5 Psychology Concepts that will Improve Your Twitter Marketing Strategy

 

 

 

Priming in Twitter Marketing

Finally Finished Friday into Silent Saturday

When asked for a permalink in order to be allowed to add your link, you need to provide a link that goes directly to a specific blog post of yours and not your first page.

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How to Design Crochet Patterns: A Beginner’s Guide

Do you like altering crochet patterns by others? Little tweaks that help you achieve the look you want for your crochet project.
Do you look at a crochet item and think, I can figure out how to make that? Are you looking for a crochet challenge? Then the next step for you might be thinking about designing your own crochet patterns.

It started out small for me. Instead of beginning with a chained circle, I’d opt for a magic circle instead. I resized a baby sweater pattern to make it for an adult.
Now, legally, altering someone else’s pattern didn’t make me a designer, but it gave me the curiosity to try my own hand at coming up with items of my own from scratch. Every designer probably has a different method of coming up with their finished project, I just wanted to share how I design crochet patterns I use for hats and blankets.

1. A sketch - I start with a drawing, just a quick rough idea of what I’d like my blanket to look like. I play with colors and edgings.


2. Math - Did I hear you groan? But, I'm sorry to tell you, your sixth grade math teacher was correct: math is something you need every day. And it comes in handy when figuring out how to design your crochet blanket, hat or anything! Length, width, determining how many stitches you’ll need all deal with some aspect of math.


3. Plan - Next, I draw up my design on graph paper, especially if color work or tapestry crochet will be included. The graph allows for me to see the visual “big picture.” Sometimes, I even write a rough draft of my pattern at this time.


4. Crochet - Once I know where I’m going and how many rows it should take me to get there, I begin to crochet my sample piece. As I work, I jot down notes on my plan so later, when I revise my rough draft pattern, I can remember any changes I needed to make. Taking pictures during this step is also helpful.


5. Test - After I’ve made my sample, I revise my pattern and send it to a tester. If you want to publish your pattern, this step is important because I want to make sure that my directions are as clear. If I need to make any fine tuning to the pattern, then I can do that once I get feedback from my tester.

Hope this helped.

This article was done by Milaha's Handcrafts, and I'd like to Thank Michelle for being my first Guest Blogger on Designs by Hebrew Hands. She has given us some very valuable information to begin learning how to design our own patterns. I don't know about you, but I'm going to start today to attempt to design my first pattern! Please make sure you go over and visit Michelle's Blog and let her know that you came over from Designs by Hebrew Hands!
Until tomorrow my fellow Crafting Comrades...
Shalam!

It's been a Long Weekend... Whew

Good Evening my fellow Crafting Comrades!!

We have just three days left in the 31 Days of Crochet Blog Challenge, and I have to tell you, I have truly learned a lot and met some great people!

I've had an extremely busy weekend! My grandson was here for his weekend visit. And the long anticipated arrival of my future Grand-Daughter In-Law is now over, as she officially made her earthly debut last night! Miss Aubrey Karlene Guyton entered the world at 9:39 p.m, weighing in at 6lb.,6oz. and 20 inches long. We are so excited she's here and healthy!! I'm looking forward to my first grandma playdate! LOL

With all the excitement this past weekend, I find myself, again playing catch-up on the blog challenge, but I'm doing it with even more of a thrill today!
Our Day 26 Post was to:

Invite your reader to comment on your blog

So at the end of the post I will do just that. I didn't want to do it here, trying to make the blog "flow".

Our day Day 27 post was:

What are your thoughts on backing up your blog? Records for your business? Write a post on what you think you need to keep track of this year. (income, receipts, charity giving, blog backups, etc)

Unfortunately, last week the blog sponsors blog was taken down, because of alleged spamming. But fortunately, she had backed up her blog the night before.(Divine Intervention) Sara had been sharing with the challenge participants, the benefits of why we should obtain a self-hosted blog, and she gave the example of this:
"Can you imagine owning a house and having someone come by and say “Ma'am... you can't paint your bathroom that color. And, we can't allow you to have a Tupperware party, either. Oh, and by the way, we'll be moving your home in the next 24 hours and all of your addresses will need to be changed.”

Right now, I am not in the position to pay for a self-hosted blog, but I just added it to my goals! By the end of the year, I will have a self-hosted blog. But until then, I will back up my blog daily. I'm new and I know that I've put in some hard work the last 28 Days for the challenge and I would hate to lose any of this information.
Also, based on the recommendations of commenter Vikki Hooks on the post
My Next Step Is I actually went out and purchased a 4 Column Ledger, to keep track of income and expenses the old fashioned way. I also have a portable file box, that I keep right next to my desk to file my receipts once I've logged them in the ledger. I think this will suffice for now, as I am really just getting the basics organized, I can't see needing an accountant for my first year of operation.

And to get me all caught up on the challenge is our Day 28 prompt which is:

Why I Love Crochet enough to build a business around it? Set up analytics for this page to track traffic for the next 7 days. (promote this post actively) After seven days, return to the post and share your results.

I love crochet enough to build a business around it because I think I'm actually good at it! I'm not trying to get rich off selling crochet, but I think I do quality work and I may have a niche. ( Detail forthcoming)

I have set up my analytics for my own blog, and I'm sure with a little research I can set up analytics for another blog. So I'll be back in 7 days to share my results.

And as I draw the post for the evening to a close, I now go back to day Day 26 and invite you to please share your thoughts, comments, concerns, and possible improvements on the Designs by Hebrew Hands blog, all feedback is greatly appreciated.

Until tomorrow...
Shalam!

Challenge Day 19: Are you Pinable?

Good evening fellow crafters!!

It's Day 19 of the 31 Days of Crochet Blog Challenge and I'm excited about todays prompt. Todays prompt is:

After you create a Pinterest Pin Board, write a post and invite your readers to join you.

Yesterday I told you guys that I am turning into a real Pinterest junkie, and because you can connect your website or blog to your Pinterest account, I think with the proper pinned items, people will visit your site or blog and ask questions, see what you're writing about, and leave you comments!

Well after taking the Pinterest eCourse recommended by Sara, I realized I have much to learn, yet I am on the right track. I have several boards up and running but they need some editing. And thanks to Michelle Shaeffers'eCourse I now know how to do it!

I love that fact that in her 35 minute "free" eCourse, she talked about how you can use FaceBook, Twitter & Pinterest all together to drive traffic to your blog. Can you say... confirmation? Remember in my post on engaging, I said that I would use these same three methods as a means to drive more traffic to my blog! ( Happy Dance Moment!!)

Am I pinable? Yes!

Can I do more with Pinterest? Yes!

Am I on Pinterest now? Yes!

So come and join me as I transform my boards on Pinterest. Just click here, or click the follow me on Pinterest link on the right side of the screen. Dont Forget ...
We are just 1 Day... from

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Shalam...

Challenge Day 18: Are you on You-Tube?

Good Evening my Crochet Crafting Comrades!

This evenings post will be a fairly simple one for me as I prepare to enter into the Sabbath Day. Our writing prompt for today is:

I plan on using Youtube to market my Crochet Business in 2013 by _____.

I am a You-Tube fan, you can learn to do anything on You-Tube! From crocheting to cooking, to building a green house! You can learn it on You-Tube! I have so much on my plate this year in getting Designs by Hebrew Hands off the ground, that I honestly don't think that I will have a You-Tube page this year. You-Tube for me, is in my 2 year goals. But I say this for now, who knows what will happen over the next 11 months!

See... short and sweet :)
Dont forget now...
We are just 3 days away from ...

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Until tomorrow...
Shabath Shalam...

Challenge Day17: Engaging

Good Morning my fellow crafters!!

I have had an awesome and busy week!!
I am still eagerly anticipating the birth of my future Grand-Daughter In-law,(her mom had false labor earlier this week), I received my first crochet order, and my grandson came to visit a day early( and he is very fussy this week) and so I am a day off with my blog. But I am back today, to play catch up!

Our challenge day 17 writing prompt is: My Top Three Steps of Engagement for 2013
My Top 3 Steps of Engagement for 2013 are, to be even more active on Pinterest, continued interaction on my Facebook Fan page, and become a Twitter Social Butterfly!

I love using Pinterest as means of engaging and promoting my blog, because It's visual! I am a visual learner in general and pretty colors attract me!! I have found that I am becoming a Pinterest junkie, and because you can connect your website or blog to your Pinterest account, I think with the proper pinned items, people will visit your site or blog and ask questions, see what you're writing about, and leave you comments!

I'm already a Facebook addict, there isn't a day that I wake up that I do not interact with someone on FaceBook! What better place for me to engage an audience, than on FaceBook! Although I've never used it for business purposes until now, I am already familiar and comfortable with their platform. So, if you haven't already liked my FaceBook Page please do so, because here you will be able to contact me at some point during the day!

I am completely new to the world of Twitter. I want to use Twitter as a means of engagement, because I can add the Twitter application to my phone, which will give me a connection even when I am away from my computer. Plus when I'm out and about sale yarn shopping, I can just Tweet to followers & friends!

These are my 3 steps of engagement for 2013!
Am I on the right track?
Let me know fellow crafters, I would love to hear from you!
Dont Forget ...
We are just 3 Days... from

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Until this evening...
Shalam

Challenge Day 16: Who are you Following on Twitter?

Good Evening my Crafting Comrades!

Its Challenge Day 16, and I am still just as excited as if it were day 1!

As you all know by now, Sara gives us a prompt each day for the participants to blog on. And our prompt for today is :
Write a post about the top five people you follow on Twitter and why you enjoy reading their tweets.

I just created a Twitter account on January 7th. Like Sara over at Crochet Business Blogging, I have a number of people that I am following. I am following other Fiber Artist( my new title!), crochet magazines, and seasoned bloggers. I don't have any favorites right now, because I am new to Twitter, and I'm getting to know Twitter personalities.

I have retweeted though. I've retweeted because either the person has inspired me on some level, they have shared information I think other up & coming Fiber Artist should know, or I am trying to show support to someone I've started to build a relationship with.

This was short and to the point post, as I get to know Twitter and use it more frequently I'm sure I'll find that I read some tweets more than others.

As always until tomorrow...
Shalam!
And don't forget to subscribe & Mark your calendar for:

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Its Wednesday... You know what that means!!

It's Work In Progress Wednesday with
Tami Ami&

with Lydia CrochetAddictUK!

This week I'm working on my future grand-daughter in-laws blanket, I actually restarted yesterday! She's due in about 2 weeks and I would love to have this ready for her arrival, to say Welcome baby Aubrey!!

Challenge Day 15: Facebook & Fans

I'm working to get back on blog track! Today is Challenge Day 15 and our blog prompt is:

Connecting with my Facebook fans is important to me. This week I will ___ to show them that I appreciate them. Write a thank you to your readers and invite them to like you on Facebook.

Facebook use to be my hangout spot! I'd log on say my good-mornings, chat with old friends, get my daily dose of games. Now I see FaceBook in a whole new light!

I created my Designs by Hebrew Hands page about 3 weeks ago, and I'm up to nine likes. I haven't promoted it much because I have so much on my plate at the moment. As I get things more organized and scheduled, I'll spend more time on the page. But as for my nine fans that are there now, this week I will give-away a copy of Sara Duggan's Hooking for Cash: 10 Ways to Earn Money with Your Crochet Business Blog.

I think Sara's book is an excellent appreciation gift, as the fans should be somewhat interested in crocheting in some form or fashion, perhaps even elevating their hobby to a business. And Sara's book has excellent information for a newbie starting out!

So, if you haven't already subscribed here. You can by clicking the follow by email button on top, or by getting a feed thru the RSS on the bottom. And please do, come by the Designs by Hebrew Hands Facebook Page and like me!
Until tomorrow my fellow crocheting companions...
Shalam!!

And Dont forget to mark your calendars for:

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Challenge Day 14: Lets Talk Numbers

Umm ...so I missed yesterdays post. Had a few errands to run, and by the time I got back home, I was completely worn out. But I'm back today to make up for it!

Yesterday was challenge day 14 and our prompt was to:

List your current blog stats. i.e. Rss subscribers, sales, newsletter subscribers, comments, etc...

I just got my Google Analytics to work 3 days ago!! Right in time to work on this particular post.

RSS Subscribers - 3

Sales - $0.00

Newsletter Subscribers - 0

Comments - Lots... I just have to figure out my Google Analytics More!

So, my numbers are rather small right now, ( But they'll be better by the end of the year!!) and I'm just fine with that! Considering I'm new to the blogging scene (15 days new actually) and still in a learning phase, I'm excited to have 3 RSS subscribers. ( Perhaps a celebratory purchase of yarn?) To me that's a good thing, it means that 3 people out there are willing to read what I have to share, or be supportive and either way... I'm happy!

I would like to have at least 500 RSS Subscribers, by the end of the year, 100 newsletter subscribers, $600.00+ in sells, and comments daily on posts.

This is a year of learning for me. Learning all that I can about blogging, and especially blogging for my business. I can't expect to have newsletter subscribers, if I dont have a newsletter YET! And it's the same with sales, I haven't posted anything for sell yet as I have a ton of work to do, just to get my site up and running properly. Making the items to sell, that's the easiest part! Getting people to visit the page, and keeping them here long enough read information and to want to purchase an item, is my biggest goal for this year!

Well until later this evening my fellow crafting comrades...
Shalam!!
Oh yea... And don't forget to subscribe!! It's upper right for an email, and bottom for the RSS Feed.
Click here to like my Facebook Page

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Challenge Day 13: 50 Bucks!

Good evening fellow crafts people.

We are in day 13 of the Business Blog Challenge, and yes... I am still excited!

I have learned so much over the last 13 days, I sometimes feel as if my head may pop off. ( Over exaggeration!!) But I have taken in a lot of very useful information on the world of crochet business blogging. I've had to re-edit my schedule twice, and this last time was so that I could include a set time for blog visits.

Well as you already know, Sara gives the participants a blog prompt each day and todays prompt is:
I want to make ___ per month from my blog this year. In order to accomplish this goal I will need to do ___, ___, and ___.

I had to sit and think what a realistic goal for me as a beginning blogger, with 3 years of crochet experience is. I am not trying to get rich here, just bring in some additional income. So I came up with $50.00! That's right... I want to make $50.00 dollars per month from my blog this year. And if I make more that would be wonderful, and if I make less, that would be ok too, because I haven't set a really outlandish goal for myself. ( Think small & grow bigger!)

In order for me to accomplish this goal I will definitely need to increase blog traffic, consider moving to a paid-hosted site, sell more crocheted items, sell PDF patterns, and/or PDF books.

But before any of this can happen I have to generate more crochet content. Interesting crochet content = more traffic, more traffic = more viewers, more viewers = sells!

So, for now I will continue writing out a list of topics that I am blogging on after I complete the challenge!

Don't forget to subscribe, ( upper right corner for email, and the bottom of the screen for RSS Feed) so you can travel with me as I journey into the world of starting my crochet business!!

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Until tomorrow...
Shalam

Challenge Day 12: Guest Bloggers Needed

Good evening again family!!

I'm back with my second post of the evening.

It's Day 12 of the 31 Days of Crochet Blogging with Sara Duggan of Crochet Business Blogging.
And I have a question for you...

Do you have:

Tips for beginning pattern designers

Crochet business start up tips

Tips for crocheting home-decor

Or information on crocheting for charities.

I am looking for guest crochet bloggers to feature every Friday.
If you fit this bill, then Hebrew Hands wants you!

Please send me an email at: HebrewHands@gmail.com with your topic of interest, and lets when we can get you scheduled.
Don't forget to subscribe so you will be notified of upcoming guests!

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Shalam...

Challenge Day 11: A Call to Action Pt. 1

Good evening fellow crafts persons!!

Today is Day 11 of the 31 Days of Crochet Blogging, and I am worn out!! I had a small family emergency today, without an opportunity to view any fellow bloggers blog's( can I say that?) nor even read the complete assignment today.

This means that I will have to do a double duty assignment tomorrow. However, I will share with you the topic of todays prompt.

A Call to Action!

What's that, you ask?

Well if you haven't already make sure you subscribe, so tomorrow when I reveal what a " Call to Action " is you will get the notification.
Until tomorrow ...
Shalam!

Challenge Day 10: Who am I talking to?

Good evening my fellow crafts people!!

We are well under way with the 31 Days of Crochet Blog challenge with Sara Duggan. And if you haven't been to Sara's page then you are missing out on a wealth of crochet information!

Todays prompt is:
My readers like _____ posts the best. Knowing this I will write about _______ and _______ in 2013.

Sara says that in order for us to know what our readers are enjoying about our posts, we need to look at our blog stats. Keeping in mind that I am a new blogger, I went and checked my numbers here on Blogger and what I found were these results:

So far today (4:50pm EST) I've had 32 page visits.

Yesterday I had 49 page visits.

My 10 day total of visits is 476.

My most viewed topic was Challenge Day 3 - My Business Goals & Objectives for 2013 (66 views), followed by Identifying a Target Audience(59 views) & 3rd was Challenge Day 7 - My next step is...

If I am reading the numbers correctly, so far the audience is interested in the goals & objectives of a start-up crochet business, how to identify a target audience, and what happens after a person receives their business license and EIN. I'd take this information and in 2013, continue writing and sharing blogs on the process of starting up a crochet business.

Sara also says that another way to identify your readers is through surveys. By posting or emailing surveys to your readers, allows you to get to know your readers more intimately and cater your blog to their interests. She says " Knowing your reader’s financial status can help you price your work appropriately. Many artists, crocheters in particular, under sell their work."

There are several companies out there that will help you to create FREE, professional surveys. Like Kwik Surveys, or Survey Monkey . Both are free start up accounts and can be upgraded at a later date.

Day 8: My Blog Focus

Good Evening All...
This evenings post will be short and to the point.

Todays Prompt is: The focus of my blog is ...

The focus of my blog is sharing and networking. The topics I will write about will be any and everything that has to do with crochet!

As of this moment I’m taking my readers with me as I journey into starting up a crochet business. I plan to share my ups and downs, the successes and failures. I plan to write about new stitches I’ve learned, to patterns I will someday create. I’ll blog about new yarns I’ve purchased, to the local craft shows in Detroit. I want to share conferences I’ve attend to fellow crafts ladies I may meet. There will be no limit on topics as long as it pertains to crochet.
Deep down, I know I’m a newbie in the world of crochet, and as I grow, each step of my new journey will be here for the next noob that comes along.

Until tomorrow fellow crafters…
Shalam!