Social Networking List

"Every individual directory that you submit to is another chance to get found online so it's important to make sure you're listed in every directory possible."

Here's a blog post that completed a list of the top 50 social networking opportunities, along with lists, pages, etc. all of which can help get your name out there and really increase your inbound linkage (people finding your site).

While it's not quick, or really easy to complete all of them, it is free--mainly. So, take advantage as you can! & thank you Hubspot, for sharing this information!

Check it out here.

info shared by lacey's husband of Eyes & Ears, Sound & Security, Inc. 

March Treasury Contest Winner 'Pattern Recognition'

Thank you PopRocket for this fantastic treasury! View the treasury here & click around! 

Congratulations on winning the February Contest. Thanks for entering.

Want your chance to win front page on the blog & get extra promotion? Enter our March contest--no theme required. Make sure to tag your treasury with 'HandmadeTriadApril' & comment on our Facebook Fan Page with a link!

One Minute with Lisa Snedeker

Our Handmade Triad group is proud to welcome social media consultant, Lisa Snedeker to our April meeting where she will take us through a social media bootcamp. Currently serving as Director of communications, public relations & social media at Wake Forest School of Law, Lisa is fascinated by the growth of social media applications like Facebook and Twitter.

A teacher of journalism and even French, Lisa now helps businesses take advantage of the power of social media. "One of the biggest misconceptions people have about social media is that it's a fad" Snedeker says.

ONE Minute with Lisa...

ONE time when I was little my parents left me with their friends in Japan for two weeks and I didn't want to go home when they got back.

ONE day I hope to return to China.

ONE movie I would never tire of watching --'Field of Dreams' and 'Out of Africa'.

If I had to create with ONE color for the rest of my life, I would pick sage green

ONE of my best strategies for fueling my creativity is running.

If I could add ONE hour to my day, I would read.

ONE thing I hope to gain from teaching this course is new insights.

ONE thing you really need to know about me is I like good conversation.

ONE thing I know for sure is that prayer works

Find Lisa on Twitter: lisa_snedeker

Photo credit: divadea

Social Media Help for Crafters

Still don't have a Facebook page for your craft business? Does the thought of Twitter cause you to twitch? Well no worries friend! This week our Handmade Triad group will be delving into the world of social media at our April meeting. To get you started, here are some links to help you get a leg up.

Videos for Creating a Facebook and Twitter Page:
If you are like me, visual learning is sometimes easier than reading instructions. Check out HubSpot's video here for setting up a Facebook page for your business. You will set up a page, learn ways to promote your page and tips for creating a great page.
HubSpot also has a video here for setting up a Twitter account for your business.

Ebooks - Twitter and Facebook
Meylah, the blog devoted to building an online creative community, has a free downloadable eBook to get you started with Facebook, Twitter and Flikr. Inside the presentation are additional links to articles to help

See wasn't that easy? Now that you have your page built, check out Meylah's article on 10 ways to maximize your Facebook fan page here. And finally after your Twitter business page is ready, check out the post by Social Media expert Chris Brogan on 50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business.

Be sure to check out our blog tomorrow. We will feature local social media expert Lisa Snedeker. Lisa will be taking our group through a Social Media Bootcamp that will surely get us 'in shape' with social media.

To find out more about Handmade Triad click here.

Photo Credit: Asthma Helper

March Treasury Winner--VOTE!

Below is a list of 3 top picks for the March contest (based on number of views) Vote for your favorite--winner announced online & at the next Handmade Triad Meeting (tuesday, april 5th).

by SweetAnnaCreations

by PopRocket

by Gremlina

Handmade Happenings this Weekend

Ahhh! The weekend is here and the weather is going to be grand! Come out and support our fellow Handmade Triad Team members at these weekend events.

Saturday March 19: Start your day off early at 9am for Jamestown UMC's Spring Bazaar. Treat yourself to some lovely crochet items by HMT's own Mandy Nelson of Purple Hook. While you are there, finish off your look with jewelry from Jean Jarvis of Jean Jarvis Designs.

Take some time for lunch then head on down to The Hand to Hand Market - 3-10pm at and above the Green Bean in Downtown Greensboro. There will be demos, crafts to make and goodies to buy! Go here for more information.

Handmade Triad members Justiann Ard of Witchhazel Handmades and Laurie O'Neil from Slow Turn Studios will be there offering their lovely and unique creations.

The crafty goodnes comes to an end (for now) on Sunday at the Greensboro Farmer's Market. See Jean Jarvis and other craft artists at Spring Arts & Crafts @ the Market from 11am-5pm.

Tell us what crafty things are you doing this weekend!

-Photo credit: Green Mum Totes

Happy St. Patrick's Day !

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the Handmade Triad team!

We’re lucky to have joined together to support handmade and vintage in the Triad area. As treasury curator, Meghan Noble Thomson says, “Let our city's artisans help you discover a little piece of Tir Na Nog (the land of eternal youth)!"

Check our her wonderful Etsy Treasury -Wearing O' the Green(sboro)-

Spring 2011 Fashion Trends

The following can be found in its original form on Andrea's blog here. Also stop by her shop to admire! Thanks Andrea & Valencia--great inspiration!

I attended my first Handmade Triad meeting last night and after some laughter and a wonderful presentation, I went home with some great ideas! See below for some trends I’m looking forward to both wearing and being inspired by in Spring 2011.

Revival of the 70′s

“Foxy” Belt Buckle- Good Gaudy

Caramel Disc Earrings- Val B Designs

Tassels!

Tassel Necklace- Studio Eleven 11

 Punk

Black Bow Ring- Studio Eleven 11

Silver & Gold Evening Bag- Jerushad

Black Studded Bracelet- pureGARAGE

Feathers

Feather Bracelet- Glazed Black Cherry

Turquoise & Coral Earrings- Studio Eleven 11

Vendors Wanted!

Booth fees are as low as $10 for a 12' x 12' booth! For more information or vendor application email GlenwoodEvents@gmail.com or witchhazelhandmades@gmail.com.

February Treasury Contest Winner 'Where Winter Meets Spring'

Thank you Keena of Keena's Kreations for this fantastic treasury! View the treasury here & click around! 

Congratulations on winning the February Contest. Thanks for entering.

Want your chance to win front page on the blog & get extra promotion? Enter our March contest--no theme required. Make sure to tag your treasury with 'HandmadeTriadMarch' & comment on our Facebook Fan Page with a link!

Upgrade Your Business with Facebook!

Don't let the opportunity to use a free Facebook page pass you by! Whether you're an Etisian, Artfire lover, eBay shopkeeper or other, there is no better way to network, socialize, promote, explore, discover and upgrade your business. From sharing with friends at the click of a button, to keeping past customers up to date on new sales, coupons, new products and events, Facebook makes staying in touch SIMPLE!

Recently Facebook has added an 'upgrade' option making pages even more effective. Already using Facebook as a tool to reach new and existing customers? Take the tour of the facebook upgrade nad find tools, like the ability to post to other folks pages AS YOUR BUSINESS. This is huge! Now you can spread your little business icon all over the place--like dropping business cards all over the internet!

Other key features:

• You can link your posts with twitter--double exposure without double work.
• Pictures of your work blaze across the top for visitors to see choice examples of your creations.
• When logged in as your business you get a News Feed of different pages you've 'liked' as your business.

& remember--first things first. 'Like' Handmade Triad's page & SHARE with your friends and customers.

this post brought to you by Lacey of Gremlina Vintage(for ideas on how to use your facebook page, feel free to stop by ours!)

Love day

Shopping locally is big. Keeping money close, investing in our communities, supporting folks around the corner--nothing feels better than finding what you need, meeting the person who's providing for you, and walking away satisfied--nothing.

Holidays are the PERFECT time to achieve this world-saving notion.The perfect time to think a little outside the box, think ahead a bit & order from local folks--heck, have something specially made for the person most special in your own life!

Here are a few examples of great local folks who are ready to supply you with goods that will make your loved ones feel special. All from our delightfully talented Handmade Triad team members.

from danikeith & loads more.

from HauteChocolate & these taste better than they look--i've sampled.

could you go wrong with misunrie's vase filled with your love's favorite flowers??

And something slightly more masculine from Ikow Designs

What can't you find from our local artisans?! All these shops & more conveniently found at Handmade Triad.com

this blog post provided by Lacey of Gremlina Vintage

Treasury by TBSCreations

Latest treasury featuring some members of Handmade Triad.

Check out this talent!

Some of our newest members are featured in this treasury.

Be sure to check out their etsy shops.

WhatWasOld Vintage

MSR Pottery by Misunrie

HauteChocolateNC Handmade Chocolates

Faux Design Studio

Gremlina Vintage Shop

LightHeartedStudios

Dani Keith Designs

Keena's Kreations

LeeLu Creations

Witch Hazel Handmades

Faye's Crochet

IKow Designs

Purple Hook

Flying Pig Pottery

The Gnome Shack

Slow Turn Studio

Hello 2011...

Hello 2011... we were wondering when you were gonna get here.

This is Traci, aka TBSCreations. I am the "leader" of Handmade Triad. We had our first team meeting of 2011 last night. It was great because we had lots of new people, plus the 'usuals'.
We have some great new ideas for 2011 and lots of excitement and enthusiasm to go with it. Something we need! One of our goals we discussed was getting our blog back on track. Hopefully my fellow team members will help out. I have total faith in them.

Speaking of my wonderful team members, I created an Etsy treasury today featuring members of Handmade Triad. Check it out!

We are looking forward to all the wonderful things in store for us in 2011.