Hello everyone
What an amazing mix of weather we have seen today: heavy rain, snow, more rain and from about 3.00 pm onwards brilliant sunshine. I am sure that it is only in this country that you can experience all types of weather in just one day.
Thank you to everyone who visited and commented on my Handmade Monday post of last week, my Wednesday Multi-Coloured Blog Swap Carnival post from Karen and my Friday Guest-Blog post that wasn't a guest blog post. Karen's post was lovely and I hope you enjoyed it - hope you also managed to visit my corresponding post on Mammasaurus's blog. Thank you Trouble Doubled for arranging the Swap - great fun, lots of new visitors, followers on Twitters and new blog friends too. I must add also that Hannah, a great all-round crafter, featured me in her Share Your Story post last week - thank you Hannah.
I love blogging and try to post twice each week - it's great fun and has brought me into contact with lots of new people around the UK and the world. Not all craft-related and that's the great part of it really, because it has given me the chance to read and 'talk' about lots of things I don't really know much about. Apart from the social part of blogging, I think as a business we tend to use it as a promotional tool. We can talk about our business and what we make without feeling guilty because we are not forcing people to read our witterings.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my guest blogging this week and also taking part in the blog swap. Sadly, I have found encouraging people to take up my offer of a guest spot on Fridays is proving very hard work. I have a great blogger post this coming Friday, but not too sure what happened to last Friday's blogger. Perhaps I should have sent them a BIG reminder, but (embarrassed) I have no contact details for them (except posting on their blog) and could not locate any in other likely places. Tried via Twitter and discovered that unless someone is following me I cannot DM them even if I am following them. Oh well, such is life - I know they are very busy and I hope will be able to join in at a later date.
The lack of participants in the crafts field has made me think that perhaps I should open up my Friday guest spot to anyone who would like to join in - what do you think? I have a friend who runs a travel business and she has asked if she could join in - at the time I said sorry, no it has to be crafts-related, but I may re-think this. I know everyone is desperately busy, and often it means extra work, but if you have time can you add to your comment why you think guest blogging is hard work.
It is lovely Handmade Monday time and unfortunately I have no makes to display. A good reason as I have several card orders (one for a Golden Wedding, one for a 21st birthday, one for a 60th birthday and one for an 'ordinary' birthday - this is in addition to place cards and menus for the 60th birthday boy). By next Handmade Monday all of my orders will be finished and I will add some to my next HM post. In the meantime, please do visit all the other HM contributors and read their great posts and look at the lovely things they have been working on this week.
Have a good week everyone - I will be back on Wednesday.
Jill
Sunday 4 March 2012
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I'll pop back later and have a good look at all your links. Have you thought about asking set questions (preferably leading ones) for your guest bloggers? Having a framework might make it easier for people to write. Keep asking, though, and keep popping in the email link to make it easy (or use a contact form). I promise I'll do one or two for you soon! x
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Wendy, that is very much appreciated. I posted a list of possible topics in one of my blog posts a few weeks ago - I will include it again in my Wednesday post this week. Good idea to add the email link, I had forgotten that - will also include that on Wednesday.
DeleteSorrynyounare struggling to get Friday posters, so sad as sure there a plenty out there that could share so much.
ReplyDeleteYou are a great contributor, thank you, so if you fancy doing another piece, go for it.
DeleteLooking forward to your guest blogger next week and also to see your gifts you made for people Mich x
ReplyDeleteSounds like lots of orders are keeping you busy! Have a good week!
ReplyDeleteI am surprised you have not had more interest in your guest blog spot!! I think it is a fantastic idea!
ReplyDeleteMaybe we could help you out by advertising for you?
That's a great idea, Kat, many thanks. I will mention this in my mid-week post.
DeleteI don't think you should keep it to just crafts related gust bloggers, the one you had a little while ago about the twins was lovely. Variety is great and it opens up a wider circle of people and followers. I like Wendy's idea of having set questions, it takes a bit of pressure off the guest blogger and gives them a place to start. I look forward to seeing what you've been making. x
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Jem, last week's guest blog form Karen was lovely and it is good to have different posts, so will be opening up to non-crafters as well as crafters.
DeleteJust got to keep on keepin on - keep that momentum going!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely - will either bag 'em into writing a piece or they will get so fed up of me going on about it that they will produce an article.
DeleteThink it would be a great idea to open up that guest spot. I'm surprised it hasn't generated more interest as well, though it is relatively early days and people might be shy of sharing on someone else's turf if you see what I mean.
ReplyDeleteI can see how it would be difficult, people think they will do something and get busy. Maybe the thing to do is to get some put away on hold (that is done, and ready) and then you will have them. But I don't know, I am always surprised by people saying they will do something and then not. But I shouldn't be, I was a school teacher after all. :(
ReplyDeleteI have asked a few people to blog something for my blog, just for fun because they make something cool and don't have a blog of their own, and they just hem and haw. I'm not sure why.
I agree with what's been said about guest bloggers-spreading the interest out from crafting is an interesting idea,and I'm sure it'll gather momentum as it goes along.
ReplyDeleteGreat links, love the stories. Maybe I need to get my thinking cap on and come up with something.
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping over to see me, Caden is a lovely name, whether it be C or K. My son is Karl and often gets Carl.
Jan x
Definately open it up to other people. I have recently had very helpful chats with a friend who runs self-help workshops and another is a nutritionist. There were definate overlaps. I also really enjoyed the week someone posted their office desk on WOYWW as they had forgotten their memory card to complete their post.
ReplyDelete