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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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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