Begin to Socialize your Website

Social Networking within your niche is a good thing. But, to travel outside of your niche and network is even better! When you take a look at who your customers are, you will have a better idea of what you need to tell them and how to go about doing that. Social networking can be time consuming, but what isn't when you sell online? It is very beneficial, how can you afford not to. Signing on to one or more of these networking sites will not only allow you to meet and get to know your customers, but it can cover marketing and advertising too and all at no cost to you.

A few of the popular sites to network socially are MySpace.com, Facebook.com, Multiply.com, Stumbleupon.com, and Squidoo.com.

Most of us have heard about MySpace and Facebook by now. You set up your own page (site) and find your friends. You can join groups and meet new people, sell there (for a fee), post a blog, post pictures and interact with different add ons to your page. Both are easy to learn and set up. Multiply is right along with these two. You get your own site, set it up how you like, meet people by joining groups, post a blog, add pictures, etc. You can set up your account to receive email alerts when there are updates to your friends pages or blogs and can keep up with things this way instead of checking your account everyday. (A time saver!)

StumbleUpon gives you a page (site) that you can customize to suit your interests. When you sign up here, you get a button and toolbar for your browser, you set up your account with your interests. The interests cover just about everything. Stumble Upon will also help you meet people who share the same interests as you, which is nice. Other Stumblers can check out your interests and pages you've stumbled. You can Stumble your own site here yourself or wait and see if another Stumbler does it for you (this could take a while).

Squidoo is a site that allows you to create a lens. You can make as many lenses as you want. Each lens is a chance to showcase you as an expert on a certain topic. Each day, your lens is ranked along with all of the other lenses. You can see your stats page and see if anyone has visited your lens. There are groups you can join too. You can creatively point your lens to your website or blog. Plenty of help and suggestions can be found on this site as well.

I've given five sites for beginning your social network plunge. It will take time to set up and familiarize yourself with these sites, so take it slow. One at a time. Have you found any other great social networking sites we can try?

Social Networking for Crafters

Two of the largest social networking sites for crafters are Indie Public and Ning. The two are similar but different. In both you can just lose your self for a while.

I signed onto Indie Public months ago. I was a bit lost and overwhelmed at first, but spent a little time and got the feel for it. I find it to be a great place to join great groups and meet new people involved with different crafts. I found Ning through Indie and was lost once agian. I am fairly new there, but am begining to really enjoy it.

Both are set up, pretty much, the same. You can customize your own site page with templates, your company/blog information, photos of your work, a blog if you like, join and participate in groups and forums, meet very supportive people and have a blast.

On Ning, you have the opportunity to set up your own network. That's right, you name it what you want, add the features that you want others to enjoy and get people to join you. One thing you will get caught up in on Ning is that every time you join a group (network) you will get another new page to set up. This is good because you can customize the information you want members to see for each network you join. There are many different networks to join too. This may not be a good thing for someone who likes many different things, because setting up different pages for yourself can be time consuming. Since it's all set up the same, however, it is easy to do. For letting people know where to find you, you'll notice that the site addressese will change for each of these. I would advise writing them down so you can keep track.

If you are looking to meet other crafters, find support, get opinions from others in your area or learn some new things, I would strongly advise you join up. It is free. And who couldn't use a pat on the back every now and then?

Do you know of any other good networking craft sites? Please share.

Something Fun To Try

I saw a post on Ning.com from the owner of Cut Out + Keep
I checked out the tutorial for this and it has great photos and instructions. There are even plenty of pictures from others who have done this project themselves. It is stressed though, that you not use a valuable record. That was a good caution for someone like me whose husband has a record collection~ When I asked if I could use one of his albums~he yelled, Absolutely Not! He doesn't listen to them anyway.....
Is this a project you would do for your own home or for a gift?

Ice Jewelry~For Real!

During one of my daily websurfing trips, I came accross this website, filled with jewelry made from ICE! Not like Diamonds ice, but water, ice. Yes, really. I was amazed and then a bit confused. The artist is Katharina Ludwig. By literally freezing water to jewerly findings, she had created Ice Jewelry.

I thought at first, how creative! Then I started thinking, WHO would actually wear this? You'd have to be a polar bear! Just looking at the pictures of the model wearing the melting jewelry made me cold. I guess if you live in an area where it gets extremely hot and humid, it would be a welcome relief. Then again, your clothes would be all wet.

I looked further into her site and found she makes unique jewelry from other things as well. Sweetener Jewelry and Soap Jewelry too. Quite interesting....and a very creative mind there. Check it out! And the clothing too!

Would you have ever thought to make Ice Jewelry? Would you ever consider wearing it? Or the other pieces?

Schedule Your Time More Effectively

One thing I have learned since opening my website online, is that there is not enough time in the day to get all the things done that need to get done to maintain my site, blogs, social accounts, family time, household duties, friends time, me time, and the list does go on. Something always seems to get put off to the side, for later, when it shouldn't.

Now, I know all about Time Management. I learned it in high school, college, and at the various jobs I've held over the years. I know it is important to schedule your time effectively, so that one can get done the important tasks first, while minimizing stress and staying on top of things. However, this is sometimes easier said then done. Especially online.

Staying focused would have to be a number one tip. For some, a difficult one to follow. I find it the hardest thing to do. I am focused or at least try to be. I will be working on an important task, then find a great bit of information, stop what I was doing to check out the great bit of information, which then leads me to more great bits of information. Before I know it, I have spent 2 hours or more, following great information. Now, I'm behind.

Following a schedule is another great tip. OK, refer to the above paragraph. Not always easy to do either. But, it will help if you make a task list and at least attempt to stick to it. I have made my task list and prioritized it. Now I must follow it and not allow myself to get sidetracked. Keep pen and paper handy while going about your tasks so you can jot down great bits of information to follow up on later~then do it.

http://www.allfreelance.com/freelancing_blog/2008/03/11/online-tools-and-software-for-task-lists-and-to-do-lists-perfect-for-freelancers-self-employed-business-owners/

This link is from a blog I found on www.mixx.com. If you have not joined yet, I recommend you do~highly. There are a ton of great blogs there. Anyway, check out this list of sites and get your lists done, be more organized and hopefully find time in your schedule to relax and enjoy yourself.

My Review: The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott

I wanted to share my thoughts on a pretty good book I just got done reading. It's by David Meerman Scott called The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing & Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly. Whew! Long title, good information.
It's pretty new and very well written. Easy to understand (not tech stuff). Simple things we can do to get our websites and blogs noticed. I would highly recommend trying to get this book. He gives tons of suggestions, examples and a basic instruction of what you can to do to get noticed online.
I know there are several things I need to work on and implement on my sites to make them better. If you read this book or have already read it, let me know what your thoughts are. I'd love to discuss....
Happy Reading!

My Favorite How to Jewelry Sites

If you ever wanted to learn to make your own creations with beads, whether it be jewelry, hair accessories, home decor or clothing, it can become overwhelming when you have to search for a place to learn.
I've compiled my favorite tutorials that I've turned to online. Whether I wanted to learn a new technique, get some inspiration, or just a new color combination. I hope they help you like they have helped me. And when you find one you like, don't for get to bookmark it or add it to your favorites.

Basic Stringing
http://www.firemountaingems.com/beading_howtos/default.asp?navsrc=2
Great basic stringing tutorials and beyond. Tons of ideas also. Can buy supplies here too.
www.artbeads.com/learning-center.html
Great ideas, tips, and more. Can buy supplies here too.
http://www.ring-things.com/
Projects, classes, information and supplies.

Beyond the Basic
http://www.rubysbeadwork.com/
Great beadwork and tutorials for beyond basic stringing. Peyote, Herringbone and more.
http://www.diynetwork.com/
Tons of DIY projects for beading and beyond

Wire Work
http://www.wire-sculpture.com/
Great tutorials with some being free. Can buy supplies here.
www.wigjig.com/making-jewelry-with-beads.htm
Great wire tutorials and ideas.
www.beadshop.com/learnonline/techniques/wirewrappedloops.aspx
Great tutorials and ideas.

Blogs for Beading and Beaders
http://www.katiehacker.com/
http://www.naughtysecretaryclub.com/
http://www.jewelryandbeading.com/

Beading Magazine Sites
http://www.beadstylemag.com/
http://www.beadandbutton.com/
http://www.artjewelrymag.com/

Short list, I know, and there are tons more out there. But these I found to be the easiest to follow and understand. For additional help, you are able to sign up on the magazine sites and join in on the wonderful forums there. There are plenty of people willing to answer questions and help. And don't forget to check out the beautiful creations people make after you join.
Or send me a message, and I will be more than happy to help you myself.
And don't forget to share the pictures of your new creations with me :)
HAPPY BEADING!