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5 Blogging Tips for Etsy Sellers

Kim Layton — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 15:37:45 +0000

{Lavender Sachets – The Lavender Road}

Yes, that’s right, you should have a blog! I know there are a million things to do, but if you plan on growing your handmade business you shouldn’t put off starting or improving your blog for another moment.

Here are a few simple tips to start you on the road to blogging success…

1. Be yourself! People that read your blog want to know a bit about you! You don’t have to share all your family details, but share your personality with your readers. Only listing the details of your latest listing isn’t going to grow your blog. Your work is more beautiful to them when they know you.

Trying to do what another blog does to be successful might not work for you. Write about what you know and enjoy…it will make blogging easier at the same time.

2. Keep it simple! Share a few photos from Etsy,flickr or Pinterest with a bit about them. Try a Wordless Wednesday post with a photo of anything you’ve done or saw that week. {Wordless Wednesday is a blog party where you share a link to your post and visit others on the list.} It’s an easy post and you’ll meet new people through a blog party like this one.

3. Comment, comment, COMMENT! Visit 10 blogs a day and comment on their posts. Do this every day for a week and you’ll have new followers and more comments than the week before.

When readers leave a comment on your blog posts don’t forget to go and check out their blog. You’ll end up finding new friends this way…trust me, you should comment a bunch!

4. Photos make your blog POP with color! Creative people like creative looking blogs, right? Use clear and bright photos with every post. They can catch the reader’s attention and keeps them coming back for more inspiration.

If you use a photo from somewhere else online be sure to link to your source. If it’s from another blog it’s best to email them to make sure they approve of it being used in your post.

5. You don’t have to post daily, but a few posts a week will help you build up the content of your blog. You’ll be shocked at how much information you have on your blog in a year! Try writing a simple tutorial, share something you’ve just discovered, write about the inspiration behind your work or share a photo of your dog…LOL!

Write what you would like to read!

There are so many little tips you’ll learn as you go, but I hope these will help you out a bit on your road to successful blogging. Blogs grow slowly so don’t stress over it. Be consistent and you’ll grow it into something that will help you in the future.

Meeting nice people along the way is an added bonus!

Care to share a blogging tip? I’d love to hear it!!!

~Kim

Other posts you might be interested in for your Etsy business…

Easy Shipping for Etsy Sellers

I Made It! {Blog Party Thursday}

Kim Layton — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:00:28 +0000

Welcome to I Made It!

What have you been up to this week? Join us with a link to your blog post sharing something you made. Here’s your chance to show off your summer sewing projects, home decor creations, or even a tutorial on how to make something beautiful! We love it all!

Here’s How The Blog Party Works

When you link to the McLinky thing below, you must link to a blog post that shows off something that you made! As long as it fits the title “I Made It!”

You must link back to the party in your post with a link or our cute button. Please be considerate and do this part! If you are new to blog parties, you can read these detailed instructions.

So….grab our button, link your post, and get comfy so you can hop around to all the other blogs! I can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on this week!

Let’s Party!

~Kim

I Made It Blog Party & The Copper Poppy Giveaway

Kim Layton — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:06:58 +0000

Welcome to I Made It!

Thanks for joining us for another fun week of creative posts and an awesome handmade giveaway!

Bring your tutorials, home decor projects, jewelry, Etsy creations…we want to see what you made! You don’t have to link a post to the party to have fun, learn something new, or win the giveaway!

This week I get to introduce you to The Copper Poppy! If you’re a pet lover this will quickly become one of your favorite Etsy shops!

The Copper Poppy started from a creative desire to make unique, personalized pet id tags without the crazy price tag!

You will find fabulous pet tags and hand stamp jewelry for yourself. Let me just share a few with you…

You can’t find tags like this just anywhere! Wouldn’t it be a great gift?

The quality is amazing, and I love the fact that it was hand stamped by someone that cares about pets…not a factory! You can even add cute little roses, bones, or bows to your tag.

If you’re not a total “pet crazy” person like I am, you might enjoy one of these beautiful hand stamped necklaces. It’s so simple and pretty!

I had the hardest time choosing items to show you because I honestly love the whole shop! I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of The Copper Poppy because their shop is growing super-fast!

The Copper Poppy is giving one lucky Everything Etsy reader a custom pet id tag of their choice!

I know all my pet lovin’ friends are going to go crazy over this!

Ways To Win The Giveaway

If you don’t have a post to link this week, you can still enter the giveaway!

Visit The Copper Poppy and tell us your favorite item. – 1 entry
Join the blog party with your post – 1 entry {automatic}
Tweet this, post it on Facebook, subscribe to our blog, follow me on Twitter, or join us on our Facebook page – 1 extra entry each

Just leave a separate comment for each form of entry! This giveaway ends Sunday, May 16th.

Here’s How The Blog Party Works

When you link to the McLinky thing below, you must link to a blog post that shows off something that you made! As long as it fits the title “I Made It!”

You must link back to the party in your post with a link or our cute button. If you are new to blog parties, please read these detailed instructions.

So….let’s see what you’ve been working on this week! Be sure to stop by some of the other creative blogs and share a little comment love!

~Kim

***This giveaway has ended! Congratulations to Kacia from Coconut Robot! Thanks for all your wonderful comments a creative ideas!

I Made It Blog Party & Giveaway{Stitch n Studio}

Kim Layton — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:59:46 +0000

Welcome to this week’s I Made It Blog Party!

Bring anything you’ve made this week and link your blog post about it to the party! We’ve had great home decor projects, jewelry, quilts, dresses, wallet tutorials and so much more!

If you don’t have a post this week, just enjoy the others by clicking on each link. Don’t forget that everyone is welcome to enter the giveaway!

This week our giveaway is from Stitch n Studio! Don’t you love this bag? It’s even reversible! That’s like getting two purses in one!

Tammy does a great job of creating beautiful handbags and accessories with wonderful fabric selections and style. You’ll find her signature touch of burlap on all of them.

Her Etsy shop has been growing, and I can see why. She’s always coming out with something new.

Take a look at this…

This pleated clutch could be yours! It’s great for daily use or a night out…love the polka dots!

Wait until you see the fabulous collection at Stitch n Studio! Hop on over there and take a look for yourself.

One lucky winner will receive this fabulous polka dot clutch!

Ways To Win The Giveaway

Visit Stitch n Studio and tell us your favorite item. – 1 entry
Join the blog party with your post – 1 entry
Leave a sweet comment of some sort – 1 entry
Tweet this, post it on facebook, subscribe to our blog or new facebook fan page – 1 entry each
Follow Stitch n Studio on Twitter {I do} – 1 entry

Just leave a separate comment for each form of entry! This giveaway ends April 18th.

Now let’s get going with the blog party! I can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on!

A Couple Of Important Points

Link directly to your post, not your Etsy shop or your blog home page.
Make sure you mention I Made It! at Everything Etsy and link back to this post.
You can choose to use the button below which is already linked right to this post.
Don’t miss out on what everyone else made! Just follow the links!
We made a more detailed instruction sheet right here.

~Kim

**This giveaway has ended. Thanks for your great comments….the lucky winner is Jenny!

I Made It! — Blog Party & Giveaway {Calabasas Candy Co.}

Kim Layton — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 01:37:37 +0000

Welcome to this week’s I Made It Blog Party!

Bring anything you’ve made and link your blog post about it to the party! We’ve had great home decor projects, jewelry, quilts, dresses, wallet tutorials and so much more!

Let me start off by introducing you to Calabasas, the candy company that makes these beautiful chocolate eggs. You know you want some!

Calabasas is the sweetest candy company around, and they’re giving one Everything Etsy reader over $25 of beautiful handmade candy!

The lucky winner will get these Madagascar vanilla marshmallows!

Have you ever tried handmade marshmallows? They are absolutely divine!

The winner will also get to try this amazing sampler box full of yummy goodness! We’re talkin’ truffles, caramels, and so much more! It has over a dozen handmade candies to ~~hide for yourself~~ share with your family and friends.

You’ll need to read all about these fine chocolate and caramels while your visiting their shop. They’re made with the finest ingredients!

Ways To Win The Giveaway

If you don’t have a post to link this week, you can still enter the giveaway!

Visit Calabasas Candy Co. and tell us your favorite item. – 1 entry
Join the blog party with your post – 1 entry
Leave a sweet comment of some sort – 1 entry
Tweet this, post it on facebook, subscribe to our blog or new facebook fan page – 1 entry each

Just leave a separate comment for each form of entry! This giveaway ends March 28th.

Here’s How It Works

When you link to the McLinky thing below, you must link to a blog post that shows off anything that you made! As long as it fits the title “I Made It!”

A Couple Of Important Points

Link directly to your post, not your Etsy shop or your blog home page.
Make sure you mention I Made It! at Everything Etsy and link back to this post.
You can choose to use the button below which is already linked right to this post.
Don’t miss out on what everyone else made! Just follow the links!
We made a more detailed instruction sheet right here.
We don’t want to feel bad and delete your post, but we can’t contact everyone to explain the instructions. Please read the instructions if you’re not sure how to join a blog party. We had to delete several last week, and it’s not the easiest thing to do.

Now let’s see what everyone has been working on this week! You are all so inspiring with your creative projects!

Thanks for making this party so much fun!

~Kim

This giveaway is closed. Thanks for joining us! The lucky winner is The Cottage Homestead!

I Made It! Blog Party & Tweet Heart Wall Art Giveaway

Kim Layton — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:48:08 +0000

Welcome to this week’s I Made It!

It’s time to share what you’ve been working on! Bring your home decor project, jewelry, crafts, sewing projects, tutorials, Spring wreaths and anything else you’ve created! It’s so much fun to see your posts, and the response has been awesome!

Let’s kick off this party by taking a look at this week’s fabulous giveaway! Please know that you don’t have to link a post to the party to be entered! So comment away!

Tweet Heart Wall Art is a design studio specializing in vinyl wall decals!

Sunny can customize your vinyl wall art with names, special colors, and even adjust the size so it works just right on your wall! Tweet Heart creates custom work without the custom price!

I love this little pink owl, but you can pick the whatever colors match your decor.

Wouldn’t this make a thoughtful wedding or anniversary gift? Beautiful!

I had to share these little sheep…how sweet!

Sunny also has great designs for your kitchen, laundry room, or you laptop. There’s something for everyone!

Tweet Heart Wall Art has been kind enough to offer one Everything Etsy reader a $50 gift certificate to choose your favorite wall art. How fun!

Ways To Win The Giveaway

If you don’t have a post to link this week, you can still enter the giveaway!

Join the blog party with your post – 1 entry
Leave a sweet comment of some sort – 1 entry
Visit Tweet Heart Wall Art and tell us your favorite item. – 1 entry
Tweet this, post it on facebook, subscribe to our blog or new facebook fan page – 1 entry each
Become a fan of Tweet Heart Wall Art on Facebook – 1 entry

Just leave a separate comment for each form of entry! This giveaway ends March 21st.

Here’s How It Works

When you link to the McLinky thing below, you must link to a blog post that shows off anything that you made! As long as it fits the title “I Made It!”

A Couple Of Important Points

Link directly to your post, not your Etsy shop or your blog home page
Make sure you mention I Made It! at Everything Etsy and link back to this post.
You can choose to use the button below which is already linked right to this post
Don’t miss out on what everyone else made! Just follow the links!

We made a more detailed instruction sheet right here.

Thanks for spreading the word about the party, and have fun visiting all the other creative blogs linked this week!

Let’s get on with the party!

~Kim

(Tim here: I’ve had to delete seven links today because people didn’t follow the very standard guidelines we’ve adopted. I started to write a more blunt rules page, but I don’t want to be rude, even though others don’t seem to mind. The rules are not for our benefit. The links are not of massive value to us. They are for the good of everyone involved. Please follow the polite rules. If not, I’ll remove your link.)

I Made It! Blog Party and Giveaway

Kim Layton — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:14:57 +0000

Welcome to the party where you get to show off your latest and greatest project!

Bring your home decor project, jewelry, crafts, sewing projects, tutorials, tie dye t-shirts and anything else you’ve created! It’s so much fun to see your posts, and the response has been awesome!

Our giveaway this week is from My Belle Boutique!

The beautiful sterling silver hand stamped necklace above can be customized with the names of your children or grandchildren…what could be better than that?

Kayla has a shop full of hand stamped jewelry, hair accessories, and home decor. It’s a great place to find your next birthday or anniversary gift!

This design was inspired by Twilight…I know there are some fans of that series out there!

My Belle Boutique will be giving away a $25 gift certificate to one lucky Everything Etsy reader this week! You can pick something just right for you, or someone you love!

Here’s How It Works

When you link to the McLinky thing below, you must link to a blog post that shows off anything that you made! As long as it fits the title “I Made It!”

A Couple Of Important Points

Link directly to your post, not your Etsy shop or your blog home page
Make sure you mention I Made It! at Everything Etsy and link back to this post
You can choose to use the button below which is already linked right to this post
Don’t miss out on what everyone else made! Just follow the links!
We made a more detailed instruction sheet right here.

Ways To Win The Giveaway

If you don’t have a post to link this week, you can still enter the giveaway!

Join the blog party with your post – 1 entry
Leave a sweet comment of some sort – 1 entry
Visit My Belle Boutique and tell us your favorite item. – 1 entry
Tweet this, post it on facebook, subscribe to our blog or new facebook fan page – 1 entry each
Subscribe to our blog or new facebook page – 1 entry each

Just leave a separate comment for each form of entry!

Thanks for spreading the word about the party, and have fun hoping around to all the other blogs linked this week!

~Kim

I Made It! Blog Party and Flashy Fish Giveaway

Kim Layton — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:58:36 +0000

This week’s “I Made It” party is closed, but be sure to be ready next Wednesday night at 10:00pm for next week’s link-up. It’s a great way to promote your blog, your creativity, and it’s fun!

Hi! Welcome to the third week of the I Made It Blog Party at Everything Etsy! We had a great first two weeks, but you know what they say, the third time’s a charm!

If this is your first time, you’re in for a treat! It’s so much fun to show off your awesome, crazy, and cool creations! And just as much fun to go around and see what everyone else made!

Flashy Fish Giveaway!

Each week, for I Made It, we’re going to have a great giveaway. I’m contributing to the cause myself this week with a $25.00 gift certificate to win hair accessories at my Flashy Fish Etsy Shop. I make pretty and fun hair accessories for little girls and the young at heart! I’m sure you can find something you’d like or that would make a great gift!

Lot’s of my items are priced low enough so that you can choose a good selection for your $25.00 shopping spree! Have fun and good luck!

Here’s How It Works

When you link to the McLinky thing below, you must link to a blog post that shows off anything that you made! It can be arts, crafts, food, and I guess even your kids would count! As long as it fits the title “I Made It!”

A Couple Of Important Points

Link directly to your post, not your Etsy shop or your blog home page
Make sure you mention I Made It! at Everything Etsy and link back to this post
You can choose to use the button below which is already linked right to this post
Don’t miss out on what everyone else made! Just follow the links!
We made a more detailed instruction sheet right here.

Ways To Win The Giveaway

There are two ways to win this giveaway! You get one entry by linking-up to the blog party. You get a second entry by leaving a comment below. Two chances to win. Like buying two Lotto tickets, sort-of.

The giveaway will be open for entries now through Saturday.

Tweet Away

Make sure you use the cool new (to us, we’re slow) Twitter thingy at the bottom to help make the party more popular for everyone! The more people that get involved the more people see what you made!

The giveaway winner is: Abbey @ At Home With The Richards Family

Here we go!

I Made It Blog Party — Mary K Jewels Giveaway

Kim Layton — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:15:55 +0000

Welcome to this week’s I Made It blog party!

I can’t wait to see all the beautiful things you’ve created this week! You’re welcome to link up a post about anything you made…how simple is that?

Last week we had links to some awesome tutorials, home decor projects, handmade cards and even quilts.

This Week’s I Made It Giveaway

Mary K Jewels designs handcrafted watch bands like this stunning turqoise one above. All her watch bands are interchangable, so you can change the band to fit you mood…or your outfit.

Here are a few more of her great creations!

Need something for a special occassion or your favorite outfit? Mary does custom orders for just what you need!

For this week’s I Made It Giveaway, one lucky winner will get to choose one watch band and one face. You can mix-and-match for the perfect combo!

You can get one entry into the giveaway by correctly linking to the McLinky, and one just for a comment! The giveaway ends February 27th!

And the winner is: Angie at Surviving Motherhood, congratulations Angie!

Now For The Blog Party

How does it work?

At the end of this post, there is a place to enter your info. A box for your name where you can add a word or two about what you made, such as “Kim @ Everything Etsy – Sachets” (we’ll adjust the character limit as we move forward, right now it’s 50 characters). And another box for the address to your post.

Make sure you use the link directly to your post, not just the home page. You can get that by clicking on your post title and a page will open with just that post on it. The address in your browser to that page is the right one.

Important!

It’s important that you help promote all of the other people in the party by including a link back to this post at Everything Etsy in your post. This way your readers find these links, and the other participant’s readers find you! You can use the button if you like. It already has the permalink to this particular post. (but a text link is fine too)

If you need help putting the links in your post, look at the comments from last week. Tim wrote a short instructional in the comments.

Without further ado, here is McLinky:

I Made It! – Blog Party at Everything Etsy (and Giveaway!)

Tim Layton — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:48:11 +0000

Welcome to the surprise and completely unplanned first week of I Made It! - a new blog party we’ll be hosting here every week at Everything Etsy!

I’ve been thinking about doing this forever, but never got around to it. So when the chance came up this morning to get my in-house button maker and tech guy to make me a button and set up a McLinky, I took it!

Here’s the idea:

Every week, we’ll have a blog party with a “linky thing” for you to show-off your posts featuring anything creative that you want to tell the world about!

We’re all about the movement of handmade and we want to do everything we possibly can to help spread the creative fire. We really hope that this helps you do that!

There are no categories, except the one clear one… YOU made it!

How does it work?

Important!

It’s important that you help promote all of the other people in the party by including a link back to this post at Everything Etsy in your post. This way your readers find these links, and the other participant’s readers find you! You can use the button if you like. It already has the permalink to this particular post. (but a text link is fine too)

A Lavender Road Giveaway!

To celebrate the start of this new blog party, I’m giving away a $30.00 gift certificate to The Lavender Road! My shop is full of colorful and sweet smelling lavender sachets, and of-course: I made it!

We’ll leave this open for new entries until Sunday night and draw a winner from the participants on Monday. You must properly link back to this post to win.

Oh! One more thing… since we gave no warning at all, you don’t have to link to brand-new posts… you can use an older post if you want to show it off! Just remember to go back in and add a link to the party.

(since you can’t link out from your Etsy shop, only blog posts can be linked to, not shops…sorry!)

**The winner of the gift certificate to The Lavender Road is Megity’s Handmade! Yay!

Here we go: