Comments on: CraftyPod #106: Engagement Marketing for Your Crafty Business

By: Alicesattic

Alicesattic — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:20:00 +0000

Thank you SisterDiane!!!! That is helpful advice. :-)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 23:22:00 +0000

I’m so glad you found it helpful, Megan! Good luck with your new business! You might also like this video class I did a while back: http://www.craftypod.com/2010/08/16/a-free-video-class-me-teaching-social-media-marketing-from-i-heart-art/

By: Bindingbee

Bindingbee — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 23:06:00 +0000

Thank you for this! I am one of those newbie business owners who has yet to master engagement marketing. heck, I’m still trying to figure out my personal facebook page! This podcast was incredibly helpful & gave me a lot of good advice to think about. –Megan

By: SisterDiane

SisterDiane — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:32:38 +0000

It's definitely a subtle thing, Alice, the way great content leads to sales. To express it really succinctly, it's like this: you put awesome tutorials and eye candy and ideas out there. People love them, and keep your blog on their radar. Over time, reading your content, they grow to like and respect you. There's a kind of “gratitude” relationship that develops. It's like, “She's given me so much with her blog, I'd like to do something for her in return.” (And also, “She clearly knows her subject, because I can see the evidence on her blog every day.”)

This gratitude is what leads people to check out your online store and make purchases. Of course you can mention your products on your blog – I definitely do. But it's important to bookend those mentions with free content people can use.

…Okay, that didn't end up succinct at all! :-) But did it help?

By: Alicesattic

Alicesattic — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:52:19 +0000

I just had a duh moment. Thank you. It makes so much sense what you are saying. I just had no idea how to do it. One of my biggest questions is: if I have a how to on my blog with something I make, then how will I ever sell anything. I'd love to have how to's. Maybe I just do it anyway. Hmmmmm. Anyway off to get busy bloggin' thanks so much!

By: SisterDiane

SisterDiane — Fri, 28 May 2010 18:16:31 +0000

Thanks for the nice comment, Sue! And don't feel bad – since we all grew up with broadcast marketing, we're pretty hard-wired for it. Most of us start out broadcasting in the social media space.

By: Sue Cahoon

Sue Cahoon — Fri, 28 May 2010 04:11:48 +0000

Thanks, I found out I was doing EVERYTHING WRONG. I'm a classic Broadcast marketer wannabee in an engagement marketing world. I will try what you suggested, and not make the same mistakes again. Thanks so much for the wake up call.

By: SisterDiane

SisterDiane — Thu, 27 May 2010 03:42:16 +0000

Yay – thanks, Kim! I'm so glad you found it helpful!

By: kim

kim — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:46:04 +0000

thank you so much… this was extremely valuable advice!

By: Tina aka forrestina vintage

Tina aka forrestina vintage — Sun, 23 May 2010 08:19:23 +0000

Following other blogs and leaving sincere comments on their posts is the way I built my blog followers up, up and up. It did take time, and I had to keep my blog updated and interesting at the same time. I, too, sell vintage on Etsy (http://forrestinavintage.etsy.com), am over 40, and didn't know if I'd have enough time for social networking. I now have 4 blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Kaboodle in my networking arsenal. I don't do all of them all the time so it's not an overload. I learned early on not to focus on how many or how often people leave comments on my blogs...I write and post photos for what it is--sharing. If people connect with it they give me feedback; if not, they don't, and that's okay. :)

By: WearArmor

WearArmor — Fri, 21 May 2010 22:14:38 +0000

Thank you, Diane! Your podcast taught me a lot! I was just about to quit Facebook altogether because it's been such a time stealer. I'll stay with it and use 'engagement marketing'. Thanks for the great advice! – Jill

By: SisterDiane

SisterDiane — Fri, 21 May 2010 21:32:28 +0000

Yaaay! My pleasure, Kristen – and good luck with your blogging adventure. If you love doing it, that enthusiasm will shine through and attract people. You're totally on the right track!

By: SisterDiane

SisterDiane — Fri, 21 May 2010 21:30:39 +0000

First, I adore the image of your 9 year old daughter leading you into blogging! And, I'm 43, so I totally get how this stuff doesn't exactly feel intuitive sometimes. But perseverance pays off! It takes a while to build that following - I usually counsel bloggers to give it a good six months minimum.

And yes, giveaways definitely will draw people to a blog. I think it's important to remember that for many of these folks, the motivation begins and ends with the freebie (that's just human nature). But a few will stick around and become regular readers.

Another great practice is to get involved in things like swaps, craft-alongs, and blog carnivals. These can expose your blog to some new readers. They happen all over the blogosphere - just keep an eye on the blogs you read. Also, check out http://www.swap-bot.com. Good Luck!

By: SisterDiane

SisterDiane — Fri, 21 May 2010 21:25:59 +0000

That's excellent! With that kind of response, I'll bet your comment was interesting and relevant, too – which is the big trick of getting click traffic from a comment. If readers think what you added to the discussion is intriguing, they'll definitely click that link and check you out, too. Well done!

By: SisterDiane

SisterDiane — Fri, 21 May 2010 21:24:14 +0000

I'm so glad you found it useful! And thank you so much for sharing it with your readers!