Buying Searching Junking and Preparing For Reselling.
Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! I was curious about something. Once treasures found are brought home with you, what do you do next? I am sure we all have different ways of doing things, and we all do what we feel to be best for our sales. Of course the wonderful decisions of are we keeping it, or will we sell it?...LOL:)
I love shopping Thrift Stores, Yard Sales, Auctions, Estate Sales, Flea Markets, and Yes! Junking too! Once I get items home I set all the pieces out, and I make my notes of the items bought, where bought from, dates bought, and prices I paid for things too. Then...comes the fun part. Gently washing, and cleaning all the items to the best of my abilities. I always worry about damaging things so I am careful with all pieces, do them one by one, and take my time with them. Since they are pieces that will be resold as is, or used in repurposing I still thoroughly look all the pieces over carefully. During this time I will note any faults, knicks, markings and stamps of brands, and so on. Once I have completed this I will then get out my notebook, and start my research on pieces to see how many others are also being offered. I like to get an idea of average sale prices that are offered, and what they have sold for as well. Some of these treasures may also be researched with different books to learn some of their history, and values for in today's market too.
Doesn't seem like much of a procedure with this step of preparations, but it can be time consuming. I enjoy it as I learn the pieces, and connect with them by better viewing them in a different way from their purchase.
Hey, if you have something to add with this, or would like to share something please know that you are welcome to do so. Just hit the old comment button below, and share with us all. Love hearing from all of you, and I even enjoy seeing ya'll say Hi to me too!:)
Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Take care, and see you all again soon!:)
Stay Connected Google Friend Connect Leaves Use Linky.
Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone! I know I have mentioned this recently, but I wanted to add another note, or a reminder of this situation.
Google Friend Connect is going away on March 1st, 2012. Hate to see it, but Google has been removing some of their applications over time, and Google Friend Connect is one of them. So that I do not lose friends, or those who are connected to follow along with posts, any kind of notices, and etc....I have added Linky Followers. You will see this box in my right side bar, and right under the Google Friend Connect box too. Linky Followers is also Free...I like that!:) So, if you would like to stay connected please sign up with Linky Followers.
Thanks for visiting everyone, and I look forward to many more posts being shared with you too. Take care, and have a super Sunday!:)
UPDATE: I enjoy my followers with LilacsNDreams, and I know some of you like to have certain ways of following, and keeping in touch with some of your favorite blogs too. I suggest visiting SewCalGal with her blog, and seeing what she has to offer with this issue. And...read some of the comments left by others to maybe give some insights to this situation too. There is a good chance that the blogspot bloggers will not be effected with this change, but we will have to wait to see for sure. If you know of anything, or have some suggestions....Please feel free to share them with all of us here at LilacsNDreams. Thanks for stopping by everyone!:)
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY from LilacsNDreams! Am wishing all of you a splendid day, and a great evening too.
So, anyone have any big plans for today, or tonight? Sorry, not me....hubby is out of state with work, so am on my own this year. Hmm....maybe I will treat myself tonight since I will be home alone...what should I eat, what should I buy....Hmmm.....LOL:)
Some might receive gifts today, and some will have gifts on their way yet too. If shopping for someone special, and it is hard to know what to get them. Remember, it does not always have to be red, does not always have to have hearts on it, but that it is something special they have been looking for, have wanted, and something to say....Just Because:)
Stop by to visit my stores to see if there would be something of interest whether it is big, small, vintage, collectibles, or repurposed treasures. Lil bit of something for everyone. Artfire ~ Ecrater ~ Etsy ~ I ship everything priority mail with insurance included with shipping for a more secure delivery.
Thanks for stopping by LilacsNDreams Everyone. I wish you all well, and have a beautiful day!!:)
Google Friend Connect and Linky Followers. Welcome back to LilacsNDreams! I promise I won't keep you all long with this posting. But, I got an email that was informing me with all the changes of Google that the Google Friend Connect would soon be phased out as well. Has anyone else heard of this? I know Google is making changes....like with picnik closing, and a few of their other programs they have. I never did get a full list of what other programs they will be closing, so was questioning about the Google Friend Connect. IF that is true, and that is another program that Google will be ridding of.....those people in your Google Friend Connect will be lost. There is no way for you to transfer them over to another service. Unless they come up with something to help out, there will be no way to transfer your friends to another program that you might wish to use.
So, in the right hand column, right below the Google Friends Connect that I have you will see another box that friends can connect with, and follow with too. That one is called Linky Followers. It is Free, and Linky does get used with quite a few blogs I have noticed too. For those who have already signed with Google Friend Connect, if you will be so kind as to sign in with the Linky Followers I would appreciate it. Just in case there is some truth to this issue I would rather be safe, then sorry. If for some reason, or other it does not happen I will remove the secondary box. Until then I will keep both boxes for signing up to follow with until I can get confirmation for such actions.
Thanks for visiting LilacsNDreams, and working with me everyone, I appreciate it. Take care, and have a great week!:) See ya later.........
Optimizing Blogger Blog and Achieving Traffic. Welcome back to LilacsNDreams, and glad to have you here! I started a post last week as a refresher of what I had done about Blogs, Blogging, Platforms to choose from, etc. Today will be about what to do with your blogs to better help you with traffic which can also help in making some money if that is what you are choosing to do.
1) Blog Title is an important part of applying proper SEO techniques. A reminder that SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. Choose a title that will use keywords other might use to search with, and make sure it reflects on what your top will be at that time too.
2) Blog Description is a significant part of a blog for Search Engine Optimization, or also known as SEO. You want your description to be appealing to visitors, and at the same time using keywords that you are targetting in search engines. Remember, the keywords will vary for everyone because it depends on what you topic is at hand. Some keywords that I try to use for things that pertain to my blogs, what I blog about, what I sell, and what I discuss would be like vintage, collectibles, handmade, homemade, hand altered, repurposed, upcycled, glassware, and things like that.
3) Comments is something that you would like to allow with all your blog posts. Allowing comments can help enhance value of your blog post, and it also helps to update your content as well too. Along with this it will assist in helping to improve your search engine rankings.
4) Quality Content is a must for your blog success. When you can, or able to post quality content that people like to read this in turn will help improve your traffic to your blog. What you have started your blog for in regards to topics, themes, business, etc...If you can stay within some kind of a rythmn of it that people will be interested in they will stop to visit you, read with you, and hopefully comment and share things too.
5) Submit Blog to Search Engines and Directories. Submitting your blog to these things will give you a better search engine rankings as well too. When I myself submit my blogs I submit my domains that are directed to them, but I also submit their blogspot url addresses they have too. It helps since people will use both url addresses to come visit with you.
6) Use Keywords in the Anchor Text of Links. Using keywords in the anchor text of links is of vital importance to get some of your best SEO results with. Use your primary, and secondary keywords in anchor texting of links. Again, words I generally use for me are vintage, collectibles, handmade, homemade, repurposed, upcycled, altered, and things like that. When clicking on these different keywords you will be directed to 1 of the 3 stores I have items listed with. Also, keep in mind not to over due it too. Google, or the search engines see it being over done, or an over kill of it they will ignore you. It then will become considered spam, and that is something all search engines try to avoid.
I hope this little bit has helped some of you with things you do with your blogs. It also works for your websites, and can work with where you list your items for sale too. I can honestly say by doing some of the things I have noted for you over time, it does help your views with your blogs, and when I check my Google Analytics I am seeing results there too. I honestly can get more views with my Blog than I do with my stores. My long term goals...I hope it keeps working this way for me too:)
Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams, and wishing you all a Happy Hump Day! You take care now, and see you again soon. Later . . . . .
Blog Blogger Blogging Social Media Networking of Today.
Hello, and Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Happy to see you here, and everyone is always Welcomed to visit with LilacsNDreams too.
I came in here today with an idea in mind to discuss with all of you, but along the way changed my thinking and thoughts. Ever happen to you? Heck, I can even walk across a room sometimes, and either forget what I was going for, or also change my thought along the way there too...LOL:) I know I have talked a little bit before about Blogging, and Social Media or Social Networking. I have decided to cover this a little bit again for everyone, and touch base with it a bit. Why? Social Media, and Networking is growing fast, and is still predicted to be something good to use with all that you do with online sales, marketing, your brick and mortar stores, and etc.
So, the question is Why Blog? Many reasons for it. I'll try not to bore you all, and keep it simple. 1) Social Media or Networking is one reason for it. Blogging is another form of Social Media like Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and so on. 2) Another reason to Blog is it gets you published. How you ask? By working with certain things in mind in regards to your SEO you will get noticed in search engine rankings, and etc. 3) Another reason to Blog is that you get your message out that you would like to share with others. There is no right, or wrong message to put out there. It is up to you what you wish to share, and what the message is that you would like others to relate to. 4) Blogging is another way to share tips, tutorials, questions, and answers too. 5) This has become a great way for Teachers and Students to share work, class notes, pictures, and etc.
Blogging is not just for one form of profession, but for many and all forms. Online Sellers, Brick and Mortar Store Owners, Big Companies, Small Companies, Journalists, Photographers, Publishers, Writers, and many many people are turning to the forms of Blogging as the Social Media Networking area grows.
Choosing the right platform is a task that you yourself will have to cover, and determine. Your main, and popular platforms are with Blogger.com and also with Wordpress.com. Another growing platform is also with Tumblr.com. Choosing the platform that works for you depends on what you want to do with your blog.
1) Tumblr is a platform for Social Networking of simple, and quick posts. Some themes are free, some are paid for premium themes. No plugins are used to add additional features onto your blog. This is a nice place to use for the casual internet presence.
2) Word Press is a more serious professional blogging used. There are 2 forms with Word Press which is WordPress.org, and with WordPress.com. The .com of word press is the hosted service of software, and has your basic features for free. It displays ads on your blog unless you want to purchase ad-free upgrade. The .org is the home of software. You get complete control, and flexibility here. You can download the software that must be installed on a web hosting server to work like Blue Host, Go Daddy, and etc.
3) Blogger of course is another free service used by many. You do not have to have certain plugins to do different things. You are allowed up to 10 pages with them, and those are static pages. You can have as many blogs, or blog urls as you wish....up to 100 I believe is the limit there. Like Word Press it has pros and cons to using it as well.
Well, as you can see....I use Blogger, and love it here! I do have a blog at Word Press, but do not use it as often. I am use to blogger with the ease of use of things here, find it easier to navigate around here, and if I work things right I can make it show with the search engines as word press shows too. That will be the next discussion for you with optimizing your blogger blog.
Here we are going into the weekend everyone. I wish you well, have fun, enjoy, and please be safe too. Enjoy it, and see you all again soon LilacsNDreams. Remember, you are always welcome to leave a comment, share something you know to contribute with this, and of course most of all....Please say Hi so that I can come visit with you too. Take care, and see you again soon everyone.
