Run a Successful Knitting Blog
Make your blog a success!
What does it take to get a successful knitting blog? Over a quarter of a million people have visited my blog in the past year, and to me that is some measure of success! In this lens, I am going to share my tips for creating a successful knitting blog... tricks that I discovered accidentally.
While many of these tips are applicable to the knitting/crochet genre, I think there are tips here that could work for any blogger.
Content is King
Would you follow your own blog?
Any successful blog requires content that people will search for. If no one cares about what you have to say, then why would they visit your blog? Knitting blogs are made special through discussions of knitting, but also making these insights personal.
ChemKnits is about knitting and only knitting. If you were to read a post, you would think knitting first and then my life second. Knitting projects can take a long time, so it can be hard to come up with content to keep your readers happy. This doesn't mean that you should start filling posts about other aspects of your life just to have more blog posts. This would no longer be a knitting blog, but a blog about you. (There is nothing wrong with personal blogs, but blogs that are about your personal life will appeal more to people who know you in real life) Your personal life will make your blog special, but try to keep the emphasis on knitting!
Ideas for Posts
1. Your latest knitting project
2. Your own knitting designs
3. Spotlight another knitting.
4. Review a knitting book.
5. What patterns are in your queue?
Tell us your story
I started my blog ChemKnits while searching for ear flap hat patterns. I made a list of free knitting patterns with descriptions for my own purpose, and then realized that this information could be useful to others. Boom, ChemKnits was born.
Provide a personal perspective. Sure, others have said it before, but if people like your writing style they'll keep coming back.
Take a lot of pictures of your projects. Who knows, maybe your commentary on the construction of a pair of socks will help someone who is struggling with the same pattern. Share your mistakes and how you corrected them.
Google Analytics
Discover what people are interested in on your blog
I didn't start using google analytics until the blog had already been running for a year. The sources of your traffic can be really surprising.
Even once you learn what brings people to your website, this doesn't mean that you need to change your writing style. If your goal is to get the maximum amount of traffic, then sure, you may need to change some things. But if your goal is to provide unique useful content, then keep doing what you're doing. Ultimately, you'll end up with so many blog posts that even the ones that are only visited 10 times/month will add up.
Expect Seasonal Trends
Knitting is a seasonal hobby, so don't get discouraged when your traffic drops in March. When winter approaches, your traffic will pick right back up!
The Yarn Harlot
The Yarn Harlot is one of the most popular knitting blogs ever. The author of this fantastic blog has published a book on knitting.
Publish Regularly
Set a goal for yourself (whether it is 4/month or 3/week) and stick to it. Your readers will know to check back for new content.
Queue up your posts
Don't post them all at once!
I own a custom domain (www.chemknits.com) but I started my blog with Google Blogger. I still use blogger to host my blog because I really enjoy the interface.
One of the best features of blogger is that you can schedule a post to be published at a future date. When you are editing a post, select post options and you will see inputs where you can edit "Post date and time." The default for the publish time is whenever you started the post. By scheduling posts in the future, you can meet your publication deadlines without having the pressure to sit down and write each week. There are times when I can complete 5 posts in one day, and other times where I go a month without writing anything new.
It helps that knitting is not a current events subject. If you are blogging about politics then you cannot schedule things in the future or else the post will not have the same value.
Projects and Personalities from the Knitting Blogosphere
There are thousands of knitting blogs available on the internet. Some of these online knitting magazines are more well known than the print magazines you receive in your actual mailbox. This book encompasses the spirit of people who designed their knitting patterns for the internet first. In addition to providing fabulous patterns, the book looks into how and why designers create their knits.
Make sure you check out the knitting blog of the author, Julie Turjoman!
Promote yourself on YouTube - ChemKnits on YouTube
On my blog, I started receiving questions on how to do particular knitting techniques that I referenced in my free knitting patterns. I realized that even though there are many knitting videos on youtube, that there was a need for more knitting instruction. In 2010, I started creating various "how to knit" videos to assist my readers.
Now I'm not sure if I get additional traffic to my blog from youtube, but by keeping a watermark on my videos, it helps me get more exposure. This is another reason why it is really important to create a unique username (KnitGurl### won't be as easy to remember!)
Promote your knitting designs - Easy Backlinks
A great way to bring traffic to you knitting blog is to offer free knitting patterns. There are many free knitting pattern directories that will happily link to whatever free patterns you have designed. Some of them may even find you on their own. The following links are to websites that I know respond to my requests to link to my free patterns.
- Knitting Pattern Central Contact Form
One of the largest and most basic knitting pattern directories. You will get your patterns linked here within a week. (And you will get fantastic traffic as they remain on the list of new patterns for three weeks) - Ravelry
Ravelry is a knitting directory that allows you to share your completed projects and also promote your free patterns. You will need to create a free account to join. The traffic you will get to your blog may not be huge, but you will certainly gain e - All Free Knitting Contact Page
All free knitting will display your pattern with a thumbnail of the pattern image. I get a large amount of referral traffic from this website.
Define your goals
What do you want to get out of your blog? Is it to help others? To keep track of your own knitting projects? If you know why you are creating the blog, it will help you stay focused.
