Need advice please

[Davs]

I've had my blog for about 6 months now and have only a small following that doesn't seem to pay attention to my posts. I blog about my paintings and the audio books I listen to while doing so. I blog once every couple weeks and took all the dates off of my blog hoping that my older posts wouldn't feel out dated that way. I post my new blog posts to FB and Twitter whenever I have a new post but no one seems to notice.

What am I doing wrong?

How can I improve my blog?

Does blogging work for you?

How did you get a following?

Do you think it's bringing in traffic to your etsy? And how?

Please help if you can.

Here's my blog:
http://davenportal.blogspot.com/

Critiques are welcome, brutal honesty is a good policy in this case I can take it!

[Former_Member]

Think your blog is a cute idea. Like the idea of the book reviews and enjoy looking at your pictures. Do you put the hard yards in by following other people and commenting thoughtfully on their posts?

[Former_Member]

Definetly find other blogs to follow that you like and are also relavent to what you are selling. Others may not follow you right away but they are reading. I also have a blog and follow several other blogs, no followers but I get traffic from those blogs that I do follow.

[Former_Member]

Oh, and worth using google analytics on your blog - keep yourself motivated by seeing that even on the days when people don't comment, they are reading, and you might notice trends. On a day that you ask a question, for example, do people comment to answer it? Or do they comment if you share a secret to your style? If you post at particular times of day, where do your readers come from, are you getting repeat visitors, do you get many new visitors? Where are they referred from? Even if you don't drill right down into GA, it's fun to look at.

[BeyondCrochet]

Davs - Thank you for starting this thread. I've been having the same issue with blogging, but no followers. And didn't/don't know what else to do to bring them in either. I follow several blogs and have them linked to mine, but nothing yet. - BTW I'm now following your blog. :)

@ FeltByGina and Klineback1: Your suggestions are great! Thank you all for the help to all of us.

Becca

[Former_Member]

Hi! I really liked your blog - although I will admit to being somewhat swayed by the fact that the first thing I clapped eyes in was a review of The Blind Assassin, which is a favorite of mine! In fact, I liked your blog enough to follow it, which I am usually to lazy to do ( like its really hard to just click a button right?) - now, I am not really a candidate for future sales, purely because being in Aus, the shipping costs tend to kill off any such purchases for me, but your blog was pretty enough to draw me in and your writing style was interesting enough to make me want to stay there - I will definitely be checking out future posts! So it seems to me, if you stick with it, surely you are going to draw in more people like me, only one's who don't have to figure out how to get your artworks across such a big ocean! I wholeheartedly agree with the advice to comment and follow other blogs - people you never expected will find you through your comments etc. And with such a great showcase of your work on your blog, you want to get it out there any way you can!
Hope this helps a little!
xJenn

[Davs]

FeltByGina that's how I got the following that I do have, but it is so hard to keep up! Also I am pretty sure that I have google analytics or something like it but have a hard time figuring out what it all means. Maybe I am making it out to be more complicated than it is? Probably it's what I do best!;) But thank you for your advice!

Thank you too Klineback1, I will try to do that more.

BeyondCrochet, I will not follow your blog either;)

BellaAndDee, wasn't The Blind Assassin a great book? I had to choke back the tears at the end she worded it so brilliantly! And thank you! Also I don't charge shipping fees in my shop, just for future reference! I actually just shipped to Australia for the second time, which now means that two of my paintings reside there!:)

[Davs]

Anyone else else have any advice? I am specifically curious about:
If you think it's bringing in traffic to your etsy? And how?
And what else I may do to improve my blog to get people wanting to read it...

[Davs]

*it's* meaning your blog;)

[Davs]

Also does blogging work for you?

[Former_Member]

Sorry - me agin. Had another thought. Make sure your blog URL (and Etsy shop) are in the email signature for any email tht you send out, and also in the sig line for any forums that you read/use. Get the URLs out there - people can't visit, otherwise.

[Former_Member]

This is something I have to work on as well.

My suggestion is to adjust the tone of your blog so it's not all about you and promoting your products. Write about things that will help your customers. What kind of questions might they have that you can answer? Or what kind of tips and advice might they appreciate from an artist? Is it decorating tips, or maybe experiences with artistic events and venues?

Content generation is quite the project. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

You've gotten some good advice here, and I would add from my own personal experience (having started my blog 1 1/2 years ago and only having about 2x the followers you do) is that you need to get out and make yourself known by finding blogs you like and leaving comments.

Thoughtful and savvy bloggers will usually stop by your blog from your link if you leave a comment, and I've had many people follow my blog that way, and v.v.

Also, if you want people to leave comments, make sure you reply to those that people leave for you, which I see you don't do. For me, my blog is a way to interact with people, and that means thanking them for their comment. I seldom leave comments on blogs where the blogger never replies to them because it gives the impression they could care less about their readers. For really popular blogs from busy artists (e.g. - Karin Jurick, Carol Marine), they are too busy to reply, which I get. But, they do acknowledge comments from time to time, so I know they appreciate them.

I've also found that over time, I develop a "rapport" with certain bloggers. We become regular commenters on each other's posts, and I enjoy that a lot. Other people swing by occasionally to comment, and that's fine, too.

As with many things, though, it seems like the majority of people that follow blogs either lurk or the "follow" is just an empty gesture. FB is the same way.

Personally, I like to see dates on blog posts. I'm absolutely less likely to comment if there's no date - I have no idea if the post is one day or one year old, and what is the point of commenting if the blogger won't see it or read it? I also tend to not follow blogs that don't post regularly (like 2+ times a week), but if the blog is really good, I make exceptions.

You can add that LinkWithin widget to your blog so people can click on older posts that might otherwise get missed.

Regarding exposure to your Etsy shop - I've found my FB studio page to be more valuable for that, and sales, than my blog.

A final suggestion: you can easily check your page stats via Blogger Dashboard. If you look at the tabs where it says "Stats", click on that. Be sure to click on the link that says "don't track your own pageviews" so the results won't be skewed.

I also use StatCounter, which is a free invisible web tracker. It is far more comprehensive than the Blogger stat analytics.

I love your "Swan Dive" painting, BTW :).

[Davs]

FeltByGina that's a great idea, I think I will do that from now on.

jenniejane, I started the blog to be a place where people who were interested in my art could read a little more about it. I don't know if writing about other peoples work would fit with what I am trying to accomplish here. But you're probably right, it would be a good way to get more people interested in the blog.

SonyaJohnsonArt, You make and interesting point about me not having dates on my blog. I took the dates off though in hopes of having the opposite effect, that is to say I was hoping it would give people the idea that none of the posts are outdated. I will have to think on what you say about that.

Also you're totally right, I should be more intereactive. I don't know why I am not, except that I didn't think that if I responded to someones comment that they would even know about it. Do they get notified if there is a responce? I can't imagine anyoen checking back on a blog to see if there was a responding comment.

Also I found the Linked Within widget but when I installed it it reffered people to something totally other than my older posts. Can you direct me to a placce with instructions on how to set it up to direct poeple to my older posts?

As for how often I blog I blog about my latest paitings and obviously I can't put out a new painting everyday, so that is the reason I am not blogging more often. That and because I have kids and other things that take my time.:)

Thank you for all of your advice I really appreciate it Sonya!:)

[Former_Member]

@Davs - I'm glad you found some of my advice possibly of use, and I'm happy to help :).

Perhaps some or many people don't come back to read replies, and if I leave a "passing through" comment on a blog (that is, a blog I probably won't return to), or a blog I don't follow or similar situation, I don't check back.

But, for the bloggers who I follow and who are interactive with their followers/readers, I definitely come back to check their replies :)! There is a way for people to check a reply box to be notified of comments, but I have never used it.

At the very least, if you reply, then new visitors will see that you are interactive. Another option is that you could email a reply to them directly; I've had bloggers do this.

I actually don't have the LinkWithin widget on my blog...I keep meaning to add it, but I often put links to older posts in when they are pertinent to the current post. So, unfortunately, I can't help you with that problem! I do notice it on other blogs, and I think it's a great idea.

With regards to what jenniejane says about changing the tone of your content a bit so it isn't all about promoting your products, you can easily do that without necessarily promoting other people. I personally like giving plugs and kudos to other artists, including other bloggers, but YMMV.

Here are some suggestions for you: You are obviously inspired by certain music and writers. Are there any contemporary or historical artists you draw inspiration from? Did you come across a really wonderful book on an artist in your library, or is there an art reference book you can't live without? Did you visit an art museum or just learn something new about a historical artist or art movement? If so, talk about that!

Example: in one of my posts of a plein air painting, I included a link to a discussion from Mitch Albala's instructional art blog about synergy between studio and plein air work, as written about by noted landscape artist Matt Smith. Someone thanked me for posting the links, as she was in sort of the same quandary about her work.

In another post, I referenced Carlson [John F. - artist, author of bible for landscape painters] with regards to painting trees after another plein air piece I did.

Did you experiment with a new material or technique that you're excited about? Share your experiences!

Working on an involved painting project? Consider showing in-progress photos and explaining your process - people enjoy reading about that.

All of these things add "value content" to your posts, and will keep people coming back for more.

Also, with regards to posting frequency, I don't think anyone expects artists, even daily painters (of which I consider myself) to post every day. But, just like a plant will shrivel and die if not watered regularly, so will a blog die if it's not fed regularly :). if I come across a blog where there hasn't been a new post in 4 months, I don't follow it. I've "un-followed" blogs that went for a couple of months with no posts, in fact. Do what you can that accommodates your time and schedule, but just keep in mind that if you post infrequently (1-2x/month), you probably won't have the visits and interest in your blog that you want.

Good luck and happy painting!

[Former_Member]

Hi, I really like your art, and I'm not just saying that!! I've Liked you on FB and am now following your blog. =) I'm very new to Etsy, and I sell vintage stuff, so I can't offer any advise at this time, but I can offer my support and an ear to vent to! Good luck and nice to meet you! =)

[Davs]

SonyaJohnsonArt, Thank you for more input, I will definitely work on posting more, I think you have a great point about how if you're not watering a plant regularly it will wither and die. I've also added you to my favs live your work! I too paint daily but don't produce paintings daily.:)

NaturalVintage, thank you SO much! Love your shop too! I appreciate the follow and the FB like! Added you to my circle!:)

[Davs]

SonyaJohnsonArt, sorry I meant *love* your work not live...:D

[Former_Member]

It's been mentioned numerous times that a great way to start to build a following is to follow other related blogs yourself, and to leave good on-topic comments on other related blogs.... Those are the 2 best recommendations...

Now, on a different note, I'd like to point out that you may hook more people if you added a little bit more to your blog. You post every few weeks about your paintings, which is great. That's the MEAT of your blog. But, what about the side dishes? I don't go to a steakhouse for just the steak. Sure, the steak is great, but I love the potatoes, veggies and wine that comes with it. I would suggest posting more regularly. Maybe 2 or 3 times a week. And, in between those posts about your paintings, spread in some different stuff that may appeal to a different crowd. Try to vary your posts a little more, so you have a wider range of people that may find something of interest on your blog. Some ideas might be to write a tutorial on certain painting techniques. Or write some reviews of your favorite supplies, or even write some critiques of your favorite famous paintings. Maybe add in a funny blooper or a mistake that you did while painting one of your pieces. Adding more varied content in between your main posts about your paintings may give your blog a little more substance, and may entice more people to start following it on a regular basis.

Good luck!