Jewelry Making

The next generation of the Web is here and it is called Web 2.0. Web 2.0 is the use of new technologies and old technologies combined to create the ultimate user experience of a media: direct interaction. Are you an expert on a subject? Write about it on Wikipedia. Have a great idea for a movie? Don’t wait for the movie studios, make your movie and publish it on YouTube so the masses can watch. Before making a webpage involved knowing code, now anybody can create a mySpace page or a blog in few minutes which is customized to their personality. Web 2.0 encourages people to take action and create the media that they want to see. Every subject matter how small can have a network in Web 2.0 and if doesn’t exist now you are free to create it.

What is a blog?

The term “blog” is a combination of web + log, or diary. This is first and foremost the place where people can write their memories, thoughts, ideas, feelings and save them as their own personal diary. What makes a blog different from a traditional journal is that it instantly published is updated frequently and allows for user feedback via comments and syndication through RSS feeds. Popular blogs can draw hundreds of thousands of readers. Business blog can also achieve a wide audience whereas the goals and uses of a business blog are much different from a social one.

What is a business blog?

A Business blog, is a very powerful tool which enables a firm to extend its communication level with certain segments of its target audience. The firm’s business blog is the place to communicate the “underground” materials from the firm’s headquarters – information which will usually not be put on the company’s website and only those who know people can know about it. The business blog allows its readers to access company information such as R&D, development and more giving readers a special insider perspective. Whether it is new ideas, developments, beta versions or sometimes personal posts by leading personnel like a CTO or R&D manager, or sometimes a simple as pictures from a company outing, blogs create a regular returning readership when written well.

The Goal of a Business Blog

The goal of a Business blog is to inform and connect with specific segments of target audience – whether potential clients, distributors, partners or potential employees. Business blogs are routinely used for PR by other sources greatly expanding a company’s marketability. Business blogs which offer industry wide information can help a company become more respectable and an authority, no matter what size of the market the company controls.

A great example of a business blog is the one used by Magic Software Enterprises, at www.magicsoftwareblogs.com. They offer hints and tips for making their products more useful. Plus the blog is well read by their software users who leave feedback and create positive free word of mouth advertising.

Another example, but quite different is blog at www.discount-engagement-rings.com. This blog is written by a company called Diamodns-USA however its content is much more general than helpful advice for buying a diamond but is loaded with fun and interesting fact and stories about diamonds & jewelry. This is a great example of an industry leading blog because of its style and wide ranging content.

The benefits of Blogging:

1. Blogs are the perfect public relations tool. Their personal nature gives you and your organization a unique voice online - a voice heard by the people who matter - your customers and clients, other bloggers and the media.

2. Blogs help to position you and your company as experts and leaders in your industry.

3. Blogs act as instant-feedback mechanisms. They allow readers to respond to your posts via the comments section or link to them on their own blogs which are read by other people who might be interested in what your business has to offer. These features provide near real-time feedback on ideas, opinions and issues that affect them, or highlight and address new or existing problems.

4. Their simplicity and addictive nature allow you to share more of your knowledge more often. Blogs are about sharing what you know, think and believe on an ongoing basis.

5. Search engines index your blog posts more often because of more frequently updated content. Your ongoing blog and knowledge sharing shows up in the search results, making it easier for your customers and prospects to find you.

6. You can have many conversations with many people at once - something nearly impossible in the brick and mortar world.

7. They’re automatic buzz-machines. Go ahead and try it. Blog about something new - a new product or service launch, an improvement to an existing product, or a newly appointed manager. See how fast the news spreads throughout the blogosphere.

8. They’re self promotional due to their RSS feeds being aggregated across the net almost instantly.

9. Feedback. You can track your RSS subscribes with tracking software and start to identify marketing trends and new markets.

10. Companies who blog are considered early adopters, thought leaders and “in”. Blogging is “cool” therefore companies who blog are “cool” and “up to date”..

But the most important thing to remember when blogging is that you’re not a speaker talking to an audience, you are sharing and interacting. You are one more voice to be heard and how powerful that voice is depends on how much interacting you do.

Readers of blogs make comments and other readers reply to those comments. Bloggers will commonly take posts from other blogs as ideas for new posts. A blog is more than an online journal it is an interactive communication platform. When done properly blogs can create authority, respectability, and marketing leverage for your company over the competition.

As Web Marketing Experts we advise companies and corporations on how to properly use blogs and blog tools like RSS feeds, web advertising, and videos as part of the holistic web marketing strategy. To learn more about corporate or business blogs visit http://www.compucall-usa.com or email info@compucall.co.il.

I'm looking for advice from any of you who have experience in taking photos of jewelry (or other close up, detail images) on what makes a good camera. I need to be able to take great, or at least good, pictures of jewelry I make. The two cameras I have tried take decent pictures, but nothing comes out well if I'm trying to take a "close up" shot to show detail.

What should I look for when shopping for a new camera?
What makes the biggest difference, lens or body?
Which brands should I steer towards, and which should I steer away from?

And … if I'm shopping with a budget of $900 - what would you suggest?

Get a cheap DSLR with a macro lens, look at nikon, canon, sony, olympus, and pentax models.

I am also selling flags, hats, sunglasses and toys. All new. Will this work??? Any other ideas? Most of it will be around 12-$15 So I can make a profit.

Well, you have to ask yourself, Would I pay $XX.XX dollars for this item if I'd seen it at the flea market? Then survey the amount of traffic on your own at the flea market and see what type of clientele comes through the doors. Here's an idea, why don't you go to the flea market if it's open and ask the vendors that are there already and ask how the business is, what days are most busiest and what days are too slow to be there? G'luck!

So I’m moving into a dorm and want to really get into making jewelry.
Problem arises though with the fact I’m surrounded by ultra-sensitive smoke detectors.
So what’s a good alternative to soldering and stuff like that? What’s a good way to close off ends on necklaces and bracelets?
Also, does anyone have good tutorials for making earrings and the such?

Check out www.firemountiangems.com & they have a $ 5.00 flat shipping fee , no matter how much your order ;)))

about three weeks ago my elbow was swollen with a large area of fluid.:I didn't go the the Dr.at that time..due to the fact that i see him every month….Well, i went for my regular appointment and forgot about my elbow.
now there is a new development with my elbow.the fluid has gone away and now a cyst has developed berween the two bones that join in your elbow..(upper and lower arm bone) this was small at first.I noticed it about 10 days ago..now it has tripled in size ( perhaps the size of a small walnut) My question is
what causes this?? will i need surgery……??? if so what are the repercusions?? I make crystal jewelry to pay for my parkinsens medicine. If surgery is done,will i be able to contiue immediately with my jewelry? thank you so much.

Gross!

I need some tricks and tips!
…when doing multiple layers, is it easy to mess up? I’m hoping to embed a 3D-looking thing with song lyrics lines printed out from the computer…so could I coat those in clear nail polish first to avoid bleeding?
and what did you mix it in? It says an UNwaxed cup, so are plain old plastic cups okay? and do you have to use a different cup for each layer?
also, when embedding a clasp for a necklace, do you put the ring between the last & second to last layers? thats what I'm assuming.

It’s VERY easy to mess up. The temperature of the room, the amount of catalyst vs. the resin, all can effect the ‘curing’ of it.

I don’t know what kind of resin you are using, but I’ve poured resin into plastic cups before that weren’t ‘solvent safe’ and wound up with a melted cup and puddle of wasted contaminated resin. But before you go out and use glass, just know that whatever container you use will be ruined. Try a paint store for solvent safe cups, (most sell them for mixing paints.)

Resin should not be poured more than ¼ in thick at a time, or it will effect ‘curing,’ also thick layers make it less clear.

Yes use a separate cup for every mixing, mixing a partially cured product with one that is not cured will ruin it. Same with the stirring stick.

and do seal your paper first. I think the nail polish should work. (not really sure though)

Wear gloves, resin is gooey, and many people have a skin reaction. (it’s also not good to absorb too much of it through the skin)

One more thing, I hope your 3-d looking thing wasn’t something that was once alive, because I had a friend of mine who thought it would be a good idea to preserve his dead mouse. It wasn’t a good idea. The room smelled like burning flesh and then blood started to spurt out of it. (sorry for being so gross, but it’s important to know these things)

.

.. Michael's .. art supply store.

.. in Canada anyway.

.

I make hemp jewelry and am trying to find some new knots to experiment with…do you know of any sites with detailed instructions and pictures?

Hemp Masters: Ancient Hippie Secrets Book is one of my favorites that really give you AMAZING Macrame designs.

I am interested in making my own glass bead jewelry, but I have no idea where to start or what to do. I've checked a couple websites but they use terms I don't understand or the directions are too confusing. What would be a good glass bead project for me to start off on, and what basic supplies and tools do I need to buy to start this hobby?

Thanks!

when I wanted to start a few months ago I went to the craft store and bought a cheap beginner kit. It has what you need to make just practice pieces, once you get familiar then you can start spending the money on the glass beads that are available. I personally switched to crystal once I got the hang of it. Super easy and fun to do. I believe the beginner kit will also come with your basic tools. Good Luck

Was it Sculpey clay? If so, bake it in the over at 225 15 minutes for every 1/4 inch of thickness.

They are different types of clays though so let us know which brand/kind.