What is IFTTT?

Carol Dekle-Foss

  I was inspired by both MaryAnn and Karen last week to link my Facebook page to twitter. I was so happy with this discovery, that I began to wonder. Could there be a social media management tool to link my other social media sites? That would be amazing, and a major time saver. It might even motivate me to post more.
So after a few hours sifting through google, I found IFTTT. "If This Then That. It works by automatically connecting platforms and services across the web. 

There are so many social media sites right? Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Google+, Youtube, LinkedIn, StumbleUpon, etc etc. Oh, and let's not forget blogging. One would need a clever marketing team to keep up with it all!  IFTTT helps tame the social media beast by using different 'recipes' that you create tailored to your needs and how you use the web. Let me share with you some of my recipes and my new social media strategy using IFTTT.

First, I just started using Hootsuite to post to my facebook page, twitter and Instagram. They only allow three social media sites for free. And that is where IFTTT can help. You create your recipes with hashtags to share to other platforms. Here is a screenshot with the recipes I am currently using.

The first recipe is a post from Instagram to my Instagram board on Pinterest. So now when I post to Instagram with the hashtag #terrarusticadesign, it publishes automatically to Pinterest. Love it! The second recipe is a post to Tumblr, and the third to Flickr. With Hootsuite, and IFTTT, that is SIX posts in just one step. How cool is that?? Unfortunately, IFTTT doesn't have all social media sites, like Google +, but I think they are adding more all the time.

I am in no way affiliated with IFTTT, I just love how helpful it is and thought I would share. It's a great tool that you can tailor to your own needs with many options. Their platform is also easy and fun to work with.

So what is your social media strategy? Do you use any social media management tools that work for you? How do you deal with all the social media options, and which ones do you prefer to use? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Boot Camp Features....

Good Morning.... I'm sure that many of you are celebrating Easter. Happy Easter to you.

I would like to share some pictures that have been shared on our Flickr Boot Camp site. These two lovely selections were created by Lynda Carson from Fresh Baked Designs.

While checking out more of Lynda's work, I found a connection to her blog. Yesterday's post, I think, said it all. Please take a moment to learn more about Lynda by clicking HERE.

Thank-you, Lynda, for sharing what you created for LMAJ Boot Camp.

Please continue to share your textured metal creations. The blog hop sharing will happen on April 8th. Also, please remember that the Boot Camp Flickr account is for those of you who have created something specifically for boot camp. Although, it would be nice to share everyone's beautiful designs, we would like this to be specific to those creations created for this challenge only.

As for Lynda, you can find more about her here:

http://freshbakedjewelry.etsy.com

http://freshbakeddesigns.wordpress.com

As always, thank-you for supporting artists who create handmade with handmade.

MaryAnn

Online Communities and What I Have Learned

Being online, whether blogging, or facebook, etsy or pinterest, has opened up a whole new world to me.  I have made new friends, I have been able to promote my shops, I have found support, encouragement and advice, and have found some artists that I really admire, not only as artists, but as plain old wonderful folks.

One of the places I have found some very close friends is facebook, through groups.  There is one particular group, that is kinda small, which I love, because I feel like I really know those gals.  Its all beady ladies, one way or the other, and it’s a private group, so its always a party.  It shall remain nameless too, because I am selfish that way. (wink wink)

Here are some beady friends I got to meet in person- friends I first met online

Anyhow, I have learned a lot since I began my online journey.  I'd like to share a few of them.

1.        What I do is no secret.  So why not share what I know.  

I have learned almost everything I know because someone took the time to share a tip, or technique with me.   Who am I to not pay it forward?   I am forever thankful to everyone who has ever helped me to get to where I am today.  Whether it be splitting early bead orders with me, teaching me to solder or tips and tricks in business, I am soooo very thankful.  You all know who you are!  (gosh- each and everyone of you has probably helped me in some way or another)

2.       Put yourself out there.  The good will outweigh the bad.

Yes, I know putting your work online (like on etsy, flickr or facebook) puts you at risk for copying.  It may very well happen.  You can deal with it if it does.  People may try to make what you do, but may only do it once or twice while they try to find who they are as a designer or master a technique.  Yet there are those dreaded people who try to imitate what you make and undersell you, but they are NOT the majority.  Overall, the good that comes from sharing your work and pictures online outweighs the bad.  So don’t hold back out of FEAR.  Be confident in who you are as an artist, and do your thing.

3.       Do not compare yourself to others.

Oh my word.  This is one I struggle with.  Whether I am seeing a design I wish I had thought of first, or know of someone selling more then me, my first instinct is to compare and wonder what I am doing wrong.  DO NOT DO THIS.  I have learned to just say no to comparing.  Concentrate on my work, my goals, my direction, or I will be pulled all over the place, doing this and that and the other thing trying to keep up.

4.       Take care of your friends.  Be encouraging.  If there’s something of theirs you love, share it with the world.

This has been one of the most amazing things I have learned.  There is such a great community out there willing to give a shout out to other artists, a link, a facebook post, its just amazing.  So, be nice to your friends, the artists you admire, give them some “press” and share the love.  Encourage them, celebrate with them.  The relationships I have made with my like minded beady friends are like none anywhere else.  I value them, and hope I take care of them as much as they take care of me.

These are just a few of the things I have learned along the way.  I am sooo very thankful for the amazing people who are always there for me, behind the scenes.

What have you learned from your online adventures? 

Strut Your Stuff features...

weekly work done by artists who submit their unique designs to our flickr pool. On the first Monday of each new month a winner is chosen randomly from all of the submissions. Today we have these very cool skulls created by Kalaya Steede.  Here is what she had to say about them.....

Still enjoying the moments in making these little charms. 

 This time brass was used instead of my norm copper for etching.

And, also featured this week is a piece created by Mary Harding from Bead Soup Blog Party 5 made from the bead soup shereceived from Miss Ficklemedia.

And, we "At the Beach Party" by Amazing Designs 46. Here is what she had to say which I just loved.

"Painted" this day at the beach scene with polymer clay on a pendant after my 5 year old granddaughter came over raving about what fun she had the day before (the reason for the bucket). The tiny sea shells are real - some of the treasures she found.

We also have some ceramic art by MartiC51.  These little beauties look like they could be made into matching earrings and a necklace.

 

We had many awesome pieces to choose from.

Please keep them coming in and also, please remember to tell us a little bit about your design. Also, if you include links to shops in your description others might want to explore more.

and.....

Thank-you for supporting the artists who create handmade with handmade.

MaryAnn Carroll