The Deal-io

Have you noticed lots of blogs recently talking about blog etiquette?

Even Emily Post talks tech etiquette.

It's weird, it's everywhere I turn right now. And I've been thinking. "A dangerous pastime." "I know." (Little Beauty and the Beast reference for you there.) Sometimes I want to get stuff off my chest, but I usually don't, after all you are here to see pretty stuff, get crafty ideas or laugh at my incompetence. (I know it happens. I'm cool with that.) :) But, I decided I had a couple points to make. So, I'm going in...

 First I'm going to say the opposite of what most bloggers are saying: 

If you don't like something I've done and have a suggestion for how to improve it, by all means, let me know.

Seriously. I don't know everything. I started blogging to be part of a creative community. If you love a project, it warms my heart to hear it, but it's okay if you don't. We all have different tastes. I don't need yes-men. I have more self-confidence than that. 

Now, if you are just being snarky and mean, keep it to yourself. But if you are trying to be constructive, I think we should all welcome that.

Unfortunately, as with so many other types of endeavors, there are those that just want to rip you off and take credit for it. You know all those bleach shirts? Never saw one out there (and I looked) before I started advertising mine in my online store.

I made a damn fine looking button for my shop too. Ah, well, c'est la vie.

My designs were hand-painted and not splotchy bleach pen things you see everywhere now. I realize it is completely possible that someone independently thought of using bleach to make designs, but the timing is suspect.

This was for Mateo, a nod to Jon Stewart and the Rally to Restore Sanity.

Best seller, Boston subway.

I've seen other bloggers get features and all sorts of attention, and not one of them has ever sent a little love back to my blog. In fact, I pulled my shop because my sales dipped that much. (Well, and I went back to school so I just decided putting up a fight wasn't worth it.) It's not the only thing that has been grabbed without credit and I know even the "big" bloggers have had these complaints as well. 

I love modern windfarms. I think they are graceful.

Essentially, it's stealing and it's sad that we have to remind adults that stealing is a no-no. :/ I used to get really upset about it. I'm past that now. Sure, it's still irksome, but being mad about it isn't doing any good.

So, the point of sharing my little drama is to say, play nice. Of course we inspire each other. Isn't that the point? If you play off of someone's post, link back.

My commitment to all my fellow bloggers is to always link back. I want to be known as a nice blogger who is all about the blogging love.

This post may be linked at the following parties (for their Blog Buttons see my Link Love page): (M) C.R.A.F.T., Amaze Me Monday, Sumo's Sweet Stuff,  (T) A Little Birdie Told Me  Stories of A to Z, The Blackberry Vine, How To's Day , Type A, Amaze Me August, , Show Me What Ya Got,  (W) Wow Me,  Blue Cricket Design, What I Whipped Up, Wicked Awesome Wednesday, Sweet Peas & Bumblebees (TH) The ArtsyGirl Connection,  Creative Juice, Thrifty 101 , Smilemonsters , Everything But the Kitchen Sink, Shabby Chic Cottage, Thrifty Thursdays, House of Hepworth's,  (F) Fingerprints on the Fridge, Furniture Feature Friday,  Lovely Crafty Weekend , Remodelaholic, For the Kids Fridays, , Craft Goodies, (Sat) Tatertots and Jello , Anything Goes , Funky Junk Interiors (Sun) Creative Blog & Hop, Sundae Scoop, Under the Table and Dreaming

 

Blog Advice

I recently posted about my milestones of 100 posts/100 followers. I opened the floor to questions and was asked about basic blogging advice. So for what it's worth, here goes.

1. Make your blog easy to navigate and easy to read. Use pictures, especially if you are doing projects or crafts. People want to see, not just be told.

2. Be consistent. If I say I am posting Art Adventures every Tuesday, I need to actually post an Art Adventure every Tuesday. I also need to post the other projects regularly. Right now I am doing four posts a week. It's hard to know the right amount, we all just have to find what works.

I use spreadsheets for each day to keep track of what posts were linked where.

3. If you want traffic, link, Link, LINK! When I first started I naively thought that 3 or 4 link parties was sufficient. Then I notice that blogs that grew faster linked more. There are so many great blogs out there. If you want to be noticed, you have to put yourself out there. I think I do about 30 something link parties a week. And make sure you link back! That's just basic etiquette.

We all love to see comments! :)

4. Visit other blogs and comment. We all love comments. It's the best way to make inter-friends. Also respond to your comments. I either email back or respond in the comments. I don't know which is better. Thoughts?

This pillow was inspired by the company At West End.

5. Give credit where it's due. If another blogger's project inspired you (or company or whoever), say so and provide a link back. I don't know a blogger that doesn't appreciate that.

6. AdSense. What I wish I knew going in is that it takes a LOT of traffic to make any money at all, more than you think. You have to earn $100 before they cut your check and if you really weren't ready, it can feel like it's taking forever. Also, you don't know if anybody is going to click ads or how much, so there is not consistency in how quickly your pennies add up. Sponsorships would provide more consistency, but it also requires more work on your part. I haven't really sought sponsors yet.

I have found that so many bloggers are willing to share their advice and help if you just ask. There are bloggers out there who have been at it longer than me, and I have never been rebuffed for asking a question. :) Feel free to add advice in the comments.