Archive for April, 2008:
15 Tips for stampers who want to increase their blog traffic!
So you’ve started a blog to showcase and discuss your lovely stamped art creations. Now what? How do you get readers? Here is a list of various things you can do to increase your readership:
1. Write interesting posts – this means including the Who, What, Where, When, How! After finishing a post, re-read it and ask yourself if it answers each of those things. For exxample: Who inspired you to make the creation? What did you use? Where are you planning on using it? When did you complete it? How long did it take you to complete it? How was it made?
2. Use relevant keywords in your posts. Think about the search terms people will use to find your post. Are those terms in your post?
3. Submit your blog to search engines, directories and webrings. A few examples include:
- Yahoo
- Technorati
- Stampin’ Up! Webring
- Splitcoastbloggers
- Dmoz
- Zimbio
- Ziki
- Bloglines
- EatonWeb
- Squidoo
4. Ping a blog service. Here are two to choose from:
5. Comment on other people’s blogs. Participate in their feedback, but make sure your comments are interesting!
6. Include your blog address on every flyer, handout, business card you give to potential clients.
7. Include an email subscription service. Some readers like to receive your blog updates in their email!
8. Give credit when credit is due. If you are inspired by another stamper, write about it on your blog, link back to her blog, and make sure to contact her to tell her!
9. Link to lots of useful stamping resources you find!
10. Write about lots of different stamping topics to give your readers a variety!
11. Keep your posts short and paragraphs even shorter.
12. Give your posts categories or labels
13. Make your blog layout look nice – make sure there aren’t too many different fonts, colors that are too bright, or backgrounds that are too dark. If a blog color combination tends to be hard on the readers’ eyes, they will spend less time on the blog and they won’t recommend it to others.
14. Include your blog address in any email messages you send! You can make your blog address part of your automatic signature so you don’t have to re-type it every time.
15. Update it frequently!
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Make your watermark online for free – perfect for non-Photoshop users
Take a look at this free online Watermarking tool. Works like a charm! Just upload your photo, choose from a few fonts and sizes, choose position, choose text and transparency… and hit "Generate"… presto! Your photo has a watermark. Just download.
If you’d like to do up your custom watermark by yourself, here is a Photoshop tutorial for you to follow by www.candeekis.com
Just hackin’ my css a bit…
to have a little creative fun with my background… and listening to Annie Mac’s Mash up techno drum&base…
This is a temporary look… I’m just playing…
Favicon! Favicon! Favicon!
Want a favicon? Those with Typepad blogs can get a free favicon to match their banner!
What is a favicon? It is the little image that shows up in the url spot when someone goes to your site. Like this:
How to add a favicon to your Typepad blog
For those who would like to add a favicon for free, go to Favicon from Pics and simply upload a photo you’d like to use as favicon. It will shrink the photo and convert it to an ico file. Download the ico zip file. Upload your photo into your files and refresh your browser! (If it doesn’t show up right away, you may have to empty your cache.)
Favicon Fever!
Interesting poll over at SCS…
Danyelle Kessler over at SCS posted a really great poll that lots of stamping bloggers are answering. She wanted to know "What widgets, gadgets, or features of blogs do you dislike." Some of her multiple choice answers range from counters, trackers, third party advertising, blinkies and music players.
The results are a great tool for any stamping blogger to take into consideration when choosing what to put on their own blogs. For example, I was surprised to see that 24% of responders say they dislike slide shows. I’m not a big fan of slide shows either, but had no idea many others felt the same way.
Take a look. Interesting comments, too.
Holy Moly it works!
Check out Typepad’s new feature: Blogit
The interface isn’t as nice as if you’d login to Typepad, but there is a button to click if you’d like your posts to appear on the mini-feeds!
This is a test… I’m posting this message from Facebook
I’m checking to see if Typepad’s new "Blogit" application works!
Digital art for your viewing pleasure!
I’d like to take a brief moment to chat about my co-worker Dave Geisler. Dave is an awesome guy that runs an art gallery in downtown Racine. I also have the pleasure of working with Dave! The digital art of my co-workers Bryce Ulmer and Emiko Shekem are also featured at Dave’s gallery and his blog. All three are pros at graphic design and I can learn a lot by watching them. The three of them make it look so easy!
If you’d like to see some awesome Digital Fine Art, check out Dave’s blog at: http://716fineart.org/
Digital art isn’t just for the web or for print publications. Here are some creations to admire:
"What were our parents thinking?"
"Untitled" (yes, and you are so modest, too, Dave…lol)
They also have a 716: Fine Art Youtube video channel.
Check out FEED – A Wordless Magazine of Graphic Design. Anyone can submit to the content!
Pretty great stuff, huh? And to think I work with these nuts! (Love ya Dave, Bryce and Emiko! I bow to your greatness!)
