Video View

Having my face on video on the world wide web is something I really had to think about.  I still feel a little conscious of being on the Internet, showing my face and products but how else am I supposed to get out there!
I thought about doing tutorials but I realise that to sit down and teach is a lot of work even if you are using free patterns.  it's really difficult to take the time out and teach people.  Some do it for the love of crochet and others do it because they know they can get many views by teaching people.  I really don't know if I want to go that route! It is so time consuming and how many views converts to sales is my questions because at the end of the day, I'm looking at the business aspect of things. 
The goal of a business to make a profit and if I'm busy teaching people to make their own profit then how do I get something out of it.  I like teaching, don't get me wrong but there are plenty of persons teaching people on the internet and I really am not about to be one of them.  At least, not at this stage.  I may change my mind and realise that all I have said so far is irrelevant and just do it anyway. 
 I am also thinking of branching out of crochet and doing other things especially in the sales area.  So my shop may seem like a bunch of different things but I like to explore and try new things.
In my news section that videos are coming soon so please stay tuned to them! 

See ya! :)

Melissa 

Hey, where are you going? Go over to side bar --> and link me! Subscribe to my blog to get updates and check out my Estores for products.  I now have a news section to show what's coming up and what's new at a glance. Great idea, isn't it? :)

Adsense or adnonsense? Advertising ... the Ugly Story

If you have visited my blog, you would have seen ads displayed on my page! Well imagine my surprise, when Google decides to send me an email about my adsense account.  I appealed and apparently lost.  I guess I wouldn't make a good lawyer! I found it to be foolishness.  I decided to shop around and see other ad offerings and found one.  Well imagine my next surprise when they apparently don't want me coz I'm not a "Top level website" Hmm!  So I'm going to say that if I ever become a "Top level website" or get a huge following, none of them can display anything on my blog! Though this blog is a google blog, I really don't care! 
My next thing is if you want to advertise on my site, let me know and let me show these people that I don't need them to make 1c on a click.  Just ridiculous!!! 

Contact me with your ad information etc and I will see what I can do!


See ya! :)

Melissa

Don't forget to check out all my information in the sidebar.  Tweet me, facebook me, browse my estore.  Get updates via email by subscribing!! I sell yarn now, so make those projects with yarn from my yarn store!

Get Your Yarn Here!

I have decided to be a yarn seller! Hopefully, I can supplement my income by selling yarn.  Thinking of expanding but not sure as yet! So please visit: www.bajanstylecrochet.yarnshopping.com for yarn from Turkey.  These types of yarn are usually soft and great to crochet with.  It's not as rough as other types of yarn and makes the products you are creating very luxurious.  If you doubt me, then order from my yarn store and see for yourself.  Shipping is a bit high but worth it with the amount you get for the cheap prices. You will not be sorry!

Check out the site and share with your friends.

See ya!

Melissa

Don't forget to add me on twitter and Facebook and also check out my Estores! More coming to the blog soon so subscribe for updates!!

Imagine that!

I was fighting so hard with whether to leave crochet for a while and come back to it or leave it for good.  When I felt I had decided to leave it at least for a while, slowly transitioning to leave it for good, I received an order for 2 items.  Now this may not be a large order and paying a lot of money but something sure does help! I was so surprised and I felt like picking myself back up and trying to do a good job for the customer.  It was amazing to me how in your dark hours, there is a glimmer of light and hope! 
Now I'm not sure what I'm going to do but even though I feel like giving up, I still have a little bit of fight within me.  I have a few plans this year and I hope I can get the ideas going and the riches flowing. lol It's tough to stay positive and keep going but I guess I'm getting a nudge in that area. 

So please stay tuned to this blog for more updates. 

See ya! :)

Melissa

All my info is in the side bar! Check it out! Support by clicking, tweeting, viewing. 
Beginners have to start somewhere!

New Year, New Attitude

As I let go of 2012 which has not been the greatest for me, I have decided to look at 2013 differently.  I hope to be doing some interesting things in 2013, once I have the time and patience to do it.

I have complained about my materials being expensive and sourcing the right yarns, I can't get proper photos and things of that nature but finding the solution has been a hard one.  I have been tossing an idea in my head for a while but again, the details of getting it done is still overwhelming.

I hope 2013 brings renewed drive and passion for me and many sales!!! Even though I love what I do, I still would like to make money from it.  To my new and old followers, thank you for the support!  Please stay tuned for me from me next year.  I hope I continue to make crochet interesting and fun for you and to show you unusual styles and fashion of finished work.

See ya! :)

Melissa

Remember:  There's a sidebar with info.   Check it out and support my business.

Ring in the New Year!!

I don't have any crazy graphics or photos to put up but I just wanted to say thank you for your support in reading my blog! It means a lot to me wherever you are from and I hope that this blog continues to interest you. 

To all of you: Have a Happy New Year and a Wonderful 2013. 

I've already started on the celebrations!  Try and catch up!! lol

See ya!

Melissa

Of course I can't forget to plug my E-store and to encourage you to look at the side bar for more info! :)

Tis the Season to be Jolly ...

Merry Christmas to all!

I did a few Santa hats for myself and a few friends.  They were a hit!! I received a few orders but none confirmed and it's already Christmas Eve!  People are usually not dependable.  I learnt that a long time ago so I try not to bother about those things but it still does annoy me a little.  What's the point of making something for unreliable people?  It's usually just a waste unless I have someone else to buy it which I generally don't.  So oh well.

This year has been really hard on me and my family but as I try to go into another year with more hope and less disappointment in my mind, I have to believe that no matter what there's a better position to be in life. 
So if you also feel like giving up, figure out if that's what you think is the right thing to do right now and put your energy into something else.  Christmas is a magical time and you want your dreams to come true.  If only I had some magic dust!  I, myself, feel a little dejected because this year did not go the way I wanted to. All I have is hope and nothing concrete and that's what I'm using.  Just know if you feel the same way, you are not alone. :)

To everyone who reads my blog, I wish you a happy Christmas! Please keep the positivity going and remember you have the power to change things in your life.  Just believe!

I will be happily crocheting whether it's for only myself right now or for profit! 

See ya!

Melissa

Please remember to check out my Estores and Facebook page!! Like me on Facebook and follow me on twitter.  Buy something in my Estore!! :) Check out all the info in the sidebar for details!

Maid to Order

Now you would have to know I am making that mistake purposely in my title.  I wanted to explore the idea of made to order items some more.
Made to order doesn't mean that I am a genie and I grant you a bunch of wishes.  It essentially means that I need time to make your item.  Some things take longer than others!  I may even realise that what you want is out of my capabilities and that's fine!  Everyone can't do everything! But I can surely try to!
I wanted to write this post to clear up confusion about the expectations of a made to order item.
Sometimes trying to include people's likes, tastes, styles and desires is a hard a task but I believe that it can be rewarding.  However, the demanding nature of doing something like that can be very exhausting! It can also be rewarding.
It may seem like I'm rambling in this post and you may actually be right.  When I make a made-to-order product, what I try to do is get it right.  Sometimes I may send a picture of my progress at crucial stages to see if it's what you want.  It's difficult to get it right on the money but it does happen.  It can be stressful and even the best of the best have trouble with it but sometimes your mistakes in making the item can also make it even more spectacular.  Some say this is what I asked for and you gave me something slightly different.  Others say this is even better than I asked for.  This is why pictures can be helpful so that the person has an idea of where the vision and idea coming into reality is going. 
Crocheting is even more challenging because of the way "fabric" is made.  Each stitch gets you closer to a pattern and a look.  If you have to unpick or start over, it's a waste of time and materials but you may have just learnt how NOT to do something, which could reduce the number of mistakes in the future. 
It's hard to get things exactly right and it's hard to not be discouraged but the fact is if you love it and you are passionate about it, you wouldn't feel like the maid in the process but the creator of something beautiful!

See ya!

Melissa

Don't forget to check out my information in the sidebar! If you want to be part of my crochet movement, buy something from my E-store! :)

How To Get Your First Sale Online

I really would like to know the answer to this question.  It's difficult to play the waiting game and get your first sale online.  In person, one can feel, pick up, scrutinize the product carefully but online, it's so much harder.  I've seen some things online that I wouldn't buy but there are a lot of sales on the item and I sit there looking at it and wonder, "Who are the people that are buying these things? They must be crazy?".  To each his own.
I have read a lot of articles about it and done a lot of research but to me it's all about luck and it always takes the first person or first few people to give other people confidence.  When there are no reviews, views are comments, most people seem to shy away from  buying a product because that's their evidence whether it's good or not.  I don't blame them because I do it too!
Very few people tell you the first sale takes time..and it may be a lot of time i.e. a long while before someone decides to take the risk.
A few tips I picked up (and should be doing but apparently, I am not):

• Photos - Visual impact is important and  remember since the customer can't do the tangible, then you have to make the intangible tangible by using the photo.  Hope that makes sense! 
• Wording - Entice the person to buy and make it believable.  Descriptions and headlines give persons an idea of what it's for, when to use it, how to use it and that's your selling pitch to the customer.
• Price - Always a touchy subject because as the seller, you calculate your selling price based on certain things but the client may not want to buy it for that price.  This is a touch and go thing because you want a price that is reasonable to attract a customer while gaining a profit. 
• Policies - Clearly defined policies whether it's return/cancellation policies, shipping information, etc.  By outlining this, it makes the customer feel reassured if there is a problem.  
• Contact - Be available! A customer contacts you to ask more questions, to give feedback or find out additional information, respond appropriately and timely.  It doesn't have to be right away so they think you're there waiting for their response every minute of every day.  

 The extra tip is don't be a flip flopper!  It may happen due to what you are trying to ship because there may be a problem shipping to a particular country or the shipping may be higher than you estimated or custom item took more material than you thought.  Whatever the reason, try not to change the price or keep going to the customer with another issue or problem that you're trying to resolve.  This is intuitive because sometimes it's good to keep the person informed at all steps and other times, it's better to try to handle things behind the scenes because saying something is unnecessary.  However, there are some instances where it is out of your control and you are trying your best to handle the situation in the way you believe it's best.  Running a business can be tricky and business is all about trial and error and learning what to do when.

Remember: After the sale, you will need to look at how you package and ship your item and how do you make it attractive for the person so that when it arrives, they are satisfied with the product. Building buyer's confidence continues after the sale and this is what keeps return clientele.


See ya! :)

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The Art of Crochet

Crochet has been around for years but the art of crochet has evolved over time.   Gone are the granny square sweaters (I hope!) and in are many design styles that are fun and fashion forward.  To be totally honest, there are some granny square designs that I actually like! These classic styles have been remixed or updated for the fashionista in mind!
Now I know there are persons out there that wonder why crochet items are at a particular price.  Without going into the economics of it, crochet takes time!  Even if you're very fast, the labour intensive nature of crochet is such that you have to create each stitch to come up with you "fabric", reducing and increasing to provide shape or a pattern or both.  If a mistake is made and you haven't caught it early, you may have to unpick a lot of your work and redo it.
At the present moment, I make made-to-order items simply because as a budding enterprise, creating a variety of stock just is not feasible!  I prefer to make ready-made items due to the fact that they are bought AS IS.  A ready-made item can be a wonderful product since it's already made and you can walk away with the item right then and there rather than a waiting period to receive your item.  Made-to-order items can be custom designed and custom made which actually brings a uniqueness to the product.  You are involved in the colour choice or combinations and the adjustments.
So when next you look at a crochet item and think "Oh my gosh" about the price, remember that someone had to make it by hand, just for you!  Show your appreciation for the great work the person did by buying that item and supporting an artist.  Who knows!  That particular piece may end up to be one of your most admired pieces!

See ya!

Melissa

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See something you like? Then buy and support my endeavours!!