Stay-At-Home-Moms-of-Etsy

Monday, March 21, 2011

Build a Better Blog #3: Get Noticed!!

So you've started to make the design of your blog reflect you and you are working on improving the quality of your photos...so now what do you do?

This post is all about how to promote your blog!

There are so many wonderful resources available for bloggers out there!

1. Build your content! A pretty blog won't get you noticed unless you have something to say! Once you have your blog set up, you need to start adding CONTENT.

Content can be anything from a picture with a caption to a tutorial to a recipe to something you've made for your shop! Be yourself! Write about what you like - what interestsyou! The more content you have on your blog, the more traffic you will get.

2. Join a Link Party! A link party is simply a list of links that the author of a blog 'hosts' for a certain period of time. They can be general or very specifically themed. (I personally contribute to several link parties each week!) They are free to join, and are a lot of fun!

There are several types of link parties out there - some of the most popular are: crafts, recipes, home decor, photos, and blog hops!

A blog hop is a special type of link party that gives other bloggers the chance to visit and follow your blog - as you visit and follow other blogs, too! It's a great way to 'meet' fellow bloggers and make Blog Land 'friends!'

Here's a really great link to a fun blog that keeps a running list of weekly link parties going on:

3. Leave and respond to comments! In addition to linking up your content at a link party, you also need to visit other links and leave comments! Not only is it just good etiquette...but it's also good karma! People LOVE to get comments...so if you leave a positive comment on someone else's blog post, they are more likely to return the love, and leave a comment on your blog, too!

4. Link to other blogs! If you see something that you love out in Blog Land, share it on your own blog! Make sure you link back to the original author's post and pictures, and be sure to let them know! It's always flattering to know that someone liked something you did!

5. Be consistent! Try to aim for at least two to three posts on your blog each week. If you are inconsistent with the amount of posting you do on your blog (ie going for long periods of not posting anything), people will be less likely to continue to follow your blog. Make a simple goal to start with, so that you don't get burned out. Be flexible about it, too!

6. Advertise! If you have a little extra revenue, advertising is a great way to get your blog or shop noticed. Several of the 'Big-Time' blogs offer advertising spots on their blogs. You can also so some self-promotion by offering a giveaway to follower or hosting a contest of some kind. (I'll be posting next week about how create your own blog buttons for people to post -- you can usually use these button for advertising, too!)

For more fantastic resources about blogging tips, visit these links to the Pro's:

Good luck, gang! Happy Blogging!!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Treasury Thursday: How to Make a Treasury

It’s Treasury Thursday! No this has nothing to do with Pirates or even the SAHM of Etsy Treasure hunt that is coming up. Treasuries are the member curated collections of Etsy products that Etsy Admin often pick to put on the Etsy home page. They are a great way to promote other SAHM of Etsy’s team member’s shops and show the rest of the world the beautiful, fun, colorful, or strange items you have found exploring Etsy.

There is a Season for Everything by Pam's Baby Bakery

Let me see if I can take a little of the mystery out of treasuries and make them a fun and effective way to promote our team. Before we all get totally lost, let me define a couple of word in terms of Etsy and treasuries:

Hotness-a measure of how popular a treasury is based on views, clicks, and comments. The exact methods for determining a treasury’s “hotness” are not completely understood and seem to change periodically as people think they have figured out ways to “trick” the system. Treasury listings are sorted by hotness.
Views- the number of times someone has looked at the treasury.
Comment- it is as simple as it sounds. Leave a note under the treasury.
Clicks - How many times the “magic” item is clicked on. They “magic” item is often changing.

Now that we are all speaking the same language, what is a good way to go about building a treasury? A good place to start is to pick a theme; colors can be a good place to start, but you can use anything else your imagination can come up with. Once you have a theme, it is time to fill in your slots.

· Here’s a few more tips to make making a treasury easier.

To help support the SAHM of Etsy team, be sure to search for items with the tag “SAHM of Etsy” that all team members should be tagging their items with.
Chose items that are well photographed, especially for the first 4 slots. These are the photos that show up on the treasury list page.
Mark items as favorites when you see them. When you sit down to build your collection searching your favorites is much easier than searching all of Etsy.
Make you treasury “private” if you don’t have time to finish the entire thing in one sitting. Then you can save it and come back and finish it later. Just don’t forget to change it to “everyone” when you finish ;)

Open two windows or tabs. One for your treasury and one to look for items. If you navigate away from your treasury without saving it your work is lost.
Include all different types of items and price points in your treasury. The broader the variety the “hotter” the treasury is likely to be.
Use a different shop of every slot and only use your own shop once if at all. The idea of a treasury is to show off other shops not to promote your own store.
Tag your treasury like you would an item in your shop and include both “SAHM of Etsy team” and “teametsy.”
Share your treasuries with everyone. Maybe also take a minute to link to this post and let them know what a treasury is. You can easily share any treasury by clicking on the icons under the “share” section to the right of the treasury. (SAHM of Etsy team members also should add it to the discussion thread for the month.)

Treasuries are really a fun and creative way to get to know what products are available out on Etsy. Enjoy, have fun, and don’t think too hard. Treasuries truly are enjoyable even if you don’t make it to the front page.

Pam- Pam's Baby Bakery

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Feature Shop: Growing Up Wild/Engel Pottery

Welcome to another installment in our Wednesday Feature Shop series! This week, I'd like to introduce you to Kelly, an active member of the SAHM of Etsy Team. Kelly runs two wonderful Etsy shops, Growing Up Wild and Engel Pottery. Learn more about this busy, creative mom below. Thanks for sharing your story, Kelly! -Cori of Peace, Baby! Batiks

What is your name?
Kelly

Where are you located?
Meridian, Idaho

Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a proud work-at-home momma to my son Jonathan. My husband and I have been married for nearly four years. I worked as an elementary school teacher for seven years prior to the birth of our son. My husband is an elementary school counselor. We fill our free time with family trips outdoors.

Unisex Crib Shoes in Mineral Dot

What type of merchandise will shoppers find in your shop?
I actually have two Etsy shops. In my Engel Pottery shop, I specialize in handmade ceramics such as mugs, bowls and vases. In my Growing Up Wild shop, I have organic and original creations for baby such as hand appliqued clothing and handmade shoes.

How/why did you get started?
I have been creating for as long as I can remember. I was fortunate to have a mom who fed my creativity and allowed me to experiment in a number of media.

How long have you been sewing? What got you into sewing in the first place?
I was given a sewing machine for my high school graduation. My mom and grandma both felt it was a skill that everyone needs to have, and I am so glad they taught me! I enjoyed being able to design and make my own clothes and items to have affordable, unique outfits.

Pair of Dark Green Handmade Mugs

How long have you been making pottery? What are your favorite things to make?
I have been at the potter's wheel for about eight years now. I love experimenting with new glaze combinations. Every time I unload a kiln it is like Christmas! You just never know what you are going to get out of it. There is so much chemistry involved and also quite a bit of luck! Currently my favorite thing to make are vases.

What inspires you to create?
My dreams. I wake up in the middle of the night with a new idea and can't wait to get up to try it. I also draw inspiration from time outdoors.

Organic Soft & Cozy Cream Colored Baby Pants with VW Bus style handmade applique

What is one thing you need to have with you while you craft?
Music is something that I love to have when I am creating. I find that the type of music that I am listening to while working on a piece often influences it's outcome.

How do you balance mothering and running a small business?
In addition to my 10 month old, I care for a friend's 3 month old baby five days a week. On the rare occasion that they nap at the same time, I squeeze in some work during that time. The rest of my business is done after my son is in bed. My husband is so patient and will often sit and talk with me while I am creating so that we can spend time together in the midst of the madness that is currently our life!

Organic Cotton Pink Bird Crib Shoes with Eco Felt Soles

What is your favorite thing to browse Etsy for?
I have been so impressed with the handmade children's toys on Etsy. We try to avoid toys with batteries, and Etsy has more options than any other place that I have looked.

When you're not crafting, what are you doing?
Any chance that I get I spend outside. I love to hike, bike, camp or sit around a fire.