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March 3, 2008

Crafty Blog School: Getting Noticed

Crafty Blog School, a 2007 series of posts on blogging for Feeling Stitchy by floresita
Welcome to the 7th Crafty Blog School post - Getting Noticed. This post has been requested for awhile, so here you go!!

You Built It, But No One Came...
We all have harrowing memories of grade school and the daily humiliation we endured from the popular kids (okay, maybe you don't, but let's just play along here...) So maybe we feel the same "this crap ain't fair" sentiment when nobody visits our blog. All of a sudden we feel fat, awkward, pimply-faced and convinced we'll never make it in life. Whoa - slow down! Here's a few simple ways to get noticed:

Make Connections with Other Bloggers

  • Comment, Comment, Comment!
    Use Bloglines to subscribe to all the blogs you love.
    Comb through their links to find more blogs you love and subscribe to those, too.
    Every day, visit those blogs and leave comments when you see a project that knocks your socks off.
  • Say It With a Nice Email
    Did you find a blog that inspired you to re-paper all your walls, take up clog dancing, or re-arrange your sock drawers? Email this person, and tell them how much their blog means to you. Don't be afraid to gush and get all corny and sentimental. We love that. I'm not guaranteeing they'll become your blogging bud for life, but this is how blogging friendships start. Don't be afraid to make the first move!
  • Link to Blogs You Love
    Use your sidebar to link to blogs you love, and add a meaningful title like "blogs that inspire me" or "my favorite blogs". Just about everyone has site stats software that lets them find pages linking to their blogs. They'll see your kind words, and they'll remember you.

Connect with Your Readers

  • Ask Questions!
    Do you wonder why nobody leaves comments on your blog? Could it be because you don't ask for feedback? Always remember to ask a question in your post that invites feedback. For example, the next time you show off your new stash, why don't you ask your readers what they like to craft with?
  • Have a poll!
    If you have a Blogger blog, use the poll widget to ask any old question you want. Apples vs. Oranges. Scrunchies vs. Headbands. Obama vs. Clinton. You'll be amazed at how much feedback that produces and better yet, it lets your readers know you're interested in their opinions!
  • Do a giveaway!
    It it your 100th post? Your first smoke-free month? Celebrating the anniversary of de-clawing your cat? Celebrate with a giveaway! Give away something you've made or thrifted. It doesn't have to be big, it's the thought that counts.

Find Out Who's Visiting Your Blog
Are you sure no one visits your blog? Use Site stats and tools like Technorati to see who is reading and linking to your blog:

  • Site stats
    I've had good results with these two free site stats programs:
    Sitemeter
    StatCounter
  • Technorati
    This is a great tool that takes a minimum of effort. Just sign up for a free account, embed a tiny bit of code on your blog and voila - you can see who's linking to you!

The Great Comment Expedition
Want some comments on your blog? Just leave a comment here!

  1. I will leave a comment on the blog of everyone who comments on this post (preferably a crafty blog)
  2. You will look at the person who commented above you and leave a comment on their blog.
So every person who leaves a comment here will get 2 new comments on their blog. Be sure to include your blog address in your comment to "play". Let's do it!

Update: 3/11/08 - I just closed the comments because I'm going out of town this weekend and won't be able to keep up. 68 comments so far! Thanks everybody for playing! :)



All The Crafty Blog School Posts:
week 1: Where Do I Blog?
week 2: Choosing a Template
week 3: Name Your Blog & Create a Header
week 4: Blogging Photos from Flickr
week 5: How to Put that Darned Thimble Guy in Your Sidebar
week 6: How to Take Better Pictures of Your Crafts
week 7: Getting Noticed

67 comments:

  1. Great idea! Thanks for doing this blog, it's been really helpful.

    Best, Karen
    http://turnandpress.typepad.com

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  2. I had forgotten about "crafty blog school!" great post and I'd love to play.

    www.elsiemarley.com

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  3. Oh yes please!

    Gill

    http://moss-stitch.blogspot.com/

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  4. great-great-great!! i knew some of the tricks but i learned so much more!! thank you so much!!

    and yes - please read my blog even if it´s german ;D i´ ll post some lovely pictures for you... and if you like - leave a comment.

    greetings from germany, nicola

    http://pueppilottchen.blogspot.com

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  5. What great tips! I love it! Thanks for posting this.

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  6. Yay! How fun!

    Thanks for the tips.

    - Jen (sewandsox)

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  7. This is so sweet of you to do. As a baby blogger I do feel sort of awkward sometimes. Thanks for all the great tips!

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  8. I love your blog and have gotten many, many ideas from it. I don't have one myself but I appreciate all the work you put into this one. Keep up the good work!!

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  9. Baileygirl5: I tried to go to your blog but the link goes to your profile (blogger automatically does that...it's very annoying) but there is no link to your blog from your profile.

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  10. My husband has just started a business blog and I have been telling him for ages that he needs to go to other blogs to get more traffic. I will have to show him this - thankyou.

    www.creativecontroller.wordpress.com

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  11. great post - I learnt so much.
    www.missmarzie.blogspot.com

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  12. a smart lil post :)
    what fun!

    http://longshadows.wordpress.com

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  13. Great tutorial. Thanks for sharing.

    Gwen

    guavagems.blogspot.com

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  14. I love these lessons! Thanks!

    www.wbnm.typepad.com

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  15. Love it and great advice, all of it rings VERY true!

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  16. Yay- even though I pretend I don't care, I secretly really want someone to leave me comments :)

    www.birdandlittlebird.blogspot.com

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  17. thanks so much for these tips. they've been quite informative!

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  18. thanks for putting this up... cos i am getting a little upset with the almost zero comments. really wanted to give up a few times as i find that my blog does not look as good as all the others that i had visited. one day, i hope i can be able to attract more people to come to my blog, to share with me their ideas so that i can improve too. again... thank u

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  19. Very apt,floresita.Though we may not admit it,a comment always makes our day.
    http://deepashome.blogspot.com/

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  20. Great advice! The best way not too feel like you are in high school all over again is not to pay to much attention to how many comments are left on your blog and concentrate on doing it for yourself! Love your blog b.t.w.!

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  21. great tips! i've only been blogging a few months, and have found that connecting with other bloggers is a great way to meet people and bring traffic to your own blog. i'm happy i found you!

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  22. this is such a great idea!

    count me in!
    lisa marie
    www.theloveliestbloom.blogspot.com

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  23. Thanks so much for all your tutorials and all the time you spend helping others. You are the best.
    Bekah
    http://sweetbe.blogspot.com/

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  24. Thanks for the tips. Intellectually I know how to be a good blogger but it's my follow through that is truly lacking. I love reading craft blogs but I certainly don't comment enough to let people know. So, here's to Feeling Stitchy. I love reading your blog and it's part of the reason I'm expanding on my stitchery skills.
    www.skamama.blogspot.com

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  25. You can also sign up with Google Analytics. It will give you a full report on how many visitors, where they are coming from, and much more. It's easy and free.

    http://www.google.com/analytics/

    I use it, and it helps me when I'm dealing with the blogging blues.

    Emily
    blog.theflossbox.com

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  26. Great advice there - it's all about the linking!

    I see someone already mentioned google analytics - I'm a bit geeky about looking at my blogs stats!
    www.suzical.co.uk/blog

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  27. Wow, that's an amazing blog post! I guess i'm playing ^^

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  28. I like your tips and found a few here I can use.

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  29. Another way to get noticed is to do things like NaBloPoMo. I have met several other crafty bloggers this way--and gained readers.

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  30. I'll play! Thanks for the tips. I love the whole Crafty Blog School thing.

    http://threesneakybugs.wordpress.com/

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  31. Great ideas and tips - thanks :) Now I'm off to make a new friend!

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  32. Whoops - and you would need my blog address (or the next person will!)

    http://munnersstitching.blogspot.com

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  33. Lots of great tips and advice! I noticed that I really started to get more people visiting my blog when I participated in Back-tack 3. All of sudden I was getting visits from people all across the world .. fellow back-tackers.

    Then I started to leave a few comments here and there. Sometimes every one before me has said all the neat things so I feel like I'm just chiming in with a 'me to'. But other times there's actually something that I just had to say. :-)

    Thanks for this series of ideas!

    http://www.lemontreetales.com
    http://www.101fairylane.com

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  34. Thank you for all the helpful tidbits...Although I make my rounds to my favorite blogs each morning, I have only recently begun to leave comments. I find that this adds to the sense of community that initially drew me into this crafting blog realm.

    http://beetlegirl.typepad.com/

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  35. Thank you for the great advice! My blog is brand new, so this is all very helpful. For some reason, I always feel self-concious when I leave comments on other peoples' blogs (I know, it's so silly of me). Lately I have been trying to comment more, and as beetlegirl said, it really does help me feel like I am part of the online crafty community. Now I need to start posting on Flickr, so that I can really become part of the club!

    http://onepearlbutton.blogspot.com

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  36. Thanks for the latest installment in the Crafty Blog School. :) I am torn between wanting more readers and keeping it a safe place to blog about my kids.

    Cheers!
    www.laeroport.typepad.com

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  37. Wow, some very good tips. I'm telling my readers about it and linking them to you. Thanks!

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  38. Great advice! My experience is that if you always leave a comment on the blog of everyone who comments on your own posts, the number of comments in your own blog will increase :-)

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  39. floresita, you are not only the "reina" of embroidery but a master at teaching...what great advice for connecting people. thanks for sharing your wisdom :)

    www.kleas.typepad.com

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  40. Wow. This crafty school is great. I read all the entries tonight and I have gained so much info! Which is good because I am just starting out! Thank you

    www.minervasmuse.wordpress.com

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  41. Great tips and nice idea about getting commenters to comment on other blogs.

    www.sadieandlance.blogspot.com

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  42. This is such a great post :)

    I am currently having a giveaway on my blog actually! Come check it out if you get a chance :)

    http://homegrownrose.typepad.com/reclaimingthehome

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  43. I love advice like this!
    My blog is Hopfaldera:
    http://doucepoints.typepad.com

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  44. love the gnome and 'shroom below! so cute. Great idea! thanks

    http://theherbalway.blogspot.com/

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  45. Hello, What great tips and ideas. As a new blogger this was so helpful. It is amazing how I learn new things everyday!...I really enjoy your musings and ideas. Thank you so much.

    http://mytwocoldfeet.blogspot.com/

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  46. And what a nice way to discover new blogs that I might otherwise have missed!

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  47. I just found your blog and what a timely post this is because I just started a blog as well.

    So thank you for all your great tips and ideas!

    http://kerrimade.blogspot.com

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  48. I have always wondered why some blogs are more popular than others. Maybe it`s because writing skills too -some people just find the right words?
    Anyhow, thank you for tips, I try to remember !!
    And to next poster - welcome to my blog :)

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  49. What a stroke of blog browsing luck. I'd love to be included.

    Please visit my blog at: http://furrybees.blogspot.com/

    I'm off to comment on somebody else's new blog...

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  50. this post made me laugh and laugh!

    Come visit me at :
    stitchybritches.blogspot.com

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  51. I DO feel like an awkward pimply-faced grade school kid again!!!

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  52. hopped in on here a little late. thanks for the up and up on blogs. it has been very helpful.

    http://whosies.blogspot.com/

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  53. Thanks for the information - I just began blogging and these are all fun ways to start communicating!

    Emily
    http://owlmoonblogger.blogspot.com/

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  54. Thankyou for such sound advice, very welcome for a new girl on the block! and now I got a whole lot more blogs to ga and look at.....
    Sue
    www.susie1205.blogspot.com

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  55. Wonderful, Floresita! I want to play, too!

    www.sweetjessie.com

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  56. I just LOVE this blog!!! Thanks for the great tips and the beautiful gnomes!!!
    Here is my blog:
    http://linhasimaginarias.blogspot.com
    I´ll be waiting for you there!

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  57. thanks for doing this post floresita, i've been quiet the slacker with my blog (not by choice), thanks for all the great ideas.

    this has inspired me to make some time to blog more... hopefully... fingers crossed...

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  58. Love this blog! Thanks for all of the time and energy spent in creating it :o) So many helpful tips!

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  59. Thanks! This is an excellent post! Very useful too!

    Denise

    http://wayoutwear.blogspot.com/

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  60. Wonderful blog! I must have been asleep at my sewing machine to not of found it before. I have a lot of catching up to do, and will enjoy every minute of it!
    Thanks for all the great tips and ideas!!

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  61. I really love your blog! I don't remember how exactly I found it, but I'm in love :) This set of "getting noticed" articles really is helpful!
    Your other subjects rock too... The link for the french knot tutorial? Thank GOD. I have been trying to do one of those correctly for ages and wondered "what the heck is wrong with me?!?!" Now, I know what I've been doing wrong! I'm now a "feeling stitchy" regular!

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  62. What a great school to go too! Thanks for the awesome info! XOXO

    www.iveyhandcrafted.blogspot.com

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  63. You guys have the greatest ideas on everything!! I've been blogging about personal stuff for awhile, but now it's time to join in on the crafty side too. So much inspiration in one blog!

    http://smartypants-luckylisp.blogspot.com/

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  64. What a great post this is. Thanks for the ideas/

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  65. Thank you so much for the suggestions and the help. I am at a loss so many times about how to do things computer/blog wise.
    I love looking at all of the great stitching here too.

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  66. Thanks for your help on getting the Blog motoring. It feels good making contact. Great plan!

    jennyflowerblue.blogspot.com

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  67. Oh this has been so helpful!Thanks!
    www.irisandlily.blogspot.com

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