You have not logged in yet.  Sign in
Artists' and Artisans' Place  »  Discussions  »  View Subject

  • 6
    Tops

 Top It

Help! We Need Blogs to promote our work. But HOW do we do them!

Posted Date: 2007-05-30 07:49, Pageview: 1101
Ok - this is a cry for help!

We know that one of the best ways for artist and artisans to promote our work is through blogs, that link to our site as well. This may include examples of our work, articles on our chosen subject, advice to those who are just beginning in their chosen art or craft. etc.

But, as a Grade One Computer Klutz - what I would like to find out is HOW to set up these blogs and where to find out the information to make them look good!

Is there anyone out there who can help!

Thanks

Jenny


Share |
 Top It     Add to my watchlist

Comments (25)


HP: 2
View Business Center
winner4ever - 2008-08-25 10:18
Hi Jenny,

I am coming back to Apsense after long time. I found your comment on my blog and am here in your group. Thanks for that.

Now your problem of creating blog is over, You just give me small description about your self and your work with all the stuff to be posted and i will create a blog for you. But give me the posts
in html format.

Visit my site which i have crated recently and would be working hard on it.

here is the link

http://source-art.weebly.com

Do reply me.

All the best


HP: 11
View Business Center
muller jeanfrancois - 2007-12-13 21:54
Hi, Here are some of my paintings

Hi, Here are some of my paintings. I like landscapes, still life in cool colors and presently I am experimenting with abstract. Take time to look at my work. Relax. My work conveys my feelings and my views of life. I am not physically present but my painting is an expression of my inner feelings and emotions. I would like to know your inner reactions to what you see. You can leave a comment at the botton of this page, send me an email or call me. I appreciate any comment you make.

WWW.ARTISTPAINTINGONLINE.COM
muller jeanfrancois


HP: 196
View Business Center
John Dilbeck - 2007-09-12 20:24
Hi Jenny,

I'm still trying to learn the ropes here and I'm just now learning how to follow threads and see when there are replies. I didn't realize you had posted a reply.

Thank you for the welcome. I will try to check in here when I can.

I've been telling computers what to do for about 30 years and I'm fluent in computerese and geekspeak. I have a working knowledge of talking to people, too.

(grin)

If I can help you and the other group members better understand blogging and related things, I'm happy to do what I can.

All the best,

JD
John L. Dilbeck
Act On Your Dream!


HP: 1079
View Business Center
Alas y Cia - 2007-09-10 06:12
Wow John,

Thanks for the most excellent and comprehensive class on blogging and RSS feeds.

For my part is was as clear as mud, but thanks to your article, the mud is clearing.

It is rare to find an artisan who is computer literate - so I send an extra big welcome to the Group from all of us here.

Saludos
Jenny


HP: 196
View Business Center
John Dilbeck - 2007-09-08 04:59
Reading what I wrote in these comments is confusing, so I decided to make it a little more accessible and created a Squidoo lens about How to Blog on APsense:

http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-blog-on-apsense/

Maybe that will be helpful.

Act on your dream!

JD
John L. Dilbeck
Act On Your Dream!


HP: 196
View Business Center
John Dilbeck - 2007-09-08 01:25
Finally, just to show you how easy it is to blog here at Apsense, if you've written or replied to this thread, you're blogging.

The group's RSS feed is:

http://www.apsense.com/feed/group.xml?id=100095

And it can be syndicated using the steps I outlined for a personal blog here.

As an example, see the Apsense lens I created at Squidoo:

APsense - A Free Business Social Network

http://www.squidoo.com/apsense-business-networking/

You can see that I syndicated my Apsense blog and the blogs for some groups I created.

Also, I just added a link to this group. If anyone wants to vote for it, just click the up arrow to the left off the name.

You're also invited to add a link to your Business Center there (not your profile).

If you visit the lens, I would appreciate it if you vote in the poll about Apsense.

And, finally, if you have a Squidoo lens about Apsense, you are invited to submit it to the group I created at:

http://www.squidoo.com/groups/apsense-business-networking

If you don't have an account at Squidoo, you can get one by going to the group URL, above, and click on the Make A New Lens button below my pic in the right column. It' free, and I get a (small) check every month for my efforts. You can, too.

If you visit the Apsense lens, I would appreciate it if you'd rank it and you're always welcome to leave a comment at the bottom of the page. You have to be a logged in Squidoo member to do either.

I'm done talking now. (grin)

Act on your dream!

JD

PS. I hope this helped more than it confused.
John L. Dilbeck
Act On Your Dream!


HP: 196
View Business Center
John Dilbeck - 2007-09-08 01:07
Feedburner Step 4 (continued). Below your new headline Animator, in the drop down box, select Other (just gimme the code). Click Next.

For now, deselect the Include a "Grab This" link.

The text box has a paragraph of HTML code to display your new HA on any web page.

You can use this on any page, even pages that don't allow syndication using the javascript you previously created.

You can modify the HTML to work as BBcode if you want. I'll leave that as an exercise.

For instance, you can modify your Business Center. Go to Setup my Business Center, scroll to the bottom to where it allows you to add text to the page. We want to directly add HTML, so click the HTML button on the bottom right of the edit window.

Paste the HA HTML code wherever you want it. I chose to add a horizontal rule and center my headline animator at the bottom of my Business Center. When you have it where you want it, click the Design button to see how it looks.

I didn't like the horizontal rule, so I removed it.

Before you save, be sure to go up and select the Business Industries you want. Apsense doesn't properly populate these when you edit your business center.

Once you're ready, click the Save button.

You can go to http://johndilbeck.apsense.com/ and see it in action.

I happily accept testimonials. (*wink*)

Act on your dream!

JD
John L. Dilbeck
Act On Your Dream!


HP: 196
View Business Center
John Dilbeck - 2007-09-08 00:51
To add your feed to Feedburner, go to Feedburner.com

In the box below where it tells you to enter your feed URL, enter, well, uh, your feed URL.

(grin)

Remember: http://www.apsense.com/feed/blog.xml?id=johndilbeck

(use your username)

Do not click the box about being a podcaster. Click the Next button.

The next page will tell you that the feed has been verified.

It will read your feed title and suggest that as the address.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/JohnDilbecksBusinessBlogs

I didn't want that address, so, in the text box on that line, I changed it to

http://feeds.feedburner.com/JohnDilbecksApsenseBlog

Next, if you have an account already, log in. If not, create one.

Click Activate Feed.

At the bottom of the next page, where it says Step 2, click the text link that says Skip directly to feed management.

From here there are many features that I won't cover here. I will briefly mention four.

Click the Publicize tab...

1. Now, you can let people subscribe to your feed by email. See the Email Subscriptions link in the left column.

2. PingShot - click this link. Click Pingomatic and Newsgator, and from the drop down list, select Google Blog Search Pinging Service and Add it. If you see a check mark to the left of the six services, click the Activate button. Now you can forget pinging, because Feedburner will do it for you every time you publish to your blog. I think they scan every 30 minutes.

3. Click BuzzBoost. Select the choices you want - you can change them later as you learnn more. Click Activate. You'll see a text box with javascript code in it. You can copy that and paste it on any web page that allows javascript and it will syndicate your blog. Use it on one site or a thousand - it's up to you.

4. Click Headline Animator. Select the options you want - they can be changed. You can have multiple HAs in different sizes and styles. Click Activate. Your new HA will appear showing your last five headlines rotating. (continued)
John L. Dilbeck
Act On Your Dream!


HP: 196
View Business Center
John Dilbeck - 2007-09-08 00:19
Some places you want to enter your RSS feed for syndication:

In a Squidoo lens about yourself.
At bloglines.com
At Feedburner.com
www.google.com/reader

Set up your personal page at Google:

http://www.google.com/ig
Save whatever it has on the opening page - you can change it later.
After saving, on the right side of the page click on Add Stuff...

To the right of the search box, click the small link that says Add by URL

In the new text box, enter your Apsense RSS feed URL

i.e., http://www.apsense.com/feed/blog.xml?id=johndilbeck

When you see the red check mark to the left of your feed URL, Google has successfully parsed and added the feed. You can click the stop button on your browser and go back to your home page at google.com/ig and you should see your blog added to the page.

Whenever you go to your iGoogle page, it will read your feed and that gets it into the Google universe.

Since Google recently bought Feedburner.com, syndicating your feed there also gets you into the system. It's better than pinging, in my opinion.

Of course, you can add the RSS feed for your friend's blogs or an Apsense group's feed and read them all at google.com/ig whenever you want. You can do the same thing by adding the feeds you want into any feedreader site or application.

I - being a full-time geek in my previous life - syndicate my most important blogs on the homepage at JohnDilbeck.com.

To get into Yahoo, which isn't as important as it used to be, go to:

http://my.yahoo.com/s/about/rss/index.html

Once you create an RSS or Atom feed, you become a publisher:

http://publisher.yahoo.com/rssguide

Now, go to http://my.yahoo.com/

On the left side of the page below the search box, click Add Content. A new page will load.
To the right of the Find button, click Add RSS by URL. Again put in the URL for your RSS or Atom feed.

This will open a new page that should be showing your headlines. If you see what you want, click the Add to My Yahoo button. Done.

JD
John L. Dilbeck
Act On Your Dream!


HP: 196
View Business Center
John Dilbeck - 2007-09-07 23:43
Blogging is much easier than most people think. If you can send email, you can blog with no problem.

Pinging is not as important as it used to be. Most blogging platforms now ping the most important aggregators automatically when you post. If you want, you can go to Pingomatic.com or Pingoat.com, but if you blog using Blogger or WordPress, it isn't necessary.

I don't know if the blog here at Apsense automatically pings or not, but it would be easy enough to add it to your MyYahoo or custom Google page. Or, set up a lens at Squidoo and add your RSS or Atom feed to the lens.

To blog on Apsense, all you have to do is click on the Business Blogs tab and then click Create my own blog. On apsense, they use the word "blog" to mean a posting to a blog rather than the traditional usage where blog mean a website.

Either way, when you blog, it creates an RSS feed that you can find on your user profile page.

Go to your user page:

http://www.apsense.com/user/johndilbeck

(substitute your username)

At the bottom of the right column, you'll see the RSS chiclet:

http://www.apsense.com/feed/blog.xml?id=johndilbeck

That's your RSS feed. Enter that (with your username) anywhere that syndicates feeds and you'll get into the system.

Continued...
John L. Dilbeck
Act On Your Dream!


HP: 123
View Business Center
shineyourstar - 2007-08-21 15:13
Hi Jenny,

Lol, glad it came in time to give you a "kick"! ...now you have no excuse... enjoy!
Shine Your Star!
Marie Gervacio
WhoIsMarieGervacio.com


HP: 1079
View Business Center
Alas y Cia - 2007-08-20 19:10
Hi Marie,

Thanks a lot for the file. I am downloading it and will study it hard! lol no it is not too late. It has given me the kick I needed to get on with the blogs!

Thanks
You're a star

Jenny


HP: 123
View Business Center
shineyourstar - 2007-08-20 10:01
oops forgot about the no ubb codes in this block

http://www.mystarportfolio.com/dls/BloggerVideos.zip

just copy and past above.

Enjoy!
Shine Your Star!
Marie Gervacio
WhoIsMarieGervacio.com


HP: 123
View Business Center
shineyourstar - 2007-08-20 09:58
Hi Jenny,

Did you start your blog yet? I just found this post. Here are some learning videos. He makes it easy to start your blog on blogger.com. Here is the free zip file [url=http://www.mystarportfolio.com/dls/BloggerVideos.zip]BloggerVideos[/url]. I hope you get it in time to make a difference. I will also link to this post from my freebie treasure hunt post.

Shine Your Star!
Marie Gervacio
WhoIsMarieGervacio.com


HP: 1079
View Business Center
Alas y Cia - 2007-06-01 14:45
Hi Everyone - and thanks for all your advice - the more the merrier.

I refuse to believe that i am the only one here who doesnt find promoting through the internet easier than breathing! lol Heck we didnt even have computers when i was at school!

It looks as Iif I will have to take the first baby steps to the various sites you have suggested and see how it goes. HMTL is terrifying!

Then it will have to be linked back to my beautiful and professionally produced web site where i sell the angels.

This could be fun. - and I am certainly fascinated by the "pinging"!

Take care and dont stop the advice

Jenny


HP: 45
View Business Center
Jen / domestika - 2007-06-01 11:07
That question is a great many questions all bundled together, I think! For someone just starting out and not comfortable with computers, you'll probably be happiest with setting up a free blog at Blogger.com - you'll see a lot of artists and craftspeople have them.

No $ investment, the option of free hosting for your blog at blogspot.com, a variety of ready-made templates to choose from, and sort of a drag-and-drop way of adding material to your blog.

Once you're more comfortable with the whole thing, there is no limit to how you can customize a standard template to make it your very own.

Another bonus is that because Blogger is so widely used, there's no shortage of people to give advice and help you out as needed. Plus, Blogger + Blogspot are owned by Google, so you're pretty much guaranteed to get a good fast listing in their search engine!

Hope this helps!


HP: 62
View Business Center
caroleand2daughters - 2007-05-30 22:07
I didn't know writing a blog was such a complicated thing. I just write in what the site provides me. Am I doing it wrong? For instance, my space has a place to blog. Free webs.com has a place to blog on my website. Am I not doing it right? About the pinger? How do you do that?

carole
want a free business to join.
go to my website.
http:/www.freewebs.com/carole5842/


HP: 1723
View Business Center
bjantiques - 2007-05-30 21:33
Gezzzzzzzzzzzzz patience patience lol

ok I had to get some assistance and out mutual friend Nan found the address for me.

Once the blog is written then go to

http://pingomatic.com/

and submit the blog.

Pinging in simple terms is telling the search engines that you have updated the site and they need to go look and update their records


Bj

Bj
Bill Brown aka Bjantiques
Hosting
Skype bjantiques


HP: 1079
View Business Center
Alas y Cia - 2007-05-30 19:41
Bj

But you still havent told what piinging is!!!!

Saludos
Jenny




HP: 1723
View Business Center
bjantiques - 2007-05-30 19:25
I may be wrong but I think the question that was posed was

How do you set up your Blogs and advice about using the blogs HERE

Correct me if I am wrong.

All I am seeing is people promoting their pet blog not responding the the question asked. I would also like advice about the best way to use the blog facility HERE not else where.

Bj
Bj
Bill Brown aka Bjantiques
Hosting
Skype bjantiques