So You Want to Start a Beading Blog? Tips for Getting Started

Among some of the many New Year's Resolutions that are sure to be made this weekend, I'm sure that a fair number of beady folks out there are going to want to start their own beading blog. And why not? I love reading the adventures and misadventures of what other beaders are up to all over the world, and blogging is a great way to get your work and your name out there for other beaders to see.

The easiest way to start a blog is to head on over to Blogger or WordPress and sign up for a free account. The best part of these blogging services is that they are free. Each one has its own benefits and drawbacks, and I suggest that you play with both of them before you decide which one you want to use for your beading blog.

Before you start blogging, here are a few things to consider:

1.  The name of your blog. It doesn't have to be terribly catchy or clever, but it should reflect what your blog is about. Some beading bloggers just name their blogs after themselves, and that's perfectly okay, too!

2. Updating your blog. A blog is no good if you write one post and then leave it there to twist in the wind. Try to update your blog at least once a week to keep your readers interested and coming back for more!

3. Pictures are great for blogs. When people come to visit your blog, they aren't just coming to read plain text, especially if it's a blog about beading! You'll want to make sure that you can add some interesting photographs that relate to what you're writing about in each post.

I'll have more advice for you on writing a great blog post in the coming weeks, but for now, look around at the blogging services available to you and find the one that you like using.

If you need a little more inspiration, here are a few of my favorite bead artist bloggers to read:

• Marcia DeCoster – Mad Designs
• The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
• Stephanie Dixon – The Dixon Chick
• Mikki Ferrugiarro – The Beaded Carpet
• Carol Dean Sharpe – Sand Fibers
• Nancy Dale – NED Beads
• Sig Wynne-Evans – Beadedbear's Nonsense and Complete Waste of Time
• Kerrie Slade – Contemporary Beadwork by Kerrie Slade
• Inspirational Beading
• Jeannette Cook – Beady Eyed Women

Do you have already have a beading blog? What advice would you give to a new bead blogger? Share your  blog and your advice here with our readers!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer