So you’re thinking about allowing people to advertise on your blog?

What a great idea. There are a lot of misconceptions out there about blog advertising. In fact, some people will tell you that you have to get up to a certain amount of subscribers or a certain amount of page views before you can even think about offering advertising on your blog. But that is simply not true. It doesn’t really matter how many blog readers you have, you just have to make the advertising cost proportional to the amount of traffic you receive.

I’ve seen small blogs offer advertising for as low as $5-15 a month. And while that may not even put gas in your car, it is certainly a start. So, here’s what I suggest: check out other blogs and find out their rates and stats and kind of compare that info to your own so you have a general idea of what your starting point should be. *I am not suggesting that you waste bloggers time by pretending your are interested in advertising just to get their info. So what am I suggesting? Do your homework and research other blogs. Many bloggers actually supply their advertising rates some where on their site, so start with those.

Now, if you don’t feel comfortable offering paid advertising based on your numbers or some other reasoning, you still have options.

For example, you could decide to go the free route instead. Offer free weekly or monthly blog advertising to quality shops and sites that suit the style of your specific blog. This option has the potential to really get people to rally around your blog, because you would be offering a free service to small business owners. And let’s face it, most small business owners would jump at the chance for an opportunity like this.

And to ensure that you get something out of the deal as well, ask that shop selected for free ads add a link to your blog from their blog or etsy shop. This could be via a post about your blog with a link or just a simple addition to their blogroll. Its up to you- you make the rules. The benefit to this option is twofold. It will bring you incoming links, and (hopefully) will also bring more people to your blog and in time begin building up your audience, so that you can offer paid advertising in the future if you wish.

Do you have any tips for blog advertising to share with newbies? Leave your tips in the comments.

*image c/o Laura Evans

Counting change to make ends meet? Want to make more money? Yep, sure do. But how do you do it? Well, that’s the part that gets most of us stuck. Really the answer is pretty simple: multiple revenue streams. Makes sense right? If you have a regular 9-5 job and its not bringing home as much bacon as you’d like, than you’d probably consider getting a second part-time job wouldn’t you?

Well, bring a self-employed entrepreneur brings about the same set of circumstances. If the project that is making you money isn’t cutting it on its own, than you may want to consider adding additional revenue streams. This idea is nothing new. In fact, its been recommended over and over again by top bloggers. Why? Because it works. And believe me, its not as complicated as it seems. If you have an online shop and a moderately popular blog you are already on your way.

Here are a few ideas… Start selling advertisements on your blog if you haven’t already, and try getting involved with some affiliates as well. That’s two revenue streams right there and that’s not even the tip of the iceberg. Think about seeking wholesale orders for products you typically sell in your Etsy shop. Or create other products to sell online (ebooks, ecourses, etc). Use your expertise to teach an online or in-person course. Pick up some freelance writing jobs. The list goes on and on.

Here are a few articles on the subject…

-Darren Rowse from ProBlogger makes a six figure salary and brings in income from more than ten different revenue sources each month.

-Tara Swiger wrote a guest post for Megan of Crafting and MBA on this very topic of creating multiple revenue streams. Its a must read.

-Twelve Ideas for creating multiple income streams from Freelance Switch.

-Check out the amazon book list for creating multiple revenue streams as well.

Have an additional tips to share on the subject? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Image via Fashion Fangs

One of my favorite things to talk about here on the blog is small business. Unfortunately, I don’t give as many tips or write as many advice columns as I would like to. BUT fortunately there are plenty of other people out there who write about small business on a daily basis. Like Bonnie Forkner for example, who you may already know from her popular craft blog, Going Home to Roost, or perhaps from her three adorable Etsy shops. Bonnie has just launched a wonderful e-book and e-course that is sure to satisfy your need for a crafty business fix. Here’s the info…

New Seller in Need of some Guidance? GHTR just launched a new e-course, Selling the Handmade Way.  It’s for beginner/intermediate sellers of handmade goods to learn more about their indie biz and how to make a name for themselves.  The class will start on September 6th and will last 7 weeks. The class will cover everything from product photography to website SEO.

Click here to view more details about Selling the Handmade Way.

Just looking for some free advice? Bonnie has also compiled a free e-book called Best of the Shop Help Series.  It’s chalk full of the best tips from Going Home to Roost’s weekly biz articles over the past year, and free for anyone to download. So, head on over and check it out.

Usually I am the one giving advice around here. But today, I thought I turn the tables and ask you all for some advice instead.

Here’s the deal… The last couple of weeks, I have been feeling completely overwhelmed. After having several conversations with Jeff about my work schedule, I have come to the conclusion that I am working too much. This may sound like an exaggeration, but truly, Monday-Friday and most weekends from the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep (unless I am not home for some reason- gym, out to dinner, running errands), I am working on something for the blog or site. Or doing work for someone else’s blog, or answering questions for an interview, or starting a side-project to bring in more income, or (well, you get the point)… And I am finally realizing its not the way to go.

Don’t get me wrong, I am immensely grateful for everything I have. And feel super lucky that I have enough success in my business to actually be this busy.

But a girl’s gotta take a break every once in a while, right?

I thought I was doing the right thing. I mean, I want my business to continue to grow, and I’d really like to be able to take down some of those to-do post its I have up on my computer right now. But not at the expense of any chance at a sliver of personal time. So, I am asking you…

What are your tips and tricks for balancing  your business and your personal life?

I know most of the things we read about bringing success to our business includes being forthcoming with ideas, thoughts, etc. And then implementing said ideas, thoughts, etc whenever possible. And that is true. BUT that’s not what I want to talk about today.

Today, I want to talk about how to handle those less-than-satisfied customers that you may have from time to time. While they may be rare (hopefully they are), they can also be a deciding factor in making or breaking your business. How is that possible? People who are unsatisfied with a product or service spread the information like wildfire. Why? Because they are mad, and they want other people to know about it. Simple as that.

So, how can you turn a negative customer experience in to a good one? With excellent customer service of course. But remember I said you should bite your tongue, right? What I mean by that is, think before you speak. Often times, if you receive an email from a dissatisfied customer, chances are your initial reaction is a bit defensive. “But I spent three hours making _________. How could they say it is of poor quality? They don’t know what they are talking about.” Or however else you may rationalize these things when they come up. You don’t want to say that to your customer, no matter how irrelevant you feel their claim may be.

This is what I would recommend. Take some time to compose yourself. Its hard not to take things personal when something goes wrong. That’s why our natural reaction is to get defensive. Don’t. Take a few minutes before writing a response. And once a draft has been written, press SAVE not SEND. Walk away and come back to it later. Make any necessary changes and remove anything that could be labeled as snarky.

Basically, you want your response to be as short and as pleasant as possible, while addressing all of the customer’s concerns. Remember, you don’t want people blabbing to their friends about how much you and your products suck. And if you say something rude, in writing no less, it will come back to bite you in the ass. Guaranteed. So, if you are at fault say so. If a customer wants to return an item, refer them to your shop policies, and give them an answer as to whether or not the return will be allowed. Same goes for a refund.

And lastly, make a kind gesture. Some people will agree with me on this one and some won’t. But I personally believe its important to extend a hand to anyone who is unhappy with your products or services (within reason). Try offering a discount off their next purchase; a partial refund; or even free additional merchandise if you feel inclined.

Bottom line. Make your customers happy, even after they have had a “bad experience”, and they will always come back. And that means success for your business.

Have you ever had to bite your tongue around a customer?

*image c/o TaraLynn

I am sure you’ve heard this phrase before: You’ve got to spend money to make money. And it might even be annoying for some of you to hear, but I have to say, in a lot of instances this phrase is absolutely true, when it comes to your business. Let me explain just a few instances…

Maybe you want to get your new collection or shop noticed online. You might choose to buy an advertisement on a like-minded blog to help spread the word and start getting that brand recognition. Well, that’s going to cost you, but the hope is that you’ll get something back in return…potential customers, sales, etc.

Or perhaps you are spending a lot of time prepping items and making sure they are up to your standards in terms of quality. This is time you COULD be using to actually make finished goods. The more items you have to sell, the more potential for sales, right? Well, you’ll have to weigh out the pros and cons of this one on your own. But, spending more money on higher quality or pre-made materials might be a great option for you. Because, in the end, it might save you enough time to make the couple extra dollars worth it. That’s exactly what artist Jessica Gonacha (whose name is now Jessica Swift) did when she made the switch from sanding and prepping all her wood panels herself to buying them pre-made and ready to paint on. Read her story here.

What are some ways you spend money to make money with your crafty business?

image credit: 20 Dollars

Since we’ve been discussing crafty business tips and advice here a lot more lately, I thought I’d make a special weekend links this time. Featuring only crafty business articles from around the web. I read a lot of these kinds of posts over the weekend, when I have free time, and I thought you might too…

-Three rules for setting prices on your products (with a conscience).

-A BIG crafty reading round-up with lots of great biz tip articles.

-Need a website, but don’t have the money to pay someone else. Build it yourself in one weekend with this Website in a Weekend article.

-A great podcast for marketing your craft online.

-Three tips for promoting your work to galleries (found thanks to Megan).

-Thinking of hiring a helping hand? Eight tips for choosing and working with an intern.

That’s it for this week. Enjoy your weekend everyone! See you Monday.

*image credit: house & garden found on pinterest via decor8

This is a topic that I could talk about for hours. There are so many distractions when you are working, especially if you work from home. The laundry is piling up, the dishes need to be done, the dog needs to be let outside, and of course the television is constantly calling your name.

How do you combat these constant disturbances?

Here are few tips:

1. Establish a space in your home that is solely for your business. This could be as dedicated as a whole room, or as small as a tiny nook. It doesn’t matter what the size, as long as its large enough for you to get your work done, and you feel comfortable working there routinely. For example, I have set up my office on the far side of our bedroom (that’s my workspace above). This might be impractical for some, but I actually love it. We really don’t use the space at all, except for sleeping, so I get a lot of great work done because its basically “my own”.

2. Set ground rules. Establishing a boundary during “work hours” with family members may sound silly. But, trust me; it’s necessary. This means letting family and friends know that you’re not available to “chat” during your work hours on the phone or in person, unless its lunchtime. And if you have children or a spouse at home while you are working, set boundaries with them as well. “Sweetie, I’d love to play with you, but mommy’s at work right now. I’ll come get you when I am finished, and then we can play.” I know this may be a hard one to follow, especially if your children are small, but do the best you can.

3. Make a list and set a schedule. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your to do’s, making a list can really help. And if you have reoccurring tasks, creating a schedule for yourself would really be beneficial. Studies show that your brain is in its most efficient state when you first wake up in the morning. So, you may want to think about doing your most important or creative tasks right when you wake up, and save emails and blog posts for later in the day. Those “mindless” activities like filling out shipping labels, might be best left until the afternoon. But everyone is different. So figure out what works best for you, and take it from there.

4. Make the most of it. When you are feeling especially motivated, make the most of that time. Get a jump start on those orders that aren’t due for another month, write and schedule some blog posts in advance, or organize your supplies now so you can work more efficiently later.

5. Get out. If you’re feeling cramped or uninspired and can take your show on the road, than do that! Get out of your house and find somewhere else to work for the day. This could be some place like the library, a small cafe, a quiet park, or even as close as your own backyard. When you eliminate the distractions of home, by removing your self from said home every once in a while, it can be a HUGE motivator.

What are your tips for successfully working from home?

Yesterday, I was catching up on some reading, and I stumbled upon this article from Tara Gentile about the reward of taking risks. It made me think back to my own “Big Risk” when I left my full time position as a high school art teacher to pursue papernstitch full time. That was just over a year ago.

I had been running my business on the side for almost a year already at that point and it was growing. Really growing. So, I knew it was feasible. I had crunched the numbers over and over again. Spent endless hours coming up with a plan of attack. And all of that. It was a calculated risk.

But the REAL risk, the BIG risk, (which I didn’t realize until later) was what would have happened if I hadn’t quit that teaching position. I was unhappy there. I felt confined and unable to truly express my thoughts and ideas. “But at least I had a stable income,” I would say to myself. But what is that really worth? Your happiness? My happiness? No. Absolutely not.

So, even if I fell flat on my face, I decided it was worth a shot to go after something that I really believed in. “Give it a try,” I thought. And if it doesn’t work out, I’ll just do something else. Simple as that.

And now, more than a year later, what has happened? Well, I am still here. Still chugging along. Making a living doing something that I absolutely love. I am happier than ever before. I can work from anywhere. I am my own boss. I control what happens in the future. Never been better.

This isn’t everyone’s story though. I understand that. Sometimes we take risks and they don’t pan out. We fail and are left wondering why. But at least now we know. Right? That is the point of taking risks in the first place. Isn’t it? To roll the dice and take control, instead of waiting on the sidelines for “it” to happen to you.

What risks have you taken or struggled with lately?

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Image c/o Rosie Hardy

We’ve got another great guest post from Celeste of Crickets Creations today. I don’t want to say too much, so take it away Celeste…

Time management is a weak point for many “artsy” types; yet the more quality work we can produce in a streamlined manner, the better chance we have of making a living doing what we love! Here are some tips that assist me in my daily creating (I handknit five scarves with impeccable worksmanship in a typical day)…

Set up work stations: I maintain a designated area for packaging orders with all necessary supplies and information within reach and each work station has the tools necessary to complete task(s) from start to finish without leaving the area.

My “packaging station” computer area can be seen here. It doesn’t have to be fancy!

Multiple tool sets: For essential tools, I find it helpful to have one in each work station as well as back ups on hand to avoid, “Oh no, I can’t get anything done, I lost my whatzit!” For example, I have a pair of sharp scissors for the car as well as each work station.

Be flexible: Since my main craft is knitting with yarn, I have a few pairs of each size of needle. That way, if I’m working on a blanket and an order for a scarf comes in, I can set the blanket aside and start right away on the scarf with another needle set.

Organize supply and finished product inventory: If we have and properly use containers, shelving or another keep-it-neat system, we avoid hunting for “that one bead” or “that journal I know I made months ago…”

Prioritize: If a task can only be performed at a particular workstation or time window (for example, my friend Erin Krug only brings out her soap making supplies when her small children are sleeping), then we must focus and work at maximum efficiency during that production opportunity (that includes ignoring facebook!).

You can see Erin with some of her top notch handmade bath and body products right here.

Take good care: I work best after enough (and not too much) nutritious food and a good night’s rest. I drink water throughout the day because I find staying fully hydrated allows me to think clearly. It also seems to prevent stiff joints and aching muscles, which is important for those of us whose craft involves repetitive motion.

Take a break: I stretch, do a different task, move around (and walk down the hall to the bathroom after all that water!) for about 10 minutes of each production hour.

Find a balance: Studies have found that we are at our most productive when we work “assembly line” style and concentrate on a specific task or set of tasks for a few hours, and then switch roles to alleviate fatigue and maintain speed.

I hope these tips help all my fellow worker bees as they hum along in their hives!

-Celeste of Crickets Creations

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Image Credit: Radioverdose