8 Tips and Tricks for Craft Blog Success

If you're a creative entrepreneur, chances are you know blogging is a great way to raise your profile, attract more buzz and customers.

But, blogging takes time and we know you'd probably rather be working on your product.  So, how best to focus your blogging time? Here are some tips and tricks:

1. Keep it short
One of the myths about blogging is that length equals quality. From your audience's point of view, the more time you can save them, the better. Think about how much time you have on a daily basis to spend browsing blogs: not much, right? Readers will appreciate that you respect their time by getting to the point.

2. Keep it useful, relevant and fun
Rather than using your blog only as a personal journal, think of it as an ongoing conversation with your clientele. If approached correctly, your blog can build trust, demonstrate expertise and express your personality. Sure, write in your sweatpants, but keep your topics and language smart casual. If you sell hand-knitted baby clothes, for example, brainstorm related topics that your clientele might search for, like how to wash hand-knitted clothing. Illustrate the making of one of your products with some before and after photos, or write about how hand-knitted items can be recycled/upcycled.

3. Keep it visual
This is key, especially since it will help demonstrate your creativity. Keep posts lively with photos, illustrations or videos. Since a picture is worth 1,000 words, using visuals will help keep things short. A post could be a random image, like this photo of a fortune cookie message from Tara Gentile's Scoutie Girl blog.

4. Keep it personal
By blogging in a conversational tone, writing about your creative passion, and sharing personal stories, your unique voice will shine through. You may wonder how personal is too personal. What you share is up to you, but remember that what you write is public and the Internet has a long memory. Better to dish about your latest romance or credit card debt elsewhere.

5. Keep it organized
In the same way that it helps to have a grocery list when you shop, it helps to have an editorial calendar when you blog.  This is simply a list of posts you plan to write, attached to the dates you want to publish them. Having an editorial calendar helps combat writer's block, because when you sit down to write, your posts are mapped out.

6. Keep it interesting
In the course of brainstorming blog topics, it may help to think of categories for your topics. For example, a creative entrepreneur might decide to blog three times weekly, once about creative inspirations, another about product/store developments, and another about personal stories. Having posts that target different facets of your audience is a good thing.

7. Keep it timely
Creative entrepreneurs know it's a good idea to adjust their product lines to the seasons, and it's the same with blog posts. For example - the vendor who specializes in knits may want to write about the best way to store knits over the winter, or how to incorporate hand knits into a summer wardrobe. Think also of tying your posts to major events like July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. One great example comes from Julie at A Fine Tooth Comb, whose recent post Firecracker Small Business Tips, is inspired by July 4 fireworks.

8. Keep it community-oriented
No blog is an island. In order to be recognized in the creative community, you'll want to link to other bloggers. So, as you approach your topics, link out generously to those who have written relevant posts or those whose products or creativity inspire you.

What do you think? What other blogging tips and tricks should be on the list?

Main image courtesy of @boetter.

Just a friendly reminder to enter Meylah's July Contest: What's Your Passion? Name Your Price! for a chance to get your own personalized site at your price...entries will be accepted up until July 31, 2010.