Thank you all so much for joining me! This is my first ever attempt at writing an eCourse, and this one reads as a very long blog post with an interactive bit at the end. If you would like this eCourse as a pdf file, just email me at lori at lorianderson dot net and I’ll get it to you immediately!
So sit back with a snack or your favorite beverage and we’ll venture forth together.
I’ve wanted to write a blog post like this since January, when I discovered that my blog was being read by someone who has had life-changing effects on my business. I realized that you never really know WHO reads your little piece of the blogosphere, and I was relieved that I’d treated my blog as an extension not only of myself, but of my business.
Please keep in mind that the opinions stated are my own, and not everyone is going to agree with me. That’s why it’s free – it’s just advice and ideas. I’d love for you to comment after you read this, but please keep it kind, even if you disagree! I actually like to listen to dissenting opinions because I often learn something from them – but attacks are never fun.
With that being said, this eCourse is about blogging and how it can affect you and your business. I’m assuming that those who are reading this want to build or further their business, but also are writing blogs that may have a personal element to them. I’ll reiterate again that the opinion stated herein are my own opinions, and are not written in stone. They’re food for thought and you can take a bit of this and a smidge of that, or throw out the whole lot if you choose.
When I first started my blog, I had no idea it would turn into what it is today. I enjoy writing tremendously and I love the thought of people reading what I write. I also follow a LOT of blogs, because not only do I like to read, I love the visual aspect of blogs – the headers, the photos, the personal touches each blogger adds to their piece of the internet. Additionally, I like the interaction between blogger and reader. Sometimes it’s a silent thing – I read and and don’t comment. Sometimes I’m one of those who love to comment on posts, particularly those that touch me or inspire me.
While there is absolutely nothing wrong with inserting personal bits of your life into your blog, (and I’ll touch on that in a bit), most of us in the jewelry world is also using a blog to promote a business. So show your best photos! Link your web site! Go ahead and express your voice on other subjects, but never forget that you have a business to promote.
Even if you’re just experimenting with different jewelry styles, don’t be afraid to show them off. The most expensive piece of jewelry I’ve ever made to date was sold off my blog when a person emailed me and asked about it. I had no intention of putting this piece on my web site because it was so different from my normal style, but wanted to show it. You just never know who’s reading!
larimar necklace I sold via my blog
Writing is very cathartic. Often I write to get things out of my head, to hear myself think, in a way. A lot of times, these thoughts end up in my blog. The trick is knowing what the line is.
There’s nothing wrong with having a personal element on your blog. In fact, I’d encourage it. Some would say just the opposite, and you have to decide what is good for you. I actually like to read a little more than straight jewelry posts – I’m a fan of mixing in personality and other interests with business postings. I think the line should be drawn at arguments with husbands and things that are extremely personal, and I personally never discuss religion or politics (but that’s me). Choose your style. That’s the beauty of the blog.
I intersperse my jewelry postings with book reviews, funny anecdotes about my son, worries about my migraines, and reviews of other artists. When my customers meet me at craft shows, they tell me that they feel they already know me because of my blog. Not only do they like the preview of new jewelry, but they like to know who they’re buying from. And here’s the thing. None of these customers are commenters on the blog. They’re silent readers.
Which brings up a very good point – even if you have a million followers, you have no idea who is actually reading what you write. I always aim to write as if the CEO of a Fortune 500 company followed my blog. This doesn’t mean I don’t often write with tongue in cheek or with self-deprecation – my blog isn’t 100% business. What it means is I try to be real and genuine and keep any hurt feelings or anger off my blog – that’s what friends and phones are for.
Being proud of your work is terrific. Having confidence is a wonderful trait. Constantly bragging without humility is the crossed line. Know that line.
Don’t forget about those who comment on your blog. Take the time to visit their blogs and comment, too. Otherwise, you run the risk of quietly losing readers.
I know there are times when life is just too darned busy – trust me, I know! With full-time jobs, children, making jewelry, and actually blogging, there’s not a lot of time left. But make an effort from time to time – schedule a block of time each weekend, for example. The plus to this, in addition to the goodwill you’ll foster, is you might see an interesting blog in the fellow blogger’s comments block, visit it, comment, and gain another follower!
Write as often as you can. Continuity is key if you want to grow your readership and your business. Make a resolution to write a particular number of times a week and write it down as an appointment if need be to keep yourself on task. Before long, you just might find this appointment becoming a treasured part of your day!
Don’t get too hung up on the numbers. Yes, you want to have followers and sales and make a living at making your art. But if you get so wrapped up in it that the numbers and comments and popularity become so important that it seems that’s all you’re talking about or worrying about – you might just want to take a step back. Revisit your craft, think about why you blog, and think about how constant crowing over your achievements may actually be a turn-off to your readers.
YES, your followers want to know about your triumphs. But a little humility and thanks is always in style. Never be afraid to write about making a magazine cover, or your newest book, or being chosen for a Treasury.
A word about followers. I’ve thought about this one a lot and I’ve been on both sides of the fence.
Some people ask for followers in order for a person to qualify for a giveaway. This is a quick way to bump up your follower numbers – but will these people really ever read your blog again? Some of them never even come back to see if they’ve won the contest! It’s a hard nut.
Do what you feel is good for you. Contests are indeed great ways to get noticed and get your name out there (I’ve run a number of them myself!), but don’t rely on them as the only way to grow your follower numbers.
I’ve found my favorite blogs, and some of my best followers, by randomly visiting blogs listed in another blog’s links list. It’s a great way to broaden your horizons and discover new people – and you might find that they love your writing, too! Asking your friends to become followers is a good way to get started, and ask them to tell their friends as well. (This, by the way, is also a good way to get your business started). Feature other artists on your blog. Use your tags well. Be sure your blog is in your email signature line and on your business cards. Before long, you’ll have a loyal group of readers.
Now for two never-evers that I personally feel very strongly about. Again, these are my personal opinions, advice that can be taken or tossed.
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Never, ever Blog, Facebook, or Twitter at work.
Just don’t. In this day and age where jobs are at a premium, the risk is way, way too high. I speak from second-hand experience.
Before the advent of Facebook, Blogs, and Twitter, there was email. Out of college, I worked for an information technology company. One day I was called into the president’s office only to see a huge stack of paper on his desk and a grim look on his face. A co-worker had been caught abusing email on company time, and I’d been called in (among others) to attest to whether we knew if this was going on. That was a horrible experience for everyone that day, and the poor girl was escorted out the building.
After the advent of the social networking phenomenon, things went completely crazy in a lot of workplaces. I personally know three people who have been summarily fired for their actions on Facebook and personal blogs. One was fired for making disparaging comments about her job; one was fired for posting photos that should never have seen the light of day; another was fired for posting tasteless jokes. ALL were caught posting during work hours.
If you think your boss won’t find out – think again. They can and being caught is phenomenally easy.
Do you want to risk it? Trust me. You don’t. And for those of you with ten million friends on Facebook – do you remember if you friended coworkers, or even your boss? Probably not a good idea if you’re posting all day long.
Over the past six years, I’ve seen people’s reputations, personalities, and livelihoods get dragged through the mud via forums, Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. I find this, stated mildly, unfortunate.
It’s very easy to be unkind and to lash out over the Internet. It’s amazingly easy for an ordinarily nice person to unleash venom anonymously, or even worse in my opinion, very publicly, when if the angry person had to have the same argument face to face, chances things would be so, so different.
Before you feel your ire rising and feel like venting publicly, please think long and hard.
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- Do you really want this side of you to become public?
- Do you really want to risk being misunderstood?
- Do you really dislike someone so much that you want to run the risk of potentially ruining their business?
If you find yourself in a case where you feel wronged, do yourself and your business a favor and take it off line. There could have been a big misunderstanding. You or the person could just be having a very bad day. Even if the public lashing is deserved, there’s always going to be someone (or many someones) who feel the opposite way, and the backlash could be severe. Do you really, really want your readers to see this side of you, you who make pretty things?
I vote no. This is what hot baths, a glass of wine, ice cream, and chocolate are for. And this is also what significant others and friends are for. Not blogs.
And now we come to the interactive portion of the eCourse called
“Tell Me”. This is where you, the reader, can tell us, the bloggers, two things:
- What is your favorite thing bloggers do?
- What is your pet peeve about bloggers?
It can be anything, such as “Please use spell-check” or “Please make your photos larger,” or “I love how she changes her backgrounds all the time” to “she’s hysterically funny”.
I want to give all of you time to mull this over and send in or post your comments (all of which will be moderated first), so I will not close comments until a week from today, Friday, September 24th.
Rule #1
Your pet peeve may be, and can be, controversial, but be try to phrase it in a nice way. Even though you can post anonymously, post as if you were standing up in front of a room full of people and saying this out loud.
Rule #2
No calling out in a mean way. I will not post any comment calling out specific blogs or people.
Rule #3
You may post your comments as yourself, or anonymously. You may also email them to me at limamike at goeaston dot net (my regular email is currently in transition) and be assured of complete confidence.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this, maybe gotten a thing or two out of it, and not been angered. This is why the course is free. This is merely eleven pages of my personal observances and thoughts. It’s also what I hope will be a starting point for discussion and conversation that will be posted (using none of your names) in a week.
Comments are now closed for this course.
Thank you for reading!
Lori Anderson
The typewriter in the quotation photographs is my own – I collect antique typewriters (and antique cameras). It’s a Blickensderfer No. 7 typewriter patented in 1897. This typewriter was made with a pre-QWERTY keyboard (QWERTY being the one you are used to now) -- letters just aren't where you expect them to be. Because it operates with a rotating ball system, there are no keys to get jammed, which is why QWERTY was invented in the first place -- typists got so fast they'd jam two neighboring keys together and gum up the works.
Part Two -- The Comments
This one is long, too, so grab a snack and a cuppa and enjoy the read!
There were lots of comments on the blog post and I received a ton of emails, so I got a good feel for what the average blog reader is looking for (and not looking for) in a blog. If you haven't had time to read the comments, do click here and take a look.
- Personalization of a blog. Readers may come for the eye candy, but they do enjoy learning more about the artist.
- Frequent posts. Readers tend to forget about bloggers who don't post at least once a week, preferably more.
- Some readers really like to read a blog with a regular feature, such as "Wordless Wednesday" or "Etsy Finds".
- A meaningful post doesn't even have to have that many words -- it can be a picture with a little bit of thought typed below.
- A big favorite is clear, large, well-done photos. It can be of an artist's work, a funny something or other, flowers -- anything.
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| a gate near my neighborhood |
- A blog with the blogger's personality is always great. It not only makes the blog consistent, whether they are talking about their art or their personal life, but it keeps the words from being dry and reading like a dissertation or advertisement.
- A HUGE favorite -- bloggers who take the time to visit their commenter's blogs! This was expressed so often I thought I'd show you some of the words that came to me in emails.
- "I take time out of my day to comment. To me it's courtesy to visit me back."
- "If a blogger never comments on my blog, I quit reading them. I may not unfollow them, but I do quit reading them."
- "When I comment and comment and comment, yet I never get a single comment back, it makes me feel like the unpopular girl sitting alone in the cafeteria.
- Related to commenting, and a favorite of bloggers and readers alike -- having an email listed on the profile page of the blog. This allows a blogger to comment to a direct question a reader may have, or to merely thank that person for commenting.
- Readers love when a blogger shares tips, tricks, and links to cool finds. Sharing is always in vogue.
Of all of these, the returning the comments part seems to be the hot button. Readers LOVE that, and I feel it's important to remember. None of us has the time to respond to every single post the day that it's posted -- I know that there are days that I get bogged down and have to have a catch-up day. But giving it your best shot could mean the difference between gaining new readers by word of mouth or losing fans.
- Blogs that are purely "look at me, look what I sold, look at my accomplishments" blogs. There's a tactful way to tell everyone about your hard-won kudos.
- Blogs that are very long, with no pictures to break up the words.
- This one got many, many comments ... music that automatically turns on. Some people actually said they enjoyed people's play lists, but the majority of people felt very strongly about music on a blog. I don't care for music on a blog as it startles me and often wakes up my husband, who is an early sleeper due to his job, so I have to turn my volume all the way off. That being said, none of the blogs I follow that have music have turned me off -- their blogs are too cool to pass up! It's something to think about, but do what's right for you.
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| shhhh, froggie! |
- Blogs that go off on rants constantly. An occasional rant can be good for the soul (and I've done it!) but we're talking about rants being the norm. Make that a double eek for political and religious rants, or preaching to the reader.
- Giveaways that ask the reader to become a follower in order to win the prize.
- Too much side bar action. I love side bar decoration, but it can go too far, especially if you have a three-column blog. Every now and then, take a look at your blog with a critical eye and see if you have too many ads, blinkies, or other things that distract from your important words and photos. These can also make the blog take forever to load up.
- Additional to side bar action, a number of people say they don't like to see ads on blogs, that it takes away from the personal connection they want to get from their visit.
- Backgrounds -- many expressed the difficulty of reading white script on a black or dark blue background.
I hope you've enjoyed the eCourse, and I'm so very happy you've spent this time with me. As always, everything I've written is just a suggestion ... each person needs to make the choices and decisions that feel right to THEM.
Be well, and Happy Blogging!
Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and writes the blog An Artist's Year Off. She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene.
