31 Days: Print materials to promote your biz or blog

bybob-part5

Print materials to promote your biz or blog Today's pretty easy actually, we are going to brainstorm and make a list of all the print materials you need.  I create more and more print for bloggers who don't sell product, it's just handy, so if that's you, don't tune me out today:) Ok, so put pen to paper and start listing any materials that would help get work done, get the word out or increase your product presentation. Now I know it can be expensive to get these items designed, printed and stocked in your shop.  I think it's better to do a few things well than several things half-baked, so let's think about what you can combine on … [Read more...]

31 Days: Branding with Instagram

instagramhelps3

Branding your biz or blog with Instagram Confession: I really really really love Instagram.  This one is a little different than the previous social media sites in that it's pretty much only for mobile devices.  You can login to your account online, but posting and browsing photos happens from your iphone, etc. General tips: 1. You can run a photo stream on your blog. In wordpress I use a widget appropriately called, Instagram Widget.  If you use Blogger, this tutorial explains a sidebar install. She does a great job, so I'll send you  over...but y'all come back now...ya hear? 2. You can join fun monthly picture parties or … [Read more...]

31 Days: Branding with Pinterest

pinteresttips

Branding your biz or blog with Pinterest Pinterest is an online cork board that allows you to pin ideas from anywhere on the Internet, and organize them by topic. You can find and follow friends to share ideas.  Pinterest is made up of 2 basic pages, the news feed as seen above and your profile page as seen below. So how do you brand Pinterest? A few days ago we talked about photo branding, and this a major reason to do it! There's no guarantee that someone will give you credit or link correctly when they pin an idea, but if your logo is stamped on the photo it doesn't matter. Name your photos well. Confession: I'm awful at this. … [Read more...]

31 Days: Branding your business with Twitter

twitter

Branding your business or blog with Twitter Who's ready for more social media?? Who's totally overwhelmed?? I'm going to take your silence as an indication that you are on the edge of your chair for today's topic:) In brief, twitter is a social media site that offers 140 characters to say, scream, link...or tweet whatever you want. You can follow other tweeters, they can follow your tweets, you can tweet tweet tweet until your tweeting heart is tweeted out.  That's just how it works over there.  Have 1 million things a day you want to say? Here's your platform people.  This site commonly uses text abbreviated talk and casual … [Read more...]

31 Days: Branding with facebook

facebookhowto1

 Branding with Facebook Welcome back friends! I'm excited to spend the next few days talking about 4 big social media platforms, facebook, twitter, pinterest and instagram. Are there more? YES, but these are the biggies that you need to be in on. What is facebeook? Facebook is a social media site aimed at connecting friends and sharing pictures, links and life information. Over time facebook allowed business pages, adding a whole new dimension to sharing what you love with friends.  Facebook mainly consists of a news feed, personal and business pages, and assorted groups.   Because facebook was built for personal use, it works best to … [Read more...]

31 Days: Branding photos with your logo

brandingimages

Branding your photos So you've slaved over your latest DIY blog post or fun new shop item...but you aren't done yet! It's time to brand those photos!! Why?  In the land of instant photo sharing through pinterest, facebook and the like, you don't stand a chance of getting proper credit for your work.  You need credit so you can build followers, uh...or...actually sell that merchandise!  Confession...you won't see many photos branded on my site yet. But you will now! Since I finally put aside time to get this under control.:) How do you do it? If you happen to have photoshop or another image editing program, use it. If you don't, I found … [Read more...]

31 Days: Taking Good Pictures

shootflyshoot

please, please, please, please, please, please... Take good pictures!!!! This is me {flying a big banner in the sky}... TAKE GOOD PHOTOS!!!! I promise it will change your business. I know what you're thinking. 1. I don't really have time...uh...if you want to be successful you better have time. 2. I don't have a good camera....we will take care of that right now. 3. People will get the idea....uh...no they won't ~ I've compiled three tutorials to get your photos on the right track.  I have completed each of these and recommend them highly! Nope, I'm not getting paid to promote them, although I am an affiliate with Shoot Fly Shoot, … [Read more...]

31 Days: Branding your email signature

email signature

Branding your email signature Can I be honest? I am totally done talking about websites...and I guess email...done done done.  At least this is the last day right? We are talking about pictures tomorrow! So let's talk today about email signatures, the friendly little love you have at the bottom of an email message.  The one below is from gmail. There are practically as many opinions on this as there are people, so here's the quick wrap-up...DON'T GET CRAZY! What you should include: Your name Business/Blog Name Your Title Link to your website Links to a few other social media...that you would be ok with sharing … [Read more...]

31 Days: Branding your email address

godaddyemail

Branding your email address Confession: It took me a long time to get this fixed in my own business.  I have a personal gmail account that's so darn useful! But here's the deal, it's confusing and difficult to keep up with emails that aren't named correctly. What should your address be? 1. It should be: something@yourdomainname.com 2. It could be: your business@gmail.com (or similar).  But really option 1 is the only option:) Now I'm not saying you should choose Go Daddy, and they aren't paying me either...believe me...but as an example, you can get email at your domain name for a whopping $1.29 a month. SIGN UP NOW!!! Why wouldn't … [Read more...]

31 Days: Blogging about your products and work

pinterestpost

Blogging about your products and work What type of content should be on your blog? If you only blog about work, will others still be interested? If you never blog about work, will anyone know that you actually have a handmade business?  If you are making a go at being a for-profit blogger, are there topics you should always stick to? Not stick to? What should you blog about? Just work? Just non-work?  This is a tough one fore me, so I'll just start with myself.  I used to just be a blogger and a crafter, and blog about all sorts of DIY and recipes.  Now that I'm working, I have significantly less, no time for blogging about much of … [Read more...]