I first heard about Lisa Leonard when she sent me an email two years ago and asked if I wanted to give away one of her custom necklaces to a lucky freshvintage blog reader. I received more traffic during that week than any other time since I started freshvintage (as noted in my post about traffic-building tactics).
So, when Lisa approached me a few weeks ago to do another giveaway, how could I possibly refuse?! Since my last giveaway in 2008, Lisa has expanded her jewelry line and created a lovely new shopping site for Lisa Leonard Designs. I was intrigued by the marketing approach that she uses for her business, so I invited her to answer a few questions for my freshblogtips readers:
I started blogging about three years ago just to document our family life and share creatively about my jewelry. Although I had a jewelry business, I focused on local retail shops and home parties. Soon I had readers asking if they could purchase my designs online, so eventually I started taking paypal and the online business evolved from there.
2. Do you use Twitter or Facebook to spread the word about Lisa Leonard Designs?
I've recently started using twitter and I have a facebook account but I hardly ever check it!
3. What was your most successful online marketing campaign?
I would say connecting with other bloggers regularly is my most successful campaign. It involves making real relationships and it's an ongoing process. There is no easy, make-money-quickly, campaign. It's all about networking and helping others, too!
4. Have you ever paid for advertising on another website or blog?
Yes, I pay for ads on other websites. I really try to assess cost of the ad, number of visitors (the blog owner should provide statistics) and whether or not the readers will resonate with my designs. I love when blog owners sell their own ad space, rather than working through a middle man. It's easier to network with blog owners.
I use Google Analytics to get an idea of traffic. A lot of people use readers, and that can be hard to measure. But google analytics give a good baseline.
6. Did your business have a tipping point? (that is, a specific event that really made your business take off?)
This is a great question. The business has grown steadily and requires a lot of attention. Getting a full page feature in Parenting Magazine was a huge confidence booster and brought us tons of traffic.
7. Judging from the number of comments that your blog posts receive, it is obvious that you have built quite a loyal community. How do you keep your blog readers and customers coming back?
I
genuinely care about my readers and I appreciate their input. I want
to hear their stories--not just share my own. I think we all want to
connect and be understood. I hop over and visit their blogs and get to
know them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa has generously offered to give away a Family Crest necklace to one lucky freshblogtips reader! That's a $72 value!
Simply leave a comment below by 12pm EST on Friday, January 22nd. The giveaway is only available to US & Canada readers. The winner will be randomly chosen on Jenuary 23rd and notified via email (so make sure yours is included). One entry per person, please.
Thank you, Lisa!
P.S. For those of you attending the sold-out 2010 Blissdom Conference, be sure to visit the panel called Leveraging Social Media to Build Your Business - Lisa will be one of the speakers.
UPDATED: Comments are closed now. Winner to be announced soon!
Love hearing how creative women market themselves!
Posted by: Carol Allston-Stiles | January 17, 2010 at 07:39 PM
Oooo. I have seen her gorgeous necklaces on alot of blogs, they are truly lovely!
How did I not know you had this blog??? I need to start following it in my feed reader. Thanks for the twitter heads up!
Posted by: Sybil | January 17, 2010 at 07:40 PM
Great ideas as always. I would love to hear that I've won.
Audrey
bretz@roadrunner.com
Posted by: Audrey | January 17, 2010 at 08:09 PM
I like hearing about how other women started their own blog/online store. It's one of my own personal goals for 2010! :)
Posted by: Amy V | January 17, 2010 at 08:26 PM
love hearing the success of others and who willingly share it with others.
these necklaces are to die for and i'd be in heaven if i were to finally get my paws on this beauty!!
Posted by: Leanne | January 17, 2010 at 08:34 PM
Fabulous and inspiring interview, and what beautiful jewelry!
gail@thayersonline.com
Posted by: Gail | January 17, 2010 at 08:36 PM
Very neat! I have seen Lisa's work featured on many sites and blogs and would love to win this awesome necklace!
Thanks for the great giveaway!
Posted by: Kaye Prince | January 17, 2010 at 08:42 PM
They're gorgeous - thanks for offering!
whitney dot archer at gmail dot com
Posted by: Whitney | January 17, 2010 at 08:44 PM
Would love to win!
Posted by: D | January 17, 2010 at 08:44 PM
Great interview, and beautiful jewelry to boot! :)
Posted by: Lauren J | January 17, 2010 at 09:25 PM
Such adorable jewelry!
Posted by: Emma | January 17, 2010 at 09:31 PM
Great interview! Her products definitely deserve to be featured in Parents magazine.
Posted by: pattie cordova | January 17, 2010 at 09:36 PM
What a nice, generous thing to do-give away your work. I also appreciate your sharing information about your blog and blogging process. As yet another person about to launch her own, I fear that with so many things that go into creating a blog, I might just fall down into the rabbit hole of too much choice. Hope one day I am successful enough at it that I can give something away, too.
Posted by: Beth Lee | January 17, 2010 at 09:48 PM
Oh My! What a lovely necklace and so very generous! She certain gave a lot of good ideas that we can use. Thanks so much
Elaine Moore
mtn.moven.faith@comcast.net
Posted by: Elaine Moore | January 17, 2010 at 09:49 PM
Great interview - I am trying to soak up as much of this type of info as I can...and I LOVE this jewelry and will be adding her to my wishpot list so friends and family can find her too!
Posted by: deb | January 17, 2010 at 09:52 PM
Love the interview!
Posted by: pam | January 17, 2010 at 10:00 PM
Beautiful necklace. I would be thrilled to wear it. Loved the interview.
Posted by: Patti | January 17, 2010 at 10:04 PM
Lovely, lovely necklace. Thank you for the chance to own such a beauty.
Posted by: Shara Stacks | January 17, 2010 at 10:38 PM
What a generous and gorgeous giveaway! I LOVE the necklace and would be thrilled to win such a treasure! Please count me in!
**smiles**
Carol
Posted by: Carol | January 17, 2010 at 10:46 PM
So interesting to hear Lisa's thoughts on blog marketing. Her jewelry is beautiful!
Posted by: Naomi | January 17, 2010 at 10:49 PM
Lisa seriously knows what she is doing. Her name is practically a brand.
That being said, I'd love one of her necklaces now that my 2 year old has gotten over her Gorilla phase and has stopped busting all my jewelry.
Posted by: Amanda | January 17, 2010 at 11:00 PM
Thanks for this very informative post - I've often wondered how bloggers use their blogs for marketing stuff! And her jewelry is fantastic!!
Posted by: SusanHnSC | January 17, 2010 at 11:08 PM
would a lovely treat this would make right now. thanks for sharing the information on blog marketing. blogs will rule the world one day. cheers!
Posted by: Rachel Carlson | January 17, 2010 at 11:25 PM
Thank-you for this inspiring blog post! I hope it empowers women of like minds to take blogging to the next step. I'd be thrilled to win a fabulous piece of jewelry from Lisa!
Posted by: Cathy Greschner | January 17, 2010 at 11:38 PM
Great interview. Love the blog and the jewelry.
Posted by: Susan Brown | January 18, 2010 at 12:36 AM