some questions!

loved the questions I got with my blog advice posts....made me think of all the crap I missed!!!!



(and if you have any more questions ask away! I get alot of emails about stuff so it's nice to kill 2 birds with one stone)

and WARNING...this is long...i have gone through it twice trying to find things to cut out of it...but to no avail....and now I'm adding to the length!)

(you can buy this awesome print HERE)

first question:

ADVERTISING...

now. don't get into blogging thinking you are going to make some major money. cause chances are you won't (not trying to be a hater just keeping it real!!!)

I started my blog cause I love to craft...and I thought it would be awesome to promote my etsy shop. (which it has totally!!!! everytime I post about the things I have added to my etsy shop I sell about 4 that week ....so thanks for that)

but in all honesty. I make about enough money to buy my crafting supplies...(which I was buying anyways!)  I mean who knows where my blog will be at in say 3 years (when I HAVE to get a job cause my youngest will be in school (husband rules) hopefully it will pay out so I WON'T have to get a job...but I don't blog for that reason.  .. I love to blog. I love to make stuff...I especially love the comments I get and the pictures I get of people making my stuff.

Makes.my.day.

 THAT is the reason I BLOG!!! (don't get me wrong...any extra money is nice!!!)

I think to make enough money to quit your job...you have to treat it like a job. You would have to put in the man hours and the hard work.  don't get discouraged IT CAN BE DONE!!!!

with that said.....onto the advertising...

FIRST: before you think about advertising...I would make sure that you have some pretty good numbers. I started around the 1000 followers mark (you can start earlier though!!!)...before that...join the linky parties...maybe take out some advertising yourself and get your blog to GROW!!!
 if you are somewhat new...I would suggest button swapping. you put someone's button on your blog and they will put your button on their blog. fairsies. no money exchange...but gets new followers over to you.


SECOND: When I first started to advertise.....I went through etsy and any etsy shop I loved I wrote them a note telling them about my blog and how much I loved their product and I would love to have them advertise with me. I gave them the first month free to see if they liked it and was getting exposure...then after the first month it was $5. (which brings me to number 3)

THIRD: start low. $5/$10 a month is not a big deal...you can increase as you go and have more interest!

FOURTH: I give two options...give something away.....or pay me some cold hard cash.  I think giveaways are a good idea...cause I usually make the people go over to the shop and tell me what they like the best to enter for the giveaway....so that means traffic for your sponsors...they will stay with you as long as they see numbers coming from you.  (I also write a post about them letting my readers know what they have to offer!)

FIFTH...(who knew I had so much to say about advertising!) AFFILIATES....

there are affiliate programs everywhere. canvas people..amazon...chunky bling....saying on the wall..and a WHOLE lot more that I have noooooo idea about!!!!

a rundown...you put them on your blog and when people click on it and buy something ....you get a commission from it. there is also blogher...and in all honestly.. I know SQUAT about it!

mkjiuhvb loifduioudfiophbcl;)sorry..i had to clean my keyboard...) (i was eating and blogging..it's called multitasking!)

you can just find what works for you...if it fits with your blog then go for it. don't try to sell something that you aren't in to!!!

but I will tell you this: I go to blogs..and I hate digging through the pop ups and advertisements....Now, I respect that you want to make some cash (don't we all) but lets kiss (keep it simple stupid.)

{my 7 year old taught me that.} I don't want to be overwhelmed. clean and simple and easy to find what i'm looking for!

also..don't hesitate to reach out and ask someone...you can leave a comment saying that you think their product would be a hit with your readers and you would love to have a link on your blog...OR review the product for them...some bloggers get a craptastic amount of free stuff to promote on their blog...so keep that in mind! Everyone likes free stuff....

done with advertising.......on to OTHER things.....




Now...another thing I thought of when going through the comments....don't not do something cause someone else already did. (wowza..did that make any sense?)

It's a big big world...I made my bubble gum dispenser and thought I was so clever...cause I have never seen one before.

then I get a comment about how they just saw one at a craft store...so just because you have seen one somewhere else..don't let it stop you.

UNLESS you see it somewhere and love it and make the exact thing --give credit where credit is due!!!!! don't try to pass it off as your own!

When I started writing this blog advice...I thought...they could probably find this information somewhere else...but I persevered on..(okay I already had it half done so I wasn't going to delete all that hard work) and I got a ton of comments thanking me! so I'm glad I did it!!!!


and if you have been reading infarrantly creatives blog story you will also learn this:

make friends in the blogging world. YOu want to have someone to vent to and can relate and tell you what not to do cause she already made the mistake.

 I'm a diy dare blogger (holla) and the tech savvy girls started a group so we could group up and talk...we have talked about some super funny things..and things that have really helped me! It's nice to have a group to say, "COME VOTE FOR ME!" or tweet about this or hey, how do I do something!!!? I am doing ANOTHER blog post about facebook, twitter and all that crap...and I totally turned to them to get their input! (expect that next week!)


some INFO
to change your name so the when you comment it says kimbo at a girl and a glue gun:
go to dashboard in your blog....edit profile...display name...add in your name


to turn OFF comment verification: go to settings...
go to comments and then this page will let you

make it so mr or mrs. anonymous can't leave no stinking comments.

add a cute little saying that shows when you leave a comment...

turn off word verification

or add your email and it will email you everytime you get a new comment...




A REVISION:
I would like to go over my post often remark on my first blog tips. I like having crap to read...especially from my favorite bloggers. I get so excited when I see a new post by made.  but let's talk about quality over quantity. I have this friend (let's call her mandi... well actually that's her name.) and she does craptastic things at her blog (she's the homemade fireplace girl)
she takes this stuff

and turns it into this stuff....

(Isn't vicki awesome) 

but my point being....she can not have something amazing like this to post three times a week.

cause first she's human...and second..she's a mom. 

BUT...she makes sure she posts frequently...either giving us a sneak peak on what she's working on....or posting a story...or asking for advice on what to do with a certain piece. Enough to keep is in the know and expecting something great (and she NEVER disappoints!) she is a great example of posting...ALSO she is a great example of BEE YOURSELF! Super funny. You kinda feel like you are talking right to her. 

I know life is busy...work, husbands, cleaning, kids (not in that order of course)

and I don't want anyone stressing about posting everyday because AGAAGG said too.....

do what feels comfortable.

(okay and just because i can't help it --you have got to check out mandi's acid mirrors

they are one of my favortist things ever!!!!

and another revision:

I said get rid of word verification.

here's the reason.

If I try to leave a comment.

usually I push post comment

and exit out.

only to realize that there was a word verification that I missed which means

that the person didn't get my words of love.

MY PERSONAL OPINION: we would all receive a lot more comments if there was no word verification to jump through.

BUT if you get a ton of spam

(I don't...just anonymous comments)

then it's not worth it! Keep it on if it makes your life easier!

next week is facebook, twitter, and crap like that!

let me know if you have any questions...

and i'm out.