Recent blog post from Naija: Steps to Starting a Small Business

“2-4 hours a week sounds about right to me (heck for anyone who’s not trying to make money directly from their blog that’s probably about right). Maybe one longer post and two short ones so people come to expect it but don’t feel like oh, no, there’s another one…”

Very funny to me that I brought BBB around to this format you laid out, though it takes me longer than 4 hours to write ‘em up. A worthy goal, though.

Thanks for ideas that stick!

Shh don’t tell my local clients… I just generally dream of getting out of DE. No part-time about it. I miss the cold!

Yeah, thinking quickly. I’ve had lots of practice writing (and talking) far more… I’ve always got to restrain myself on the web!

2-4 hours a week sounds about right to me (heck for anyone who’s not trying to make money directly from their blog that’s probably about right). Maybe one longer post and two short ones so people come to expect it but don’t feel like oh, no, there’s another one…

You keep doing thought-provoking as heck posts (which I know you will), I’ll keep trying for a clever-as-heck back-at-ya! That’s pretty much how I decide who stays in my inbox. If it isn’t stimulating my own thoughts, what am I reading it for?

I’d better go write something that hopefully does that for my readers. Home early to apply daytime brainpower to some posts that have been stumping me.

Until later,

Kelly

Kelly’s last blog post..What If That’s All You Have to Say?

However, I think it would be better to use my favorite direct email app: iContact to manage the newsletter, so Edward could get nitty gritty with the advertising. Your idea about selling the art directly would make it worth the small monthly fee, especially if he offered sponsored emails for artists who want a spotlight for selling specific pieces. He could earn a bit on sending the email and also his commission.

I hadn’t considered an ezine, and shame on me for it. It will add a few hours of work to his week, but it’s worth it for the likelihood of increased traffic and the handful of income streams you thought up. Besides, he could delegate the bulk of this work to an assistant.

Many thanks for your stellar ideas!

And also the mention on your blog in the
Customer Relationship Principles post.

Always glad to contribute a nudge. Your post gave me lots to think consider as I pull together ideas for a business of my own…

Thinking about your parent’s hotel, I can totally see how they would be a popular destination in the summer. I dream of being a “sunbird”—splitting my time between the mid-Atlantic US and Canada so I can enjoy Maryland’s snowy (but brief) winter but escape its humid hotbox summer for Montreal’s mild, delicious summer and gazillion festivals.

And what a heap of excellent ideas for the art show’s off-season! I think of a blog as a 3-5 times a week effort, but you’re right…He could easily post a short bit just once or twice a week, or a longer weekly update. Folks will stay hyped all year, and it will bring a steady flow of traffic to the site. Also, a blog would get spidered regularly by the search engines in a way a regular site may not. Benefits all around, and I’m not hitting them all.

The best part is, the blog wouldn’t have to be a huge creative endeavor, but more like responding and reporting. Once he posts a shout out on sending in photos and news and such, his event’s community will contribute a healthy chunk of his content. While setting it up will take a bit of time, I wouldn’t expect this blog to be time-intensive…maybe 2-4 hours each week?

Hmmm… In fact, I like this blog idea for a site of mine that’s overdue for a redo…

As ever, thanks for sharing your clever-as-heck ideas!

Ads can be sold in the newsletter. It can be used as a vehicle to sell art directly to subscribers. “Available for a limited time and only to ABC Gallery Newsletter subscribers.” (Yet more evidence of why I don’t write copy for a living.)

It will stimulate return traffic to the web site which will generate more value for advertisers.

Most important it will contribute to the success of the next event by making sure everyone knows about it.

If he has enough traffic he can sell space to an ad networks and / or generate revenue from affiliate marketing networks.

James Hipkin’s last blog post..Landing Pages – Best Practices

Great post! The only thing I can add (amazing, I know) is that a blog is a good addition to almost any site these days. As the time gets close he could do more posts about the prep, headaches, funny moments, coups in terms of who is coming, etc., but the rest of the year could be profiles/interviews with artists, topics from an art/business perspective (newbies are bound to be interested in how to get to a stage where doing something like this could work for them, and everyone likes to peek inside other people’s fishbowls), tips about making X type of art work in your home or business, or even reader photos of things they purchased in their new habitats… just thinking quickly.

Kyle’s comments remind me of my parents, who run a motel in up-up-up-state New York, where snowmobiling is huge. They originally thought they could motivate snowmobilers and other winter sports fans to choose their place (which they do), but have found over time that summer is far busier for them. Seasonal businesses are a fascinating puzzle to work on!

Regards,

Kelly

Kelly’s last blog post..Tip of the Week: Want Profits? Don’t Be Cruel

Thanks for the brainboost!

Bzzz < —my brain buzzing…

Chris P.’s last blog post..My single favorite new feature in WordPress 2.5 [Techno File]

But to stay focused on snowmobiling…he could report on new trails, new snowmobiling equipment, etc for the upcoming year. Also, same as for Edward, photos of happy snowmobilers will allow folks to reflect on a fun winter, and look forward to next year.

But it is tough. I mean, an off-season site would need to be a sort of portal to work year-round. And research and maintenance takes time…