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So, you may recall from this post that I was working on a podcast on this subject before the holidays. But it turned out to be such a HUGE idea, there was no way to get it all in a 20-minute show.
So I decided to turn it into a series of blog posts instead. Blog posts are better anyway, because then we can have some discussion, which I’d love. You people have such excellent brains.
Here we go with Post #1….
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To begin with, Free is good. When lots of people share the stuff they love and the stuff they’re good at, it creates a world I want to live in. A world where you can learn about pretty much anything you’re curious about. A world where blogs lead you to kindred spirits. A world where we’re treated to a wondrous feast of eye candy, ear candy, and brain candy every single day.
Right? I think we’re all in some agreement on this.
What worries me about Free, though, is that it has one fatal flaw: it’s not all that sustainable.
Here’s what I mean by that. Every cool blog post, every podcast, every video that you enjoy for free online comes to you because another human being chose to put their time and energy into making it. A few of these folks got paid for their efforts, but the vast majority were doing it for free.
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So, there’s an equation at work here. And, if you remember your Algebra 101, equations need to have their two sides in balance. In this case of Free, that donation of time and energy needs to be balanced by some kind of reward.
To illustrate that point, let’s say that you choose to spend five dollars on materials and four hours of your time putting together a great tutorial for your blog. You make it, and you offer it up for Free. That’s one side of the equation.
The other side is what you get back in exchange for your time and expense. Maybe you get some nice comments from people who read your blog. Or maybe, someone is inspired to link over to your online store and make a purchase. Maybe you get featured on one of the big craft websites and end up with a lot of blog traffic. All of these are rewards. So the equation is: time, effort and expenses in, rewards out. If the two sides are balanced, you have sustainability.
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The problem with Free at this moment in time is, lots of people (in craft and in every other interest area) are donating lots of time and energy. But not everyone is getting rewarded. Look around the crafty blogging community, and you’ll soon see that the equations are out of balance all over – good content that isn’t getting any comments. Online stores with few sales. Great blogs that aren’t getting noticed. In fact, maybe YOUR equation is out of balance, too.
(The place all of this gets really sticky is in the idea of “rewards.” For some bloggers (podcasters, or video-makers), the feel-good rewards of hearing from nice people are plenty. For others, blogging is a business, and the rewards need to be financial. So there’s no single solution for better sustainability. I’ll have a lot more to say about this in future posts.)
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What’s the end result of this sustainability problem? Well, if you’re putting in hours of effort and not seeing the rewards that are meaningful to you, then sooner or later, you’re going to quit, right? With every blogger (podcaster, or video-maker) who quits, we lose a valuable original voice, a source of inspiration, a potential online friend.
We are so lucky to live in this landscape of Free right now. The question I’m obsessed with lately is: what can we do to keep it sustainable, so we can keep enjoying it?
What are your thoughts on this idea? Do you make Free? Does it feel sustainable right now? What rewards are important to you?
Diane, Well said. I make Free and I will cease the production of Free if the equation stays out of whack for too long. How long? I don’t know. I’m so happy that you are writing about this! It begins the discussion. There is a lack of comprehension of Free. How long can this last? It is not infinite.
As for rewards, I so appreciate comments and links back to my site, emails, things that help me understand that what I am doing makes a difference. I’m not selling anything yet, but some day that will add into the equation.
Here’s a comment I received to a post sharing a little painting in my journal: “I don’t understand how to make it. I’ve never done any watercolors. Can you post step-by-step pix or email them to me?”
You’re right, Daisy – that question of “How long will I tolerate that out-of-whack equation” is a BIG question! I think so many of us are dwelling in that question right now. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas on rewards here.
In a future post, I’ll write more about how our culture’s perceptions of media and media-makers have yet to catch up with the internet age, but the comment you shared points out how Free can create some de-valuing. I get comments like the one you shared sometimes, too. It’s clear that the commenter means well, but they’re asking for a whole lot – for free – because they aren’t aware how many hours and how much effort it would take us to to give them what they requested.
There definitely comes a point in any blogger’s life where he or she has to start drawing some lines around what will be Free and what would require more concrete compensation. Not that it’s ever easy to express these distinctions to nice people who comment. :-/
I think many of us who make our living through art and craft are in a similar boat, Forbethel. The way we spend our time translates directly to how much income we earn. The more Free we make, the fewer hours we have to earn our rent and food. And yet, Free is still a spectacular way to reach people. The balance point is difficult to find.
I believe that the situation you’re describing – a flood of hobbyists and amateurs driving down prices for services that used to charge more – is happening all over the place. This is also a difficult balance point, because one of the things I love about Free is that it gives more people a chance to develop new skills and find their niche. We’re in the midst of a giant economic re-org right now, and just about everyone will have to find new business models in order to stay sustainable – professionals and hobbyists alike.
I’ve been self-employed just four years, and in that time have had to re-invent myself several times over. We’re all riding out the chaos. Good thing it’s such abundant, fascinating chaos. :-)
I’m right there with you, Dawn. I sometimes wonder whether all the Free that bombards us every day also insulates us from the idea that others need our support. In fact, I’m beginning to think that some limits to Free might be healthy, just to restore the perception that it’s special – and that the skills and time that went into it are also special.
This is also an important emerging discussion, I think – and I’m glad you brought it up. It’s true that not all crafters seek to have a business, but from where I sit, it seems like a fairly big percentage of our online community does have that goal. (Or, like you, a plan to eventually head that direction.)
So what does it do to community, when so many are trying to sell to the community? How can we balance our need to pay rent and our right to follow our dreams with the need to maintain a thriving exchange of ideas, techniques, and eye candy?
I agree with you about the dangers of a hypercommercialized blog landscape. But then again, how much do we bloggers and blog-readers support each other? If you blog as a business, you have to find the income somewhere. Not all reader communities are tuned into the idea of actively supporting the value they enjoy for Free. As with so many things in this discussion, the balance point is difficult.
Thanks for joining in the discussion, Tj! I’m curious – have you started setting any limits to the amount of Free you do in the last six months?
That’s such a huge question. So many thoughts. I think it is sustainable. As long as basic internet access and info remains free and open. For me the internet is like a giant library. And Amazon may be putting bookstores out of biz (another convo in itself), but the free online is not hurting the book sales on Amazon. It’s also (hypothetically) stored for all time. I may make free for awhile, then get tired of it and not make anymore. But every free thing I put up, along with everyone else’s free is still out there for the newly curious. The collective knowledge is growing. But when people are ready to do business, they pay for stuff.
I also think that people who give free need to remember that it’s giving. Rewards like comments, links, and such are great, but no one’s obligated to spread your ideas. For me, having my blog/Twitter is like going to a party. You talk, you chat people up, and see what happens. Some people like you, some don’t. If you’re work is good and you keep at it, more people will come. Hasn’t business always been like this? You work with people you’ve gotten to know? In a virtual world, I can’t walk by your biz and chat w/ you daily so that when I need your services, I buy from you. So online we blog, Twitter, do forums, etc.. I thought through some of this the other day when I noticed Brogan comment on his blog that he basically gives away 90% of what he knows for free and makes money on peeps that pay for the other 10%.
Had a couple other thoughts but this is already long and I can’t remember them at the moment. Will check back in later tonight.
As always, I love your insights, Elizabeth. If you won’t mind my playing just a little devil’s advocate here, I can’t help feeling that while Mr. Brogan does succeed by giving a lot away, his 10% of paying customers are, to be fair, very large corporations who can afford to pay handsomely for his services. I can’t help feeling that our community of crafters represents a very different potential for financial support. That’s neither a bad thing or a good one – it’s just a fact.
In terms of giving for the sake of giving, heck yes – I love to do that, too. As I mentioned in another reply, I just thing that the tenor of this begins to change a bit when your blogging is tied to your business. How much Free can we afford to make, and can we really afford to make it if it isn’t leading somehow to income?
Definitely, the needs and perceptions of bloggers who do it for love and those who do it as a business will always differ. That’s one of the things that makes this discussion so interesting.
But Katin brought up an excellent question this morning: would any of us go to a potluck and not bring anything? Does our community resemble a potluck, with everyone bringing something for everyone else to enjoy? I love giving to the community, but like many, don’t find it as rewarding if I can’t see who’s receiving and enjoying the stuff I put out there for Free.
I’ll also say this: you are consistently spectacular about community participation and appreciation.
Diane, thank you. :) So many avenues, so I’m going to go through your paragraphs one by one-
1- I think the concern for what our community can support goes back to one of your other great memes, which is the need to get outside of our community.
2- I guess that’s different for everyone. Like I said before, I think a lot of free works well as an introduction. Once you’re introduced and people know your stuff is good, charge for it. Even if you start charging for new stuff you would have previously given away as free, you still have a whole backlog of free for people to access. That’s where my library analogy before comes in.
3- I find our community, and the internet in general, to be a global town plaza. (This is actually how I think of Twitter.) Some people are giving away free stuff, some of hawking their wares, some are chatting with their friends, some are gawking at celebrities, and others are trying to nose into seats of economic and political power. And you can be any and all of these at once. I don’t think it’s a potluck b/c a potluck has a predetermined set of invites and you usually know everyone or they are friends of friends. Visiting the plaza doesn’t require that you know anyone or bring something, but the people that do get a lot more out of it.
Awesome that some of your readers are open to the idea! I’ve had a donation button on this blog for about a year now. It had a fair number of clicks at first, but that has dwindled. I’m trying to get comfortable with the idea that I’ll probably have to ask for donations periodically in order to keep that support going. It feels uncomfortable, but is likely necessary.
Thanks for joining the discussion, Matti! It’s awesome that the Free you’re producing is leading to other opportunities. That’s exactly how I got started, too. I definitely believe in Free as a means of growing your skills and finding community (as well as interesting opportunities.)
Free, then, seems to take a really interesting turn once you’ve committed to making a living from that passion. I think it still plays a role (maybe even has to play a role), but it’s tricky to navigate at that point.
I wish you and your partner all the best with your enterprise! There are definitely paths to that FT gig you’re hoping for. They wind around and disappear under the weeds sometimes, but they’re there. :-)
I’m curious, Katie – so your output was all for sale before you started offering free patterns? What I think is interesting about this is that you’ve set up, perhaps, a more productive conversation with your readers. You’ve made it clear that your work is valuable enough to buy, and then offered some free samples of simpler things to help generate interest.
I totally agree that to offer Free is to steward the quality of our community. I just also believe that everyone deserves some support, too.
True that – blogs started out as free personal gifts to the world, after all. Monetization options only came along later. You make a good point about getting specific about what rewards you want. I know that in my first couple years of self-employment, I hatched a lot of income streams that involved my putting out a ton of Free and then hoping people would eventually opt to support it. I’m definitely learning that you have to build a more direct money-path, and make that path clear to your readers, or the results won’t be there.
Definitely, Alicia – there needs to be a healthy dose of personal satisfaction in this stuff, or it doesn’t feel fun or rewarding.
Definitely, there are some who have successfully leveraged Free. I’m still interested in the idea of overall sustainability. Even with a few successful business models out there, I believe that we need a sea change in terms of how “information consumers” (for want of a better term) treat Free.
I’d love to see micropayment systems like Flattr (http://www.flattr.com) take deeper root in communities like ours. I think it’s so easy to get overwhelmed – with all the Free out there, how can any of us support all the people who give us great stuff? One really good model is micropayments – we may think we can’t afford to support our favorite Free-makers, but most of us, even in tight times, could afford a few cents here and there. With enough participation, those tiny payments add up nicely – for a broader section of the community.
I agree, I think there is a belief from some that there is no reason to buy a sewing or knitting pattern as they are so many free ones so why buy one – an expectation that they can get online and find what they want for free.
I love free. It is like getting a gift. I also like giving free gifts. But…there is a cost. I’ve made a few tutorials (only posted one) and found it so time consuming with little return on the investment. I can’t possibly maintain any kind of balance if I produce a lot of free content. I wouldn’t have time for anything else.
Right now there is a lot of awesome free content. This does make it difficult for those who can’t afford to offer free content. Sometimes it also makes it difficult to pay for something you might find for free. Of course, if I really want something I will pay for it.
Something else to consider is the new crafter. My daughter, who is a beginning crafter, loves the free content. It inspires her. When she is inspired, she has no problem paying for classes, patterns , materials, etc. This ultimately will be good for those offering quality paid for content.
This is true, some crafters will enjoy free stuff and then be inspired to pay for other services. In my experience, this isn’t exactly a universal point of view, but I’m glad to hear your daughter takes this perspective.
Wow, I am going to need to come back to read the rest of the comments. VERY interesting perspectives! I will be here until the end of your series :o)
Do you make Free?
Yes, a few blog tutorials and lots of giveaways (in the past). I link to other blogs on my new FB fan page, lots of mentions for other designers and retweet more than I really have time for, lol.
Does it feel sustainable right now?
Heavens no. I thought about stopping my blog last week but an opportunity arose.
What rewards are important to you?
To start I would like more blog comments. I get LOTS of looks. I have several regulars that keep me going, bless their hearts. But I have noticed a decline of comments even on the big blogs I follow. My blog followers doubled after a recent giveaway but only a few are returning.
I had a giveaway before Christmas that made me some money (my Etsy store). I am taking some of the money and placing an ad on a blogger’s site to give back, and I am hoping this is the right step to increasing the rewards and justifying the Free.
Oh my, this was going to be a quick answer. Thank you Diane!
Thank you for joining the discussion, Molly! The question of “how do I get more people reading and commenting on my blog” is the number one question people ask me about blogging.
I love the fact that you’re taking money you earned from your blog and using it to support another blog!
Thank you for joining the discussion, Molly! The question of “how do I get more people reading and commenting on my blog” is the number one question people ask me about blogging.
I love the fact that you’re taking money you earned from your blog and using it to support another blog!
Wow, I am going to need to come back to read the rest of the comments. VERY interesting perspectives! I will be here until the end of your series :o)
Do you make Free?
Yes, a few blog tutorials and lots of giveaways (in the past). I link to other blogs on my new FB fan page, lots of mentions for other designers and retweet more than I really have time for, lol.
Does it feel sustainable right now?
Heavens no. I thought about stopping my blog last week but an opportunity arose.
What rewards are important to you?
To start I would like more blog comments. I get LOTS of looks. I have several regulars that keep me going, bless their hearts. But I have noticed a decline of comments even on the big blogs I follow. My blog followers doubled after a recent giveaway but only a few are returning.
I had a giveaway before Christmas that made me some money (my Etsy store). I am taking some of the money and placing an ad on a blogger’s site to give back, and I am hoping this is the right step to increasing the rewards and justifying the Free.
Oh my, this was going to be a quick answer. Thank you Diane!
Great topic and very thought provoking! I actually turned the comment feature off on my blog because I was’nt getting any comments and it was just too frustrating. I decided that I blog not to make money or get comments but to keep a “journal” of my crafts journey. Something for my kids to look at some day. It’s made me think of blogging in a whole new way-instead of wondering why “nobody likes me” I focus on what is important to me…the craft. And FYI the crafts I do are pretty self explanitory so no tutorial is required most of the time, any semi-experienced crafter could figure it out, I do feel I offer a lot of good ideas…and they are totally FREE – not even a comment required.
Great topic and very thought provoking! I actually turned the comment feature off on my blog because I was’nt getting any comments and it was just too frustrating. I decided that I blog not to make money or get comments but to keep a “journal” of my crafts journey. Something for my kids to look at some day. It’s made me think of blogging in a whole new way-instead of wondering why “nobody likes me” I focus on what is important to me…the craft. And FYI the crafts I do are pretty self explanitory so no tutorial is required most of the time, any semi-experienced crafter could figure it out, I do feel I offer a lot of good ideas…and they are totally FREE – not even a comment required.
That’s an interesting take! How great that taking reader feedback out of the equation gave you more satisfaction with blogging. Blogging is, at heart, a personal medium, so how nice that you’re keeping it completely personal like this.
That’s an interesting take! How great that taking reader feedback out of the equation gave you more satisfaction with blogging. Blogging is, at heart, a personal medium, so how nice that you’re keeping it completely personal like this.
This is going to be a very interesting blog serie, Diane. ^-^
I’ve defenetely seen a decrease in comments since microbloggings and social medias platforms have increased in popularity. And it’s for the entire blogging community, unfortunately.
I once had a “I blog for comments” buttons on my blog and, somehow, I think it helped me getting more comments. I’m thinking of putting it back up, actually.
As for free and substanability… one of the problem, I believe, is that we currently have one crowded craftosphere! Because it’s so crowded and the craft world was so popular in the last few years (Remember 2005?) , I’m feeling a little decrease in the interest of crafts. Don’t get me wrong, there’s always going to be crafters on the web. It’s just that I feel that the popularity of craft is going down a little. If you have a blog/shop, it’s also more difficult to differentiate yourselves from the crowd.
I do like the idea of having a “premium” offer like one of the commenter suggested. A band I know does the same thing for their website. (Hanson.net, to not name them. :-p) But I also believe you need to be a very well-known blogger who offers lots of high quality content. (Like, well, you, Diane! :-) ) It’s not an option for someone who’s been blogging for, say, a year or two.
The more you write about it and the more I like the idea of Flattr. I also believe we need to talk about this more, as well.
As for the “donation” button, I know that some people don’t call them “donation buttons” because it sounds too much like “you’re asking money”. Instead, they call them “Pay me a Beer” button or “Pay me a coffee.”
When you think about this idea for our community, why not using a “Pay me crafts supplies!” button.
I wouldn’t be offended if you would sometimes remind us your donation button. I believe that the people who really enjoy your work won’t mind giving micro-donations at all. We just need to be reminded because, well, we’re humans. ;-)
That’s a lovely approach to a donation button, Fanie!
And I think you’re right about the crowdedness – both of the blogosphere AND our attention spans, with all the options for relentless sharing and communicating we have out there.
Interesting point about reminding people of the donation button more. I struggle with this all the time. When I don’t mention the things I have for sale, very few people buy them. When I mention them, people buy. But I don’t want this blog to be all about selling, either! Dare I say it again – the balance is tricky.
Is the balance tricky for you, or us?
Also, you should totally change the donation button to “Buy me a Chai” or whatever you drink. No wait, “Pay me in Plastic Canvas!” ;) That is an awesome idea!
Touche! :-) And I think you guys are totally right about the button. I’ll make a new version, stat.
I’m really hoping the community will share some good ideas for growing our sustainability, too, Heather! If we put our heads together, I think we can come up with solutions, even with all our disparate viewpoints on the matter.
You’re smart to keep Free at a level you can manage, too. I ended 2010 so burned-out from making Free. I’m going to have to step back this year and find a happier medium, too.
Nothing Pollyanna about it at all, Ruby. As I mentioned in the post, different bloggers will have different rewards that are meaningful to them.
Diane, Thank you for this post. I just recently found your website and I’m loving what I’ve been reading so far!
I’ve had a website for several years now.. At first it was just a way to show off the things that I made and offer a place to send people when they asked what do you make. For the past year I’ve decided to change the content to be different, to offer free information on how to make things and then also offer the items I make for sale. But I haven’t fully brought my site up to full functionality.
I worked hard for six months making videos and posting those on youtube and my site for free. Most of the projects were part of a swap, gift or special order. I didn’t really spend money on projects just to put them on the web, but at the same time I did spend money. I purchased a new video camera and other equipment and made better videos. Then trying to keep up started to get stressful. Trying to balance a corporate job, arts / crafts, Toastmasters, and of course family.. Oh boy that can be a lot going on in life, how do I keep up with posts on Twiter, Facebook, Youtube and my website? And keep it free? I found a few tools so I didn’t have to multi post. But I haven’t figured out how to keep up with replying to everyone! I have to sleep sometime, don’t I? lol
I see people dedicated to giving on the web daily and I think, “Hey I have knowledge to share, I need to be doing more of this”. So I’m learning more about passive income. How to get income off of my free posts. There is so much out there to use! Affiliate programs – where if you post a link to a product from another vendor and someone clicks and buys then you get a commission. The hard part is trying to narrow down what will be posted and not making the site a huge spam site that everyone begins to hate because of banner ads!
So back to your questions. I offer free stuff on occasion, normally “How to” posts. I enjoy sharing what knowledge I have with others. The reward I would ultimately like to get: Permanent work in the art / craft industry. But not just any job, I don’t want to be a clerk at a local craft supply store. I would like to be involved with teaching – developing new products… So for now I will post my knowledge on the web and hope that one day I will find the perfect fit for me in this world that involves getting paid! :) If you read this whole post, thanks! lol…
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences here, Linda! I have been exactly where you are – struggling to keep up. I actually wrote about the “myth of passive income” a few months ago: http://www.craftypod.com/2010/09/09/passive-income-lets-bust-a-myth/
The upkeep of all this online stuff is indeed daunting. And boy – slack off for a little while, and your readers will find plenty to do elsewhere. My hat is off to you for taking this kind of work on alongside a full-time job and family.
…All that said, the kind of thing you’re doing – sharing in detail the things you’re good at – is indeed an important way to make yourself known to an industry you want to break into. I’ve gotten freelance writing and design jobs from this blog, and was even able to attend CHA a few years back. So your goals are definitely attainable. If only we could crack that “only 24 hours in a day” thing! :-)
Wow. I’ll have to think about this. This is very interesting . . . I look forward to the discussions!
I’ve never heard of this “donation” button thing. How does this work? Can you use it on WordPress?
You sure can. PayPal has a pretty easy-to-install donation button engine, if you have an account there: https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?cmd=_donate-intro-outside
Could not stop thinking about this topic! I think internet users and people in general are bombarded with Free, these days you buy one you get one free at the store, you can download free music/movies almost anything is available for free. This mass Freebie addiction that’s been started by the big name companies had desensitized people so when genuine people go out of their way and spend valuable time (we’re all busy people) we don’t even think to say thank you because, Free is everywhere. I consider myself a polite person in public yet I have used many Free tutorials, and whilst I’ve always given credit via linking back, I’ve never even thought to comment or to say Thanks, I would never be this impolite in public. This has prompted me to start a ‘My name is Earl’ style quest to thank all those people that have shared their skills/patterns or just creativity with me maybe crafty Karma does go full circle!
Hee hee! I LOVE the idea of a “My name is Earl” style quest of thanks! In my next post, I plan to write about how hard it is to adequately thank or compensate all the Free we get every day. You’re right, we are bombarded. But you are making a big difference by reaching out. Rock on, Earl-Ruby! :-)
I hope the scheme will work for you, Michele. And I think most of us who make Free would agree with your love and pride for the act of making and sharing. Good luck!
I hope the scheme will work for you, Michele. And I think most of us who make Free would agree with your love and pride for the act of making and sharing. Good luck!
Beautifully said, Karen – we’re in a moment where the norms of interacting with blogs are evolving. I agree with you that down the road, there will be much clearer paths to supporting our favorite blogs, and perhaps a more universal mindset of support.
You’re so kind to share your perspectives as a reader here – a much-needed balance to our discussion, and I’m sure your ideas will be very helpful to many. And thank you so much for reading!
I”m really glad you took the time to write! :) So thoughtful, helpful.
I grew up in a family of non-crafters. None of my friends are crafters. So when I have no clue how to do something, I’ll usually turn to the internet for advice. I’ve found people on the internet that want to talk to me about making stuff. They’ve given me inspiration.
Putting up free tutorials doesn’t feel like I’m giving something away for free, any more than my showing a friend how to crochet feels like I’m giving something away for free.
One day I might find away to combine doing what I love (making things) and earning money, but realistically I would not get paid well for my labour if I made things for sale. I’m too slow at sewing for that…
I understand the importance of this discussion, but I think it misses the point not everyone is in this for the money. And that is a really important point. If the majority of doctors were happy to practice medicine for free because it was simply a hobby to them, it would be a lot harder for the doctors who wanted to make medicine their livelihood to do so.The same is true in the crafting world.
I don’t ever view my tutorials as the kind of equation you suggest. I don’t go out and buy supplies and spend hours on a project just to get some kind of material reward back from the online community. All the projects I share on my blog are projects I want to make for me, for family, for friends; I’d make them whether I wrote up a tutorial or not. I share projects I make on my blog, I don’t make projects to share. It is, I think, an important distinction. I don’t feel like I’m giving something away; I feel like I’m sharing info with friends and giving something back to the community.
I’ve toyed around with monetizing my blog and having an online shop, but none of those gave me the satisfaction I get from simply being a part of a community of sharing. I understand the frustration of those who wish to make a living from craft, but as long as there are a plethora of hobbyists, there are no easy answers. Certainly some do manage to make it work, but they really have to have something that sets them apart from the crowd…and have a really good marketing strategy.
The problem is that unlike accounting or practicing law or teaching school, crafts are a hobby for far more more people than those who consider them a career. No matter how much work career crafters may put into their business, there are always going to be others who will gladly do the same for free because it is their hobby, their respite, their therapy. Free may not be sustainable for those who want their blog to provide them with income (either directly or indirectly), but I think for the crafting community as a whole, it is sustainable because the majority of the crafting community isn’t trying to make crafting their sole source of income.
Well, we’ve focused on money for these first two posts, it’s true, but I’ve tried to make it clear in both posts that not all crafters find the same rewards meaningful – as you said, some are seeking financial support and some aren’t. I’m not sure I agree with your “majority” comment, given how many crafters I’ve spoken with who have eventual dreams of making a living doing what they love. I think that yearning approaches universality, although not all will act on it, and not all who do will become viable.
And I don’t think it’s fair to say that those of us who seek to make our living from craft aren’t getting any satisfaction from sharing for the sake of sharing. If I didn’t love sharing with this community so much, I wouldn’t be reaching for ways to make it sustainable. I would simply quit once I could no longer afford the time or materials.
And definitely, in any area of interest (including the accounting, law, and teaching you cited) there will be professionals co-existing with hobbyists. The internet has brought us a world where hobbyists can go public, and I think this is a wonderful thing. It also creates a window for more of us to pursue our dreams. The tension between those who hope to charge money for a service and those who give it away for love will take some decades to work out – we’re just at the start of these discussions, culture-wide. But I’d like to believe there are ways they can co-exist.
I have no doubt many crafters your have spoken to dream of making a living from crafts. Your blog, podcast, ebooks, classes, and consulting services are all marketed to those who have such dreams. They are certainly very valuable to those who don’t have those dreams, too, but it stands to reason as a person who teaches people how to have a crafty business you would attract people to you who have those kinds of dreams.
My experience as a person who both attends and teaches crafting classes for hobbyists is completely different. When I go to workshops I meet lots of avid crafters, but I’d estimate less than 10% of them have any plan to attempt to make a living from crafting–and these are some pretty hard core crafters. Some sell a few items here and there to friends and co-workers or at craft fairs to support their habit, but they aren’t planning to leave their day job.
I never said, and didn’t intend to imply, those who seek to make their living from craft aren’t getting satisfaction from sharing. I was simply sharing my experience with my blog. I personally didn’t find it as meaningful. Selling handmade items to faceless people over the internet was, for me, far less rewarding that a nice comment on a tutorial. I wasn’t trying to make any generalizations to any other crafters.
I do agree it is possible for hobbyists and professional crafters to coexist. I think it will take some time for everyone to find their niche, but I think conversations like these really help lead us in that direction.
I have no doubt many crafters your have spoken to dream of making a living from crafts. Your blog, podcast, ebooks, classes, and consulting services are all marketed to those who have such dreams. They are certainly very valuable to those who don’t have those dreams, too, but it stands to reason as a person who teaches people how to have a crafty business you would attract people to you who have those kinds of dreams.
My experience as a person who both attends and teaches crafting classes for hobbyists is completely different. When I go to workshops I meet lots of avid crafters, but I’d estimate less than 10% of them have any plan to attempt to make a living from crafting–and these are some pretty hard core crafters. Some sell a few items here and there to friends and co-workers or at craft fairs to support their habit, but they aren’t planning to leave their day job.
I never said, and didn’t intend to imply, those who seek to make their living from craft aren’t getting satisfaction from sharing. I was simply sharing my experience with my blog. I personally didn’t find it as meaningful. Selling handmade items to faceless people over the internet was, for me, far less rewarding that a nice comment on a tutorial. I wasn’t trying to make any generalizations to any other crafters.
I do agree it is possible for hobbyists and professional crafters to coexist. I think it will take some time for everyone to find their niche, but I think conversations like these really help lead us in that direction.
Karen, in describing yourself you’ve described me, too! Thanks for taking the time to comment so thoughtfully and eloquently, and thank you, Diane, for starting this discussion.
At first my ‘reward’ was purely the novelty of publishing, then over time page views, comments and ‘likes’ became more important – I didn’t only want to share, but I wanted to find people who appreciated what I did, and who would help guide me going forward. However, I have been so surprised by how few people comment (for me less than 1 in every 1000 page views results in a comment) and this is when you are offering something for free – I can’t imagine how many visitors you would need if you were looking for sales.
I quite like the ‘micro-payments’ model: I think people are more prepared to pay a few cents/pence for something they value, whether this is in the form of ‘coffee donation’ or for specific content. I write occasional tutorials for Envato and they recently scrapped their ‘freemium’ subscription model in favour of a marketplace where the more exclusive tutorials are sold for a few dollars each. It’s a nice idea and time will tell if it works.
One last thought, someone recently suggested I auctioned each of my finished crafts – I thought that was a neat idea, it might create some fun PR and you never know you might even cover the cost of the materials.
That’s a cool idea, Scott – and I for one would absolutely bid on your finished projects!
I see you as a blogger who puts an incredible amount of thought and detail into the things you share online. Your talent as a designer and illustrator informs your crafting and makes you unique, and that absolutely deserves compensation.
For the record, if you were to sign up on Flattr, I’d welcome the opportunity to “micropay” you regularly for your excellent posts.
Scott – have just seen you blog for the first time and love it – I also left a comment! As far as I can see the only way I can follow your blog is thru’ an RSS reader, so I cant actually follow your blog on the page. Ever since discovering the joy of Google reader (via one of Diane wonderful free tutorials) I do find that I tend to scoll thru’ all the blog posts & click the like and star buttons but dont generally tend to leave a comment, mostly thru’ time really. I am now going to make an extra effort to leave a comment!
Scott – have just seen you blog for the first time and love it – I also left a comment! As far as I can see the only way I can follow your blog is thru’ an RSS reader, so I cant actually follow your blog on the page. Ever since discovering the joy of Google reader (via one of Diane wonderful free tutorials) I do find that I tend to scoll thru’ all the blog posts & click the like and star buttons but dont generally tend to leave a comment, mostly thru’ time really. I am now going to make an extra effort to leave a comment!
:-( Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that, Tj. Things like this do happen in the online world. I have lost count of the products and projects I’ve launched with high hopes, only to have no response. But don’t let these things stop you, ever. It’s all a process of trial and error. If your community didn’t respond to this effort, try to learn something about why and use this knowledge next time. Keep trying.
Thank you for joining us in this discussion, Angela! Oh, BOY do I agree with you about complaints about freebies. My theory is that this comes from the last many decades of media funded by advertisers – for many consumers, print and broadcast media has always felt “free” because we weren’t directly paying for all of its production. And it was made by people we never saw. So we maybe grew comfortable with the notion of griping about it – after all, everything that went into it was pretty invisible!
Your comment about the mocha made me think of this comic, “How I Feel About Buying Apps,” which cracks me up: http://theoatmeal.com/blog/apps (Just a warning – there may be things in there some people find offensive.)
oh my goodness this is such a good topic. I think about this all. the. time. as it is basically my business model (made-by-rae.com); my sewing blog with free tutorials produces lots of traffic = sales for my for-sale stuff. In the end, it pays about as much as a part-time job, with me putting in close to full-time job time. Ack! :) But yes, the reward of blogging goes beyond the monetary.
oh my goodness this is such a good topic. I think about this all. the. time. as it is basically my business model (made-by-rae.com); my sewing blog with free tutorials produces lots of traffic = sales for my for-sale stuff. In the end, it pays about as much as a part-time job, with me putting in close to full-time job time. Ack! :) But yes, the reward of blogging goes beyond the monetary.
wow Thanks for this discussion. I have been blogging (lifeonwillowdale.blogspot.com) for a couple of years purely for myself (with my mother as my only reader) and just in the past few months have started making tutorials and getting myself out there so this is a timely discussion for me. I do have in the back of my mind that maybe one day I could make money from it but right now I feel kind of good about contributing to the craft blog community that has given me so much in inspiration, tutorials, and fun in the past few years.
But thanks again, it is quite eye opening to hear from bloggers that I consider having “made it” (esp made-by-rae, one of my faves) in the blogging world that they still aren’t making a decent hourly wage.
I will continue with my blogging but continue to focus on the idea that I should only do it while I am enjoying it and only do things that I enjoy.
That sounds like a good approach for this moment in your blogging journey, Amy.
Here’s something I’m finding interesting – that desire to someday maybe earn income from your blog, it’s fairly common in the crafty blogosphere. Nothing wrong with that at all. But these discussions have definitely shown me that, to actually turn a blog into a living, there comes a point where we have to let go of “someday, maybe” and actually approach blogging like a business.
And I think many of us who’ve been blogging for a while are just beginning to take our first steps into figuring out exactly what this means.
I love the idea of talking with people all over the globe,getting their ideas and tweeking them to my liking but, when it comes to the sustainable part ,I do it local. I guess I fall into the think global act local pond. Right now it works for me. I always mean to comment on your blog and fail to do so. This year it’s going to be a different story.
I love the idea of supporting locally too, Denise! And it’s true that most of us are in a position where there just aren’t enough hours in a day to support all the online Free we enjoy. I think any action is a good action in this case, so thank you for supporting your local producers!
I just want to let you know that I have ready every article you wrote on your series on Sustainability. Plus, I have followed up on all your links.
I have now begun exploring the issue on my own blog and I started this week with Planet June’s Amigurumi Pear pattern. She requests a donation for the pattern but also offers it for free for readers who don’t want to donate. Her business model is very close to what you did with your Felty Easter Gift Box tutorial, but with some important differences.
The url is http://craftstew.com/craft-business/amigurumi-pears-pattern
if you have time to take a look.
Thanks, Annette, for taking up the discussion of Free! I look forward to hearing the discussions you and your readers have.
You know, I actually based my Felty Easter Gift box experiment on Planet June’s model. Honestly, the only major differences I can see between what I did and what she did are these:
- It’s a lot harder to reverse-engineer a crochet pattern than it is to reverse-engineer my project. I think that often, knit and crochet designers have an advantage in the realm of selling content simply because crafters really have to have the pattern in order to make the project.
- I’ve been giving craft content away for six years, so I think that my readers had come to expect that to a large extent. June, on the other hand, has had a business selling her content. Her blog has always contained a mix of Free and paid, so her readers were better able to embrace the idea of the donationware pattern.
If you see some other key differences between her model and mine, I would love to hear your perspectives!
I think the things you mentioned are important differences. But, I picked up on one more thing. There is a subtle difference in the wording you both used.
Planet June wrote: Send me a donation and receive the easy-to-print PDF version of the pattern as a thank you!
You wrote: The basic tutorial is here at no charge, or you can get a fancier PDF version (including the full pattern) for the price of whatever donation you’d like to make.
I know that doesn’t seem like a signifigant change, but when I read Planet June’s request, I felt that if I wanted to use the pattern I needed to pay for it. And as a plus, I would get the pdf.
When I read your request I felt I only needed to pay for the tutorial IF I wanted the pdf.
I can’t say for sure, but I think a lot of other people may have felt the same way.
Ah! That’s really good stuff, Annette. I never saw that difference in the language, and now that you’ve pointed it out, I totally agree. June’s language DOES lead to donation better than mine does. Thank you for that new window on this whole thing!
[...] anyway, I went back and re-read CraftyPod’s posts on the subject… and started wondering how I was going to continue on and be sustainable. [...]