Building Community Around Craft

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Content and Community Building

Corinne Leigh, Corinne Leigh
Marie Labaron, Make and Takes
Mena Trott, Sew Weekly

Moderator: Megan Jordan, Velveteen Mind

How did you grow your community?

• CL: At Threadbanker, we started out from day one “pretending” like we were big and we had community. The thing to remember is that even if you only have one person reading your blog or watching your videos, you have an audience. After that, you just pretend that your talking to a crowd and soon you will be.
• ML: As I have worked on my site, I have dipped my toes into a little bit of everything -- blogging, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest. I try it all. I jump in, figure out if I like it and then keep at it or move to the next thing. There are so many social networking avenues. Get into it. See what sticks and then go with it.
• MJ: I agree with Marie, get in learn the tool and then cater to what people expect on the particular network you’re working on – each tool is very different. Be careful though. Pick a few tools and go whole heartedly into it. Use the tools as funnels and teasers back to your blog.
• MT: I am very leary of putting my content on a site that I don’t own or have control over. My goal with everything I do is to get them back on the blog, where I own my content. Use social media tools as drivers, don’t live on other people’s property.
• ML: For me, Twitter and FB are where I can be more personal, my blog is more informational.
• MT: I highly recommend using Tumblr to cross post. I highly recommend it. No extra content is being created, but it exposes you to a whole new audience and has really surprised me. Plus, the “liking” helps me to see what I should keep posting about.
• CL: I am a huge tumbler fan too. It’s an easy way to get followers.

Once you’ve built up your blog and community how do you go about fostering it?

• CL: It is a big deal to recognize your community members publicly. People feel like rock stars when you mention their name in a post, on Facebook, Twitter, whatever. It takes a regular reader and turns them into a forever follower. That’s really what started threadbanger for us -- recognizing community.
• ML: I learned early that “there’s room for everybody” regardless of your niche. Once you’ve established yourself as a blogger, reach out to others in your community. When you reach out to others it will help them, but it will also help you.
• MT: I started a forum to reach out. I did my own because I wanted to control look and not move somewhere else. My readers have been so active, which can be overwhelming. I learned that as my community grew, I could utilize that same community to help. It fostered even greater ties.
• MJ: You get what you give. That’s they way social media works. Give back and your community will continue to grow.
  ML: You can use your community to source guest posts and great ideas. It’s a nice bonus for them and can be very helpful to you. It’s also a free way to keep you blog up.
• MT: I don’t pay any of my writers, but I justify because I don’t make anything. My writers do it because they love and they want to be a part of something. Little perks also help compensate my writers.
• MJ: When you have good intentions it will come back in spades. Share what you build.
• CL: Instead of being closed, open up and feature to build your community.
• ML: I am always looking for something new. Community helps me grow and change.

How do you handle content copy write issues?

• CL: Instead of stealing and saying it’s your own, give recognition you will be recognized in turn.
• MT: The people who steal will not be able to come up with consistent content everyday. It’s nothing to worry about. People will figure it out and will not follow them.
• MJ: People catch on when you try to scoop up things and claim them as your own. There are so many ways to share credit and great ideas -- retweeting, repining, etc.

How do you manage comments on YouTube?

• CL: It’s really hard to track every time your video is embedded on a site. I always comment on YouTube and my own site but, can’t make it to every single blog/site where one of my videos is posted. I let the person who links police the comments on their own page.
• MJ: I follow comments, but I have learned the hard way. I cannot correct every inappropriate comment and it’s not worth it to try.

How do you track comments? Do you monitor all day? A certain time of day? Once a week?

• CL: I start every morning with social networking and spend about two hours a day working on it. After that I try to turn off computer and go create content. It is something you have to do everyday.
• ML: I used to answer every comment I got. It helped me grow my blog tremendously, but it grew to the point that there were too many. Now I pick and choose. If there is a question I always answer back, but if it’s just a nice comment I don’t have time.
• MT: I fail miserably at this. I read every comment, but then don’t always get a chance to respond. I know it can hurt the person, but it’s overwhelming. The only way I can do it at all is to write back instantly.
• CL: Everyone understands that you’re human and you can’t do everything.

Do any of you plan out posts? Do you blog real time?

• ML: I have an editorial calendar. Since I publish kids crafts, things are very holiday oriented so it’s easy for me to write out what I can do. I look at it a week or two ahead and then get ready for the post by creating content.
• MT: We have a theme each week. We set our themes six to eight weeks in advance. We may not write the posts that early, but we think about it and prepare. Our blogging niche is unique. We’re not only blogging, we’re making physical goods. We spend hours preparing a post or a topic.
• CL: Consistency is the biggest thing when you’re doing a blog. Having a plan helps.

How do you handle trolls? How do you self edit and not lash out?

• CL: I have drafted millions of comments that I never sent. In the end, I follow my mothers advice and kill them with kindness.
• MT: It is hard. I learned early on, like you will never win a fight with a troll. Just give up. It’s too much effort. I have evolved to the point that I don’t really care.
• ML: Sometimes I sit back and wait. I wait to see if my community will take care of it. They often do or I can ask a friend.

How do product endorsements work?

• ML: I don’t really review products. If I work with a company I will typically make a project and just describe the tools that I am using. It’s more natural for me.
• MT: I contact the companies I want to work with. The people who’s products I already use.