Welcome to the Jewelry Designer Network ... JewelryNetwork.org
MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter for gemstone and jewelry design business networking
Have been building upon Ning and the above networks for the purpose of building upon gemstones and jewelry design business contacts.
Not having any luck with groups from within any of these networks. Tons of members in many groups, but almost zero discussions.
Thought might just post links to my profiles here in an effort to add more contacts to each.
Maybe others here would like to add theirs as well. Social networking is proving to be an excellent method of building an even stronger presence online. These are all free and in a time when my ability to spend any money at all in marketing/promotions, these are a nice way to at least continue investing positive energy into our businesses.
Some of these networks have excellent business related applications that really help staying organized. Keeping up with who is doing what and easily contacting and responding to various activities.
LinkedIn
MySpace
Facebook
Twitter
Will add anyone interested to my friends lists, and of course will do the same in return.
Not having any luck with groups from within any of these networks. Tons of members in many groups, but almost zero discussions.
Thought might just post links to my profiles here in an effort to add more contacts to each.
Maybe others here would like to add theirs as well. Social networking is proving to be an excellent method of building an even stronger presence online. These are all free and in a time when my ability to spend any money at all in marketing/promotions, these are a nice way to at least continue investing positive energy into our businesses.
Some of these networks have excellent business related applications that really help staying organized. Keeping up with who is doing what and easily contacting and responding to various activities.
MySpace
Will add anyone interested to my friends lists, and of course will do the same in return.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Sirona Jewelry™ on -
I'm on Facebook and sure I'll invite you as a friend and here too. I'm not on any of the others you mentioned, but if I do, I'll be your friend there too! :)
-
Permalink Reply by Sirona Jewelry™ on
-
I looked for you under TaoGem on Facebook but didn't find you. What name are you using?
-
Permalink Reply by TaoGem on -
Here is the link to my Facebook. I did find and added you.
-
Permalink Reply by Catherine Marche on
-
Permalink Reply by ManicButterfly on
-
Permalink Reply by Robyn Hawk on -
George - I will go and follow you on Twitter and see if I can generate some follow activity for you.
One way to generate followers there is to go and add your self to WeFollow http://wefollow.com/ - it will show you everyone in your interest group.
Also - use the search feature on Twitter - search "jewelry designer" or "etsy" or "Artfire" and follow a bunch of folks! this will encourage them to follow back!
Participate in special events - #followfriday - this is a good way to get followers for you and your fave followers.
Robyn Hawk
@aflyonthewall
Have you seen my new blog? GemShows http://gemshows.blogspot.com
-
Permalink Reply by TaoGem on
-
Hi Robyn,
Yes, I am on the wefollow, and have utilized the search feature to the max. Will check out the followfriday..
Are you familiar with or using the www.tweetdeck.com/">TweetDeck Application? It is must for having everything organized in one spot. It has changed the way I use Twitter.
Nice blog !
-
Permalink Reply by Kenya H. on -
I' m currently on Twitter! Pondering starting a page/group for my jewelry design firm startup on Facebook!
www.twitter.com/LKG_Designs
-
Permalink Reply by Nikki @ Beaded Zen Designs on
-
I think using social media to promote yourself is a great new idea that should be explored. I've met some great people this way. My info
Twitter ~ http://twitter.com/bzdesigns
FaceBook ~ Beaded Zen on Facebook
Myspace ~ http://www.myspace.com/bzdesigns
-
Permalink Reply by TaoGem on
-
Killer blog Robyn!
I have not been participating as I should in the Follow Friday.. I will do that more..
-
Permalink Reply by TaoGem on
-
I thought might share a little bit of my personal successes with social networking..
Since I decided to really hit it hard and created profiles, home pages, etc within each of the networks that I listed in my original post..
Understanding that primarily these networks are in fact more geared towards being "social", yet there truly is a business aspect and niche networking building opportunities within each. Once we separate all the "social" and really concentrate on developing serious niche contacts. People who like myself are truly looking for people who share an interest in discussing niche topics but also opportunities for both businesses.
For myself, once I got a handle on separating all the irrelevant social side of each network and established a nice group of common niche related people and businesses, things really began to happen.
With the exception of Twitter, each of the Networks I choose are used in similar ways.. I can't emphasize enough how much easier Twitter is to stay organized with if we use the TweetDeck application.. There does seem to be the daily routine of needing to remove the unwanted followers. I don't know how they get in there, but they do ! Keeping my TweetDeck only for people who I truly have common interests with.
Sales have probably tripled after just a few short weeks. Once a decent niche group of friends/followers was established, it just started to take on a life of it's own. On top of increased sales, contacts with other businesses has created additional and mutually beneficial opportunities.. Big ones!
Don't spam your network of friends and followers with random and massive items for sale! I do enjoy meeting and actually getting to know fellow lapidaries, and jewelry designers on a personal level first and foremost. The quickest way to loose your most important and friendly friends and followers is to post a bunch of for sale, "come and get it" info. Nobody is interested !
So, what has worked for me is to be casual. Be social on a niche level. Go with the flow, and networking online can be a huge success.
Good luck with your networking !
TaoGem / George
-
Permalink Reply by ManicButterfly on
-
I have to definitely agree with you on all points George. I must say I envy you and others who do mainly work that can be considered 'supplies' for those of us who only create jewelry. You have a much wider range of customers to appeal to-especially as you're delving into creating actual jewelry pieces to sell also. I know that once finances permit, your store is definitely the first place I will go for all my gemstone cabs in the future-your work is the finest I've seen-absolutely beautiful.
I'm working on prioritizing my networking to find a wider audience-outside of others who make jewelry. It is best to use certain sites mainly for sharing knowledge with others who create jewelry, and some sites strictly as selling venues. The problem is keeping track of and up-to-date with them all on a daily basis.
The place I'm working on right now is Twitter. I'm trying to weed out who I should and shouldn't follow there (I do plan on downloading the Tweetdeck). I want to appeal to potential customers, but at the same time I don't want to annoy my peers with only posts about buying my product. I have to completely agree with your suggestion: 'The quickest way to loose your most important and friendly friends and followers is to post a bunch of for sale, "come and get it" info. Nobody is interested !' To be brutally honest there are some people I stopped following because I was bombarded with posts so often by them of nothing but constant adverts for their jewelry. My concern is-how do we appeal to both our peers AND customers without alienating one or the other on a place like Twitter? Suggestions anyone?
Suzanne
© 2010 Created by Apparel1.
