Last month in my TFTBQ Column 8 our blog definition was
"Blogstipation."

"Blogstipation" is being unable to think of anything to blog about (i.e. writer's block for bloggers). So, my question this month is
"Are You Blogstipated?"

I think there is a fear amongst small business owners thinking about creating a blog and new small business bloggers. They are
both afraid that they will have to blog each and every day and aren't sure they would have anything to say. And, for the new bloggers sometimes when they try to write something for their blog they can't think of anything. They're "blogstipated!

So, is that bad? If you can't find anything to say every
day should that prevent you from creating a blog?

The answer to both is "Not at all!" When you've been blogging for awhile you begin to realize that you are going to have those "I just don't feel like blogging today!" days. And, THAT'S OKAY!You do not need to blog each and every day if you don't want to.

Blogs started out as "personal diaries" of a sort and some people, especially those keeping medical journals, etc. do blog each and every day. However, as a small business owner with a blog you don't need to blog each and every day. If you want to you can and if you don't want to - well, that's okay, too! If you only have
something to post about once a week that's FINE!

Keep in mind that as a small business owner you're blogging to personalize yourself and your business to your customers. To get your customers excited about you and your products.

If you have something to tell them post about it. If not - don't worry about it. It is far better to post every so often - especially when you write about something that your readers can tell is "exciting" to you than to post about something that clearly bores you.

The negative to not posting every day or even every week is that the search engines love blog posts as it is FRESH content. This means that if you post every day or even every week your blog is more likely to be picked up in a search engine than a blog with monthly posts.

So, how can you avoid "blogstipation?" Well, I can tell you what I do. I have been blogging for awhile and have posted hundreds upon hundreds of posts. The way I avoid "blogstipation" is to only write when I'm in a "blogging" mode. When I am I try to write several posts and hold them in the cue to be posted over several days. That way I'm giving the search engines FRESH content and I'm not putting pressure on myself to write something each and every day.

Do you have to write lengthy articles? Absolutely not. They can be as small as you want them to be. There is no set measure for this. It's whatever you think will interest your readers and potential customers.

And, if you really are "blogstipated" and can't come up with anything to say and you've been blogging for awhile then post a summary with clickable links to some of the articles you may have written a few months to a year ago.

Or, update an old article that your newer readers and customers might like and re-post it with a current date. In other words, if you're really "blogstipated" and can't come up with anything - don't reinvent the wheel. Use some of what you've posted before.

Or, if you have several blogs tell your readers and customers what's happening on those blogs that might interest them.

There are all sorts of things you can do. The most important is - if you're "blogstipated" don't worry about it. It will pass. You'll be in a "blogging" mode again in no time.

"Tips From The Blogging Queen" Column 10 Definition - "Blogophobia" - Fear of blogging"

Be sure to tune in to my TFTBQ Column 10 on "Do You Have
Blogophobia?

Copyright © 2007 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals
Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns
Linda Walsh Originals DOLLS NEW Handmade Dolls & Craft Website
Linda Walsh Originals Dolls and Linda's Blog

Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer. http://lindawalshoriginals.com
 

1. The Demand and Need. There are many reasons why you should offer craft classes. The main one would be because there need which you can fill and profit from at the same time. As the Internet continues to grow and more crafters seek resources, online craft classes become a natural learning option. Many crafters may find it more difficult to attend a live, in person type of class locally, so taking a class online in the comfort of their own home is a very appealing option.

2. Benefits the Visual Learner. There are many people in the world that are better visual learners. This means they learn easier by “seeing” than reading instructions alone. Those that struggle with instructions from a pattern alone will benefit greatly from being able to see the steps and read the instructions. This doesn’t mean you have to do away with creating written patterns, it just means you could reach a even wider audience by also offering online craft classes.

3. The Ease of Creating a Craft Class. If you are already a pattern designer it would really be beneficial for you to create a class at the same time. Creating a class is very easy and simply involves using your digital camera to take step by step photos as you create the item. Since you will be creating a finished item for the pattern anyway, it makes sense to take the small extra step to take photos as you go along.

The other thing you will need to do is type out corresponding instructions that go with each step photograph.

Finally, if you plan on offering a pattern template to go with the class, you’ll want to create the PDF for that. Or you can offer the full version of the pattern along with the class. Once your class is ready you would simply upload it to a craft class site.

4. An Ongoing Revenue Source. The work involved in creating an online craft class involves setting it up. Once you take step by step photos, typing out the step by step instructions and make a PDF template (optional), and upload it, your work is done. The class can now produce ongoing revenue for you from new customers purchasing it. If your classes cost $10 for example and over the course of 3 months you sell 60 classes. That is an extra $200 per month in revenue with no additional work involved on your part. Of course this example can vary tremendously based on the number of classes you have available and the actual number of classes you sell each month. It’s very possible to do much better than the example!

5. Additional Business Marketing. Offering craft classes can create a great stream of hidden marketing for your business. When people take your class and enjoy it, they are likely to tell other people about it, either directly or indirectly. Directly would be that they seek to tell others. Perhaps they may post about your terrific class on their blog or rave about it on their newsletter. Telling people about it indirectly would be if someone on a forum asked how to create something and they tell them about your class that just happens to teach how to create what that person is looking for.

Offering free classes from time to time is also a great way to gain some additional marketing for your business. Customers will enjoy the class and be more likely to share the free resource of your class with others. The additional traffic of customers taking your free class can result in those customers also purchasing one of your other classes.

© 2007 Kelle Arvay. Kelle Arvay is the owner of Pattern Mart which offers customers access to thousands of craft patterns that they can purchase and download instantly. In addition, she is also the owner of eCraft Classes which is a site dedicated to all types of online craft classes. In addition she is the co-founder and co-publisher of Creative Times, a downloadable bi-monthly craft magazine. Kelle has been working with customers for over 6 years.

http://www.PatternMart.com
http://www.eCraftClasses.com