Commenting Tips for Bloggers and Blog Readers

I love getting comments on my blog.  It lets me know that someone out there is actually reading what I have to say, and I love getting to know my awesome readers.  I try to reply to every comment although I do miss some here or there.  Because most people aren't going to remember to come back to the blog post and check for a reply, I also email them my response by hitting reply on the email that blogger sends me with the comment.  Unfortunately, some people won't ever receive my email because they don't have an email associated with their blogger account.  When I get a comment from those people, the email from blogger replies back to "noreply-comment@blogger.com."  :(

Here are some tips on blog commenting for both bloggers and blog readers.  Basically, if you're reading this, than it's for you, whether you write a blog or not :)  

Tips for blog readers: 
If you read something you like (here or on any other blog) let the author know!  Comment, like the post on Facebook, etc.  It really means a lot to bloggers.  And I think it goes without saying that if you read something you don't like and feel a need to comment on it, just make sure you're respectful in your comment.  Bloggers are people with feelings too!  And FYI, I have awesome readers because none of the comments I've ever received have ever been anything but positive.  :) 

Check to see if you're a no-reply blogger and if you are, please fix it so I (and other bloggers) can respond to your comments!!  Here's a great tutorial from Story of My Life on how to do that.


Tips for bloggers:
Reply to comments!!!  There are some blogs I love reading and commenting on, but after dozens of comments and not a hint of a reply, I'll give up and stop commenting and sometimes even stop reading the blog because it feels like the blogger really doesn't care about his or her readers.  Let your readers know that they matter.  If you're not sure how to receive email notifications of comments, go to "settings" on your blog dashboard, then go to "Mobile and Email" and then fill out the "Comment Notification Email" box. 

Comment on other blogs frequently.  Not only is that simply a nice thing to do, but it also is a great way to build your blog readership and meet other bloggers.  Make sure that you're not a no-reply blogger!

I have two words for you...word verification (also know as captcha).  People are a lot less likely to comment on your blog if you require them to squint at a little box with nearly indecipherable letters and/or numbers and then translate that into another box.  To disable this feature on your blog, go to "Settings," then "Posts and Comments."  Where is says "Show word verification, click NO.


Make sure you read the comments for more tips and advice!

Do you have any tips to add?  
 
 

How To Make Your Blog Post "Pinnable"

If you're like me, you have a "pin it" button installed on your toolbar and you aren't afraid to use it...liberally (at last check, I had over 4000 pins on my 48 Pinterest boards).  However, not everyone has that button installed or maybe they just need a little nudge to pin something from your blog.

Here's how to make your blog post "pinnable."

First write your blog post, complete with pictures (you can't pin words!), and publish it.  Now before you start promoting it on your Facebook page or Twitter (you do have those, right? Because they're awesome and free ways to promote your blog!) open your blog post like you're going to read it, and then open the Button and Widget Builder page on Pinterest in another tab.  Select the "Pin It Button."  Under Button Type, select "One Image."
Copy and paste the URL of your blog post into the first space.  
Click on the picture in your post that you want readers to pin so it opens up in the window by itself.  Copy and paste the URL of the image into the second space where it says "image."  Finally, add a description of your pin (Examples: Awesome giveaway at Awesome Giveaways Blog, How to host an awesome giveaway on your blog,)  Click on the red button that says "Build It!" and scroll down to copy your html code.
  
Next, open your blog post back up to edit it.  You do not need to be in HTML format to add the code.  Paste the html code right below the image you just built a pin for or wherever you want the button to go in your post.  Publish your post and you're done!

I decided to put the html code right below my picture so the Pin It Button shows up directly below it.

Now, if you want to create a hover button (for an example, hover over any of the pictures in this post!) on the images themselves, go back to the Buttons and Widgets Builder page on Pinterest.  Select the "Pin It Button" and then select the option that says "Image Hover" for the button type and click "Build It."  Copy and paste the html code onto the very bottom of your blog post.  Once again, you do not need to be in HTML format to add the code.  You probably want the description on the pins to be filled in for people which is helpful because sometimes people just hit the period and call it good enough which makes it harder for your pin to be repinned and found on Pinterest.  Click on the image in your post while you're editing and click on "Properties."

Under "Title Text," fill in the description just like you would for a pin.  Hit publish and admire your work!  

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Shocked and Happy!

I usually don't get around to posting on Sundays, but I checked in to see how many views I had on my blog post from yesterday and almost fell off my chair!

In less than 30 hours, my post on pricing handmade goods has received almost 4500 views, been pinned and repinned dozens of times on Pinterest, and been shared on Facebook numerous times.  It quickly became the #1 post on my blog with #2 only having 1430 views.     

I'm thrilled that so many people are reading it and realizing how underpaid most artisans really are.  Handmade work can be somewhat unappreciated at times, and I think it's great that so many are realizing just how much time and money go into a handmade work of art, be it clothing, photography, jewelry making, or any other art form.

Since I'm here, I might as well mention a few other things too!

First, Tiny Blue Lines interviewed me for a post about being a young mom!  You can read it here.   

Also, did you notice the change in my blog header and Facebook page?  I'm in the process of redesigning my blog and am excited to be getting a new look.  I haven't done much to change my blog since I started it almost 4 years ago, and I think it's time to update!   I decided to go with a blue and yellow theme since those are two of my favorite colors together and were also the colors of my wedding (Coincidence? Probably not, haha).  Oh, and did I mention that there's going to be chevron?  I know I'm not the only chevron addict out here!  I was going to update my blog background and template yesterday, but with so much traffic on the blog, I thought it might be best to wait :) 

My new Facebook profile picture

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How To Ship Using Paypal

I used to handwrite all the addresses on my packages, lug them to the post office, stand in line, and mail them there.

Until I discovered Paypal shipping.  I wish I'd known about it two years earlier when I started selling online as it would've saved me a ton of time and money.

The only things you need to ship through Paypal are a printer and scale.  If the high cost of printer ink scares you, like it did me, read this for how to save money on ink cartridges.  I got my scale on Ebay for a good price, but you could also get a kitchen scale at Walmart if you wanted to. 

It's also helpful to have stick-on shipping labels (so much easier than taping the labels on!) and poly or bubble mailers.  You can purchase both of those on Ebay or Amazon at good prices.  I've also seen shipping labels and bubble mailers at Walmart, but they are more expensive.

The first thing you'll need to do is log into your Paypal account.  Find the transaction for whatever it is you're shipping.  If the payment wasn't made through Paypal, you can still print a label by going here.  You'll just need the customer's name and address for that.  

Clicking on "Payments Received" will narrow down the search if you have a lot of transactions.  You can also do a search from that screen with several different options if you're having a hard time finding it.

Next click on "Print shipping label" next to the transaction.  After you're done creating the shipping label, you'll be able to track the order in the mail.

Your address and the customer's address will already be filled in so all you have to do is select the service type, package size, and fill in the weight of the package.  If you won't be making it to the post office on the same day you print the label, be sure to change mailing date.  When you have all the information filled in, click "Continue" at the bottom of the screen.  The next screen will confirm your purchase of the shipping label and print it for you. 

Before you print your label, you may want to change your printer settings so it doesn't print a receipt as well.  You'll receive an email receipt so a paper receipt is optional.  Just keep in mind that if you do decide to print a receipt, it will take up a whole sheet of paper or 2 shipping labels instead of just half a sheet of paper or 1 shipping label. 

You can change the receipt settings by clicking on "Edit printer settings" under the Printer section.  Uncheck the box that says "Print receipt"

And you're done!  You can either arrange for your mailman to pick up your packages or drop it off at the post office.  The best part of it is that the shipping is cheaper when you purchase it online and when you ship First Class Parcel or Priority mail, delivery confirmation is free, otherwise it's $0.19.  When I shipped at the Post Office, I paid $0.70 per package for delivery confirmation. 


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How to Create a Pin on Pinterest

I might be slightly addicted to Pinterest.  Maybe.  It's a great way to get inspiration for just about anything, but it also can be a great business tool.  I get a lot of traffic from Pinterest on my blog and my website.  But, Pinterest doesn't pin things from Facebook.  Which is a good thing for privacy reasons, but it means that I can't pin anything from my Facebook blog or boutique pages.    

From "Art Made with Heart"

There is a way to put your own photos on Pinterest though!  Start by clicking on the "Add" button at the top of your Pinterest screen.

 This (see below) will pop up on your screen and give you three options.  Select "Upload a Pin"
 

 Upload a picture from your computer and pick what board you'd like it to go on.  Then fill in your description.

 Your new pin will come up and show that it was "uploaded by user".  That would be you!  The problem is that there's no link to the pin for people to click on.  Click on "Edit" to fix this!

 Under the description, you'll see a blank space for the link.  Copy and paste the website you want the pin to be linked to into that space and select "Save Pin". 

 When your pin opens back up, check out the spot for the link.  It should tell the user what website the pin will take them to if they choose to follow the link.  Go ahead and test it so you can see how smart you are.

Done!  Give yourself a pat on the back!

Or, if you to pin something from Facebook instead of having to save the picture to your computer, right click on the picture on Facebook and select "open link in new tab."  Pin the picture from the new tab and then edit the link as shown above to direct people to the original picture on Facebook.  So easy!


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How to Schedule a Post on a Facebook Page

Someone told me how to do this and apparently, it's a well-kept secret on Facebook.  Naturally, I had to share it with all of you!

If you have a Facebook business page, you can schedule your statuses to post at a time you select.  Which is really handy if you're not going to be around the computer for a while or if you have something that needs to be posted at a certain time.  

Start by writing your post as usual.  Before you hit "post" look for the little clock symbol below your post.

 Click on the clock and fill in the information for the time you want your status to be posted.

Click on "Schedule" and you're done!

To see the posts you have scheduled, go up to your Administration Panel and click on "Edit page."   Select "Use Activity Log" from the drop down menu.

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How to Create a QR Code

Have you seen those little QR codes all over the place?  I see them in almost every ad, on products, on business cards, etc.  I'm in the dark ages and don't have a smart phone yet so they've always been a little mysterious to me, but I know a lot of people who will happily scan one of those little codes to get more information.

Guess what?  You can create your very own custom QR code for free!  If you have a website or blog you're looking to promote, a QR code is a great marketing device.  You can also make one that goes to a Facebook page, Youtube video, email address, or even a Paypal link that enables your customer to purchase a product using just the code!

Here's how you do it:

Go to www.qrstuff.com.  Type in your website URL or whatever other information you want to share, pick your color (If I had a smart phone, I'd scan a pretty pink QR code in a second!), and download.  The file can then be placed on a business card, on stickers, emailed, etc. 

Super easy and, oh, the possibilities!

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Stop SOPA and PIPA

In case you haven't heard, there are two new bills that Congress is trying to pass that will change the internet as we know it.  Facebook, Etsy, Twitter, small businesses that sell via the internet...these are all at risk of being blocked and/or censored. 

These pictures, taken from here, explain the change better than I can.

Make your voice heard!!  You can sign several petitions online to stop SOPA and PIPA from going through.  Here's one and here's another.  If you know of anymore, please let me know via comments or you can email me at annaliesbabyboutique@yahoo.com

As a certified Lord of the Rings geek, I just had to throw this out there. 

WAHM-Part 3

The children's boutique world can be pretty competitive.  I've found a few other boutique owners who were willing to share tips on how they built their business, and I greatly appreciated their time and help.  It can be hard when you're just starting out.  When I opened my boutique, I thought, "This won't be too hard, you just make stuff and sell it."  Wrong.  There is SO much more to running your own business than just the products.

Where to sell/ market:

Facebook
I started out selling on a fan page on Facebook.  I've seen some pages that have a zillion random photo albums which can really confuse people.  This will deter customers from browsing, which is not what you want.  Treat the photo albums like a catalog.  Put each type of product in an album and make sure to go through the albums periodically to "clean them up."

I recommend going to "edit page" and working your way down the list on the left hand side.  Fill in as much information as you can.  Be sure to choose a username (ex: www.facebook.com/annaliesbabyboutique) to make it easier to direct people to your page.

Keep your eyes open for giveaways that you can enter one of your products in.  Generally speaking, people will have to like your fan page to enter to win so it's a good way to get your numbers and traffic up on your page. 

The good thing about using Facebook is that it's easy to network.  The bad thing is that people can't search for the type of products you sell on Facebook.  They basically have to stumble on your page.  However, it is definitely a good marketing tool and a great way to interact with your customers.  There are a multitude of free promotional pages on Facebook that you can utilize to get your name out.  Here's some of the ones I use.  Make sure you read each page's rules before advertising.  Some of these pages also have websites you can register on.
USA Proud Shoutouts
The Craft Show
Trendy Links
The WAHM Hub
marketmommies
Handmade Show and Tell
Made in the USA-A Boutique Collection
Top Mom Shoppes
WAHM Pages
Hot Mama Network
Mama Made USA-Products made by WAHM's
Mommy Link-Promote Your Page
The Mom Shoppe

Ecrater
Facebook rules state that you can't actually sell on Facebook, but can direct customers to an outside site to purchase from which is why I also started a site on ecrater.  Ecrater is free, and anyone can sell whatever they like on the site.  It's easy to set up and use.  The only downside to it is that not many people have heard of it, so your traffic may not be very high. 

Twitter
Set up a twitter account for your business and link it to your facebook fan page so your activity on your page will be sent out as tweets.

Etsy
Most people have heard of Etsy which means that there's a lot of traffic on the site.  Everything you need to know about making your shop on Etsy successful can be found here.

Blog
Start a blog to help advertise your business.  I use blogger for mine.  This is also essential if you plan to have any giveaways on your Facebook page as there are some strict rules about giveaways and promotions on Facebook.  If you're caught breaking the rules, Facebook will close your page down.  NOT a good thing to have to rebuild from the ground up!  Here's a link to the current Facebook rules. 


How to Sell/Market:

Pictures

• Use models whenever you can.  There are a ton of boutique modeling sites on Facebook that connect boutiques with models. One of my favorites are Little Diamond Models. 
• If you can't get a model, invest in a good mannequin.  These can be found on Ebay for reasonable prices.
• Take pictures using natural light-NO fluorescent!
• Take pictures against a plain white background or a natural setting.  Outdoors is the best, but you can also create a "photo studio" indoors with a white sheet and natural lighting.  
• Use a photo editing software such as picmonkey to edit pictures and add watermarks.
• Show as much detail as you can.  Get closeups and faraway shots.  Try all different angles.  If you haven't already, invest in a decent digital camera so you can take a ton of shots and then choose the best ones.

Choose your products

• Be unique, think outside the box.  If you make the same thing as everyone else does, what's going to bring the customers to you versus someone else?
• Find what you're good at and specialize in it.  I tested a lot of products before realizing that my niche is boutique style children's clothing and accessories.  Don't spread yourself too thin, some people told me that they were overwhelmed with all the selection I had at first.  Also, the more variety of products you have, the more stock you're going to have to have on hand which means more money up front and overall.
• Brand yourself.  Get business cards, address labels, etc.  At Vistaprint, you can get business cards, t-shirts, address labels, bags, banners, car magnets etc. for the price of shipping as long as you watch for their specials.  Get labels or hang tags for your products so people will know where they bought them from and come back for more.  Labels also make merchandise look more professional.

Marketing and Advertising

•  Find your target market (my target market is moms with kids ages NB-8 years)
• Set your pricing to reflect your target market.  Don't underprice as people will undervalue your work and won't buy from you.  Don't overprice as obviously this will also deter customers.  Do a google or etsy search on the type of product you're trying to price to see what others are charging for it.  My rule of thumb is to not be the lowest or the highest priced.  Don't forget to take into account the cost of your materials and time.  For more information on pricing, go here.
• Always keep business cards in your purse to hand out to people.  When I go out, I sometimes put my kids in clothing I've made and then when people compliment their outfits, I hand them a business card (or to up the cute factor, have your kids hand them out :)  Hand out business cards everywhere you go, put several in packages you're shipping, if you do craft shows, hand them out to everyone who stops by your table. 
• Advertise at daycares, homeschool coops, mom forums (on many of them, you can add a "signature" which will automatically be added with your post.  Use your website as your signature), review blogs, parenting groups, facebook, twitter, etsy teams, etc. 

Packaging and Shipping

• Be sure your packaging looks professional.  Wrap your products neatly in tissue paper, add a handwritten note to thank the customer for their order, etc.  People remember the little details.  
• For more information on how to ship your products, go here.  

Keeping Records 

•  Save all of your receipts for supplies, keep track of mileage to the post office, stores, etc.  Ask your tax preparer for advice on what you can and can't write off as a business expense on your taxes.
• Keep records of your orders in the order they're received so you don't forget anything.  This will also serve as a record of your income.  I use googledocs so I can access the records from any computer and don't have to worry about files getting deleted on my computer.
  

Other helpful links:
How to Create a QR Code
How to Schedule Posts On Facebook
How to Make Your Blog Post "Pinnable"

If you have any questions, you can email me at annaliesbabyboutique@yahoo.com.


Thanks so much for visiting Supermommy!...Or Not.  Please take a moment to "like" me on facebook"!  

 

WAHM-Part 2

In July of 2010, I realized that I could start my own page on Facebook and use it as a platform for selling things I made.  I shared my excitement with my older sister, and talked her into starting this business venture with me.  It was agreed that we would each pay for half the supplies, get half the profits, and do half the work.  She had an old sewing machine that a relative had given to her, and so we set it up and got to work trying to figure out how to run it.  She had never touched a sewing machine before, and I hadn't used one since I made a wrap skirt for myself while staying with my grandma during high school.  We soon realized that the sewing machine was too old and didn't work properly anymore (thus the relative no longer wanting it).  Not to be deterred, we decided that we'd just sew everything by hand until we could afford a new sewing machine.  The first thing I made was a pillowcase dress for Princess.  It took me 2 straight days of handstitching, but it turned out pretty cute.  I made a kerchief to match and we were in business.

I opened our Facebook page in the beginning of August, 2010 and we dubbed it Annalie's Baby Boutique.  We came up with the name by combining our names together (Hannah + Leah = Annalie) and by playing around with my daughter's name a little.  Thanks to some friends who spread the word about our new venture, the page was soon gaining fans rapidly.  The most exciting moment came when I was scrolling through the list of fans and realized we had our first fan who was not an acquaintance or a relative! 

We dove into the boutique head first, making shopping trips to JoAnn Fabrics and cutting out fabric like two scissor crazed maniacs.  We started out making pillowcase dresses, baby washcloths, burp cloths, snuggle taggies, and a few other miscellaneous products.  Before we knew it, the orders were rolling in...to the tune of approximately less than 1 a week.  Hey, it was a start! 

We knew that handstitching all our products wasn't exactly time efficient so I asked around and ended up borrowing my mother-in-law's sewing machine.  It was around 50 years old, very heavy, and the bobbin winder didn't work.  I used it for several weeks, teaching myself to thread the machine by watching videos on youtube.com.  And then, I moved it from the kitchen table to a small area I'd created behind the couch in the living room to be my sewing "room".  And somehow, the wiring went out during the short 4 yard move.  It was time to go shopping for my own sewing machine.  I ended up buying a Babylock Natalie edition...a $400.00 machine that was on sale for $200.  I love it and it was worth every penny of the 50% off price.

My sister soon dropped out of the business.  She still helped me out with cutting fabric or watching my kids when I needed to get a lot of work done, but by October, it was MY boutique.  The profit was all mine and *gulp* the expenses were all mine.  I continued to add new products to the boutique and began branching out on the internet.  I opened a shop on ecrater.com because the price was right (ecrater is completely free :).   I knew several other boutique owners who used it and they seemed to be doing pretty well.  I started a Twitter account and linked it up to my Facebook page.  I started advertising on Facebook pages that specialize in helping small boutiques out (look for a complete list in WAHM-Part 3).  I ordered free business cards and other business merchandise at Vistaprint.com.  I signed up for craft shows and expos.  I worked hard at promoting my boutique and it was worth it.  I found out that you can't just sit there and expect people to find you, you have to go out and find them.

At some point, my products began changing.  As I tried out different ideas, I soon came to realize what I enjoyed making the most.  My boutique evolved from selling baby items to boutique style clothing for girls AND boys.  Most boutiques only sell girl clothing, but since I have a little boy too, I felt I needed to include boys in the picture. 

In January, I started my own website... and found out how much work that is.  I also realized that, while having your own website is a good thing, you're really on your own there.  On Ecrater and Facebook, I was one of many sellers and so people were more likely to stumble on my shop.  At this point, my website badly needs a makeover, but I just don't have 87 free hours to make it happen.

Since I started my boutique, people had been suggesting that I start a shop on Etsy.  I checked it out and was intimidated by the impressive photography and the professional feel to the shops already on Etsy.  I definitely wasn't at that level yet and didn't feel as if I could compete on Etsy.  Finally, in April, 2011, I bit the bullet and I went for it.  And I'm so glad I did.  It's been a great way to get more people to stop by my boutique, and I'm at a level professionally that it works well for me. 

So here I am today...my business is growing slowly but surely and I'm loving every minute of it (most of the time).  I was planning to put all my tips and advice in this post, but apparently I'm too longwinded, lol.  Look for all that WAHM-Part 3 which will be posted sometime in the next few days.

WAHM-Part 1

Oh, did I say a while back that I was going to be sure to post at least once a week from now on?  And it's been 21 days since I last darkened the door of my blog?  Oops.  Well, here I am.

I'm a WAHM mom.  Sort of.  I also babysit outside the home, but I take my kidlets with me so I'm not giving up any time with them.

I used to work part-time at a B&B and the library, but I was miserable dropping my precious little girl off at my sister's house everyday instead of being with her myself.  My sister would send me text and picture messages throughout the day to tell/show me what Princess was up to, but it wasn't the same. 

I was getting more and more depressed about working outside the home because I've always felt that my place was at home caring for my children and husband.  Sounds 50's, I know, but that's what I wanted.  For those of you who think that staying at home to be a wife and mother mean you're not accomplishing anything with your life...I happen to believe that raising future functioning mature responsible adults is a HUGE deal.  And a LOT of work.  I have hobbies, but at this season of my life, my family is my life and I wouldn't want it any other way.  Someday when the kidlets are grown and moved out *sob* I'll be able to focus on those hobbies more and cultivate new ones.

Oooookay.  Back on track here.  One day I went to talk to my Pastor's wife because I was so depressed about my job situation.
I said, "If God really loves me and wants what's best for me, why isn't He enabling me to stay home with the baby that HE blessed me with?!?"
She said, "Maybe God is trying to teach you to be content no matter what."
I said, *Gulp* "Wow."

Because it had just hit me like a ton of bricks.  I'm one of those pessimistic, the world hates me, my life kinda stinks people.  I'm never quite happy with what I have and being thankful is something I really need to work on.  I went home, did some serious time on my knees and came up realizing that she was right.  And somehow, admitting my lack of thankfulness to God and asking forgiveness changed my outlook.  I still wasn't crazy about the job situation and my boss wasn't any nicer, but it didn't bother me like before.  Less than two weeks later, I got a call from someone I knew from an ECFE class I took Princess to.  She was looking for someone to babysit her two children in her home and was willing to pay enough that I would be able to quit my job at the B&B.  I told her I'd talk to Hubby about it and let her know.  When I hung up the phone, I started crying because I couldn't believe how quickly God had provided for me when I changed my attitude.  Hubby was all for the change and so, I called her back and said "YES!" 

I've always been crafty (in more ways than one, my siblings would say).  When I was little, I designed and made clothes for my dolls and once, for my little sister.  Since my mom doesn't like sewing or crafts, I was self-taught (aka used the wrong techniques, end product didn't turn out well, etc.) But it was a start and that desire to create things never left me.  After Princess was born, I found myself drooling over custom made baby things that you couldn't buy at wal-mart and thinking, "I could make this."  But I wanted to do more than just make a few things for my own baby, I wanted to make enough to sell!  I wanted to make unique baby items that other mommies could enjoy and use too.  But I didn't have a sewing machine and I had no idea how I could market my products.  Then, one day, everything changed.  I clicked on a sidebar ad on Facebook for Listia.  While browsing the auctions there, I came across a taggie blanket made with adorable blue and brown guitar print flannel.  I fell in love with it and...lost the auction.  Which led me to follow the link to the seller's website to see if I could buy one directly from her.  I was surprised to be directed to her Facebook page and was really surprised when I realized that one could actually operate an online store of sorts on Facebook (disclaimer: Facebook rules state that an individual or business cannot actually sell products on Facebook due to liability issues, but can post products and direct potential customers to a website to purchase.)

I'm going to stop now before this post gets too long.  Check back for WAHM-Part 2 to hear the rest of my story and to get tips on how to start your own WAHM business!