Positive Criticism needed

[Bella2010star]

I have started a new blog recently all about the crafts that myself and my daughter do together. I would really appreciate some advice on how to make the site better. It seems that I have had alot of views on the web page but have only two followers any guidance? I know it has only been live a few weeks so I am expecting too much too soon?

can i start by saying you are a great mum, i have two very small children and know how much time goes into doing this kind of stuff so i admire you greatly. i love the site and im now following you. its given me the kick up the behind i needed to do more with my two. but i need to know........where do you get the time to do a blog as well as everything else!!!!!!!!

Thankyou so much I have really put time and effort into this and it is nice to know another Mom appreciates it. It is actually surprising how little time this takes as usually I do it at night when little one is asleep (and my other half is watching something rubbish on TV). The craft activities I mainly do on weekends or days I do not work so do not worry I do not find the time every day. The blog also provides me with a positive distraction from the housework, do not tell my husband tho.

I'm afraid I couldn't bear to read it because of the background. It was all far too busy.

LOL - I meant to add a positive! The idea is good :) Maybe include more pictures or instructions?

Other "similar" blogs I've looked at in the past are Counting Coconuts and One Inch World.

From memory, they have lots of photos, instructions and links to stuff.

Concerned about the background as I want the web page accessible to people. I placed a yellow background behind the text but I can understand what you mean. Thanks for feedback

Hi Bella - I've checked out your blog and you've got some lovely crafts. I
particularly like the story sacks
I've only been blogging a short while so am no expert but have got a few suggestions - hope you don't mind...
A shorter catchy title?
Side bar on the right - apparently it is easier to read
Extra details - ie recipe for your playdough? more details about what exactly you put in your story sacks, a couple of upcycle ideas and photo tutorials.

You are going to have loads of fun with this thing - the possibilities are endless

I found pinterest to be very useful. I pin pictures of my own stuff up and that is a link back to my site that others can pin.
I'm happy for you to give me some tips too! I'm here: at Truly Myrtle.

Your site is lovely I love the font you used for the title. I really appreciate the suggestions. Looking at your site I think I need to change the back ground as well? Maybe it is too busy. More pictures are needed and I will detail more about the story sack. I think I need to change the writing style as I just wanted it to be short and simple (as many parents have limited time). However, people have commented on making it more detailed maybe this is the way to go. How long did it take you to get your followers and how did you advertise for them? I have a pin account and am addicted should really put a pin badge on the blog I think. Good luck with blogging I love it!

Thanks Bella!
Listing things might work?
I've been blogging since early Feb - I've advertised by visiting lots of blogs, entering competitions, holding giveaways, posting info about my blog here and on Ravelry and of course pinterest. I'm not sure how to get to the next level - that is my next challenge!

oh, I forgot to mention Linky parties. Would be great for your stuff. Click on the links on this page and you'll see what I mean.....there are hundreds. I just do some :)

First of all, loads of great creative ideas on your blog, and well done for finding the time to photograph what you do and then blog about it too!

Some suggestions:

Get rid of the busy yellow background, can you make it so there is no background and instead of having such a narrow area with text and photos is you use the whole screen?

Change your font from comic sans. It does scream 'amateur' unfortunately. There are so many fonts to choose from, don't limit yourself to boring old comic sans.

Try to photograph your crafts on plain backgrounds, if possible, some of your tablecloths are very busy.

Apart fomr that, keep on blogging! Don't get hung up on page views or followers, that's not the most important thing!

Compare the payout of your blog, with the layout of TrulyMyrtle's, for what I mean on making your blog page different so that the pictures and text take up most of the screen, rather than the background.

A good way to get followers is to follow other blogs, and also comment on other blogs, every comment I get with a blog address I am guaranteed to click through and check out the person's blog, and quite often I will then leave a reciprocal comment on theri blog. I love comments.

my blog

Hi, the crafts you do are really simple & lovely. Agree about the background. Mine is here: www.dillytante.wordpress.com.

The feedback I've had about mine is that people like the cleanliness & neatness of it. Mine's Wordpress but it has a theme which is really simple but you can choose your own banner, in fact you can have more than one, different ones for different pages.

Up to you though, it's your blog, & if you keep up with the good ideas then people will read it.

I'd try getting a bit more light into your photos. Instagram helps brighten them up.

Have you been on the blogging section on here? Make sure you go to lots of other blogs & comment. Twitter helps too.

Mumoffalltrades has a nice blog, & she does a Weekend Wonders craft link party. She is also v good a tweeting blogs she likes.

Thanks so much ladies looks like another late night of blogging I love it though. Off to change the back ground and layout I will get there eventually. The blogger keeps crashing on me tho anyone else have problems with it?

I really like the changes you have made! Makes a huge difference!

The changes to the text boxes are brilliant

but I hate the new background even more :o I am extremely picky with this kind of staff though.

I need to go back to the drawing board with this background sorry ladies what can I say I just like it looking pretty

Oh, it is pretty. I'm simply fussy - I tend to think the background needs to be muted as all the important stuff is on top of it.

:)

What other blogs do you read? Would be interesting to know to develop mine

I am fickle! At the moment I'm reading Attic24 as my main one and Mumsnetter Dillytante's one because she linked to it for something or other. I don't have links as I read them via an iPad app. I did have more but I started afresh with my new iPad.

In the spirit of fairness, since I've criticised yours (:o) I should post a link to mine. It is mainly dull wittering and I don't court followers for that reason! Purely for my own enjoyment and to bore a couple of friends

I read Attic24 too - I wonder how many followers she must have?!
And Dillytante!

I like a white background. I love photos and like them to do the talking.

I like to do the talking myself on mine!

To be honest, I'm a bit of a blog slut & rely on twitter & mumsnet for good links. Agree with Attic 24 but I tend to forget hers is an actual blog & mainly visit for patterns I know of.

Thanks to those who read mine :) It's mainly because I whore it around!

Marking my place