I have been thinking a lot about this post. Nothing drastic ... but I needed to reassess where my blog fitted in my crafty/handmade life. I had a lot of comments on my post about pausing and blogging - all very helpful and interesting to read. So I thought I would share with you some of my current thoughts about blogging... and what it means for MiH in 2014.
How much to share, which social media platform and when?
When I first started blogging (with the first blog not this one), Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook were not as important (not sure that this is the right word) as they are now to share craft projects.
The MiH facebook page is now updated fairly regularly, I try not to post more than once a day - a link to a blog post or a project I am working on. But I don't want to share my life on it, because the last thing you want on your wall is me taking it over with pictures of Baby MiH.
For more frequent updates I use Instagram - and I use it a lot. I love it! It is not just about the sharing of pictures, it is also the built-in editing tool that makes one possibly boring picture look amazing.
Which means by the time I blog, I am not as excited as I should be - and it feels like nothing is new. What to do? Does blogging still have a place?
I think it does, it is a great way to record my projects, share the techniques I have learnt, the issues I have encountered and tell the story of the project. However it probably means I will also blog less - but better, better pictures (please natural light do come back); more time spent on posts, better relevant links...
As far as twitter is concerned, I am using it less and less but I am still on it...
2014 Resolution no 1: Better blogging and better sharing of projects.
Which projects to choose?
Looking through my 2013 makes, I was fairly happy that most of my projects reflected my style. However some of them (not mentioned in the post) did not. Of course I learnt a lot along the way, from each and every project I made. But as my crafting time is now quite limited I need to spend more time choosing my projects, my colour schemes and make sure they reflect my style but also that the finishing is of good quality. In the past, if I had not liked a project I may have managed to finish it, but never to a very good standard, just so it would be off my to-do list. Or it may be that the projects are too advanced for me, and I need to learn the techniques more.. Here is a thought!
2014 Resolution no 2: Spending more time choosing projects and colour schemes
2014 Resolution no 3: Better finishes and techniques
Blogging and commenting
Better blogging, more commenting - but less replying to comments here. Something has to give and I think this is it for me. I read every single comment, and I love every one of them - but unless there is a specific question, I will not be replying to individual comments anymore or not every time. I'd rather spend time commenting on your projects, and make sure I know what the bloggers I follow are up to. I want to be feel part of the community again and this will be the way I will be doing it.
2014 Resolution no 4: Spend more time commenting on other blogs
A blog like me...
This will be my motto for 2014 and the projects and blogging, ensure that the blog is a reflection of me and my vision of a handmade lifestyle..
2014 Resolution no 5: Stick to the motto
Well, I have my work cut out for 2014, but you know now that it is written here, I feel that blogging will be exciting again! How do you feel about blogging now? Have you changed the way you are blogging?
Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog! I was so happy when Beth asked me to participate in the advice for new bloggers blog hop. It is great to read what other bloggers have learnt from blogging - and how they go about it. Today I want to share with you how I use other social media platforms when blogging.
The blog - Made in Home, my shop window
I started this blog a year ago now - I was then 5 month pregnant with Baby MiH. Getting pregnant was a big change in my life (the actual pregnancy and having a baby). I felt that my first blog did not reflect my aspirations anymore. I wanted a space where I could share my makes but also show how they fitted into my life. I posted about Made in Home in my home, and I started posting outfits mixing handmade and highstreet purchases.
I see my blog as my shop window - where I present all my projects. It is static in a way - you prepare a post, write it, post it - and it stays there. I do go back to some posts, to add some links to further posts that could be of interest or tutorials to make it easier for a reader to find the trail of posts.
It is obviously the most important tool to show your projects. Sometimes I have to remind myself that it is the craft and project first, and the blogging afterwards - and not making a project for a post.
The MiH facebook page - the shop owner
I also have a facebook page. I use facebook a lot so it was fairly obvious to me that I needed a facebook page for Made in Home. It took me a while to understand how I could incorporate it into my blogging experience, but that all changed when I found out how to upload pictures from my phone. I was able to post progress on some projects, sneek peak at finishes and share some personal pictures (ie pictures of Baby MiH). I feel like I can share much more of my personality, and in fact I use this account as much as my personal one.
It also enabled me to receive quick feedback on some projects, or ask for advice without having to blog about it. I try to upload one picture a day on a project I am working on or something I am doing during the day - in addition to the latest news on the blog.
Of course, not everyone uses facebook - my husband is on it, but never checks his account. I have friends who have decided not to be on it full stop. It is fine, I just find it the best platform ever - especially when your family and friends are abroad.
Twitter - the marketing and texting tool
Ah, to be or not to be on twitter. Does it really matter? I am on twitter - in fact I have a work account (that I am not using at the moment) and a blog/personal account. Do I use it often? I have phases when I am on it non-stop and then days when I will not look at it all. I use it a lot to tell people that they inspired me, or how I used my latest purchase from a shop - ie like a marketing tool to link up my makes to the wider world. But also to connect with bloggers more directly and quickly - like a text for bloggers.
I find twitter quite frustrating in the sense that since starting this post, I have already 60 tweets that have been published, and I will not have time to read them all (and I don't follow that many people). So anchoring a tweet by using @ is worth doing you ensure the person will see it (in the CONNECT section); tweeting a few times about the same post is also worth doing - who knows at what time your followers read your tweets.
Flickr - The wider community
I must admit Flickr is the one platform I use the least. I only go on it to check progress in the bees I am in and add pictures, but that is about it. I am not sure I am the best person to provide advice on Flickr but I thought I would mention it - and maybe someone in the comment box can shed more light on this!
Pinterest - Categorising
I have one board dedicated to my makes and tutorials, so people can pin them and found them more easily. I use it as well to refer to other people tutorials. And you can spend so much time on pinterest!
And that is where it stops for me - it is actually quite hard to keep up with all of those, as well as making all my projects! But it is so much fun, and you get so much back!
Do check the other bloggers who have already given great advice
Martha @ Weekend Doings
