3 Blogging Mistakes by Sonya Kanelstrand

3 Blogging Mistakes by Sonya Kanelstrand 

Running a successful etsy business always means much more work than you originally bargained for. After creating your items and setting up an online store you soon face the next challenge - marketing your work, and what better way to promote it than by doing so on your own blog, where you set the rules, the tone and the whole experience depends on you!

Quite often though, the willingness to quickly achieve results is not enough and the mere signing up for Blogger or Wordpress is not a guarantee that you will make it in the big virtual world. It takes effort, perseverance and inspiration to make your tiny space on the Internet resemble your home and attract new friends.

In an attempt to save you some efforts and open up time for more creativity, I will tell you 3 of the main areas of blogging mistakes that tend to slow bloggers down in their quest for followers and popularity.

1. Design
2. Socializing
3. Consistency

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1. Design
The thing bloggers tend to overlook most often is design. In blogging it’s not only words that matter, it is the whole package. Take care to present your musings with style. Stretched photos, bllinking etsy minis and unmatching colors speak bad not only for your blog but they extend to your creations on etsy as well.

Make sure that your blog is enjoyable and visually pleasant without being over the top. If you want to insure yourself against the case of unattractive design try to look at your blog through the eyes of an unbiased reader. If you can’t detach yourself emotionally, ask your friends or family to take a look and tell you what they think.

As far as the actual posts are concerned, illustrate them! Everybody loves some eye candy and on blogs the bigger the better. According to research, a post with several photos keeps the reader longer on your page. Here is an extensive list with places to find free photos for your blog posts.

Organizing the information on your blog will help you make it user friendly and you will save time for your readers. Organize your most important information in the top section of your blog because that is the segment that gets the most views. Also, take off any widgets that slow the loading time of your blog.

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2. Socializing
Blogging is in the first place a way to socialize but many bloggers forget that and wonder why they can neither attract visitors nor keep them. Ask questions at the end of your posts - you will be surprised how quickly your comments will increase. Use the comment form - reply to the comments you receive. With time your readers will learn that you like discussions and will start coming back to read more.

Visit the blogs of the people who have left you comments and return the favor. BUT take the time to leave meaningful comments and write from your heart. You will not build a fruitful blogging relationship based on flattery and false praise. Be sincere and refrain from commenting if you have nothing positive to say.

Don’t ignore any emails you receive from blog readers. Treat them like your etsy customers - with care! Reply in time to earn respect and trust.

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3. Consistency
Many bloggers believe they need to post only when they really have to say something, leading to inconsistent posting schedule. Build a blogging schedule and follow it. There is no need to officially post it on your blog. It is enough that you know it and follow it. Following a schedule is good not only for building credibility, it is also good for you, because with time it will help you organize your creative writing and save time.

Following a writing schedule is a way to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself, which means only one - you are developing and growing wiser. At first you will feel strange but once you get used to it you will feel that scheduling is more of a help than a nuisance, your posting ideas will get channeled and you will be more inspired than when relying on sporadic outbursts.

It is vital that you post on a regular basis - at least three times a week for a start. Bloggers who seldom update their blogs loose their readership because in the Information age people easily find another source of inspiration. Strive to be interesting and versatile. Don't be afraid to experiment this is the only way to find your true style.

Consistency also has to do with your blog’s topic. Determine your field of expertise and dig on! Once you determine your main topic, go ahead and follow it, share more information from that field from different perspectives, not just yours. Follow blogs and websites that can widen your horizons and can give you ideas for more blog posts.

It doesn’t matter whether you started blogging out of curiosity, or because you read in the etsy forums that having a blog will help promote your brand. It is more important that you got the bug of social writing and you are now on your way to self discovery through words - yours and others.

The truth is that we learn as we go and there is nothing wrong with that. It takes hard work, research and consistency to become successful in any area of life. Take every life challenge one step at a time and you will be surprised when you turn back and see how far you have reached by simply following yourself!

You can find Sonya here:

Blog: http://blog.kanelstrand.com/ 

Etsy Shop: http://www.kanelstrand.etsy.com/ 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/kanelstrand

Thanks,

Etsy Blog Team!