I know that I'm not the only one out there trying to optimize my website visibility....boy it is such a mammoth task and particularly when I have to tackle this myself. I have been on numerous courses run through Business Link which have been fantastic. I come away feeling inspired and the next day try to start play around with keywords, adwords, social media...... My latest venture creating a Google Adword campaign has been quite easy to set-up, but now I need help to further optimize the Ad. The business link advisor will be getting a call when he returns next week to see if I can gain more expertise. Has any of this made a difference? Yes and no. I seem to be higher up the list for jewellery searches, but not for my business name Stone-me.
Next task today....to add my name to free directories. Another couple of days work ahead.
The funny thing is that people think I sit at home and make jewellery all day!
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
The Trade Show is over!
Something else to think about now BCTF is over. First trade show and went with low expectations. Had a couple of new confirmed orders, and several earnest potential customers. Good to be on the receiving end of interest instead of pushing myself forward to earn business.
Now onto photography of new designs and loading onto web.
Think I will take a break from ordering new stuff. Need to pay advertising invoice and achieve some cash flow!
Now onto photography of new designs and loading onto web.
Think I will take a break from ordering new stuff. Need to pay advertising invoice and achieve some cash flow!
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Beads
Spent last weekend buying beads at the Bead Fair in Harrogate. Searched for colourful and the unusual. It was good to have my sister along for a second opinion. Going to make long necklaces made with chain and ceramics. Also bought some lovely natural stones and now working on designs that I can show at the British Craft Trade Fair in April, Harrogate. Want these to be edgy and really unique. All the publicity is now ready, except for copying another 50 or so CDs on my computer! Once I have decided on my designs for the fair, I will work on my final display. All coming up too fast. Also half-term next week (for 3 wks!) so time is limited.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Publicity
Shocked today at prices coming in to get a CD-ROM duplicated. Have now reduced quantities, gone to b/w printing and may even do duplication myself and just get a sticker printed.
The banner price seems to be increasing too. Had a nice quote for nylon (less than £20) but getting samples of foam backing that would create a more rigid banner. Price now increasing to £70.
Still haven't paid for printing of the A6 card....or the Ad to go into the Trade catalogue..... scary stuff and I still need to buy loads of beads.
Met with a business coach this week who at least encouraged me that I"m clearly on the right track with my marketing. She did help to refine the blurb on the A6 card and made some good suggestions. It's hard to focus on all this with BCTF coming up, but I am going to put an ad into two local village magazines and advertise parties which are great for publicity as well as sales.
Now to start work on my own A5 flyer that needs updating. Never ends.....
The banner price seems to be increasing too. Had a nice quote for nylon (less than £20) but getting samples of foam backing that would create a more rigid banner. Price now increasing to £70.
Still haven't paid for printing of the A6 card....or the Ad to go into the Trade catalogue..... scary stuff and I still need to buy loads of beads.
Met with a business coach this week who at least encouraged me that I"m clearly on the right track with my marketing. She did help to refine the blurb on the A6 card and made some good suggestions. It's hard to focus on all this with BCTF coming up, but I am going to put an ad into two local village magazines and advertise parties which are great for publicity as well as sales.
Now to start work on my own A5 flyer that needs updating. Never ends.....
Friday, 29 January 2010
End of January
Feeling pleased that I have done quite a bit for the business in January and even in the past week.
Took possession of new business cards and jewellery tags last week. So professional to have the latter. Now I'm thinking that I need to have printed cards for earrings, but the list goes on and I need to prioritize. Got quotes for banners this week and quite inexpensive but not keen on PVC...I think it will look tacky. Hoping that Paul comes up with something more innovative.
The big leap forward this week was creating the prototype for display of my necklaces at BCTF. I have purchased several wooden picture frames in charity shops this week, and with a hammer, tacks and cord, I was able to display a necklace as wanted. Huge relief. Now I can move ahead with painting the frames and enjoy creating the overall display. Also bought a trog from the garden center that will be great to hold bracelets and earrings.
My designer agreed to polish up any designs that I created for A6 promotional cards needed for BCTF. I enjoyed doing this and came up with 4 that I was happy with. Sent to Paul, but he has asked for the original photos, so think he's going to come up with something quite different (and no doubt much improved)!
Spent most of a day this week taking photos, resizing and sending off with blurb, to Angela Jones who has set up a business ARTISANS-UK (online website for craftpeople). It's a young business, but I like the site and her aims, so it's worth a try.
My website continues to be an issue. Does it ever end? I wasn't happy that the new design of the home page categories meant 2 clicks away from products instead of 1. A phone call with the designer has resolved this, but now it needs polishing up with the addition of thumbnail photos.
Met the web-guy at Wymondham Rugby Club this week to discuss the possibility of me going on their site as a merchant. It would be good publicity as a local business, but don't want to layout money upfront for this. I designed a banner and sent to him. Now waiting to hear.
My bookkeeping course last week was really valuable. Most of the people there were new to business and I realised that I should have taken this a long time ago. I came away knowing that I had to reorganize all of my accounting records. I'm quite chuffed that I have got on with it (three late evenings this week) and now have a more organized and clear appraisal of my transactions.
Next week, onto creation of a CD-ROM for BCTF and creation of an Ad for their catalogue.
It's never ending.....
Took possession of new business cards and jewellery tags last week. So professional to have the latter. Now I'm thinking that I need to have printed cards for earrings, but the list goes on and I need to prioritize. Got quotes for banners this week and quite inexpensive but not keen on PVC...I think it will look tacky. Hoping that Paul comes up with something more innovative.
The big leap forward this week was creating the prototype for display of my necklaces at BCTF. I have purchased several wooden picture frames in charity shops this week, and with a hammer, tacks and cord, I was able to display a necklace as wanted. Huge relief. Now I can move ahead with painting the frames and enjoy creating the overall display. Also bought a trog from the garden center that will be great to hold bracelets and earrings.
My designer agreed to polish up any designs that I created for A6 promotional cards needed for BCTF. I enjoyed doing this and came up with 4 that I was happy with. Sent to Paul, but he has asked for the original photos, so think he's going to come up with something quite different (and no doubt much improved)!
Spent most of a day this week taking photos, resizing and sending off with blurb, to Angela Jones who has set up a business ARTISANS-UK (online website for craftpeople). It's a young business, but I like the site and her aims, so it's worth a try.
My website continues to be an issue. Does it ever end? I wasn't happy that the new design of the home page categories meant 2 clicks away from products instead of 1. A phone call with the designer has resolved this, but now it needs polishing up with the addition of thumbnail photos.
Met the web-guy at Wymondham Rugby Club this week to discuss the possibility of me going on their site as a merchant. It would be good publicity as a local business, but don't want to layout money upfront for this. I designed a banner and sent to him. Now waiting to hear.
My bookkeeping course last week was really valuable. Most of the people there were new to business and I realised that I should have taken this a long time ago. I came away knowing that I had to reorganize all of my accounting records. I'm quite chuffed that I have got on with it (three late evenings this week) and now have a more organized and clear appraisal of my transactions.
Next week, onto creation of a CD-ROM for BCTF and creation of an Ad for their catalogue.
It's never ending.....
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
A day at the computer
No creativity today. Had an uncontrolled brainstorming session in the night related to my display for BCTF. Have jotted down all my ideas, but need to get moving with the logistics of it all. I need to create a mock layout at home....I think I need to rethink the size of my banner (don't think there is room for a stand-up one). Where do I start? Help!
Contacted Paul, my designer, to ask him to send workable file of my logo. Then I can at least start to play around with creating a publicity card (that he will probably take over!).
Spent the day at the computer. Let's see if creating new links to my online social media groups makes a difference. Have joined the East Anglia SME business forum, a new local networking group which seems v relevant. Also Everywoman network which should yield useful info for me.
Arranged meeting later this week, with representative from Federation of Small Businesses. Again, seems a pertinent organization that will be there when I need advice.
At last I have made use of my free business link voucher. Decided to get some marketing expertise. Made contact today and await an appt for a one-to-one consultation.
Alex Parr has written a fantastic recommendation for me on Linkedin. Very kind of her and feel as though I'm moving forward.
Took delivery of much needed beads and components today to create samples for Monkey Puzzle, York. Look forward to working on these this evening. Creativity at last.
Contacted Paul, my designer, to ask him to send workable file of my logo. Then I can at least start to play around with creating a publicity card (that he will probably take over!).
Spent the day at the computer. Let's see if creating new links to my online social media groups makes a difference. Have joined the East Anglia SME business forum, a new local networking group which seems v relevant. Also Everywoman network which should yield useful info for me.
Arranged meeting later this week, with representative from Federation of Small Businesses. Again, seems a pertinent organization that will be there when I need advice.
At last I have made use of my free business link voucher. Decided to get some marketing expertise. Made contact today and await an appt for a one-to-one consultation.
Alex Parr has written a fantastic recommendation for me on Linkedin. Very kind of her and feel as though I'm moving forward.
Took delivery of much needed beads and components today to create samples for Monkey Puzzle, York. Look forward to working on these this evening. Creativity at last.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Attended WIRE meeting last night (Women in Rural Enterprise) and the need to blog was reinforced. So here I go....
My jewellery business (designing and creating) is moving on. Now focusing on preparations the BCTF trade show in Harrogate in Spring. Have redesigned my logo and now need to get a banner created, CDs reproduced and handout A6 cards. Still not sure how to manipulate pdf file to play around myself and need to ask the designer. Having had a year of blanking on how to design my display at BCTF (which is a tiny space!) I now have some ideas I think. Have taken a couple of books out of the library this morning. I need to think of arty stuff that can hang from hooks and display necklaces in a stable fashion. AHhh... Time is running out, but I must not panic.
Frustrated at the moment for having missed a Fed Ex Delivery of beads that I need to complete an order.
The first newsletter has produced sales which is great, but teething problems with the way in which it was sent. Hopefully to be resolved by the next issue.
Going to a book keeping course this week in Great Yarmouth. My accounting is fit for me, but apparently not the way it should be done and I know that I need to create a cashflow chart. Not really looking forward to any of this.
It was good to meet familiar faces at WIRE last night and hear about others problems. It is supporting to know that we (self-employed women) all battle the same difficulties. Meeting each other, gaining knowledge, tips and having a moan is good and pushes us forward. So onwards....
My jewellery business (designing and creating) is moving on. Now focusing on preparations the BCTF trade show in Harrogate in Spring. Have redesigned my logo and now need to get a banner created, CDs reproduced and handout A6 cards. Still not sure how to manipulate pdf file to play around myself and need to ask the designer. Having had a year of blanking on how to design my display at BCTF (which is a tiny space!) I now have some ideas I think. Have taken a couple of books out of the library this morning. I need to think of arty stuff that can hang from hooks and display necklaces in a stable fashion. AHhh... Time is running out, but I must not panic.
Frustrated at the moment for having missed a Fed Ex Delivery of beads that I need to complete an order.
The first newsletter has produced sales which is great, but teething problems with the way in which it was sent. Hopefully to be resolved by the next issue.
Going to a book keeping course this week in Great Yarmouth. My accounting is fit for me, but apparently not the way it should be done and I know that I need to create a cashflow chart. Not really looking forward to any of this.
It was good to meet familiar faces at WIRE last night and hear about others problems. It is supporting to know that we (self-employed women) all battle the same difficulties. Meeting each other, gaining knowledge, tips and having a moan is good and pushes us forward. So onwards....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)