Blogging About Clay Heather Dahl

A Blog (a contraction of the term Web log) is a website, usually
maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary,
descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.
Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order.
(Wikipedia definition)

‘The world of blogging is huge. I recently got an email from a ceramic
artist who said that she has had her work in magazines, promoted in
newspapers and on various websites. However, her online sales have
improved most when her work was promoted on blogs rather than on
any of those other forms of promotion. A good plug on a well-read
blog can send interested clients your way. Interesting, I thought. So
I began to research blogs. Then I started a blog, in an effort to create
awareness about my own work and processes, and to connect with a
wider clay community beyond my own studio. Although I’m new to
blogging, in educating myself about blogs I have realized that blogs
can be an incredibly important part of the contemporary practices ofa
ceramic artist. Promotion, publication, press, sales—all of these things
can increase your ability to make it in the world of clay, and all of these
things can be done through blogs.

Researching Blogs:
I have found a number of amazing ceramic blogs out there and what

I find especially helpful is that each blog lists other ceramic blogs that

the writer reads or refers to, creating a perpetual list of blogs for those

interested. Let me clarify here: I began researching blogs this past
summer to learn how to sell better online as well as to gain interest
in my work internationally. I wasn't looking at other people’s blogs
necessarily for inspiration, albeit, I did get that as a by-product to my
research.

‘This is a mere sampling of interesting ceramic blogs that can lead
you to many more great ones:

* this artists life, Whitney Smith, http://whitneys-pottery.blogspot.
com: a candid approach to life as a ceramic artist! My favourite posts
include ones on customer service, thoughts on doing wholesale, and
how to move yourself out of business debt!

* circa ceramics, that which is not http://www.circaceramics.
blogspot.com: a production team, these two have videos on their
processes and custom machinery.

* Mel Robson, www.feffakookan.blogspot.com: an Australian
ceramic artist with work and shows to aspire to.

e

Zizziba Studios, www.zizziba.com: lots of step-by-step clay how-to
stuff Great resource!

Poppy Line-up, by Heather Dahl.

Foto Fun! ¥

Heather’s blog as it appears online.

* Ceramics Registry, www.ceramicsregistry.com: a registry of sorts.

Blogs that promote designers, craftspeople and artists (again, just a
sample to get you started):

* heart handmade www.hearthandmade.blogspot.com

* poppytalk www.poppytalk.blogspot.com

* design*sponge http://www.designspongeonline.com

Remember, even if you dont have a blog, getting featured on
someone else’s blog is like getting good press. Remember to have an
online presence, like a website or an Etsy site (more on that later) for
people to be able to find you when you get a referral!

Should I write a blog?

Once you start researching blogs, you may think to yourself: I
should start a blog! Well, maybe you should, maybe you shouldn't. My
opinion is that you need to think about whether or not you are “blog-
worthy” before you start one.

You are blog-worthy when...

° You have a great camera and take a lot of photos. Photos that
inspire, capture people's interest and that stand out. You have great
photos of your work and you have the ability to keep somewhat
current photos of your work or your process. Having a program such
as Adobe” Photoshop is also handy, you can re-size your images so
that up-loading them on a blog doesn’t take as long.

* You are a good writer. You write easily and enjoy the process of
being honest about where you are at, and what youre doing and you
can communicate that efficiently and effortlessly.

Continued on page 6, Blogging

COLUMBIA Potters Guild of BC Newsletter - December 2008 5