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Tips From The Blogging Queen
Column 12 -
October
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!
Are You A Multi-Blogger?
Last month in my TFTBQ Column 11
had two definitions "Multi-Blogger and Multi-Blogging." A Multi-Blogger
is a person or business with more than one blog and Multi-Blogging
is creating, maintaining, and running multiple blogs at the same
time.
My question to you was: Are you a
multi-blogger?
For those of you new to blogging
I suspect the answer is "no." For those of you, like me,
who have been blogging for awhile I suspect the answer is
definitely "yes."
Now I know some of you are going
to say, "I can hardly think of enough material to include in one
blog for my small business - why would I create more than one?"
Well, the reason is simple - To
provide directed content for your readers and/or
customers.
Sometimes when you have been
blogging for awhile and see how easy it is to post articles on
just about anything you want about your small business, about
your products, or about yourself you begin to realize that your
posts cover a wide spectrum. In other words your blog
begins to contain many, many different articles, subjects and/or
facets about your business and your interests. Some of
these may be entirely different areas with a vastly different
audience. So, what do you do?
You create a blog specifically
for that content and that audience. By doing so you
provide your audience and/or your customers with the material
that is
specifically geared towards them.
For example, my small business
sells e-products, print products, and a large variety of
handmade items. When I started blogging I found myself
writing about subjects that were as varied as my small business.
However, while some of those
subjects were of interest to some of my customers and readers
some were not. They had their own targeted audience so I
created separate blogs for them. By doing so I allowed my
readers and/or customers to subscribe to the blog that was
specifically of interest to them. Of course, they could
still subscribe to and read my main blog if they wanted to as it
was a compilation of my entire business, but that was now up to
them.
Now I know that you're going to
say that multiple blogs is a lot of work. Granted setting
up multiple blogs is extra work initially, but maintaining and
posting to them isn't that much more effort. If you were
going to post about a particular subject to your main blog then
adding that same post to another blog is nothing more than
copying and pasting.
Is the extra effort involved in
setting up and maintaining multiple blogs worth it? Well,
if it gives your readers and/or customers directed content that
they like to read then you've made your readers and/or customers
happy. And, hopefully, happy
customers means more sales.
If you are currently a multi-blogger
I say, "Congratulations!" If you're on the fence and
wondering if you should create another blog then I say, "Go for
it! Become a multi-blogger!"
"Tips From the Blogging Queen"
Column 12 Definition - "Podcasting" - A combination of the
words IPod and broadcasting where you distribute audio and
video material over the Internet using syndicated feeds like an
RSS feed specifically for playback on portable digital players
and personal computers. Be sure to tune in to my TFTBQ Column 12
on "What is Podcasting and Should You Jump On The Podcasting
Bandwagon?"
© 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
Until next month...
Debbie
www.debbiesgiftshop.com
&
www.faithfulfriendsonline.com |
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Archived 2007
Newsletters can be viewed at the following links:
Jan ::
Feb ::
Mar ::
Apr ::
May ::
Jun ::
Jul ::
Aug ::
Sep ::
Oct :: Nov/Dec
View Past
Newsletters Spotlight Archives: 2004
::
2005 ::
2006
 I'm very
pleased to have
Melissa of
Gramma Fran's Fixins as the Business Spotlight this
month. Thank-you so much Melissa!
Here are the Questions and Answers shared by
Melissa:
1. Describe your
business: type of business, where you're located, how
long you have been in business, website URL's, etc.
Gramma Fran's Fixins has handmade soy candles, highly scented
jumbo tarts, Cinnabun candles and tarts, tinware, tart
melters and highly scented room sprays along with some
primitive home decor and, of course, highly scented
fixins. I also carry a line of personal care items with
bath bombs, bubble bars and Burt's Bees lotions and lip
balms. I am located in Waseca, MN and I have been in
business with Gramma Fran's Fixins for 3 months. However,
Gramma Fran's Fixins has been in business for over 5
years and I have recently purchased the business from
Shelia Thomas.
My Website URL's are
www.grammafransfixins.com and
www.grammafran.com
2. How did you decide on your business name?
Since I purchased an established business,
Gramma Fran's Fixins was named by the previous owner
after her Grandmother Frances. And, of course, we have
fixins here!
3. What were the first things you did to get your
business going?
One
of the first things I did was talk to a shop owner in my
hometown about getting a booth to put my soy candles and
fixins in. I also have a rep up at the Minneapolis
Market where my soy candles are sold to retailers across
Minnesota. And A LOT of hard work and stress!!
4. How long did it take you from the time you decided to
open your business to your Grand Opening Day?
I had my Grand
Opening New Owner sale the week after I purchased Gramma
Fran's Fixins.
5. What was the best thing you did to get your business
going?
One of the best things I
have done for my business is spend the time to market
may candles and fixins as opposed to spending all of my
time making my product. Of course, making candles is
hard work, however if I don't get out and market my
products I have no where to sell them at!
6. What was one thing that you did
that you would advise others not to do?
One
of the biggest things I think as business owners we need
to do is ask for help if we need it. I was very stressed
my first few weeks of the new business and I never asked
for help. Another thing I would advise whether you're a
candle maker or not is have people such as close friends
or family members try your product. What are some good
points or some places I can improve on. It always helps
having another eye. Are my prices ok? Too low? Too high?
7. How do you network? What do you find works
the best?
I network a lot with
other candle makers and with Bath and Body etailers. I
am also a member of a lot of craft marketplaces and
candle marketplaces. I do specialize in primitive
candles and home decor, but a lot of my customers do not
even get into primitives. Friends and family members are
also great for networking.
8. Do you advertise? If so, what type of advertising works
the best for your business? I do a lot of advertising! I
advertise in National Magazines, wholesale magazines, gift
markets, online advertising, local advertising and
participate in a number of sample boxes every month. One of
the best ways I found to advertise is to give samples of
your product, so consumers can get a hands on with your
product and style!
9. Do you have any
advice to give someone thinking of getting into their own
business?
It is imperative to do your research and find any local laws
you may also have. Although customers do not come to my
house to buy my products, I found I needed to have a
business permit.
Advertising is crucial and
is something that cannot be overlooked. Just because you
advertise in a magazine one month, you need to continue to
do it. People forget you are there and need to constantly be
reminded of that.
10. What type of products do you find are 'hot' right
now? I am
finding homespun primitive items have been really hot
lately! Primitive wooden items such as shelves and cupboards
always seem to never go out of style!
Thank-you Melissa for
sharing your spotlight with us! I wish you much continued
success!
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If you visit
Gramma Fran's Fixins online - please tell Melissa that you
found her site through Faithful Friends Online! Thank-you!
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I
need help - what's a copyright?
Go
here
for the latest copyright information. Search
records, get information, and find out about the
laws governing copyrights. |
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Kelle Arvay contacted me
awhile back regarding getting a group of businesses together to
"give" someone in need opportunity to have businesses like ours.
Faithful Friends Online is proud to be a sponsor in this
wonderful endeavor!
The
following is what Kelle says about this great endeavor:
The Giving
Project is a collaboration of various sponsors who would like to
give someone in need, the opportunity to help their business. It
is our way of giving back what we have been blessed with.
If you know someone that designs patterns, kits and/or sells
craft supplies that could really use a bit of help, please
consider nominating them through this form below. If you are
that person, don't hesitate to nominate yourself. We know there
are some businesses that are struggling and may not have the
financial means to afford these services and we want to help!
Please include why this person should be selected for this
giving project and be as detailed as possible. We will respect
each recipients privacy and will not publish any information
without their prior permission. All submissions are kept
strictly confidential. We are looking for someone that truly is
in need of these services and the more you tell us about them
and why, it will give us a better overview of their need. Be
sure and fill out all of the fields on the form. The recipient
will be chosen on October 15th, 2007.
Would you like to help spread the word about the Giving Project
or perhaps nominate someone in need? If so, click here:
The Giving Project
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Profiting from Printable Products
A lot of people may not
realize just how much society utilizes printable
products. I think printable items can be one of those
products we take for granted at times. There have been
many times I myself have been in need of a chart or
record keeping template and have been hard pressed to
find a good one among the free ones that are offered
online. So I found myself creating my own. I also become
interested in designing printable products for crafting.
In the crafting industry printable products can take on
many forms. With the computer crafting industry booming
printable items are in sought out by crafters.
Products such as:
· Altered Art
· Decoupage
· Tags
· Collage
· Gift Tags
· Greeting Cards
· Book Marks
· Printables for fabric printing
· Scrapbook templates and elements
· Templates for gift boxes, envelopes, and various paper
crafts.
Just to name a few. Besides the crafting industry there
is also a market for other types of printables like
business related products such as:
· Charts
· Templates
· Calendars
· Stationery
· Thank you notes
· Organizational printables
· Supply list templates
· Contact list templates
There is also a growing need for home schooling
printable products as well as those geared towards
children in general in the form of color pages, skill
building products and many more. With a market only
limited by ones imagination it's easy to see that
profits could be achieved from designing and offering
printable products.
Some of the benefits of offering printables are:
· The ideas can be limitless and the only limit is your
own imagination.
· Once created they can be sold over and over, thus
creating a product that has endless resell value.
· There is a growing need for a variety of printable
products.
· Printable product sales can be automated on the
internet by memberships to such sites as
www.InstantPrintables.com
· Automated sales of printable products create less work
for the designer.
The price of printable products can vary depending on
the printable itself. If it’s a simple business template
or single printable image, the price may be between
$2-$3 dollars. More complex products such as a pre-made
scrapbook page may cost anywhere from $10-$15 dollars.
The great thing about designing printable product though
is once you have a product designed and ready for sale,
the work is done and the product can be resold
repeatedly.
So if you have always wanted to expand your current
business by designing printables or start a new business
now is the time!
***********************
Author: Kelle Arvay
© 2007 Kelle Arvay. Kelle Arvay is an artist and the
owner of Pattern Mart with offers customers access to thousands
of craft patterns that they can purchase and download instantly.
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.
Kelle Arvay is a business
owner, pattern designer and WAHM. She is also the founder and
developer of IPM™ (Instant Product Management), an online
service that enables individuals and business's to automate the
way they sell downloadable products from their websites, E-mail,
E-zines, Blogs, Message Boards, and Auction websites as instant
downloadable products.
http://www.PatternMart.com
http://www.CreativeTimesMagazine.com
http://www.IPMPro.com
http://epreneurs.blogspot.com
You have permission to publish this article electronically, in
print, in your ebook or on your web site, free of charge, as
long as the author byline above is included. Copy and Paste the
article including authors byline to use this article.
© Copyright 2007
ECraftClasses.com
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And Now...My personal
favorite
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PUT YOUR AD HERE! -
ONLY $6.00 for one month of exposure in Faithful Friends
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Please Take the time
to visit our Sponsors: |
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Ewe N Me Printables
Ad Expiration: 4-30-08
We offer a wide
variety of vintage & primitive crafting printables
including - battlecap inserts, feedsack logos, note
sheets, hang tags & more. E-pattern design service is
also available. |
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Cornerstone Primitives
Ad Expiration:
12-31-07
Wholesale prices on
Fixins, Primitive Potpourri, Colonial Cupboard Candles,
Grubby Taper Candles, Sugar Cones, and much more! |
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Katie
Newman Gifts and Home
Ad Expiration:
11-30-07
Chic and unique gifts, accessories and home/garden decor
that will simply tickle you PINK! Turn your country
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**eCraft
Classes**
Why choose eCraft Classes?
As the internet gets bigger and smarter,
crafters are looking for more resources to assist them
in learning new techniques and crafts. There is a very
high demand for craft classes online. More and more
crafters are getting online daily and with their busy
schedules, they may not have the time to attend a class
locally. |
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**Instant
Printables**
Instant Printables is a online
resource for all types of digital crafting as well as other
types of printables such as scrapbook, altered art, business
templates, graphics and much more. All of the printable items
featured on
Instant Printables download instantly. We also have free
printables and give away a special printable item every other
week on our Freebie page.
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**Pattern
Mart**
If you like to sew or create patterns...This site is just what
you've been looking for!
For more
information please visit the following pages:
Ordering Info
Pattern Mart News
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DigiScrap Kits
Prim Country Graphics &
Scrapbook Resources
A Division of Designs by Trina
Providing premium quality primitive and country graphics
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**Sew
Cute Dolls & More**
We specialize in primitive /
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**Mulberry
Creek Mercantile**
We add your site to Search
Engines, Top Sites and exchange banners with other business
owners. I help you get the added exposure you need to get
traffic to your site. |
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GET YOUR FREEBIES HERE!
Each month we feature sites that offer FREEBIES on their
website! Send us your freebies and get listed here!
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