I have a website but it has not been updated for years. I keep the website because I feel it gives a visual of my work for people who want to see that BUT if I'm not updating because I have to pay someone to do that for me OR I would have to change it to another service and pay someone to do that too it doesn't get done. I do not have the time or inclination to learn how to do that myself. My question to you readers is this: Is it necessary for me to have both a website and a blog? Renewal for my website is coming up to keep my domaine name and I know it needs updating so I'm wondering if it's worth it to spring the money for. Would really appreciate your input on this subject. Is a blog enough? I could start uploading more images of my wares to my Flickr account and have a link to that from the blog. Would that be sufficient and make the website not necessary?
Today I'm packing up a few items to send to St. Louis to be juried for the Weavers' Guild annual sale and to be entered in the fashion show if they're accepted. I will post some pics of those later this afternoon or evening.
Hope you have a wonderful day!
Hi Lorri, it's my opinion, perhaps old school by now, that an artist needs a website as a more formal presentation of her work. The blog is more casual, chatty, less organized, easier to manage, I know, but it's not going to present you and your work in the most elegant way. FWIW, I've made some important contacts through my website, and some sales. And, I don't have a blog. Sometimes, I have nothing to say that seems worth posting. That said, I, too, need to update my website, and I am in the position, like you, to depend on another to do it for me, and pay her for her efforts. It is worth it to me, as I really don't want to handle that technical stuff myself.
ReplyDeleteLorri,
ReplyDeleteI designed and kept up a website for Green Graphics for several years with no business forthcoming., primarily because I didn't pay search engines for competitive placement, as one of my clients did for the site I built for her (she's supporting herself quite well with it). I can't testify as to whether you should continue your site, but if you do, I could probably deal with your updating chores just for the fun of it. Check my blog to see how far from pushing my business I've gone.
Hi Lori... I vote for blog only. Then again, what Rosemary said seems important too. Have you tried GoDaddy to create your own web presence? They are cheap and very easy to use... just to keep the web presence. Didn't look to see if you had a counter on your website.
ReplyDeleteI surf blogs all the time, just because they are up to date, current, and way more personal.
Good luck with your decision!
I'll see you in Petaluma...
Sweet Blessings
Chris
PS were you the one who bought the vintage dress?
I think we are starting to see a change in this, Lorri, but I could be wrong. As blogging software adds more features it may be that a blog can replace a more formal website. Blogger has static pages now, for example. If they allow an unlimited number of them, and a static entry page, that could be your entire website if you can get the design you want within their system. Wordpress probably has similar features as well, and the photo sites are going in similar directions from different starting points.
ReplyDeleteThat said, though, I don't quite know that we're there yet. We may be getting close, but perhaps need additional time for things to shake out.
For me, I'd keep the site for another 2-4 years and reassess. The problem, though, is the updates. My own is woefully out of date at this point as well, so I can relate to the issues you raise. In my case, though, the domain name and some email addresses there are well known and used, which means I cannot let the domain go away. My hands are tied, as it were, so I won't be changing things any time soon.
Regardless of your decision, I hope you find a solution that makes you happy. I wish, though, that the answers were both obvious and easy.
I'm dealing with the same issue, but just renewed my website fo 2 years. I underuse and don't update often enough, but I'm not ready to give up my website. I think it's a professional thing to have a website. I use Go Daddy; although I had to have someone else set it up, it's easy to update.
ReplyDeleteLorri, I continue to use both although I don't get a lot of hits to my website. Some every day, but usually not more than 300+ a month, most months. I have a link to my blog (and FB Page) at the top of my website, and vice versa on the blog.
ReplyDeleteFor 3 years I've been with http://ArtSites.us to host my site. It costs me $100 per year. I have complete access to my site and changes are a snap to make. ArtSites has templates that are extremely easy to setup and use and all the rest is done whenever you want to. You can use the program for a week or two before you commit to it, and it takes maybe 2 sessions to get completely set up.
This isn't an advertisement for them, it's just that I tried several other options before I found them -- including spending well over $1000 to have someone create it and manage it for me.
The only other cost is the domain name, which is something like $40 or less for 3 years at a time through GoDaddy.
My website is http://constancerosedesigns.com if you want to check it out. I do make changes on a fairly regular basis, like when I have new work to upload, etc.
All that said, I LOVE blogger and wouldn't be without it. Like someone else above me said, it is more chatty, more here and now, process oriented and personal than a website.
Good luck with it all!
I used to have a website, too, but I think most folks go for a blog these days, because you can include all the info that you had on your website on your blog as pages. Folks interested in your beautiful work want to also get to know the artist - hence perfect place is a blog.
ReplyDeleteWhat I did to not lose anyone that might've gone to my website and any SEO I gained - keep your domain name though (URL) and point it to your blog. That way folks click on your website (which is probably a way more interesting name than blogspot) and go to your blog.
That's my 2 cents. : )
l use my blog and Fan Facebook page. I stopped using my web because l was not getting many hits. I would love to keep my web but it cost me too much considering l was only get one or two hits a day. i think it is a personal choice and l hope you come to the right conclusion for you Lorri. x lynda x
ReplyDeleteI think a blog, done very simply but with great images, could lead people to your blog, which you could update on a much more regular basis. Between that and a facebook page, I think you would get the kind of coverage you desire. Those are my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteCindy