Is it worth getting a blog?

[#1]

Just looking to increase views/sales and am reading that many users have blogs to promote their items and/or interact with other bloggers to gain attention. I don't have much time to blog as I work full time and having an Etsy shop takes up my evenings and weekends. Is it worth creating a blog to help promoting my shop? Can anyone show me some examples of great Etsy bloggers?

Thanks in advance :)

[Former_Member]

I have a Harry Potter, and a movie, blog. They are both a lot more fun than work because of the excitement I have for my topics. Though I don't have many readers/comments, I still work hard on it - writing posts, promoting, etc.

Really ask yourself if you want to do a blog. Starting one won't mean instant views/customers. You have to be willing to write posts, promote, comment on other blogs to get linkbacks, etc. A blog doesn't have to be specifically to promote your items but also crafts and handmade things, and it can be beneficial to have a blog if something bad ever happens on Etsy - such as them closing your suspending your shop due to violations of their terms of use.

It's also said within the blogging community that a successful blog can take 6 months to a year to be truly found by readers - you may want to ask yourself if you can see yourself running a blog for that long! :D

[Former_Member]

I started a blog about the same time I opened my Etsy shop. I do promote my shop on my blog, but I haven't seen a lot of traffic from the blog. The most outside traffic I see is from Pinterest.

I thought it would be hard to come up with posts, but I haven't had a problem yet coming up with at least two posts a week. If you are crunched for time, you could always write 2 or 3 posts when you have time, then schedule them to go live at different times throughout the week.

Gigi - you asked "if it matters in the SEO ranking if the blog is NOT updated regularly? Like if I have a blog that had a post 2 months ago, would that be worse than having new blog posts every day?"

Yes, it matters. As far as SEO goes, search engines like websites that are updated regularly. That's why blogs that are updated on a regular basis do so well in search results. It is also really important to use keywords and tags.

http://beadsandbrass.wordpress.com/

[Former_Member]

I love to blog and welcome readers - www.tineandthread.com. I've just started and don't have comments. I feel like I'm blogging to myself. Haha

It's great for SEO and just connecting with others, getting your shop out there. If you really want to do it, just set a goal of dedicating a little time each week to post.

[WilliamsGiftshop]

When considering starting a blog, in my huble opinion the first thing you should ask yourself is: do I have a lot to tell?
If no, don't do it.
Question number two: there are a gazillion blogs out in blog land..., how are you going to persuade people to follow YOUR blog? How would they pick yours in that large ocean of choices?
No answer to that one? Don't do it.
Blogging takes a lot of time and dedication (that is: if you want to keep it interesting). Consider whether this is the best way to spend all of that time to promote. Perhaps other ways of promoting are more efficient?
I mean: if you want to do it for fun, for the love of it. Go ahead!
But if your only goal is to increase your sales, you might want to reconsider.

[Former_Member]

I started blogging about a year before I opened my Etsy shop. I like it, though it doesn't bring any new customers. I like it 'cus I "hang around" with people with similar interests. Blogging is a lot more than just showing your items photos. If that is all you're interested in (new customers) and don't have time for it, you better forget it. To much time consuming and no huge new customers.
http://blackbird-bags.blogspot.com/