I joined TikTok. It’s been an interesting experience in every way, not least of which is simply telling people this. My older daughters are now 13 and 15 and they are horrified, to say the least. “There’s no way you can understand TikTok, mom. It’s memes you don’t get.” Okay, I’ll accept that. There’s definitely…
Should You Have Ads on Your Blog?
A blog reader named Alicia asked me an interesting blogging question the other day. Hi Abby, I remember reading something from you awhile ago about when you decided to take the leap from your blog being a hobby to really making it a career and why you chose not to get involved with affiliate marketing…
Report from Sew Pro 2016
I’ve just returned from a wonderful weekend at Sew Pro, a brand new conference for sewing professionals that took place in Chicago on September 16-17. The event was organized by Sara Lawson of Sew Sweetness and Brenda Ratliff of Pink Castle Fabrics. Between the two of them Sara and Brenda have designed fabric for two…
How to Inspire Trust Online
Think about the last time you walked into a shop you’d never been in before. Maybe you were on vacation visiting a new town or maybe you were exploring a different neighborhood in your own city. You pull open the door, walk in, and begin to look around. This first visit begins with a series…
Why I Don’t Do Affiliate Marketing
Hi Abby, I am organizing an online creative business conference in May, and wanted to see if there might be a way for us to work together. We are looking for a few influencers to serve as advisers to the attendees. Advisers get a free pass to the event and advertising space in the conference…
Should You Write Sponsored Posts on Your Craft Blog?
I got this email yesterday: Save the Date: Michaels Blogger Event May 1 Hi Abby – Michaels is unveiling a new look at all of its Boston area stores and we are giving a select group of bloggers an exclusive sneak peek on Thursday, May 1 from 6-8 p.m. at the Saugus store. You…
Podcast Episode #7: How to Monetize Your Blog with Bjork Ostrom of Pinch of Yum
Before we begin today’s post, take a minute to think of the name of a craft blogger whom you would identify as being financially successful. Okay, got one in mind? Imagine if that person wrote a blog post once a month in which they reported to their readers how much money they made and from…
How to Run an Ad Program On Your Blog: Passionfruit Ads
I love blogging. I spend about half my work hours writing posts for my blog. It’s a tremendous investment of time and effort to continuously write posts that are interesting, well-researched, and valuable. I find the process incredibly rewarding. About six months ago I acknowledged to myself that my blog needed to become an income-generating…