Well, I've really rolled out the features this week, and tackled quite a few bugs, but I finally have a little breather, so I thought I would blog a bit. I really don't do blogging all that often, because I really never know what to say. I've always been someone who was very private. I don't open up to people easily, and always have been weary of "putting myself out there". But since becoming involved with the online handmade community, I've had to rethink this. It was downright frightening for me to put my photography out there on the web because it's just not something that I ever thought was that great.
So, that brings me to why byhand.me was created I guess. The major issues I saw with handmade caused me to create this site. Issues like joining a social network and being spammed. Ads covering the whole page, where you have to compete for views of you and your work and all those that are also trying to get themselves out there. The issues with trying to promote yourself on multiple venues because otherwise, you get lost in the crowd. So how does byhand try to solve these? Well, first, you'll notice that we don't allow folks to post on your profile. It's about you, not them. No more "hit and run" type advertising with folks posting an Etsy mini, or their web site on your profile. If people truly are interested in connecting with you, we have provided tools for doing just that. And sure, we have ads, but they are designated to a small portion of the web site and aren't plastered anywhere there is room. You'll notice that when on your profile, there are no ads at all because the important bit is YOU, not any one else. And lastly, why work so hard to drive traffic to your blogspot blog, your Silkfair shop, your own website, when you could drive traffic to a SINGLE place that let's folks know who you are. It's time to talk about ME. It's time to promote ME. It's time to stop trying to wear yourself out in promoting venues, and blogs, and everywhere else you are online and consolidate it into a single place where you can let everyone know who you are, and where to find you.
So, there must be a catch, right? I mean, surely, this won't always be free, or you won't always be around giving away what surely is a golden opportunity, right? Well, there is no catch. It's time to practice what I preach and get downright personal with the community. It's time to reveal the reasons why this site is free for you all, and will remain so as long as I can.
I come from a very humble background. I'm from a family of 5 and a very small midwestern town, and while my dad worked his tail off trying to provide, it wasn't always enough. I know what powdered milk and government cheese tastes like and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. Because of my grandfather I know how to drive a cement mixer, how to finish a driveway or sidewalk, how to weld two pieces of steel together, and what it feels like to have your hand crushed by a 600 pound concrete picnic table top. Because of my mom, I know what DMC floss is, and no it ain't for your teeth. I know how to hem my own pants, how to cross stitch, how to sew a button properly, and how to thread bobbin in a sewing machine. Being creative and making do with what you had was a fact of life for me. I never saw it as revolutionary, or the "cool" thing to do, it just WAS. It was a part of getting by.
Because of my background, and the blue collar work ethic that I had instilled in me, I have worked hard to make something of myself in the white collar world. I have a great job with a great company with no fear of being laid off. I make enough of a living to do the things I want, rather than just get by with what I need. Sure, there are opportunities to make money off those clamoring to make it with their art, but I'm comfortable and don't need that. I've seen how hard it is to struggle trying to make a living at what you love to do, I don't need to be adding to the struggle for anyone. So there you have it. That's why byhand.me exists. For folks all over like my mom and dad who work hard every day to try to better themselves with their own talents. For folks who may not get the opportunity to live as comfortably as I do, but have the same goals as I do and just need that little break in the clouds to get them started. It's for those that sacrifice every day so that their kids don't have to. And it's for those that already have success, because you can never have too much.
And, it's because, well, I love handmade people..
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