SEO Craft Racket, The Notes!
Did you miss our Craft Racket on the subject of search engine optimization (SEO)? No, worries! Heidi Gustad of HandsOccupied.com and a speaker at the event has graciously shared her notes. Add them to your growing file on crafting a business.
Download them here: craftmafia-seopost-072012
Illinois Artisans Shop – Deadline 10/12
The Illinois Artisans Program focuses national attention on the rich heritage of the fine crafting that exists in Illinois. Our juried artists participate in art sprees, craft festivals, exhibitions and other events held at our locations in order to promote their work. The Illinois Artisans Program markets crafts through four locations:
Illinois Artisans, James R. Thompson Center, Chicago
The Museum Store, Illinois State Museum, Springfield
The Museum Shop, Dickson Mounds Museum, Lewistown
Southern Illinois Art & Artisans Center, Rend Lake
The Illinois Artisans Program is continually looking for talented new artists to join the Program. All areas of arts and crafts, including folk, traditional, contemporary, and ethnic, as well as fine art forms are eligible (Media). Over 1,800 artists have been jury selected into the IAP. Once selected, their work can be shown at one or more Illinois Artisans Shops without re-jurying (Application). Application deadlines are March 28th and October 12th. Juried artists participate in art sprees, craft festivals and other events held at the shops in order to promote their work. (Application Overview)
For more information:
Impact Engine Applications accepted
We got this email and thought you all might like to know about this as well.
Applications for Impact Engine
Available Now thru June 30th
Calling all Social Entrepreneurs,
The Impact Engine is looking for great entrepreneurs getting ready to start or already running early stage for-profit organizations that positively impact today’s societal and/or environmental challenges. They want to find and support entrepreneurs who use business principles to change the world, improving the human condition in creative and innovative ways. Please forward this email to anyone who you think might want to know more.
The Impact Engine (TheImpactEngine.com) is a 12-week venture accelerator designed to help socially and/or environmentally minded for-profit companies move to their next level. The first group of approximately 10 entrepreneurs, Impact 1, will be matched with experienced mentors, provided access to vetted legal and accounting professionals, given help in building their business models, assistance in landing early customers, ideas on growing their organizations and access to hundreds of investors on Investor Day.
Chuck Templeton (founder of OpenTable) and Arun Sivashankaran (seasoned entrepreneur and technical guru) will be working with the Impact 1 companies on a day-to-day basis, helping them think about how to best grow their business. Chuck and Arun are surrounded by an experienced team with an extensive network that will maximize the reach that each company has. The goal is to increase the chances of success for the entrepreneur/s and condense the timeline to market adoption for their organizations.
The Impact Engine is accepting applications for our first cohort (Impact 1) of companies until June 30th, for a class that runs from September to December. For more details, please go to www.TheImpactEngine.com or you can contact Chuck Templeton at chuck@theimpactengine.com. There is an early application bonus so get your application in now!
Resources
As we’re sure you know, the web is flooded with advice and how-to’s for starting, maintaining and expanding your business. Here are just a few of our favorites.
Smaller Box
An invaluable resource for everything you ever wanted to know about running your indie business. Topics covered include marketing, publicity, wholesaling, customer service, advertising, business development, web design and so much more.
Etsy’s Seller Handbook
Etsy’s own guide to selling handmade. Obviously geared toward success on their site, but has valuable information for any seller.
Crafting an MBA
Business school for crafters!
Duct Tape Marketing
Duct Tape Marketing is all about simple, effective, and cheap marketing for your business. While the book is very useful, the blog is also a fabulous resource!
Entrepreneur
Lots of great information on getting your business started from non-crafty types.
TED
Free and inspirational talks from professionals from all walks of life. Some are business related and most really just get you inspired and ready to go!
Summit of Awesome
Annual conference aimed at handcrafted business folks with tons of lectures, and workshops that run the gambit of what running a crafty business entails.