I started blogging for the same reason I started Twitter and FB - to promote my shop. I hadn't really participated in social media, and I wanted to try everything to see what suits me.
It took me a while to find my voice and start posting regularly. I have found that I like blogging best over all the other social media activities I have tried. I like to write, and a blog gives me a chance to tell the whole story, from start to finish.
I also really like the people I have met by following other blogs. They are funny, kind and interesting! I love the fact that they come from many parts of the world.
Blogging has made me look at my life a little differently. Now, as I go through my day, I try to look at what I'm doing through the eyes of a stranger. Would this be interesting to another person? If so, can I photograph it somehow? I find I am taking a lot more family photos as well. I can see how some people might find this process tiresome, but I like it. It wakes me up from my routine and makes me really pay attention.
As for how it has affected my shop... I am more visible on the web since I started posting and commenting regularly. I get feedback on what's interesting and what people would like to see. Some of my jewelry has an involved backstory. I can link from my listing to by blog entry about it and vise versa. I don't have any sales due to blogging, but I still think it is helping in an indirect way.
I'm pretty new, and I know I've just barely tapped into the possibilities of blogging. I'm still trying to absorb all the good advice out there. I recently saw a really good hub page on crafting blogs my one of my team-mates on the Etsy Beadweavers team:
starrynightsdiva.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Get-Traffic-to-Your-Craft-...
I really like the way she does her blog - she is very engaging and friendly:
www.randomcreativeart.com/
So thank you to all of you who have helped make blogging a great experience. You are a wonderful community. Speaking of which, why do you blog? Do you have a story behind how you got started?
