Blogging Challenge at Virtual Online Learning

Twice a month VOL sponsors a blogging challenge.  We write about anything and then promote it on the Private VOL membership site, their Facebook Fan page and wherever else we promote ourselves and blog.  

Virtual Online Learning is a mentoring group started by Danna Crawford - Powersellingmom.com.  Lifetime membership includes free webinars and help and advice or members from each other or Danna.  There are all levels of expertise.  As an experienced seller, I think that sometimes it is good to answer newby questions to help keep my knowledge fresh and currant. 

Wow we made position # 1 on EntreCard/Travel 5/29/11

EntreCard is a way to promote a blog and eBay listings.  If you look on the right side of this page, you see a box with a photo and it says 'drop'.  For members of EntreCard you visit others sites, drop and hopefully they will drop back on you.  The more you drop the better.  We are averaging 220 -225 drops a day.


Gene has only wanted to play CLUB POGO on the computer and a little while ago he offered to help me drop,  So every night he does 100 or so and I finish the next day.  What a sweetheart he is to help me like that!!


There are over 1200 blogs in the travel category and I am so over exited we made it to #1 for however long. Just knowing it is possible is so rewarding.


The advantage of all the drops is that it tells Google we are a viable blog and that a lot  of people visit it and thereby moving it up in the rankings. 


We learned how do to EntreCard from Danna Crawford in a webinar for members at Virtual Online Learning.


If you join EntreCard (it is free) let me know and we will drop on you too!!

Why I Blog

Gene, Danna & Jimmy

In Oct. 2008 I Gene and I had the privilege to drive Danna & Jimmy Crawford (powersellingmom.com) from an eBay gathering in Hays, KS to Denver.  

In the 3 1/2 hours we were in the car Danna asked me if I blogged.  I gulped and said no,  not really - thinking what would I write about and who wants to read about me, or my stuff or my life?

Boy was I wrong.  

A blog can be many things and for me it is to promote our eBay listings by using keywords to get folks to the blog and then hopefully they will be curious enough to click on our logo that will take them to our listings. 

Griff and me

While we were in Kansas we met some very amazing eBayers, including Griff.  He did a review of one of my listings as a workshop to a room full of people.  

Griff recommended that we use a mannequin to display our ladies scarves.  That mannequin has become our logo and hopefully our brand. 

Picking a subject that is keyword rich is the secret I use to be visible on the 1st page of a Google, Yahoo or Bing search. 

A restaurant that was on the Food Network - Diners, Drive-In and Dives that we ate at in Chicago

 One easy way to get started is to do reviews of businesses in a community or city that will bring locals to the blog looking for a review of that business. 

Guest interview on eBay Radio with Griff & Lee 12/7/10 

Please email me at HerbsCraftsGifts@aol.com with a link to your blog so I can become a follower. 

One tool to help promote your blog is EntreCard. I will be demonstrating EntreCard in a Webinar, for the members of
Virtual Online Learning, on Jan. 13, 2011.  Membership goes up on 1/1/11 so join now and save $50.00.

Join my new Yahoo group / message board, I just created for new and experienced bloggers.  Blogging 101 and Beyond

Try it- blogging can be alot of fun and you can meet alot of new, interesting people along the journey.

V irtual Online Learning Webinar on ENTRECARD

Members of Danna Crawford's Virtual Online Learning are offered several opportunities, for learning all aspects of online business, through webinars, several times a month.

One of those topics was Entrecards!  This is a way for writers of blogs to promote their blog on other peoples blogs, for free.    

http://entrecard.com/

Once I signed up, I was given a virtual business card.  I visit other blogs and say "hi - I have been here", by dropping my card in the Entrecard box.  Each time I do that I get points that will allow me to place a link to my blog on theirs. 

The more cards I drop, the faster I move up in a search of different blogs under special topics. While I am watching TV in the evening I am also dropping.  Some days 50, some days up to 300.  My link is pretty much above the fold in the top 3 lines of the travel category. 

If you look on the right side of this page you can see someone else's ad on my page.  They have paid to be there and I get those points added to my account which will then allow me to place an ad on others pages.

The benefit from this is more visitors to my blog.  Google likes lots of hits and they will move that blog up in their search.  I have been on page 1 of a Google search on several subjects.  The most popular one right now is Euro Bubbles at the Florida State Fair. 

And by using Feedjit, I am able to tell where all the hits are coming from, which is from all over the world.

Has it helped my business?  I like to think yes because pro active efforts any self promotion helps.  

Once you add Entrecard to your Blog, please let me know so I can drop and advertise for you too.  

You too can be a student of these webinars that are less than an hour.  There are no assignments or time consuming homework.  There is no better bargain on the internet  

http://www.meetup.com/Virtual-Online-Learning/

BACK TO SCHOOL PROMOTION - Unique Gifts

Can you believe it? Some kids are back in school already. 

We have many unique gifts for students and teachers 

Handmade in Peru, many sizes and color combinations.

Over 100 different designs in the popular Satin Stripe fabric. All drastically marked down !

Many titles of 'Survival Kits" including this one - School Bus driver; Teacher; Student; Coach; Karate and many many others.

Perfect for the playground, these visors have a spiral lace that do not pinch or cause headaches.  Washable in the dishwasher too!

So as you can see we have a variety of many different and unique things for everyone returning to school.  You can see them all in our eBay store.

Herb's Crafts Gifts Back to School