Sunday Inspiration: Cottage Style Supplies

Need some inspiration this Sunday?
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Photo credits HERE
If you sell Cottage Style Art Supplies, Join this Flickr Group!

Announcement and an Invite to You

Greetings Lollies,
I'm on a little family Vacation with my husband's side of the family--I have had access to the internet on and off and have been answering your important emails--if you don't hear back from me right away, I will get back to you as soon as I can. I'll be home on Saturday to catch up!
In the meantime, I thought you would enjoy the above invitation that Jo Packham of Stampington sent to me to pass on to you.
Click HERE TO JOIN!

The Widgets Are Here!

UPDATE: Blogger is having some technical difficulties. It's not the widgets-just keep trying.

The widgets are ready!! LolliShops.com is proud to announce that your custom shop widgets for your blogs, are ready!! You can pick them up by logging into your LolliShops and then go to your Store Controls. Look for the section that says "Blog Widgets".
There you will find a custom Blog Widget generator.

LolliShops.com wants to reward you by hosting blog widgets on your blog so make sure you are on the "Sweet Promotions" Deal!
Love,
Sadie Lou
xoxo

Three Ads for July/August! And an Opportunity!

Cover for Somerset Studio July/August 2009
Cover of Somerset Life July/August 2009
Cover of the August Issue of Romantic Homes
Ad for the August 2009 Romantic Homes
Ad for Somerset Life 2009 July/Aug
Ad for Somerset Studio July/Aug 2009
All these ads might explain the increase of traffic and hourly visitors! This is a screen shot of my hourly traffic ticker on my website...
All the ads and links to the participating shops in the ads are published to the bottom of the website! You can take advantage of LolliShops.com exclusive ad campaign by signing up for our next ad!

Top 15 Traffic Sources for LolliShops.com

I think you will all find this very interesting...

1. Direct Traffic
2. Google
3. LolliShops Blog
4. Flickr
5. Twitter
6. The Feathered Nest (vendor blog)
7. Etsy
8. Yahoo
9. Sweet Eye Candy Creations (vendor blog)
10. StumbleUpon
11. Craftily Ever After Blog (vendor blog)
12. My Faerie Window (vendor blog)
13. Everyday is a Holiday (vendor blog)
14. Facebook
15. IttyBittyBirdie (vendor blog)

See, this information is sooo helpful! The number one traffic source is direct traffic, that means ads and people who know we're out there so they just come right to us.
Google is the next biggest traffic source and that means people putting in phrases like "LolliShops.com"
So that is also from our ad campaign in magazines.
I am always talking about the importance of promoting on social networking that WORKS! There are a lot of them out there that do not work, so you don't want to waste valuable time. This proves that Flickr and Twitter work if you use them.
(insider tips: Do not spam Twitter with too many updates and read Flickr's Terms of Use before you use it)
Next, a business can not find a more valuable and positive way to advertise other than WORD OF MOUTH
Thank you to all the vendors out there that promote LolliShops.com. ((hugs))
We appreciate it soooo much! We're even rewarding you with lower shop
fees in exchange for placing a useful tool on your blog--coming today (PLEASE!! *crossing my fingers*)
The next best social networking sites are Facebook and Stumble Upon.
I don't spam my friends too much by using my personal account to promote LolliShops, most of that traffic is from the Fan Page.
I hope you find this as useful as I do!
Please let me know if you need help with your social networking presence.
~Sadie Lou

Blog Makeovers

This is the picture that Tracey of The Illusive Swan, sent me for the October Romantic Homes Ad...
It's stunning isn't it? Over the course of our emails, Tracey confessed to me that she was somewhat "internet challenged". That is not the first time I have heard that among LolliShops vendors. Several vendors have told me the same thing: There are vendors out there that want to do more promoting and be more involved with their online business but they don't know where to start and the learning curve is frustratingly out of reach.
So I was doing some thinking out loud to my husband and he suggested I use my experience to help LolliShops vendors develop their internet presence. (Good Idea Hubby!) He even suggested a "Blog Makeover". I asked Tracey if I could experiment with her and she agreed! I've been having a lot of fun...
Here's a screen shot of Tracey's first blog...
As you can see, Tracey was able to choose one of Blogger's templates but it doesn't reflect the personality, elegance or sophistication of The Illusive Swan. So I found a template that I thought supported Tracey's character a little better...
I had fun going through Tracey's shops and choosing photos--she is *such* a fabulous photographer and she really knows how to set up a vignette using product.
I also set up a Twitter profile for The Illusive Swan so she can announce shop updates and make connections with other artists.
The LolliShops.com Shop Blog Widgets will be coming out today if all goes well and I'll install that on this blog makeover package too. I would love to help other LolliShops vendors get started on their social networking for their business--it's such a key element to online sales.
Please visit Tracey's NEW blog and watch the progress and leave a comment if you need some technical help.
((hugs))
~Sadie

Happy 4th of July!

Have a safe and Happy 4th!

Flag Pendent from the Charming Cherub
4th of July Collage from Crafty Hands Boutique
Handmade Greeting Card from Papier Girl