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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / blog & handmade advice / {Social media + Gussy = friends.}

{Social media + Gussy = friends.}

October 2, 2010 · 16 Comments
Filed Under: blog & handmade advice

{photo credit}

I’ve found so many great friends because of social media. I remember when I started blogging, almost 2.5 years ago, I thought the internet was soooooo huge and how would I everrrrrrrrr learn my way around it? I finally feel like I understand how to use it, and what types of benefits it can provide for me now that I’m self-employed.

Ya know, we’re like BFFs now.

Social media has been a huge contributor to the success of my ruffled business >> Gussy. It’s helped me to find inspiration, make new friends, meet new customers, discover new shops to buy materials from, blog topics + more!

I’ve learned a lot and shared a lot…

Here are some of my top tips on how to connect with others to grow your blog and/or handmade business:

    1. Make a list of things you enjoy >> hobbies, foods, places, materials, etc.

    …and stick to them. Find ways to be intentional with the things you enjoy and share them on your blog or shop. Soon you’ll find yourself a group of friends that enjoy the same things you do. Yay!

    2. Make yourself available. Sign-up for twitter, make a Facebook profile or fan page, leave purpose-filled comments on the blog posts you read. These are all easy ways to “bring people over” so your product or knowledge can be shared with them.

    3. Advertise your blog/product. And, advertise within a circle of blogs. Repetition; it works :] Maybe you don’t want to advertise? Leave a comment on a blog, then “blog hop” to another blog {click on a blog link that you found on blog #1} and leave a comment there. Keep hopping around, leaving a little trail of personality through your comments. People will find you, trust me :]

    4. Provide fun, fresh content on your blog or shop. Even if it’s just a daily photo sharing a bit of your story…

    5. See a blog or shop you love? Write to them! Even if it’s just a quick, Hey, I saw your shop and it reminded me of ______. Your products are so cute!, a note is a note and everyone loves getting them. {Besides, it’s a great way to get YOUR site out there, too.}

    6. Remember that social media is a public venue. If you have a business that you’re promoting, REALLY think it over {maybe think it over five times} before you make fun of a customer’s last name or share your annoyance over their “silly” question via social media. Words spread like wildfire online, and I’ve read some shocking things from business owners… It never looks good.

    7. Lastly, have fun with it! Plan twitter parties, host link-up blog parties, promote products you heart through giveaways… Keep it fun :]

{photo credit}

Share with us: How do you use Social Media?

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16 Comments
Filed Under: blog & handmade advice

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Comments

  1. Elizabeth says

    October 2, 2010 at 7:56 am

    Wonderful post! Your personality always shines through in your work and your writing! I love it!

    Reply
  2. Sarah says

    October 2, 2010 at 8:42 am

    Yay! Thanks Gussy for the advice. I am a new blogger, so I need it!

    Reply
  3. Jennifer @ Studio JRU says

    October 2, 2010 at 9:39 am

    Great tips… I am always looking for ways to grow my homemade business! Thanks so much! :)

    Reply
  4. Meg - Something New says

    October 2, 2010 at 9:40 am

    thanks so much for this!

    Reply
  5. Kristin says

    October 2, 2010 at 9:51 am

    Thanks! Getting started is a little intimidating at times, and this kind of information is helpful – and appreciated! :)

    Reply
  6. Katherine {Stitched Boutique} says

    October 2, 2010 at 10:13 am

    Fabulous post!

    Reply
  7. Megan says

    October 2, 2010 at 10:18 am

    Another awesome post! Keeps me inspired and always gives me new tips!

    Thanks!

    Reply
  8. Mique says

    October 2, 2010 at 10:33 am

    Perfectly perfect Gus. This post is great. I’m going to link up to it sometime soon (hope you don’t mind. ;) Thanks heavens for “the Twitter.” Can’t believe that it wasn’t too long ago that I tweeted you……

    Reply
  9. Traci says

    October 2, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    Great tips Maggie! RELEVANT Meet & Greet: http://ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com/2010/10/20-days-till-relevant-meet-some-of.html

    Can’t wait to see you there!

    Traci

    Reply
  10. julie says

    October 2, 2010 at 3:29 pm

    Thank you thank you thank you thank you for including number 6!!!! It makes me die a little inside when shop owners take to FB, Twitter, or even their own blogs to mock and bash customers. HELLO!!!!! Customers are supporting you, paying your bills, giving you their precious money. A public forum is no place to throw them under the bus, regardless of the situation. Grandmothers are always right: SHUT YOUR TRAP if you don’t have anything nice to say. (My grandma was a little rough around the edges, but she taught me well.) That is all. You are my favey.

    Reply
  11. Melissa says

    October 2, 2010 at 9:28 pm

    Thanks for sharing! This was very inspiring to read. I admit I’m bad about leaving comments but I’m going to work on it. Who doesn’t love comments?! Otherwise you feel like your talking to yourself! Love your work by the way!

    Reply
  12. No. 17 Cherry Tree Lane says

    October 2, 2010 at 10:34 pm

    Remember that time we talked on SKYPE? We should do that again.

    Miss you <3

    Reply
  13. Emmy says

    October 2, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    Have loved reading your posts and never more than when you be real like this! Great advice for those of us who are shy in getting into it… like me! Thanks so much :)

    Reply
  14. Catherine says

    October 3, 2010 at 3:46 am

    Thanks for all your great advice Gussy! I’ve just started my etsy shop and need all the help I can get.

    Reply
  15. Jewelscapes says

    October 30, 2010 at 9:05 am

    Great tips! Thank you so much for sharing them. :)
    jewelscapes.blogspot.com

    Reply
  16. Jenn McClure-Caldwell says

    October 25, 2011 at 11:37 pm

    Thank you for sharing these tips. I love when people who have been around the blog world for a while post tips to help the new people out. The help tremendously! And are really appreciated!

    <3 Jenn

    jenn-mcclure.blogspot.com

    Reply

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

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“We are preparing to wind down for the school ye “We are preparing to wind down for the school year with just a few more weeks of intentional table lessons. We will then transition to a lighter learning schedule during the summer months. Today I am grateful for the books and resources I’ve read that have helped keep me in my own lane. (Visit my blog to see a personal favorite.)

Even now, three years in, I appreciate the reminder to stay on the path that was designed with intentional thought just for me.”

✨ see #maggiewhitleydotcom for the full post ✨
I took off my “comparison / contemplation” gla I took off my “comparison / contemplation” glasses last month and it’s been soooooo good. See also: sooooo hard (because life is never and/or). I’ve been writing more, reading more, spending more time outside. Talking to friends faces and smelling their detergent. My heart feels lighter. I’m sharing a few updates on my blog if you’d like to read? 🌾🤓blog reading & writing is a much better pace for me. You too? Link in profile.
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
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A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

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Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — t Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — think outside the box in terms of how you view the definition of “motherhood” 💓😘 (also: look at my little friend, she’s sooooo snuggly)
It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
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Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
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