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.

del.icio.us --- Google --- reddit --- StumbleUpon --- Yahoo MyWeb ---

Social Bookmarking

Book Review: Craft, Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco

Craft, Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business (via Amazon)

Recently, I purchased a copy of Craft, Inc. to add to my growing collection of craft related books. The majority of my library is filled with how-to content. This is the first book that focuses on the business of making and selling crafts. It was heralded as a "must-have" for our community and overall, I agree with this sentiment.

Published by Chronicle Books, this short (160 pages), petite volume is definitely worth its $16.95(USD) cover price. This tome fits in nicely with the other craft related titles put out by this group, many of which will seem immediately familiar. (As a side note - Chronicle Books is the US distributor for all you Moleskine fans out there and you can purchase them right off their site.)

The book is organized nicely. It begins by discussing the "Creative Mind" and how it can align with your "Business Mind." It provides lists and talking points that will guide you while you are taking the specifics steps necessary to move from a hobby to a thriving crafts business. It discusses not only the legal and licensing aspect of business, but also branding your company and product, evaluating your target market, and the difference between being-inspired-by and copying (with a follow-up discussion on how to protect your work.)

Ilasco spends time reviewing pricing strategies as well how to source materials. She discusses how a small business can begin outsourcing production to foreign and domestic manufacturers if an owner sees that as part of the business vision. In addition, she reviews a variety of marketing and publicity methods that can drive exposure and growth. She even includes a very handy packing list for trade show participants.

The book would be a great asset for any craft-based business owner, but what gives it some "life" are the many interviews of successful and often well-known owners in the industry. The answers are insightful and are geared to supplement each chapter's topic. Some of the more notable interviewees are Lotta Jansdotter of Lifestyle Goods and Jonathan Adler.

Ilasco's website is located at www.mateoilasco.com which is worth a perusal. I also HIGHLY recommend that you listen to a pod cast interview conducted by CraftSanity.com. She tells how she went from owning a popular wedding invitation website to opening her own shop and ultimately writing Craft, Inc.

del.icio.us --- Google --- reddit --- StumbleUpon --- Yahoo MyWeb ---

Social Bookmarking