Do you blog and does it work for you?

[MountainGoth]

Seems like every thing you read about marketing your etsy shop tells you to blog.

I created a blog out on blogspot when I opened my shop three years ago, and frankly from viewing the stats, only a handful of people have dropped by.

Yesterday, I had an inspiration to put up one of my favorite recipes on my blog. In the place in the recipe where something just needs to cook for a bit, I put a link to my other Etsy shop.

Today I was shocked, my blog actually got over 30 hits in less than a day.

http://mountaingoth.blogspot.com/2013/03/suzannes-rich-lobster-stew.html

Do you blog? Do you sell stuff due to your blog? What do you do to keep your blog interesting?

[Former_Member]

Wow! You may have stumbled onto the secret, food! I'd like to hear from others that blog, too, and the results they get. I have a website and facebook page. Hate to think I need to blog, too!

[Former_Member]

Food is definitely a winner! I had a photography blog for many years, and one day I happen to create a recipe for dog treats, and they came out cute so I photographed it and my blog got popular fast. I started photographing a recipe a week and I had an average of 500 visitors a week just for the food posts. I just started my current blog, I get about 40 views a day on it, and maybe 5 of those head to my shop. I just don't have time to blog right now. Hoping to fit it in my schedule in April, so I just need to compile a list of things to blog about now!

[AttentionGetting]

Blogs will help your business depending on what you do. In my case, it helps show credibility, which helps sales of my services. However, the only problem is once you have a blog, you now have to spend time promoting it in addition to promoting your shop and services. But it is part of this new wave called Content Marketing and it can be extremely effective.

[MountainGoth]

Wow 500 a week, that's alot of hits

[Former_Member]

I've had my blog forever but I have also ignored it and tended it in waves. Most recently, I have been putting more attention to my eNewsletter which I publish twice a month through MailChimp. Now that I'm almost in the swing of this as a habit, I am considering reviving my blog and using them in conjunction with one another.

[Former_Member]

I find blogging to be negligible in terms of helping with sales, but I think, as others have said, it helps with credibility. For me, I like to give out free patterns and such on my site. It helps me feel like I'm not just endlessly promoting, which I think is important.

[Former_Member]

I have a blog, but have only recently started putting real thought into it. I stopped thinking of it as a way to promote my shop though. It just wasn't working for me. Instead it's a place where I can show a little bit more of who I am, what I like, what drives me, and all that good stuff beyond just what's in my shop.

I've started doing pattern reviews and tutorials and that sort of thing, and I've seen an increase in traffic from that for sure.

[Former_Member]

I have a blog.

I like to blog about alot of things. I also feature artists on my blog and cool handmade items that I find while browsing the handmade community.

I think having a blog is great if you like doing. If it is something that you don't like doing then your readers will pick up on it to.

[Former_Member]

I just started a blog last weekend. It was a how to for paper crafters. I think it could be a fun endeavor. I really like Sparrow's way of approaching it as a sharing of my passion.

[PlaysWithString42]

I started a knitting blog before I started my Etsy shop. Most of my audience found me because I was knitting geeky costume pieces, (I do costume commissions outside of Etsy).

It's primarily a "this is what I'm working on" blog as opposed to a "business blog" with most of the articles being about my "fun knitting". I'll post photos of my commission work and I'll post about a new item in my shop if it appeals to my predominantly geeky readers. I have gotten some traffic that way. But I try not to go overboard with the shop promotion. That's not why I started it and I really don't want to take it in that direction.

[Former_Member]

I'm building my brand on my blog while I'm developing products for my shop. In the meantime, I'm promoting others to learn from them and to make business connections.

Here's my latest idea of promoting local businesses that support handmade makers.
http://curiousnook.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/shop-local-muchlittle-of-vancouver/

[Former_Member]

I have a blog but was mostly ignored for a while ago
http://www.fluidmoon.com/

now I try to post about products I have to sale, DIY projects I make.

[Former_Member]

I have a blog. As I come from Hong Kong, but not US. I think I can share something in my place with others. I share kids crafts my son did, art exhibitions I saw, etc.

http://shinekidscrafts.blogspot.hk/

For a blog to be successful, you have to get links and give links to other blogs, especially popular blog. Because the SEO will read how many links do you have.

[Former_Member]

I've been blogging on and off and don't think it's working for me. I wish i could just have my shop complete and concentrate on the blog. I think having a clear direction of what the purpose of the blog is about is important and I guess i'm still figuring that out in a way.


http://collectivepearls.wordpress.com

[Former_Member]

I have set up a team here called 'Never give up', trying to encourage each others and share some useful informations to sellers. See if it can help you. ^^

[Former_Member]

I think for a blog to be consistently good, you do have to work on it constantly. It is a lot of work and you have to enjoy it. I've been working so much on my blog that my shop is still empty. I've got to figure out how to balance between the two, but until then I do like using it to research product ideas for my shop.

[MountainGoth]

How do you use it to research? Do you throw ideas out there and look for reaction?

[Former_Member]

No... I use it more to catalogue my ideas, things I like, and sharing test products. My flower tutorial was really the first time I tried to do it properly. I'm also doing interviews with well established Etsy artists and local brick and mortar shops. I'm able to get some insight as to what works for them in business. I'm also able to ask them questions outside of the interview because I've developed a relationship with them. It's more of a collection of ideas and what I like on Etsy.