Copyright © 2006 - All Rights Reserved
Written By Linda Walsh

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Making Your Own Grubby Tags
(From Debbie of www.2oldcrows.blogspot.com)

Grubby tags are a great addition to any primitive or country project. They can be used as tags on baskets, packages or even as Christmas ornaments too. You can make them as elaborate or as simple as you wish with decorating. The directions below are for the simple basic grubby background to the tag.

Supplies:
3x5 index cards ( You can substitute boughten shipping tags but I like using index cards - they are less expensive and you can make them any shape or size you want.)
3 heaping tablespoons of instant coffee ( the more expensive brands will give you a darker color - if you use a cheaper brand you may want to add more)
1 cup of boiling water
Few drops of vanilla ( I like vanilla for a scent, but do use cinnamon oil at Christmas time...the choice of scents is yours)

Directions:
Cut the index cards into the shape you want and punch a hole in the top ( I have used star shapes, Christmas trees, bells, snowflakes besides the standard tag shapes)
Mix the hot water, instant coffee and vanilla well then apply with a sponge brush to both sides of the tag place on a drying rack to dry ( I use an old window screen but a baking rack will work also)
Let the tags dry thoroughly turning them over a couple of times . If they dry to light you can restain them. To hurry up this process place them on a cookie sheet in a low temperature oven for a few minutes
If you would like the tags to have a motley effect spray them with a bit of water before completely dry.
Should the tags curl up ( I find this happens more often when I dry them in the oven) press them with a old iron on the cotton setting ( a pressing cloth may be used if you dont have an old iron)
You should also stain the string you use - embroidery thread may also be used as string as well as torn homespun or raffia

Once they are completely dry the fun begins. Writing should be done with a permanent sharpie marker. Embellishments such as mica flakes, buttons, rubber stamping, bottle caps, vintage copies of photos, vintage images can all be used. Also like to paint on the tags with acrylics. If I do more than just write on them I do modge podge them. If the items you add seem to light colored just add some of the staining mixture to them with a q-tip.

Let your imagination and creativity run wild and have fun making tags !

For more great crafting tips and techniques visit us at Two Old Crows (www.2oldcrows.com)