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Tips From The Blogging Queen
Column 4 -
February 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!
Why
Would You Want To Bleg Your Readers?
Last month in my
TFTBQ Column 3 our blog definition was "bleg" which
in blog
definitions is a blog entry consisting of a request
to readers for information
or contributions.
So, the question this month is "Why would you want
to bleg your readers?"
Well, you may or may not want to. "Bleg" started out
as a term that was coined
due to the spam blogs requesting money. Back then -
that was a blog no-no.
However, it has been turned into a term used to
asking for anything within a
blog from your readers. Money, however, is still a
NO-NO. That is, unless you are an established
and recognized charity with a charitable blog.
However, for small business owners with blogs
"blegging" can be considered a
good thing especially if it creates a communication
between you and your blog
readers or customers.
For example, you could include a survey within a
blog post or within the sidebar
of your blog. It could be a survey regarding your
business or products or something you'd like to get
a response on before deciding to undertake.
You could ask a question of your blog readers and/or
customers and ask them to email you with their
response. For example, I asked my customers to tell
me what kind of FREE patterns they wanted to
see me design. I got a bunch of emails with their
responses which I have posted on my blog from time
to
time.
If you are a crafter who sells patterns you could
ask your customers to send you
pictures of the items they have made from your doll
patterns and then showcase them on your blog.
You could try and find out what your customers
favorite likes or dislikes with
your business or products are. For example, I have a
survey on my website (which could just as easily be
on my blogs) asking my customers if my Victorian
"Ladies" dolls should remain "faceless." You
wouldn't believe how many responses I've received on
this.
Once again, the universe is your playing field when
it comes to your small business blog and your
readers and/or customers.
So, "Why Would You Want To Bleg Your Readers?"
The answer is: to become interactive with your
readers and/or customers and get a communication
going. "Blegging" is very good in this regard.
"Tips From The Blogging Queen" Column 4
Definition - "Keyword" - A word or phrase that
is used when searching for websites or blogs in the
search engines or directories that explains the
content of a website or blog post.
Be sure to tune in to my TFTBQ Column 5 on "How To
Incorporate "Keywords" Into Your Blog Articles."
Copyright© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
Written By Linda Walsh
Linda
Walsh Originals
Linda Walsh Originals Dolls
Linda's Blog
DOLLS Blog
Instant Download E-Patterns
Top Blogs By Crafters Toplist
The Dollie & Crafts Plugboard
Crafting For All Plugboard
About
Linda Walsh Originals
I Love Crafts & Crafts Blogs
Tips For Crafters On The Web
Twelve Months of Sewing Club
Testing The Blogs Series and Helpful Blog Tops
The Best FREE Craft Articles
Until next month...
Debbie
www.debbiesgiftshop.com
&
www.faithfulfriendsonline.com |
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Business Spotlight of
the Month!
View Past
Newsletters Spotlight Archives: 2004
::
2005 ::
2006
I'm very
pleased to have Stay At Home Moms Online as the Business
Spotlight this month. Thank-you so much David!
Here are the Questions and Answers shared by
David:
1. Describe your
business: type of business, where you're located, how
long you have been in business, website URL's, etc.
Stay At
Home Moms Online has been in business since 2004.
I officially took over the site in March 2005. The
site is a resource of information for stay at home moms,
with a wide range of articles ranging from Health, Home
Decor, Relationships, All for Mom, All for Dad and Kids.
We are also a source of work at home opportunities.
We are located in Dallas, Texas. Our url is
http://www.stayathomemomsonline.com
More site info located at (banner & button):
http://www.stayathomemomsonline.com/linktous.html
2. How did you decide on your business name?
I purchased the business from another person
who had sort of established the site. I have just
added my touch and a lot more content.
3. What were the first things you did to get your
business going?
The first thing I did
was to update the Meta Tags and try to make the site
Search Engine Optimized. The second most important
thing to do is to submit your site to search engines,
through a service, or a search engine submittal program.
I did that and it made a difference, within a couple of
weeks. The third thing is to update your keywords
and description meta tags.
4. How long did it take you from the time you decided to
open your business to your Grand Opening Day?
Not applicable
5. What was the best thing you did to get your business
going?
Search Engine
Optimization and Search Engine Submittal. It makes
a difference when people do searches online.
6. What was one thing that you did
that you would advise others not to do?
I would advice people NOT
to ignore their website stats. I didn't start
tracking those until March 2006. I made more site
updates and have enjoyed 3 times more traffic to the
site.
7. How do you network? What do you find works the best?
I participate in "Banner Exchange"
programs, where I place another site's banner on my site
and my banner is placed on their site.
8. Do you advertise? If so, what type of advertising works
the best for your business? I don't really advertise, I
take that time to update my site content. My main
focus has always been "Site Content/Articles/information"
not Site
advertisements, those are secondary.
9. Do you have any
advice to give someone thinking of getting into their own
business? Make sure you can spend time updating
the site and giving your site visitors a reason to return
over and over again. Ensure that you are picky, when
selecting advertisers. I believe in keeping my
advertising relevant to my
site.
10. What type of products do you find are 'hot' right
now? I am
not an online store, so I don't track actual inventory.
Although I just went to Market at the Dallas International
Market Center, and found that crosses are big right now,
especially jeweled crosses, framed crosses, etc....
Thank-you David for
sharing your spotlight with us! I wish you much continued
success!
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CRAFTING TIPS FROM TWO OLD CROWS
(From Debbie of
http://www.2oldcrows.com/)
Winter time is
the perfect time to sit down with a nice hot cup of
tea and do some stitching. I love making things with
wool felt and have found that by felting it the wool
takes on a different texture and hue that give it
that aged look that we all love for primitives.
Felting wool is quite simple the most important
thing to remember is that only 100 % wool felt can
be felted, craft felt that contains nylon will not
felt.
Steps for Felting
1. Using cold water wet the wool felt
completely do not agitate. Colors should be done
separately because dyes will be let loose and can
run ( expect the water to change color)
2. Squeeze out by hand as much of the
water as possible do not wring the fabric this will
only stretch it and make the fibers weak.
3. Place the fabric in a dryer on the
regular setting and nearly dry ( I find that this
takes about 20 minutes in my dryer) Do not place
both dark colored and light colored fabrics together
they will bleed on to each other.
*Place an old towel in the dryer after removing the
fabric and continue to the drying cycle- this will
remove any excess dye from your dryer
4. Lay the fabric flat to finish drying smoothing
out the wrinkles the best you can with your hand.
5. Press with a steam iron
This fleeced wool is great for making
penny rugs, wall hangings, sheep, crows and any
other of you primitive items. It may be tea or
coffee stained to give it an even more worn look.
Written by Debbie Hainline
For
more great crafting tips and techniques visit us at Two Old
Crows (www.2oldcrows.com)
And Now...My personal
favorite
Online WAHM Resources and Networking Partners!
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Please Take the time
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**Instant
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Instant Printables is a online
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types of printables such as scrapbook, altered art, business
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For more
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Pattern Mart News
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A place where talented
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The reason I LOVE to
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