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5 Steps To Starting a Free Craft Blog

September 2, 2011 by CreativeIncome

You love to craft and want to share your projects with the world. Why not start a craft blog? It’s super simple to start blogging about your craft with these five easy steps.

  1. Pick a service to use.
    There are many free blogging services like Blogger, WordPress, and Yola. They are all relatively simple to use and offer lots of free features like the ability to customize your blog. All of these services allow users to choose a premade layout design, so there is no need to learn code or design your own blog. Each of the services offer different features, so look at each one or ask a blogging friend what they use before you get started.
  2. Create a Banner Header.

    You will need to create a header to show off your cool new blog and you can do it yourself. You can use Picnik, Picasa or Gimp which are all free to create your new title header.
  3. Create content for your blog.
    This is the most important part of the whole blogging experience. Good content is what attracts and keeps readers. Make sure that you are writing about what you are passionate about and want to continue writing about. If your blog is a mish mosh of your life which includes craft, cooking, parenting, farming, etc. then make sure you let your readers know that either in your title or your description. Sometimes bloggers mix in parts of their life alongside their main focus which is great but if you start a blog called All About Felt and suddenly talk about nothing but milking cows, you will inevitably lose readers. So, keep to what you know and let your readers know what to expect in an About Me or Description Page.
  4. Tell people about your blog.
    There is one way to make sure people know you started a blog, tell them. Once you have a couple of posts under your belt, let the world know it. If you use any social media sites like Facebook or Twitter, post all about it. Make sure you let the world know it is your new blog and what the topic is. This increases your chances of people visiting your blog and clicking on the links you add to the social media networks. To make social media even simpler, you can set up an account in TwitterFeed that will create a tweet or facebook update every time you post to your blog. You can also add your blog address to your email signature so that your emails will also be promoting for you.
  5. Work at your blog.
    My buddy Jenny likes to say that people need to “rock their baby” when it comes to making their blogs a success and that just means they need love and attention from the blogger. In order to make a blog successful, the first step is to make consistently good content. Which means once you get started blogging, don’t stop. Keep that momentum going and write about what you know and love. Share your projects, tips, and techniques. Posts don’t have to be full tutorials every time, they can be about sharing your inspirations, favorite products, or even a cool new trick. The important part is to keep on blogging once you start.

Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging. It can be a wonderful way to make friends and share what you love. For more ideas for help with your crafty business, subscribe to the Creative Income Newsletter, which is chock full of ideas for bloggers, designers, and all kinds of crafters. If you are considering starting a craft business, Creative Income and our great articles about the business of craft is a great place to start.


Already have a crafty blog? Share your tips and tricks with our readers as well as your link in the comments!

Filed Under: Craft Tips and Tricks Tagged With: blog, bloggers, business, craft business, creative income, how to

FaveCrafts 365 Copywrite Right?

April 8, 2011 by Maria

After 28 years of working as a professional in the craft industry and a childhood of having 3 big brothers, there is little that can be said to me that will hurt my feelings for more than a few seconds. I’ve been advised at least a million times to never take anything personally, yet, I know it’s never fun to have an error or mistake pointed out, however, if we want to be respected as artists and craftspeople we need to make sure we communicate in a polished fashion.

Copyright issues are one of the number 1 questions I get mail about. I’m not a lawyer so I can’t give legal advise, but as a business woman of many years including jobs that including hiring designers, demonstrators, and teachers I do know that you need to make sure you do your prep and that means… Well, watch the video and find out!

If you are or want to be a professional artist or crafter you may want to check out our weekly e-newsletter devoted to business concerns, Creative Income. Click here to sign up!

FaveCrafts 365 is your daily v-log report from FaveCrafts.com. We’ll keep you up to date on everything going on from new projects posted, giveaways, product reviews, and more with FaveCrafts.com Resident Craft Expert and In-House Designer, Maria Nerius. Let us know what you want to know!

Filed Under: FaveCrafts 365 Tagged With: business, creative income, Maria Nerius

Ask Maria “Business Plans?”

February 25, 2011 by Maria

I would like to learn more about a business plan, people say that you need one, but I am stumped and have no idea where to go or what to do about having one, can you help?

A business plan is generally thought of as a written document that outlines the “plan” or goals of a business. You can get very formal if you need to present this plan to a bank for a loan or you can be more casual if the plan is more your guide for your business.

You will include in a business plan: Company name; contact information; company philosophy, an “About” which will state what your company does (or will do) and how the company will achieve its goals. Usually a business plan includes goals for a year, five years, and ten years. The process of writing the plan helps your organize your thoughts and goals. You also have a document you can refer back to once a week or once a month to keep you on track.

For example here’s a brief business plan for me revised from my original business plan written in 1983…

Nerius House & Company

Company Philosophy: Through the sharing of creativity and craft technique, Nerius House & Company will help broaden the consumer base that buys craft products.

Nerius House & Company annually produces project designs for publication, feature consumer magazine articles, social media networking, and consulting services.

Financial Goals for 2011 include continuing consulting with FaveCrafts.com with a new emphasis on regular column print work.

In 2011 Nerius House will cold call 20 consumer publications, add video content on a weekly basis, and write 1 book proposal.  Nerius House will increase income by at least 7%.

Nerius House would like to acquire additional storage space by mid-year.

There is plenty of helpful information online. Just Google using the keyword “Business Plan.” You’ll find everything from software to down-to-earth practical advice from seasoned business professionals. Don’t let it overwhelm you! Think of it as an outline for your business, a guide to help you reach your goals.

Do you have a business plan or business plan tip you’d like to share? Please add a comment!

Filed Under: Advice, Tips, & Tricks Tagged With: business, organizing

FaveCrafts 365 Get Published!

February 1, 2011 by Maria

I’ve been a writer and designer in the craft industry for over 25 years, and seeing your own byline (your name) in a magazine is always a thrill. You want to rush out and buy a dozen copies of the magazine or book just to hand out to your friends. You can get published! It’s not as hard as you might think.

If you have original designs or are an expert in a craft or technique all you have to do is read the FaveCrafts.com business articles listed below.

From our regular column in Crafts n Things Magazine, Get Your Designs Published.

The Basics of Contracts is an important part of getting published. Know before you sign!

Filed Under: FaveCrafts 365 Tagged With: business, Designer, publication

The Cost of Creativity – Creating Your Own Online Store

July 2, 2010 by TheCrochetCrowd

A very common question I receive is about the amount to charge for crafting goods. I specialize in teaching Crochet & Loom Knitting. New enthusiastic people come on board and learn with my “How To” tutorials and then get all rev’d up on the excitment. While sitting there, they get thinking big about creating their own home based businesses. They see people selling stuff all over the internet and then they start seeing themselves as a business owner and marketing their goods.

Realistically, what something is worth is up to the person who wants it. If you are creating something that can be found all over the internet, “How is your product any different?” Are you doing something, a stitch, an emblishment, or a style that is unsually pleasing to the creative beings of your purchasers?

The question answer is, “I have no idea what something is worth, that’s up your purchasers?”

Many websites have great Create Your Own Online Stores with service fees attached to it. Then companies like EBAY or PAYPAL also take a small percentage of your purchase price. Have you thought about shipping and the level of services required to ship your item. Just ensure you factor in the costs of all the service fees that make a transaction possible.

We are in a society where “OUR WORK” aka Creative Designs is heavily discounted due to mass production of stuff available to the general public. We are very used to big box stores clearing creative things at bargain prices. So when you go to price your item, you need to think about your material costs, and then time involved. For some strange reason, “Time” in “OUR WORK” seems to be heavily discounted as its perceived as a pass time hobby. However, you are still an artist regardless.

I know myself… people have offered prices for blankets that have taken 40 + hours and the rate they want to pay is less than the material costs of the yarn. The big box stores have made it harder for real people who have creative abilities to be recognized because they can buy something that looks half creative at a fraction of the price. Creative to many people these days is a really cool idea that has been mass produced a million times over that would look great and can be made cheap due to the mass production involved. People perceive seeing something in your project that they seen at the local store for merely pennies… and take that in account when offering a price.

“The Presentation Of Your Goods is everything and you only get one opportunity to impress…” Follow some simple tips as follows below:

  • Great photographs. Don’t show pictures of your goods with an untidy house or something in the background that is a turn off.
  • Be careful of showing pets. Pet hair perception on items is possible and a turn off to some people.
  • Do great write ups about what they are purchasing.
  • Tell a story… give your items some meaning. The inspiration or thought behind your item.
  • Tell the realistic time on how long it took to make.
  • Don’t expose your raw material costs, but focus on the emotional satisfaction of what it was like to create it.
  • Don’t be too specific on the materials used or the methods on how you got your item to the way it did. There are many people out there who may be asking questions but getting you to reveal your trade secrets so they can mimic or duplicate it for themselves.
  • If you are customizing… say what options are available.
  • Tell how you are shipping it and maybe communicate tracking numbers and when you shipped it to the buyer.
  • There will be people that will bargain with you and will try to get your price to near costs if not below costs. Remember, those customers aren’t doing you any favors. Those are the type of people taking advantage of artists creativity for their own personal gain.
  • If you are using Facebook or social networks to sell your goods, be careful what you post and the comments you decide to make. If you are a negative commenter about your own life or personal circumstances, it may be best to keep potential buyers from seeing your Facebook. Reading negative comments or life’s sad stories really don’t get a buyer to be sympathetic to purchase… they are silent deterents.

There’s lots to think about… and many people can benefit from making a few extra dollars off their creativity. Just be mindful and think about all avenues before getting the itch to buy a skid of raw materials.

Filed Under: Guest Post Tagged With: business, Creativity, home, Mikeyssmail, Online, Purchase, Sell, Stores

Start Your Own Sewing Business and How to Make a Door Draft Stopper

September 9, 2009 by FaveCrafts

We recently received a recommendation to check out the Sew Home Pursuits hubpage from Dame Scribe. Her helpful hubpage is all about starting your own sewing business and is  a great collection of resources on the topic. In reality, anyone with a sewing machine and a little free time can start a sewing business. While experienced pattern drafters are always highly sought-after, starting a sewing business does not have to mean creating complicated sewing patterns. Instead, you can sew and sell simple, practical items needed in any home, including blankets, throw pillows, and drapery. The key to sewing simple items is having the right tools and a basic understanding of measurements. Use beautiful fabrics (or print your own fabric) and add fun embellishments with applique, embroidery, ribbons and more. Here is a really simple project for a door draft stropper:

Materials:

  • Sturdy, tightly woven fabric (8″ x 41-45″)
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine and thread
  • Yard Stick
  • Filler- sand, rice, dry corn, aquarium gravel, kitty litter (You can mix in aromatic elements such as potpourri or evergreen tips)
  • Funnel

Instructions:

1. Measure the length of your door frame. Most will be around 41″ or 45.”

2. Cut your fabric into a rectangle of the right width (8″) and length.

3. Fold the fabric in half lengthwise to form a 4″ wide tube with the wrong sides of the fabric facing out.

4. Sew the length and one end together with a ½” seam allowance. Sew the length and one end again with a ¼” seam allowance. This keeps any filler from escaping.

5. Turn your tube inside out, using the yardstick to help push it out.

6. Using the funnel, fill the tube with the filler, leaving 1 inch at the top.

7. Turn in ½” of the top edge and sew closed. Repeat with another seam ¼” away from the first.

Filed Under: Sewing Tagged With: business, home, Sewing

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Full Project Tutorials

How to Sew a Lapped Zipper

This guest post was written by Lavender Marsh for Threadsquare. This is far from a groundbreaking, world changing technique. But I thought I’d share anyway, simply because lapped zips always seemed fidgety to me when I first started sewing. The trouble always occurred in the left seam allowance. It just never permitted enough room for […]

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