Twitter has become a popular means of communication, even for businesses, in recent months.  Now there is a free Twitter ebook produced by Geekpreneur.

For more information, read Yvonne Russell’s post, Twitter Ebook, at Home Biz Notes.  Perhaps you’ll glean some ideas on how to promote yourself as a quilter and your quilting related business on Twitter.

Have you been using Twitter in your business and/or personal life?  How is it working out?  I’m registered, but have yet to find the time to get very involved.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Try the Free Twitter Ebook in Your Quilting Business?

If you’ve thought about writing and publishing books, even newspaper and magazine articles, about your quilting experiences (as Doreen Speckmann did) or describing original patterns, you may enjoy the series of posts Yvonne Russell and I are writing (along with guest posts) at Home Biz Notes throughout July.

I shall be writing a series on self-publishing, including my experiences with my book, The Magic of Patchwork. There will be posts on all types of writing including fiction and non-fiction, commercial writing, newsletters, and e-books.

Come join us throughout the month to learn about writing and publishing from home. Share with us and ask questions, too.

(Amazon image)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Want to Write About Quilting? Join Us at Home Biz Notes

 Ever wish you could take a nap during the day, when lack of sleep overwhelms you?  Yet you feel guilty if you do.

Today you can do so with a clear conscience, according to Yvonne Russell’s post at Home Biz Notes, Happy National Siesta Day.  There she lists the benefits of a 10-120 minute nap.

So Happy Napping!! 

Maybe you’ll find it so beneficial you’ll squeeze in power naps other days as well.

(Amazon image; click image for details)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

National Siesta Day Helps Quilters Justify a “Power Nap”

 Quilters quilt and create fabric art for fun as a hobby,  to develop a business and earn income, and to gain recognition.  Two or all of these may be combined.  However, recognition as a quilter and fabric artist, for our achievements and expertise in the various areas encourages us to continue pursuing this art. 

Yvonne Russell, at Home Biz Notes, has written an excellent blog post about becoming an authority in your field and for being recognized for your achievements, Become The “Go To” Person In Your Field & Boost Your Business.  Her tips can apply to a quilting business; however, the will boost you as a recognized artist in a hobby, too.

If you’ve become a quilting or fabric art authority, how did you achieve it? Do you have some tips to share?

(Amazon image; click on image for details)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Do You Want to Become Recognized in the Quilting Field & Business?

 The higher price of gas/petrol unquestionably affects quilters and quilt businesses, as well as other segments of society. 

At the b5media Business Channel, where I co-blog on Home Biz Notes, we featured a round-up of posts with various opinions on this newsworthy aspect of our ecomomy.  My co-blogger, Yvonne Russell, mentions the effect of $6.40 per gallon for fuel in her country… Australia.

For an interesting read on various slants to this topic, check out, “Not So Fun” Outloook on Gas/Petrol Prices from the Business Channel.

How has the higher price of gasoline/fuel oil affected your life? 

How are you managing? 

Do you have some fuel saving techniques you can share with us?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Higher Price of Fuel Affects Quilters, too

“Don’t toot your own horn,” Mother often cautioned us.  She called it bragging when we told others about our achievements. She was proud of us when we received recognition, but the general feeling was to downplay it. Mother felt it was for others to spread the word. That was somewhat the practice of the era when I was a child.  So I grew up to be self-conscious about promoting myself.

However, when we’re in business, or even quilting as a hobby, we discover that others often like celebrate our achievements with us. If you’re commissioned to do quilting or fabric art, your clients like to know they’re associated with someone who is successful and recognized. 

You can learn to talk about yourself in a way that’s informative and humble, not with braggadocio.  You also give others the incentive for achieving in that field themselves.

• Give the award organizer the information for sending out press releases.  This also garners publicity for the organization or business that presented it. (When my daughter and I were listed in Who’s Who in American Quilting, the publisher sent press releases to local newspapers.  As a result, a school activity organizer, arranged for us to teach a series of workshops about quiltmaking, tying them into the curriculum.)
• Write press releases and send to online and off line publications yourself if no one else is going to. (I sent press releases about my book concerning my mom’s Alzheimer’s journey, When We Become the Parent to Our Parents, to our newspaper.  An organizer for women’s programs at a nearby church invited me to speak about caregiving and my writing.)
• Mention an achievement on your blog.  Your readers will rejoice with you and usually leave comments.
• Offer to write about your specific award field. 
• When customers ask, don’t play down the award, but explain what it’s for.  They’re interested. 
• Post copies of articles about your achievements on a bulletin board at your shop or on your blog/web site. (I’ve often gone into businesses where they’ve posted copies of newspaper articles, along with any photos taken at the time.)
• Make a scrapbook of clippings and awards that friends and customers can browse through.

An example of posting an announcement of an award is the one at Home Biz Notes, where I mentioned Yvonne Russell’s recent recognition. in the writing field.

What ideas do you have for spreading the word about your quilting and fabric arts achievements in an interesting, eye-catching, yet unobtrusive way?  

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Let Others Know About Your Quilting Achievements