Writing and Making Money at Examiner.com

I have recently begun writing a column on Examiner.com. I have a passion for the show "Fringe" and applied to be the Fringe Examiner. It was not "on the list" of openings. I actually suggested my own column and they accepted it.

I am writing this post to give you a bit of insight about the process and why someone should consider writing for this site.

What is Examiner.com?

It is a website broken up into 90 different regional "newspapers" as well as a "national" edition that are available online rather than on your front door step. Newspapers across the country are closing and consolidating. Many are migrating to the web as more and more people are getting their news from their laptops and cell phones. Examiner.com has embraced this new media paradigm which appears to be a strong and growing business model.

Who writes for Examiner.com?

Writers are passionate about a topic. Many consider themselves an expert. A dedicated writer needs that passion to write several articles a week. They use that passion to keep themselves going.

Writers are not bloggers. Instead, writers are journalists who focus on telling the facts and not opinions. "Examiners" are part of the new citizen journalism and user-generated content movement.

How do you make money writing for Examiner.com?

Writers are paid using a pay-per-click system. When someone reads (clicks on) your article, you receive revenue. It is not much per click but it is much higher than a similar site that has a published rate of $1.50-per-thousand-clicks. Do not let this figure be a deterrent.

Writers make money by building up a portfolio of articles that will be found via search engines and other sites who link to your column. This is by NO MEANS a get rich quick scheme. It may, however, supplement your monthly grocery bill. In this economy every little bit helps. There some examiners who have a strong readership base and are doing quite well.

Why write for the Examiner.com?

Writers become Examiners for many reasons:
- they want to be freelance writers and need to start somewhere
- they want to supplement their writing income
- they want to pass on information and knowledge and if they receive some money for it, all the better
- they are trying to establish themselves as an expert in a category and want to get some recognition
- they want a body of work available online that might lead to other higher paying opportunities

Examiner.com is fairly new and is growing. It is not a household name and it may take awhile for it to become one. One positive is Examiner.com shows up in "News" searches on Google which gives writers a better chance of exposure compared to a traditional blog. However, examiners who use other forms of social media to promote themselves such as Twitter, can expect their readership to grow faster than those who rely on search engines alone. Marketing and promoting a column should be considered one of the requirements for success.

The tools used to publish an article are user friendly and mirrors blogging software used on many sites. Very little skill outside of typing is required (besides the ability to write a cohesive and structured article, of course). An editorial staff is their to support you and guide you when you need it.

If you think this might be a fit for you and you feel that you want to write regardless of the level of compensation, go to Examiner.com and if they ask for a reference, please used ID 11719 - Fringe Examiner. I would appreciate it.

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Twit or Tweet - All About Twitter

Blogging has been around for awhile, but a new phenomena has arisen recently on the net. It is called microblogging. Microblogging is a way to connect with the outside world in short phrases or sentences without the time required for a traditional blog post.

Twitter is the most popular site in this category. Users have the opportunity to write a message up to 140 characters. These messages get seen several ways. First, an individual can have followers who when they log into their account can see all the messages their followees have posted recently. Second, your message gets placed in the long list of all messages that are on the site.

Twitter users can send in messages using their phones so it is not necessary to always be connected to a computer. Users can respond to a particular message by using the "@" key and sending a reply to a question or make a comment on a particular post. The system even has a function to send a private message to a user if the sender doesn't want the message to be seen by everyone.

For small business owners this is just another way to be in contact with current and potential customers. Perhaps an owner announces she has just updated her shop or perhaps she comments on how her day is going in general. Each message is a way to reach out and bring some personality and warmth into the technological framework.

The rise and continued evolution of social media on the internet supports the known fact that humans are social creatures. Brick and mortar places of business provide contact in a physical sense. Sites like Twitter allow for contact in a virtual sense and attempt to compensate for the separation created when a person uses a screen and a keyboard.

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It's All About the Pictures: Example - Abbey Lane

I am always awed by those who have the ability to produce effective and eye appealing photographs. As it is not my forte, I will from time to time put up (with the photographer's permission) photographs that I think are worthy of note. It is my hope that readers can use these to help evaluate their own shots and seek to improve them.

As I always say: "A picture says a thousand words? No! A picture SELLS a thousand WORKS."

This first grouping of photographs comes from a recent entry on the Etsy landscape - Abbey Lane (aka: AbbeyLane)


I selected these photos for their clean and crisp aesthetic. The process is called knocking out and can be done using Adobe Photoshop.

As I am not an expert in Photoshop, I would like to point you to these two tutorials. The first is a video produced by Hippyofdoom. Her video on Deviant Art is available here. Another step by step instructional guide using screen shots is available from KMC designs. Her process is great for jewelry designers and shops with small items. Her tutorial is located here.

Consider using this techniques the next time you are photographing your items. If the price of Photoshop is a bit out of your price range, consider placing the item on a crisp white background and getting the proper lighting to replicate a similar feel.

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SEO for the Crafting CEO

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. If a small business owner wants to sell on the web, she will have to spend some time thinking about this topic. The following should help demystify what it is and why it is important:

1. Search Engines
Google is the most well known and well used of the engines on the web (at least in the United States). Yahoo is also very popular. When a person logs into these sites and types in a word or string of words, the "engine" goes out and (very very) quickly reviews all the website material it has stored on its vast number of servers and comes back with the list of sites that have those words on them. An it is not uncommon for the search to come back with millions of hits.

2. Keywords
These are the words that are searched for and are used to determine what sites the searcher should see in the results. These keywords determine if a website will ever see the light of day. These keywords are so important that an entire advertising industry has been built around selling advertising space on search engine results pages. Every day marketers bid on relevant keywords in the hopes that their ad will be on the top of the right hand column.

3. Page Rank
A website owner who uses her site to sell her products knows that in order to sell, she needs traffic. This is no different than owning a traditional brick and mortar location. Whether in the real world or the virtual world, warm bodies through the front door will lead to a higher probability of sales.

And, in both cases "Location, location, location" is still the means for success. The best location for search results is on the first page and preferably "above the crease." To be "above the crease" goes back to the old days of newspaper publishing. You know you have made it when your story is right at the top next to the main headline, not on the second half of the page below the crease. (why? Like I have said before --- internet uses hate hate hate to scroll.)

To be on the top of the list in the number one spot is the coveted position for any website owner. That is the page rank. The farther down on the page coupled with the number of pages a consumer has to "flip" through, the harder it is to get a buyer through the front door.

4. Determining Rank
Google uses an algorithm (read: very long algebra equation) to determine which sites get the top spots. Although Google is very secretive about this formula, it is possible to focus on particular factors that can improve a site's ranking.

Keywords - certain words are searched for every single day by computer users from around the world. Google keeps a record of every word or string of words that users have typed into its system. Google uses this data to help advertisers bid on keywords through its Keyword Tool. Another site which can be helpful is Google Trends which shows keyword popularity over time.

Links - inbound links (the links that are found on other sites that link to seller's site) help determine where a site will rank as well. If a site has many other sites linking to it, then the thought process is that the site must have value. If a very high ranking site (example: Oprah.com) links to a site, additional "bonus points" are granted and the site's rank goes up. However, using linking farms (websites that take advantage of this factor) will be penalized.

Bloggers use this linking practice quite often in Blog Rolls by listing other blogs they recommend. Google gives these links credence but it can also tell when a link is part of a roll. Higher ranking "points" are given to links that are found within content. A link to a site is always better when found in a post than in a blog roll. However, a website owner should not turn down a linking opportunity regardless of the location.

Titles - an often overlooked factor are the page titles given to every page on a website. The title is the name that appears on the very top of the screen above the web address box. Keywords that appear in a page title will definitely get higher billing than others. Because this is usually something that should be coded in html, it often remains the default title of "home" that the software generates. Website owners are not aware of this or they forget to change it.

On Etsy, many shop owners do not realize the importance of this factor when they are filling out the Shop Title under Appearance in the Shop Setup. Instead, they write "Welcome to My Shop" or "Beautiful Loveliness." These phrases do not help them to attract customers through Google or Yahoo. A better strategy would be to describe in concrete terms what exactly they sell. They should consider what a buyer might type in a search to try and drive business to their specific shop page.

Meta-tags - once a very important factor in determining rank, but now has little impact on final placement. Too many webmasters took advantage of this component and "stuffed" their tags with important search terms that had nothing to do with their site. They wanted to drive traffic to their site and they did it unethically. Google began using other methods insure accurate search results.

5. SEO for the small business owner
By having a cursory understanding of what SEO is and how it factors into selling on the web, internet entrepreneurs can incorporate these elements into their web design and content. It should be seen as just another part of the overall marketing plan. Google and Yahoo will help a businesses attract new customers, but this process has limitations and parameters that must be considered and managed. Focusing on strong and relevant content, creating keyword appropriate titles and developing linking opportunities with other higher ranking sites will help move the website up the ranks.

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Having advertising on your blog

Using a blog as a revenue stream is a decision that every small business owner who blogs must evaluate. For myself, I (obviously) have decided to use this model to increase income for my business as a whole along with the sales from my products.

Recently, I became aware of a new advertising service called Scratchback. The owner's see this service as a "fancy smancy" tipping jar which is similar to the idea of the Tipjar which I discussed previously here.

The company markets its product by explaining that when a person "tips" a blog or website, the tipper is then given the opportunity to leave behind a text link or banner (in my case) that links back to the tipper's website. In my mind, this is really an advertising program that is simple and straight forward. The tipper / advertiser pays a nominal fee of $5 dollars and is then guaranteed to have her banner up on the site for 30 days.

For those interested in advertising with 3 Bags Full, I am growing my readership daily. I am employing multiple marketing and search engine optimization techniques to promote the blog and thus, the ads on the blog as well. I have also dedicated the time and effort to post a minimum of 3 relevant posts per week with a stretch goal of 5 posts. Posts will continue to offer advice and suggestions for small business owners (the majority assumed to be in the crafting business but not solely) to grow their sales and profitability.

I have just begun using the Scratchback widget and will post later on the results of selecting them as an advertising partner.

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Like a Post? Leave a Tip

Some of you may have noticed a widget on the lefthand side of this blog called Tipjoy. Tipjoy is an interesting concept for bloggers, business owners, non-profits and other groups looking to make or raise money. It allows anyone to leave an actual financial tip in the virtual universe called the internet.

1. It couldn't be simpler

If a site has a widget already set up, all a tipper has to do is enter her email address and click the button. The default amount is determined by the blogger (mine is $.10), but the tipper can give more if she wants. The email address and amount is captured by the site, and the tip is placed in the blogger's account. An invoice will sent to the email address later date.

If the blog doesn't have a widget set up, a tipper can go to the site directly and type in the site's URL or an email address. The site does all the rest including contacting the tippee and letting her know she has money waiting in her new account.

2. What comes around, goes around

The tippee can collect her tips and keep it in the account to tip others. It is a wonderful "pass it on" experience that can be shared with so many.

3. It isn't just to make money

Tipping through Tipjoy is a wonderful way to raise funds for a charity of your choice. So many people want to give back to their community or organization. Tipjoy will send the money received to any recognized charity.

4. Convert tips to an Amazon gift card

Tippees can take their tips and purchase a gift card. This could be used as a giveaway on a blog to generate excitement, increase readership and drive sales.

Tipjoy's developers have created a thorough FAQ section that answers all the pertinent information.



My plans for the tips I receive are to raise funds for a wonderful organization called Shih Tzu and Furbaby Rescue. I was lucky enough to find my wonderful Toby through this small dog breed rescue group. I want to continue to support them so other dog mommies and daddies can add a furbaby to their family.

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We'll Take Your Comments at the End

There is a strategy that many successful bloggers adhere to and use every single day. By commenting regularly on a variety of blogs, business owners can market themselves and their products to wide number of potential buyers. This unusual form of marketing can lead to profitable sales.

Here is why:

1. Comments increase the spokes in the blog wheel

Business bloggers use their blogs to attract customers to their sites. The more links on other blogs and websites the better. The higher the number of links (or spokes) connecting back to the e-commerce site, the higher the possibility for a sale. Business owners do not need to rely on other blog owners to mention them in a post or include them in a blogroll. Instead, owners make their own spokes via their comments.

2. Blog readers read comments

The structure of a blog is unusual because unlike print articles, readers can post a reply immediately after reading an entry. The days of writing a letter to the editor and hoping it gets published are long gone. Readers like to read comments left by others if only to see what others thought about the original post. Sometimes they will even leave a comment about another comment instead of the article itself. Commenting has almost taken on a life of its own in some blogging arenas. It is not uncommon to see "one-up-manship" where commenters try to out-do one another by leaving a whittier comment than the last.

3. Commenters can brand themselves with a user name and leave a link to their website or blog

Not only can a reader view a comment, she can click on a commentor's link. That is the ultimate goal when using commenting as a marketing strategy. Getting guests to visit a site means one more opportunity to make a sale. Leaving a thoughtful, funny, or even contradictory comment on a post might be just enough for a curious reader to find out more about the commentor. However, owners should not overuse this technique. Appearing "spammy" is a sure way to lose a click.

4. Commenting regularly on small and large blogs can drive sales

Business owners should subscribe to blogs they like via RSS feeds (my subscription options are on the left column) or email. This puts blog postings at a marketer's fingertips and lessens the amount of time spent on commenting. Owners should select blogs that are in their field as well as in areas of real interest. This helps make commenting easier. The pool of potential customers grows as the mix of subscribed blogs grow and change. Different blog topics attract a different readership base and demographic. Owners should always look for new markets to tap and target. Also, owners can strategically put their products in front of a large group of customers by commenting on popular blogs with high readerships.

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From Doodles to Dollars

For many many years I have been a doodler, and now I can convert these doodles into dollars by selling t-shirts and mugs on sites such as Cafepress.com and Zazzle.com. Working with sites like these provide another income source for my craft business. It can get me through some leaner times when sales are slow or when I am building inventory that is not ready to sell.

Here is a doodle of cute skull and crossbones I did recently. I took what I had drawn on a piece of paper and scanned it to convert it into a digital .jpg file:


Then I took my software I bought very cheaply through Serif.com and drew over my pencil marks to create a digital drawing that could be adjusted and sized to any dimension I would need. I then exported it into a .png file, the file format I recommend when using these sites:


I then uploaded to my "shop" on the site and selected the types of products I wanted to have my doodle placed. This is one of the many t-shirt styles I selected. The website takes my design and then places my design over their image to give the potential buyer an idea of what their purchase will look like:

It is now on the internet for anyone to see and purchase if she wants.

These type of sites are called "Print On Demand" or POD. This term is used in the publishing industry but also describes companies who sell items such as t-shirts, mugs, tote bags and mouse pads. The company does the work for you, so you do not have to own a press or manage inventory.

A doodler uploads the image, decides the items the image should be sold on, and sets a retail price for the item. The web company has a base price for the item which can be looked at as the wholesale price. When an online customer purchases from the doodler, she pays the retail price plus ship charges. The website produces the item and mails it to the customer. The difference between the wholesale cost of the item and the retail price is placed into a "holding" account under the doodler's name. After a 30 to 45 day period, once it is clear that the item has arrived and won't be returned, the website sends the doodler a check. It can be called a royalty check or a markup check.

There is a certain amount of simplicity that is nice for sellers/doodlers using this retailing technique. It takes some creative ability and some time, but once the item is up on the website, the seller needs to do very little else. He or she can literally just wait for the monthly check to arrive in the mail. There are sellers on both sites that can and do make a very good living using this selling vehicle. For others, like myself, it is a nice way to diversify, use my creativity in a different way and receive some money for my efforts.

Cafepress: Cafepress has free shops, but their "dynamics" are limited and potential sales are effected by these parameters. Most full-time sellers on the site pay a monthly fee of $6.95 US to have a robust shop that has alot more features which can lead to higher sales.

Click the flashing button or the link to sign up and take a look around:

Open a Cafepress Store

Zazzle: Zazzle is a new venue for me but has been around awhile and has some interesting features. One new relationship that Zazzle has just begun is its ability to take my designs and put them on actual Keds (TM) shoes. They just went through a site redesign that I think looks great.

Click the button or the link to sign up and take a look around:

Open a Zazzle Shop

Another couple of points:

1. You don't have a doodle but a great "that should be on a t-shirt" idea, these are wonderful sites. Text t-shirts sell very well.

2. You don't want to sell anything but need several t-shirts with your logo on it to (wo)man a booth at a craft fair, this is another great way to get them printed fairly cheaply and quickly without having to invest in hundreds of t-shirts that might be required at a local t-shirt print shop.

Disclaimer: The links are set up through an affiliate program. I still recommend both sites and you can sign up without the affiliate association. Just go to the sites directly.

Copyright: The above drawings are my work and cannot be used without my consent. I own the copyright and they cannot be used for commercial gain.

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Tag! You're it

Every shop owner at Etsy is familiar with tagging. In many ways it is the main, if not sole, mechanism to drive potential buyers to a seller's store front in a large and ever growing e-tail landscape. Although rarely a fun part of the crafting and selling process on Etsy, it is still an activity that must not be rushed through regardless of the "pain."

The default description by the search box at the top of every (repeat:every) page is "Handmade Items: tags, titles." Don't let the simplicity of this option allow you to decrease its importance. Here are some thoughts and pointers that might give you pause. They might even change your tagging habits:

1. Internet users don't like to scroll --- caveat: Internet users aren't real crazy about drop down arrows either.
Regardless of the reasoning (most likely -a desire to find what they are looking for mixed with a bit of laziness) it can be appropriately assumed that unless there is a significant reason to click the drop down arrow for other choices, tags and titles will be the method shoppers find your goods.

2. One of your tags should be your shop name
This is a new tagging method that I am embracing after picking up this great tip from reading the forums. Although not an obvious initial tag choice, it could be the tag that gets more guests to your shop than any of your others.

First, it is not unusual for the shop name not to match the etsy id name. Many shop owners selected ids that aren't the name they use in the banner, announcement, and marketing efforts. The reason could be as simple as the lack of availability when signing up.

Second, tags indicate descriptions and categories. For example, I am currently one of the many Scrabble Tile Pendant sellers on the site. Having the option just to type in my shop's name, 3 Bags Full, gives the shopper a quicker way to get to my shop without having to wade through pages of other sellers' items.

Third, my shop id is technically 3bagsfull, but it safe to assume that a customer will space out the name. Entering several possible combinations including misspellings can better insure the shopper finds you.

Fourth, for those who are hesitating using this approach because "Sellers: usernames" is an option for searching, I ask that you reread #1. Also, if the buyer doesn't type in the exact username with all the words touching, it is possible that he or she won't find your shop.

Lastly, as a side benefit, putting your shop name in your tags gives you the option of telling someone you met, "Just go to Etsy.com and type in 3 Bags Full in the search box." This is a real plus when you don't have business cards handy.

3. Ummm.....what else???
If you ever find yourself asking this question while tagging, I would suggest it is time to stop and move on to the next task at hand. Another thing that shoppers are not a fan of is finding an item in their search that has nothing to do with what they are searching. A non-fan can also be called a non-customer. And, some of them could have long memories.

In addition, using esoteric, general or even silly tags are in most instances a waste of time. Mrs. Fields, when asked what she made her cookies with, always replied with "Love." Clearly a great marketing line that any good advertising copywriter or PR person should use until it is worn out, it doesn't hold the same kind of power when talking about searching habits. It is best to use the descriptions and attributes that are meaningful to your product. If Etsy ever decides to limit the number of tags it allows, this point will be even more crucial.

4. Titles are tags
The default search uses both the tags you have added plus it converts the words in your title to tags as well. If you have strong, search-worthy tags that get the buyer to your item, then this is not an area of concern. Etsy sellers are creative and using a creative title plays a part in this. But, recognizing the technological structure of the site and how it "works" can not be overlooked. A creative title can be included in the item description area and a more bland title can be used to get the purchaser in the shop.

For example, I took the "clever" route when naming this article, but it may not explain the article's focus or intention. Luckily, my blogging software also has a tagging system to help with any confusion.

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Why you should claim your blog at Technorati

Blogging has been around for some time, but more and more crafting business owners are realizing it is a must-have part of their marketing initiative. Blogs can be personal, professional or a bit of both. Computer and internet technology can make building personal selling relationships difficult. A blog can tear down some of the "impersonal" walls by allowing customers and readers to get to know the products and owner better. The more comfortable and interested the customer is, the higher the likelihood that he or she will purchase and ultimately, return to purchase again.

Bloggers have many things to do to maintain a rich and viable blog. Readership is a key indicator of blog success and in turn should lead to higher sales. One goal a blogger should strive for is to have as many links to the blog as possible. Those links are like invisible spokes that spread out in every direction all over the world wide web. The blog is the hub. Technorati is a sure fire way to get more spokes in your blog wheel.

Technorati was originally developed to track blogs and give a single portal where anyone could go and find out who was active in the blogosphere. It also developed a method to rank the importance of the blog. It is quite an achievement to be ranked in the top 100 of all blogs on the internet. Technorati's focus has spread to cover many elements of the web, but tracking blogs is still its main activity.

Having a business's blog included in Technorati's blog roll can lead to increased recognition and acknowledgement. This will grow readership. The business owner will more than likely reach a new audience that he or she would never have reached under current activities such as posting in the forums at Etsy or including the website on business cards picked up at craft shows. The buyer pool will naturally expand.

Technorati will begin ranking the blog in two ways. The first is by establishing authority. Every time the blog is mentioned on another blog or website, the authority number increases. This can be done by having other bloggers put your link in a "recommended blogs" area and develop a blog links exchange. The second is by establishing favorites. Technorati members can "favorite" blogs that they deem important. These two factors are combined and determine a blog's ranking.

For those who have advertisers or are hoping to one day to seek advertisers, joining Technorati will provide valuable statistics that potential advertisers will require.

So, if you regularly blog and want to expand your marketing efforts, join Technorati today. Once the account has been established, you will be able to very easily "claim your blog" by creating a post using html that is provided. You will then "ping" (give a signal) to the site that the blog is ready to be tracked. Once the process has been complete, the post can be removed.

Finally, copy and paste the html widget (seen on the lefthand side of this blog), so readers can easily favorite your blog without having to leave your site to go to Technorati.

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