For centuries women have used cloth as a tool of comfort and as an expression of beauty within their homes. Creating cloth for warmth, cloth for shelter, our female predecessors embellished these linens with hand stitch using laborious and time consuming techniques thereby enhancing the functional beauty of objects which enveloped and protected their families. Inspired by these women I hope my creations pay tribute to and recognise the devotion expressed in cloth by our female ancestors .
''the use of traditional often time consuming process alludes to the devotion of a mother''. c K. A. Ruane 2007
Now I want to open a discussion, ask for ideas and input from you. How on earth can I increase traffic to this blog? I have racked my brains, read online tutorials, wrung out my thought process and I have met a brick wall. I probably have a lot of visitors compared to some and from the begining of my blogging life my visitors have increased ten fold. But....I know of blogs who get masses more hits than me and I am not talking about commercial blogs, the ones where they are adorned with ads and tutorials etc, just normal blogs like mine. In order to increase traffic to my little outlet I feel I have to increase the traffic that comes here. I do comment elsewhere, I try and update my facebook daily, I am always putting stuff on flickr, there are a lot of blogs out there with me on their link list so hey, I'm blank and desperate for ideas, please, pretty please!
16 comments:
I don't know if this is something you'd be interested in or not, but I have read that giveaway's increase one's traffic, especially if one of the 'rules' is to post links on one's blog for an entry. I'm not sure if it works long term, but it does seem to spark a lot of interest. Then there's also the question of whether or not, as an artist, a giveaway devalues one's work. I've heard different takes on this. It's a personal choice. Just a thought.
lovely pieces, as usual. I love the blue and white stripe circles. If you're looking at blogger to determine your blog hits, that's not a true number. I use statcounter. I get the most hits when I post a message on my quilt quild or lace guild sight or to one of my yahoo groups with my blog sight in my signature. I get the most hits on my blog when I am offering info about how to do something, like dyeing fabric or a specific knitting technique, etc. Few people leave comments but lots visit the blog. Hope this helps.
I love to visit your blog. I have found that the more I comment on others blogs that I get more and more followers and comments. You have an awesome blog and people will follow! Doing some type of swap will make you explode too! :)
I follow a librarian/quilter who did a couple of informational posts on this and perhaps it will give you some ideas.
http://danawarnerfisher.blogspot.com/search/label/blog%20tracker
I hope it helps.
ONe way I have increased traffic to my blog is to list it with Quilters Blogs - you can google 'Quilters Blogs' and find the site (it says something like What Are Quilters Blogging). Not just for quilt makers - there are knitters and embroiderers, etc.
The site lists a short first part of your post every time you make one and folks can click through to see your entire post - it's free to list and you have eyes to read your post that are automatically interested in fiber stuff.
:) Linda
PS I LOVE your blog - subscribe to it - and your work. Why do you want to increase stats? Do you think it will increase your sales? :)
I don't know what else to suggest, I love what you do, and can't imagine that other people wouldn't be interested either.
Hej Karen,
Unfortunately I have no ideas to increase your traffic but I do understand your explanation about no wanting to let go of your work. I feel the same.
If a good idea pops-up I will let you know.
Have a lovely evening.
Beautiful work again! Everytime I see something that you have made it makes me wish that I could embroider.
As for being unhinged I think it comes with being creative and I always think it is better to be unhinged than to be normal. It's more interesting anyway!
I don't really know what to suggest for getting more traffic but some of the ideas above should work. Are you on UK Handmade? They have a list of blogs.
xx
Lovely as usually.
I am not a good example because my post more commented as only 23 coms! But I have a good number of persons who pass regulier to see the photos and I made a few friends to whom I talked every day.
Lovely the stripy spots!
I'll let you know if I have any ideas for increasing traffic..
Well if you're unhinged, then I am unhinged too. :) I completely understand what you are saying.
Your work is inspiring. I haven't commented before but I thought it was time I spoke up. :)
I'm really liking the use of gingham in your latest pieces - very pretty! As for increasing traffic, try to sometimes use the word 'embroidery' as your post title - I don't know if it will help but it might. Opening your blog up to followers might help too - maybe have a little giveaway when you reach *x* number of followers (25, 50 or whatever number you choose).
Oh I do like these pieces - especially the addition of colour. I haven't much to add in the way of traffic ideas. You could perhaps try taking part in or running a challenge?
Agree with all the above... giveaways.. tutorials... competitions... links to interesting sites... just keep at it really, it might take time to build up the following you want!
Lovely embroidery!
Adding a followers button is a good idea. I follow you without the button, but someone has to know how to do that, it is easier to hit follow and then every time you post it shows up on their list.
Also leaving comments on others blogs inspires them to visit you. People tend to forget.
I join prompts: macro monday, OSI, Scenic Sunday, Sunday Sketches. There are ones that would work with your art. But that means you ought to visit the other artists that sign up as well.
Those are the main ways I have gotten large followings of people. But it has not helped my sales, darn and drat ;-)
wishing you the best and if you have any questions feel free to email me.
I've been blogging for 4 years and all of the above suggestions are excellent suggestions. Put your follow button on your blog. With all the jillions of blogs out there people forget and when they have an easy way to follow a blog there is a better chance for them to come back because it shows up on the dashboard of their own blog and then it's just the click of a button. Blogs are give and take creatures, so offer to others things that might be helpful or ispirational to them. Don't be afraid to post some things that are on a personal note, people respond to that. I don't mean a tell all book, or rants, but soemthing about you or the process you went through with your creation and how you felt about it, or something you did that day or evening that was fun, or inspirational, or not so fun but you learned something, womthing you did on vacation. Post with some kind of regularity, it doesn't have to be every day or even every other day, but at least once a week. Find and join a challenge, those alwasy bring people to yoru blgo to see what you avhe created in the challenge. Make sure in all your correspondence you have a link to your blog...and your store. Don't expect every one to comment, most people are lurkers. And as someone above mentioned, if you don't have statcounter (or something similar) on your blog, get it. You may find you have more traffic than you realize...again, those silent lurkers. ;-) This is the first time I've been to your blog and I found you through a link someone else left in a blog on their post. I would have become a follower if you had your follow button up. ;-) I hope anything I've mentioend helps.
Cheers
Gail
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