Blog, yes or no?

[LavenderDaisyCrafts]

The question this morning is...

To blog or Not to blog?

Does blogging help your shop?

Do you post just about your shop? Or do you post personal stuff too?

[IslandPicnic]

I'm rather new to blogging, but I'm trying to get it going here. I blog about personal stuff mostly, right now anyways. I'm going to try and work some shop stuff in every now and then, but my idea is to gain a following of people interested in my main topics (green living & food allergies).

I don't have many posts to look back on at this point, but you can see what I've been doing here:

www.organiluxe.com/blog

[LavenderDaisyCrafts]

I bookmarked your blog. :)

...

I'm still undecided on whether to start one or not. I've made one in the past for personal stuff... then family found it. Not good. Lol.

But for business... i dunno. I was hoping for some feedback on what others have done.

[Former_Member]

Hi

I started a blog 2 months after I set up shop because I just wasn't getting much traffic. As soon as I started a blog and joined team's such as Etsy Blog Team, which was not only a supportive network but you find great advice and I learnt alot.

My blog allows me to reach a much wider audience beyond Etsy - alot of my sales have come from people who join Etsy to purchase my pillows, because they have found us off Etsy. The more people join Etsy, the more they are likely to buy other things on Etsy. I guess, I feel like there is nothing to lose in spreading the net as widely as possible on the web. For me blogging has been the most effective tool and best suits me. I don't really promote on Facebook or Twitter - I find these more difficult to build a rapport with a potential audience.

It definitely takes time - blog regularly (if you have the time), join teams and forums, network and support others - it's a rewarding experience.

Hope this helps you decide : )

Today, you can find a creative guide to product photography - you are welcome to drop by: http://sisterbatik.blogspot.com/

[Former_Member]

I started blogging before I even had a shop so it was only natural to start blogging about my jewelry & shop too. I do agree that EBT is an active and supportive team that you may want to look into joining.

[IslandPicnic]

Thanks, Lavender! :)

Ahhh, Etsy Blog Team, eh? Great idea! Checking it out now!

[Former_Member]

LavenderDaisy, I also starting blogging prior to my opening my shop on Etsy. It started out mostly about me (personally) and how I live my life with a chronic illness (lupus). NOW, I'm trying to also tie in some "Etsy" stuff as well. My whole blog is really about how I balance my life IN SPITE of the illness ... how I try to make the most of a bad situation kind-of-thing and live my life to the fullest. I have been told that blogging will expand my audience ... and if you think about it, of course it makes tremendous sense!! It's still early to tell ... but I'll get back to you to let you know if it's REALLY worked for me!! To be honest, I just find blogging therapeutic, just as I do my jewelry-making.

If you're interested, you can check me out at:
www.jujubeader.blogspot.com

Hope this helps!

[CarolynCochrane]

I've been wondering if having a blog is worth it too. I've been posting my latest pictures on my photo blog regularly. It is getting some views but not sure if it's bringing in traffic to my shop. I figure it can't hurt! Apparently one of the keys to blogging is posting frequently so I'm doing my best to keep up. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

The answer is "YES" My blog is the only place I can do whatever I want!

[Former_Member]

YES!!! I love being able to express myself and promote the work of other artists! http://www.foranyoccasioncards.com

[JustForGiggles]

When I started Etsy and started taking the advice of WAY too many, I found that the time spent on promotion took over production time. SOOOoo I've decided not to blog. If one has the time, energy, and focus to write and create a following, then I think it is wonderful. But I'm alright with facebook and a Twitter account that attached to my facebook so that I don't really have to tweet :o)

If you do decide to blog, I do hope it works out well for you!!!

[Former_Member]

I like blogging! It's helped bring traffic and a few sales so far. I am still really new at it, but it's growing. I post about photography, travel, do etsy finds posts, and occasional updates on new stuff I'm doing in my shop. http://little-fever.blogspot.com

[Former_Member]

I've been blogging for 4 years and although I've had an Etsy account since 2010, I started listing at the end of April this year. Honestly, if it weren't for my blog, I would have had no sales at all but have been blessed that I did have a sale as soon as I started listing. I think my blog did increase exposure and helped my shop from being lost on Etsy.

Because my blog automatically feeds to my Facebook profile, to Network blogs, Google Reader, and email subscribers, I really don't have to create separate newsletters to promote my shop to various venues. Keep in mind, I have been blogging for a long time and you do have to enjoy doing it . It's a great way to network with other crafters as well. It takes time to build followers and subscribers.

If you want to take a look at what I did with the "Etsy Mini" application that Etsy provides, I have it on my blog. It's basically a mini Etsy shop showing a gallery of my listings. I minimized my gallery to only 2 rows but you are allowed a total of 5 rows. It's helpful because it showcases some of the items I'm selling and hopefully bring customers to my shop.

Here is the link to my blog: www.stampininspirations.blogspot.com

[JustForGiggles]

@CardInspired the details in your work are beautiful and the pics on your blog are AMAZING!!!!

[Former_Member]

Thank you JustForGiggles. I looked at your blog and your scenic photos are BEAUTIFUL. I would like to work on taking more photos.. . .well, other than my craft items. .hehe! I do recommend that you add the "Etsy Mini" application to your blog so people are able to see a small gallery of your listings. The Etsy Mini application is located to your left sidebar after clicking on "account" on Etsy. . .you can customize it to your preference. . .:)

[Crafts2Love]

I just opened a blog at blogger, could anyone direct me to some basic know how? (like uploading a photo, bookmarking other blogs, linking) Please convo if you have a specific help article. Thanks in advance!

[Former_Member]

Hi there! I also say yes! My blog is unrelated to my etsy, but occasionally I will post pics of new items I list. Seems to always get people over to my shop to look around.

http://gracelouisephotography.blogspot.com/

[Former_Member]

JustforGiggles-
What do you mean your facebook is linked to your twitter? I have NEVER tweeted. But, would love to get started and you comment sounds like it might a. be easy and b. get me started.

[Former_Member]

I am so glad ya'll are keeping this thread going! I have been wondering the same thing, to blog/tweet or not to blog/tweet. I have a FB page that I promote on (Jenni Fulton Designs at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenni-Fulton-Designs/101000909974201 in case any of you want to like me that 'd be awesome and I'll return the favor!!) but have never blogged nor tweeted. I have a pretty intense full time job so I find I have a hard enough time in the day to keep up with FB, Etsy and my jewelry. My biggest question is how do people find you and why do they follow you if they're not friends (FB I get, but Twitter and blogging I'm not so sure about).

If I have the time I'd love to start a blog, as I love to talk :) and would love to share my ideas and love of animals (we foster a lot of pups and I'm a veggie, so that might be a fun thing to talk about) and my jewelry, just not sure I have the time. How do ya'll prioritize?

Great idea for a thread Lavender Daisy!!

[3PeasPrints]

To be completely honest, I can't stand blogging. I have nothing to say and feel like I am talking about nothing to myself. Its time consuming and I wonder do any of my followers actually read this? So, when I get around to it I will most likely dump the blog. Now Twitter and Facebook are my friends :) So quick and easy to do. I love twitter the best because you only have 146 characters and you are outta there. I have chatted with lots of nice people, read excellent articles and posts on twitter and even have some retweeting friends. Just my 2 cents :)

[SamBabyStudio]

I have a blog and find I spend a lot of time taking pictures for the blog and less time making things for my etsy shop. Trying to split the difference and do both!

FB and twitter seems like too much computer and not enough quilting!

Here is my blog address. My cats are pretty cute.

http://catstaffquilting.blogspot.com/

[Former_Member]

I started my blog in 2005 and my etsy shop in 2006. My blog is mainly about my photography experiments, however, I do blog about my work on etsy. It's fun for me to write about my daily adventures. Not sure I get many sales from it, however, I have made so many friends and connections that I still love it.

Trina

http://gallery32.wordpress.com/

[Former_Member]

I blog because I love to write about my art, jewelry and life. So, it is a definite "yes" to blogging for me:):) But it is important that you like writing, otherwise it can soon become a chore. Blogging is just one way to market your shop and it alone doesn't bring buyers. You still need to market in as many places as possible:):)

[Former_Member]

I started blogging before I ever opened a shop. I love my shop, but my blog is my real passion. It helps me connect with others who have similar interests as well as promote my own shop.

www.ninthstreetnotions.com

[Zehland]

Yes to a blog! I have two, one of them for four years. The older one has my painting-a-day images on it and people still find my posts through Google years later. I've gotten some really nice commissions from people who have found my blog in Google search.
It's a great way to get some extra SEO outside of your shop, especially if you are intentional about using keywords in your posts and linking back to items in your shop.