Check your local papers...

[Former_Member]

Yesterday I noticed that the local paper from the little city closest to us has a feature where they list links to local blogs. I submitted mine yesterday and I haven't been able to find it yet but the editor of the even smaller online mountain area newspaper did and just sent me an email asking if I lived up here so that he could include it too. (He saw a picture in my "about" section and recognized the area.) With barely any effort at all I got two newspaper backlinks and IIRC Mary said that newspapers are high-value links. If you live in an area with papers that do this it's definitely worth looking into although I don't know if big cities would offer the same thing to little bloggers.

[Former_Member]

This sounds like an opportunity that rarely comes along. Good for you for going for it.

Local and small town newspapers are excellent sources for links.

[Former_Member]

What a great suggestion! I just added my link to my local paper's directory.

[Former_Member]

Neat! I applied to have my shop listed in a local directory of artists, but haven't heard back from them. I didn't think to look in our local paper. I'm gonna have to check that out. Thanks!

[Former_Member]

It certainly got me to get it (mostly) together with my blog yesterday and add a page with a slideshow gallery and get the pictures linked to my shop. It's one thing to have strangers reading my blog but having locals read it feels like pressure :).

If anyone has time to check it out for speed I would really appreciate it. I have a very fast connection but it seems to take a long time to load the first time. If it's painfully slow and loading the gallery before someone clicks on the tab I might need to make my pictures smaller.

http://www.mirabilisblog.com/

[LisaCorinneHandmade]

I just checked your blog and it loaded quickly. The front quicker than the background/edging.

[Former_Member]

Whew :). Thanks for trying it.

[Former_Member]

Just a heads up and another idea, here in Tallahassee we have a culture and arts council that has an online directory of local artists on their site. I applied and got my site and some of my pictures posted! It took 10 mintues to fill out the application and upload everything, took them a week or two to get it up, and voila! I now have a local link to my jewelry!
Be sure to check locally in your area for these types of councils. they can be a wonderful way to network, and if they have a site that can list your shop, that's useful too!