The Internet landscape changes all the time with new tools emerging.  These tools provide better and faster ways of doing things and one of the latest and greatest features is Twitter.  What is Twitter?  It is a social networking tool that helps people to share information quickly.  Facebook is similar but more expansive in that Twitter is basically a “text message” direct to your audience while Facebook offers many sharing tools, an extensive profile, and pages where lots of information is posted.

This article will help you get started using Twitter, if you haven’t already.  As a business owner, designing and creating wire jewelry you will want to use it to connect repeatedly with your “followers.”  To watch a video about how to set up and use Twitter, click on this link:  http://www.howcast.com/videos/149055-How-To-Use-Twitter.  Watching this video is the fastest way to get and implement it.

To add to Twitter’s instructional video, I’d like to include some marketing tips when using it so that it is effective for you.  After your account is open and you’ve done a couple of tweets to practice you will want to start following people.  So, reach out to the websites of your friends, family and customers first and start following them.  You do this by finding the “Twitter” icon on their website that signifies you will follow them.  Click and find the follow button on their Twitter page.

Next, you will want to search for others interested in jewelry – so search using the keywords of those that you are trying to reach such as “jewelry lovers” or just “jewelry.”  To start with, don’t worry about the competition following you or you following them; you need to build your audience.  Follow as many as you can and then wait for the return “follows,” what most people do when they are notified that you are following them.  Whenever someone follows you, it is recommended you return the favor.  The reason is, you need to get your follow numbers up to be perceived as a “force” as a wire jewelry designer.

Be sure to ADD your “follow” Twitter badge to your website in a prominent place so that people will follow you – especially your customers or prospective customers.  Also, add the icon to the signature of your emails by pasting the icon in it, and hyper-linking the icon to your Twitter page.  Most people communicating with you will appreciate being able to stay connected to you without having to go back to your website over and over again – instead being notified of when you announce a new piece, line or special offer.

Next visit: http://wefollow.com/ – a website where you can add yourself for free, using your location and keywords to connect with those looking to follow jewelry designers.

Finally, the information you post in your Twitter account is important.  ALWAYS include your website URL or a URL to the article or blog post you want to share.  Also, do share and cross market and promote your other communications such as Facebook Page entries, article submissions, and blog posts.  Type a quick intro to it and then the link.  Remember, you only have 140 characters so use it wisely.

Start now by following Wire Sculpture! Happy Tweeting!

All of us with kids are looking for ways to help our children experience a wide range of activities.  We do this to help our children discover their talents, stimulate their brains, and to give them enjoyment in life’s activities.  However, once your kids reach the teen years sometimes they lack the incentive to jump into your planned activities.  So, next time you’re trying to recruit your teenagers into an art project – pick wire jewelry making – you’ll be glad you did.

First, you will need to sell them on the idea and the best way to do that is to ask them if they would like to have a new piece of jewelry; something special that they can create with their own personal taste and to match some of the outfits they have.  The answer will be yes of course!

Then, set your date for the event – maybe even set a week of Sundays that you will meet together to continue to learn this new hobby.  Once the date(s) are set, then go on the Internet and browse with your teenager in search of wire jewelry making supplies – best to start at:  www.wire-sculpture.com.

Look at beads and stones and wire – plus don’t forget to look at training products, design pattern kits and DVD’s for instructions, especially if you are a novice yourself.  You might also consider buying a book or ordering a magazine.  The chances are that if you help your teen learn a new skill, he/she will continue to want to learn more.

Also, remember, jewelry making is not just for “girls.”  Guys can have fun with it too.

So, next time you want to get an activity planned to spend time with your kids, remember wire jewelry making – and plan a piece for yourself while you are at it.  You will enjoy the time together, discover new things about your teen and get a new piece of jewelry for yourself!

You love to make jewelry but don’t like the impersonal process of making it for a retail outlet, ending up in the hands of “random people.”  How about switching gears and put your shingle out as a “Personal Jewelry Artist” with a tag line something like: “Custom-made jewelry you can afford!”  If you do this, you can build your client list of repeat customers, genuinely and uniquely create pieces that are just perfect for the person, and then be there whenever they need a repair or when they have a friend needing a piece or two.

Again, this is just another avenue for you to realize a commercial outlet for your talent and a secure one that will always put orders in your pipeline.  Additionally, when you have many pleased customers they will be your marketing resource, promoting you anytime you ask, including suggesting to their friends and family that you make holiday pieces and/or gifts for yet others.

Approaching jewelry sales this way is just like being commissioned to do a painting.  It is your job to translate what someone is asking for into the piece they desire.  Creating custom pieces like this can also fetch a higher price.  And finally, it fits in the world of fashion as much as a “personal shopper” or a tailor – it’s just that you don’t hear about it that much!  As a result of it not being so common only means you’ll have to be clear when you promote your business in this way and you probably won’t have much competition!

First start off with friends and family to spread the world – creating a nice piece of creative showing off your product – both as pieces and of someone wearing them.  Don’t go “cheap” on this promotional piece since it will be your storefront.  Hire a designer, have the photographs professionally shot, and then get it printed in full color professionally.  The cost of printing is low now-a-days since it has all gone, “digital.”

Be sure to include in your brochure a clear list of what you offer, how it is custom, what wire jewelry supplies/materials you will use and probably most importantly, an “ideas” list to trigger possible order ideas for those who read it.  For example, you might want to list various jewelry pieces you make like “rings” or maybe a baby’s baptismal bracelet, or wine glass jewelry; possibly an anniversary necklace or golden 50 ring.  Consider also listing “costume grade jewelry” since non-experts may automatically think your service is out of their price-range.  Also, list custom one-of-a-kind pieces just so that prospective clients know they can get that from you too – again communicating ideas is what you need to do as quickly as possible in your brochure.

So, if you are so inclined to expand your business or are starting out new, consider promoting yourself as a “Personal Jewelry Artist” and enjoy the great benefits!

Do you love jewelry, especially rings, but you just can’t justify the time to search for what you really love nor want to spend the money for a designer to make you one?  Well, do the next best thing – make it yourself!  This might seem to be a tall order but with some instruction, you will not only create exactly what you want, but discover a new talent and add some new creative enjoyment to your life.

Wire Sculpture provides instructional jewelry making DVDs for you to quickly learn how to make wire jewelry rings, wrapping wire with stones and beads.  You will learn how to mix wire colors for stunning results, how to make tight rosettes, as well as tease and connect methods – all easily with step by step instructions.

The wire jewelry expert presenting on the DVDs is Dale “Cougar” Armstrong, a many-year veteran of creating and teaching wire jewelry techniques.  She teaches systematically, building on learning with the goal of advancing abilities with each step.  She shows easy ways also, to achieve results such as how to create the correct prong lengths and how to make shapes that fit faceted stones.  She also demonstrates how to use tools, offers information on cut stone terminology and provides sizing formulas so you get it right every time.

Included with the instructional DVDs are formula cards and written follow-up directions for each and every project so that you have the confidence to create beautiful, unique wire jewelry rings.  You also get bonus items such as a project photo album that contains pictures of each project, both back and front views, in large detail.

Whether you are a beginner or intermediate wire jewelry designer, the wire jewelry instructional videos are for you.  This is a brand new DVD set, just released and was produced in high definition (HD) quality.

So, whether you are looking to create rings for yourself to match various fashion pieces in your closet, or rings as gift items for the holidays, order your DVD now and get started.  You’ll find that creating rings will be very satisfying to your need to be creative!

New high quality DVD’s have been released with Dale “Cougar” Armstrong as the Instructor – teaching all of us her secrets about wire jewelry making.  Order one by one or by the bundle – you can’t find any wire jewelry making instruction at this level, anywhere!

Why, because I know the producers – they do everything with elegance including the quality of production, picking the right “voice” for the project, and assembling the content into a cohesive and easy-to-learn model.  Learning something new is best taught by those who have the product knowledge and teaching experience – hence why Dale was chosen.

Ms. Armstrong’s new book is out as well – “Wirework: An Illustrated Guide to the Art of Wire Wrapping.”  You may elect to go with the written word but honestly, the ease of learning with a DVD is incomparable – and hence I recommend, if you are a beginner, to start with the entire beginner series (that includes some bonus DVDs).  And of course, buy the book too!

Within this series Dale teaches each project on every DVD exactly as she does in the classroom. Each DVD project teaches the skills and techniques necessary to work from one project into the next, progressing from learning how to straighten, bundle and properly wrap with square wire, to hand shaping and how to properly size and resize pieces.

By purchasing the entire Beginner Series and working through them in order, beginning with Part 1 All Wire Unisex Bracelet and ending with Bonus Part 9 Crystal Finger Bauble, it’s like being in a week long workshop!  This beginner series features 19 different projects, including rings, pendants, bracelets, earrings, and a collar.  Dale also discusses the formulas used and shows project variations so you can incorporate the techniques taught into your own designs.

Dale turns wire “wrappers” into wire “jewelry artists”, encouraging each student to discover and then to develop their own personal style.

So, get yourself lined up with DVDs to learn from, some jewelry making supplies to get started with – winter’s coming and you’ll be glad to indulge yourself in this fun learning experience!

Have fun!

Alexandrea Day