Challenge Day 22: How to Find Your Target Market

Good Morning Crocheters Worldwide...

Finding your target market takes some work. Using Google AdWords (which is free by the way) and choosing the correct word(s), will help you target your market for your blog or online store. In other words whatever keyword(s) you use, will help drive traffic to your blog just by knowing what your reader is looking for.

Writing Prompt for Day 22:
Choose one keyword and use it in your post for today. You'll be writing your post about the keyword you choose. (ex. crochet pattern, crochet hat, etc.)

So I chose the keyword phrase: crochet for beginners. Why this phrase you ask? First, the competition in this area is low, secondly the global search for this keyword phrase is 60,500, and on the local level it 33,100.

Considering I'm fairly new to the crochet business, let alone blogging about crochet, it is my goal to document in my blog everything that I learn about crochet. From new stitches and techniques, to business plan writing and to actually having items available to purchase. As I grow, so will the Designs by Hebrew Hands blog and ultimately the business.

So if you haven't subscribed make sure you do, so that you can travel with me as I journey into building a crochet blog and business! You can follow by email, or by RSS feed.

Until this evening...
Shalam!!
One More thing...
I'd like to introduce you to Design by Hebrew Hands Latest Theme

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Challenge Day 21: Crochet Forums

Good Evening my fellow crafters!

I am a little off schedule, so I need to play catch up again. I have been feeling a little under the weather the past couple days, and right now I'm in a moment of I feel a little better so I'll do my Day 21 Challenge Post.

Although I am feeling a bit under the weather, and making up Day 21 of the Challenge let me tell you... over all I am STILL excited about what's going on with Designs by Hebrew Hands!

Yesterday I actually held my first Linky Party, and I was totally enthused about it! I didn't have as many participants as I would have liked, but I think 2 is good for my first time out! So, I'd like to thank Michelle over at Milahas Handcrafts, and the Spicy Knitter for both stopping by and showing beginning blogger support on my first Linky Party!

Day 21 Challenge Prompt was to: Write a List post featuring 5 forums you frequent or would like to frequent this year for your crochet blog or business.

I haven't frequented any crochet forums as of yet,however upon the recommendation of the Blog Challenge Sponsor Sara I have chosen to only sign up for these three!

Sara has this to say about my top 3 choices:

Hookey.Org- This is owned by Laurie of Crochet Liberation Front. You'll find a great little community where you can chat with other crocheters, business owners, and designers. You can have a Hookey blog, post pictures of your projects, ask questions about crochet business or designing. There is also a chat feature so you can chat with users who are online when you are. An optional paid membership site on CLF includes eCourses, special printables, articles and webinars.

Ravelry - This is a mixed fiber arts forum with some crocheters. I find most people to be knitters as it started as a knitters community. (owner is a knitter) It is the number one source for all things patterns, yarn, knitting and crochet. A fun place to hang. You do need to sign up for a membership.( I actully have had a membership with them for a little while)

Crochetville -a long time crochet forum for crocheters. They now have a great website that features resources for those who want to design patterns and learn more about managing and owning a crochet business. They have a new pattern directory so do add your free patterns to that.

I chose each of these forums because I am at a point in my crocheting where I am interested in learning to design my own patterns.

And while I'm speaking on Designing Patterns, be sure to subscribe, because on Friday February 1st, I will have host my first guest blogger Michelle of Milahs Handcrafts, and she will be talking about "How to Design Crochet Patterns."

Until later ...
Shalam

One More thing...
I'd like to introduce you to Design by Hebrew Hands Latest Theme
It's..

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Maybe Monday?

It's Monday and You know what that means...

Over the weekend You've thumbed through crochet magazines and Pinned some things! Did you find anything, that you just "Maybe" want to crochet?

Well share with the readers of Hebrew Hands, and let us give you some inspiration!
And to help you move that project from a Maybe to a complete,try visiting my girl Michelle over at Motivational Mondays with Milahs Handcrafts.

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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Shalam & Happy Crocheting Family!

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 9: Themes & Things

Good evening all!!

Its challenge day 9, and our writing prompt for today is: I will post___ days a week. I'll participate in ___ linky's and ___ challenges.

Oookay... so this morning I sat down to work on the challenge post, and had a moment.

" What in the world is that?"

I mentioned to you all in an earlier post that I've attempted to blog before and never followed through, so I'm a little blog writing challenged.(for now!)

What is the world is a linky? I had no idea this morning! Needless to say I had to set off on a Google expedition! I traveled to four sites, before I found one, that made it clear to me.

A linky is where readers share links from the host site back to their blog post & vice versa. It's a good way to meet other crochet bloggers and bring additional traffic to your blog.

There are quite a few places you can sign up for a linky service. There is LinkyTools , and LinkyFollowers but the one I chose to go with is

All three of these choices are free, but if you choose to upgrade of course there is a cost. I chose inLinkz, because I am on a small budget and they actually will bill you $1.99 per month(or $19.99 a year) for the use of their service, and you can cancel at anytime! You get an unlimited thumbnails collection, tutorials, full moderation of links, its iPhone & Android compatible and you get a commission for referring friends!

It took me about an hour to find out about linky and its benefits, and I'm glad I did, I learned something new today!

Now my next adventure was to find out what WIP, and FO meant. This one took a little less time. Sara actually told us what FO meant (Finished Object) but I had to know what WIP meant! So off I went!! I actually connected to one of Sara's linky links, ( can I say that?), with Tami Ami and her Finished Object Friday, and there (Yippie!!) I found out what WIP means! (Yay... go me!) WIP is Work In Progress!!

So now that I know what a linky is, what WIP & FO means I can proceed with the blog post for the day!!

I will post 3 days a week, I'll participate in 4 linkys per month(1 per week) , and 6 challenges per year( 1 every two months).

Once I get familiar with the inLinkz dashboard, I'll be hosting my first give-away!!
Stay-Tuned & Until tomorrow my sistern crocheters...
Shalam!

Day 7: My next step is ....

Good evening all!!

We are officially one week into the Business Blog Challenge with Sara Duggan. Today's blog prompt is: I've filed my business license and have my EIN, my next step is...

Banking - Designs by Hebrew Hands will be operating as a sole-proprietorship, and I want to keep my personal money separate from the businesses money. Because I now have my license & EIN, I'm off to the bank to set-up a bank account. This will allow for any and all purchases for the business to come strictly from this account, and an easier way to keep up with receipts (monthly statement).

Next...

Accounting Software - Let me start with this... math was not my best subject, I can count money, add taxes, and balance a check book, but I'm so sure that there is more to business accounting than this. Perhaps in the beginning this may be all I need, but as the business grows, so will the need for me to have accounting skills and software.

Lastly... ( for this post at least)

Business cards and flyers - I have to let people know that I am open for business!!
I can put flyers in the neighborhood market, local libraries, at the local university campus. And I can officially give cards out when I'm shopping for supplies, or simply running errands.

Am I on the right track?
What would you suggest?

Until tomorrow my fellow hookers...

Shalam...that is to say Peace!

Day 6... And I'm Ascared!!

Whew... Can you say CHALLENGE!!

It's Challenge Day 6, and I have to say for the first time, I am Ascared!!
(you know Afraid + Scared)

So by now you know that Sara has given a prompt each day and the participants use this prompt as their blog "topic" for the day. And I have to admit, todays prompt: Write a post about your strengths and skills as a crocheter and business owner.

This one scared me!

I started questioning myself...
Can I really do this and be good?
Perhaps I've lost my mind because I don't have enough experience?

I mean all kinds of doubtful thoughts started going through my head...

I don't have any formal management training, I dont have a degree in business,nor do I have any published work! I probably should quit before I get in to far!

So what specific qualities do I have that will help me succeed in business?

I have a degree in Communications, with over 25 years in the customer service industry, and 21 years of experience working within the disability community. I began crocheting as a young girl, but it's been within the last 3 years that I've redeveloped a passion for crocheting all over again. And so, I recently became a member of the Crochet Guild of America, to help perfect my crocheting skills and network with other crochet enthusiasts. I'm a self-starter, and hard worker! I learn quickly, I have drive, motivation, family support, self-confidence, and patience. But the most important strength I have is faith!

Faith is the strongest quality of all. Because when all else fails, It's my faith that will sustain me!
So I've decided... I'm pushing forward!!
Until tomorrow...

Be Blessed!!

Day 5: Identifying a Target Audience

Good Evening all!!

It's Day 5 of the Business Blog Challenge with Sara Duggan. Todays blog prompt deals with marketing. Who will I market to? Online? Offline? Businesses?

Marty Diamond in his article 4 Tips for Identifying Your Ideal Customer says that, "If your target market is “everyone,” then you not only have a business model that will likely limp along or fail entirely, but you’ve also misunderstood the goal of marketing."

Diamond suggests that you:

1. Become a specialist by finding a niche that hasn't been filled and become the best provider of that product or service.
2. Do your homework by knowing what your ideal customer looks like, feels, thinks.
3. Write a description of that ideal customer.
4. Create different personas, as you will have different buyer types.

At this moment I haven't quite figured out one area that I would specialize in, based on Mr. Diamonds suggestion, I have narrowed it down to 3 products.

In using his model, I did create what I thought my ideal customer would "look" like. She would be the customer that I marketed to both on and off-line, as well as the same type of business owner I would search out.

My ideal customer would be a God fearing woman, between the ages of 25-50. She reads and studies the Bible. Typically she is a wife and stay-at-home mom. She likes reading, spiritual music, and Sci-Fi movies. She enjoys her job as a wife and mom, because it allows for her to always be available for her husband and children. She dreams of someday owning her own business. She's a grounded and humble woman, but incomplete chores will keep her up at night. She's looking for my business because she appreciates one of a kind, quality hand crafted work, that has been covered with prayer through out the creation process.

I'm working on the different personas, and different buyer types. But I'd love to hear what the readers are thinking at this point. So tell me, What kind of "twist" should I add to my "ideal customer"?

Looking forward to all feedback, but until tomorrow... Have a great evening :)