Starting a blog about sewing/quiting...

[coffeebreak]

I was planning on doing a blog about my projects with the intent for income, but I have done blogs before, and they do take time. I know about "making money" with Adsense and Amazon and affiliates. I haven't found any quilting affiliates so that leaves me with the other two which don't produce much in the way of earnings.

So I thought...why bother? Why spend the time writing about what I have done and showing things etc...if I can't get an income from it...spend the time making/quilting/sewing instead.

However, always on the look out for ways to earn a little mad money (or in my case "house utility money"...anyone have any comments on ways to use a blog such as this to earn a little moola? Those that have one...other than doing it just cause you enjoy it or like to...do you earn with it? I have planed the "earn online" for some years now... and have tried so many things, and for a year or so they all seem great, then things fizzle out due to new things coming out. By the time I figure them out...I get in on the final couple of months of profit, then they take a dump! So...is it worth it to spend the time with a blog about sewing and related projects or just spend that time making them!? Appreciate any thoughts. Thanks

[Monique]

Whatever you do I wish you luck.

[CrazyMtnLady]

Good luck on your endeavors. I, myself am planning on going to local farmer's markets and flea markets around the Ozarks this spring and summer to try and sell some of my creations. I feel that by doing any selling on line it just gives the government more of a chance to be in our business.

[sunnyQLDmum]

I sell items through facebook, but mostly I go to markets and sell my things there. I find that facebook allowes me to reach a very wide audience but that most of these people then seek me out at the markets to see things in person. Most of the items I sell are custom orders from people liking an item but wanting it made to their style/decor etc.

[KatiesQuiltingCorner]

I maintain a website, podcast and blog. I also have an Etsy shop where I sell things on the side that I make myself. My blog is more intended to follow my quilting journey, share free tutorials with readers, post show notes for my podcast and give reviews of products.

What have I gotten out of it money wise? Not a whole lot. I have a sponsor (who traded product for advertisement) and will hopefully garner some more sponsorship along the way. It's taken me almost two years to build to that point and things didn't really take off until I started the podcast a little over a year ago.

Blogs with lots of traffic tend to make a majority of their money through advertisements and sponsorships. Lots of them get free products to try out in lieu of actual money. It takes a long time to start getting the attention of advertisers and you need to constantly update your blog with content readers find useful (I.E. - FREE) or they won't keep coming back. People like free tutorials and the websites that offer free tutorials are the ones that get the most traffic in general. Bonnie Hunter has a very successful website but she has hundreds of free patterns and tutorials available for people to use. Just look at MSQC - would they be as popular if they didn't have free video tutorials?? Nope.

IMO don't do a blog because you're looking to cash in. You'll be very disappointed if that is your reason for starting one. Start one because you want to keep track of your work, see progress, share photos, get ideas from other people, make new friends and learn a bit along the way.

[Silverlining]

I maintain a website, podcast and blog. I also have an Etsy shop where I sell things on the side that I make myself. My blog is more intended to follow my quilting journey, share free tutorials with readers, post show notes for my podcast and give reviews of products.

What have I gotten out of it money wise? Not a whole lot. I have a sponsor (who traded product for advertisement) and will hopefully garner some more sponsorship along the way. It's taken me almost two years to build to that point and things didn't really take off until I started the podcast a little over a year ago.

Blogs with lots of traffic tend to make a majority of their money through advertisements and sponsorships. Lots of them get free products to try out in lieu of actual money. It takes a long time to start getting the attention of advertisers and you need to constantly update your blog with content readers find useful (I.E. - FREE) or they won't keep coming back. People like free tutorials and the websites that offer free tutorials are the ones that get the most traffic in general. Bonnie Hunter has a very successful website but she has hundreds of free patterns and tutorials available for people to use. Just look at MSQC - would they be as popular if they didn't have free video tutorials?? Nope.

IMO don't do a blog because you're looking to cash in. You'll be very disappointed if that is your reason for starting one. Start one because you want to keep track of your work, see progress, share photos, get ideas from other people, make new friends and learn a bit along the way.

This is absolutely the best piece I have ever read concerning a "blog" about making money or otherwise. Your opinion is sound advice. Thanks for your post.

[GrammaBabs]

and your's is a wonderful one... i myself have found that "profit" is never what brings true happiness to a crafter....having been on ETSY for 2 yrs... i loved it's experience... but it's so large, and competitive that things just don't sell fast unless you get popular.. once they find you your golden, but then there is the pressure to produce and keep the pricing down... When the pressure's on, the fun is gone, for me anyway... So thank you for all the joy and fun you and other bloggers bring to an old retired lady like myself... I can never thank you all enough, and good for you putting this experience into words for others to see...

[auntiemern]

I agree about the pressure takes all the fun out of it. I have sold on ebay, but prefer doing crafts shows and the like. when the whole 'craft craze' was at it's hottest I had a booth in a craft mall. Did decent at that, but the best part of it was everything was tax deductable, lol.

and your's is a wonderful one... i myself have found that "profit" is never what brings true happiness to a crafter....having been on ETSY for 2 yrs... i loved it's experience... but it's so large, and competitive that things just don't sell fast unless you get popular.. once they find you your golden, but then there is the pressure to produce and keep the pricing down... When the pressure's on, the fun is gone, for me anyway... So thank you for all the joy and fun you and other bloggers bring to an old retired lady like myself... I can never thank you all enough, and good for you putting this experience into words for others to see...

[coffeebreak]

Kind of what I thought. I was asking as I have been browsing so many blogs...in SUCH MASSIVE detail.. I wonder how they have time to do the quilting they say they do yet keep up with such a detailed blog. They are great to read, but I just have to prioritize...do I just want to talk about quiltings or do I want to do it? I will talk if I can earn...if not, I will do. I have blogs about other things, and dont' spend much time on them anymore as I'd rather use the time for other things...but always looking for a little "mad money" on the side and was hoping quilting could do that for me..but guess I"ll just stay with the quilting. Thanks everyone

[auntiemern]

Look in local paper about craft bazaars or farmers markets. You would be amazed at how much $ you can make in a weekend.

Kind of what I thought. I was asking as I have been browsing so many blogs...in SUCH MASSIVE detail.. I wonder how they have time to do the quilting they say they do yet keep up with such a detailed blog. They are great to read, but I just have to prioritize...do I just want to talk about quiltings or do I want to do it? I will talk if I can earn...if not, I will do. I have blogs about other things, and dont' spend much time on them anymore as I'd rather use the time for other things...but always looking for a little "mad money" on the side and was hoping quilting could do that for me..but guess I"ll just stay with the quilting. Thanks everyone