To Blog or Not to Blog...Is That the Question?

You're an Artist... You're a Nonprofit...
You're wondering if you need a blog... And what is a blog anyway?

Take Notes! while Nancy Schwartz answers your question: What is a blog ?

Blogs for Artists ... 

• 
  
  EmptyEasel gives 9 Reasons Why Every Artist Should Have Their Own Art Blog.
• 
  
  Then EmptyEasel tells you where to start: So You Want to Start an Art Blog. . . What’s the Best Free Blogging Platform to Use?

& Blogs for Aging Organizations ...

• 
  
  You don't think you need a Blog is because your audience is over 55? Carenetworks says You Must Blog Now!

• 
  
  Now read Carenetworks' 10 Reasons Why Your Blog Sucks to see what NOT to do with your blog.

If you want to develop a blog (and yes, even YOU can do it!), follow our Friday Take Notes! Posts.  You'll get lots of information and resources to help you learn how to set up a Blog--whether you are an Artist, an Aging Services Organization, a Nonprofit, or just You!
 
P.S.--If you are interested in some "in-person" help, send an email to CAAN and we'll work on putting a workshop together.

Britain Going Blog Crazy - Metro Article
Photo by Annie Mole

6 Places to Learn How to Blog

No, don't follow this shabby sign to buy or lease a Blog.  Here are six very non-shabby places to go to learn how to set up your Blog for free ... whether you are working in Aging or you are an Artist.

You'll see that these resources are all pretty much talking about Blogger as the blogging platform. Sure there are other free platforms, but, in my humble opinion, Blogger is the easiest platform to use and a great place to start. Take Notes!

1. Begin reading Tech Soup's article Ready to Start Blogging? 
2. Then go to Empty Easel's What Blogging Program do MOST Artist Bloggers Use? (Useful information even if you're not an Artist.)
3. Empty Easel will also show you How To Set Up A Free Art Blog On Blogger (In Just 8 Steps) (Again, even if it's not a Nonprofit Blog, or an Aging Organization Blog - the 8 steps still work.)
4. Still need more help? Tim Adam gives you step-by-step instructions in how to set up your Blog in his Lesson 1, Lesson 2 and Lesson 3.
5. So, now you know how to set up a Blog. Time to check out this video from Facebook for Dummies about posting a post in Blogger. (Yes, you can learn about blogging in Facebook for Dummies.)
6. Now, go read Empty Easel's article about Artist's Blogging Styles to decide what your Blog's focus will be. (And once again, this article is for everyone, not just for Artists.)

  BLOG FOR SALE OR LEASE

Photo by John Weise

Teaching Artists--It's FREE and it's for YOU !

Sign up for Full-Day Boot Camp - NOW!

Teaching Artists, here is an opportunity you just can't refuse! The Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance have joined forces to present: 

Marketing Yourself as a Teaching Artist

Full-Day Boot Camp

Sunday, November 7

9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Fleisher Art Memorial, 709 Catherine Street

Free parking available

Free of charge

Registration (and commitment) required!

The Bartol Foundation’s three-part workshop is being combined into a full-day Boot Camp:

#1 Creating Your Personal Brand

• Define what you are offering
• Articulate your mission as a teaching artist
• Outline a clear resume of your experience
• Define your "signature" programs
• Develop your Teaching Artist Packet

#2 Negotiating the Gig ~ led by Andrew Simonet, founder of Artists U, a career/life planning program for artists

• What is your time worth?
• What are the things you must have to provide a successful program?
• Where are you willing to compromise?
• Where’s the sink?
• Tools and templates for setting fees, defining roles and diplomatically negotiating

#3 Creating Your Marketing Plan

• Explore the components of a marketing plan – the 4 Ps
• Product
• Price
• Place
• Promotion.
• Tie in components of previous sessions
• Know your product(s)
• Understand the need for multiple price points
• Where do audiences exist?
• What specific tactics can you can employ to reach them?
• Websites
• Blogs
• Social media*
• Press releases
• Events
• The toolkit will include
• A sample marketing plan
• A sample press release
• A sample media planner
• A sample budget
• Links to relevant blogging and social media sites.

You must agree to attend for the entire day. But, hey--it's FREE and it's jam packed with great information! Did I mention it's FREE?! And jam packed with great information?!

To register, click here.

*Social Media? Yes, social media! Check out Artful Aging's posts about Facebook and Social Media:

• OK, Class, Let's Review Facebook . . .
• Facebook 4-5-6... Take Notes!
• 10 Really, Really Good Reasons to Care About Social Media
• When it comes to social media, IS ignorance bliss? Take Notes!
• 10 Out of 100 Thoughts on Social Media

Day 89 - Boot camp

Photo by tsheko

Are you a writer who needs a Push to Publish? Read on . . .

Philadelphia Stories

presents

Fourth Annual Push to Publish Seminar:

Strategies to Get Your Work in Print and Online

at Rosemont College, Rosemont, PA

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Keynote speaker Paul Lisicky

Writers--young and old, experienced and novice--looking to get your work in print and online, here's a one-day workshop for you! You will

• Speed date with the editors: Meet real editors and agents who will review your specific work.
• Learn how to increase your chances of getting published.
• Discuss new writing trends with professionals in the community.
• Get great marketing and networking tips to break into the competitive world of publishing.

Offered as a premium event this year, Spend a Day With a Literary Agent Workshop is Friday, October 15, 11-4. Learn how to effectively pitch agents in this workshop. Space is limited, so reserve your ticket now.

Saturday, October 16 Schedule

9:00 Registration and Breakfast

10:00 Keynote Speaker: Paul Lisicky is the author of Lawnboy, Famous Builder, and the forthcoming books The Burning House (2011) and Unbuilt Projects (2012).

11:15 Speed Dating with the Editors: Spend 10 minutes with the editor or agent of your choice to get personalized critiques of your work!

1:15 Breakout Session I

• A: Promote Your Work Without Spending a Fortune
• B. Tapping into the Creative Nonfication Craze
• C: Finding a Home for Your Short Story

2:30 Breakout Session II

• A: Marketing: Selling Yourself
• B: Fiction: Writing for Children and Young Adults
• C: The Joys of Small Presses

3:45 Breakout Session III

• A: Meet the Agents and Editors
• B: How to Succeed in Submissions
• C. Traditional, Self-publish, or ePublish? That is the 21st Century Question

Click HERE for more details about the program.

Click HERE to read the bios of all participating agents, editors, and panelists.

Fee: $75 (Students, Seniors $65) includes Breakfast, Lunch, and one Speed-date Pass. Additional Speed-date passes can be purchased for $5 each. (No more than 3 total recommended.) [50% off for Rosemont students, faculty, and alumni -- must provide valid proof of affiliation at registration]
Any questions, please email christine@philadelphiastories.org

Push to Publish is sponsored by Philadelphia Stories magazine, the nonprofit literary magazine and companion website that publishes literary fiction, poetry, essays, and art from the tri-state area and provides it to the general public free of charge. All proceeds from the workshop will go directly toward keeping the magazine in print, in color, and free.

When it comes to social media IS ignorance bliss? Take Notes!

Ignorance is not always bliss. In a great, free e-book, Social by Social, the authors (Andy Gibson, Nigel Courtney, Amy Sample Ward, David Wilcox and Prof. Clive Holtham) believe that all successful projects are supported by some common principles and guidelines. And these principles and guidelines can be applied to all "social by social" projects.

It’s time for the social sector to catch up. There is a new social infrastructure being built, and we can use it to make the world better. This book explains how to do it, and what might happen if we do...

This book has been designed as a training manual and reference guide about technology and social media for people at all levels of experience – and scepticism. You can dip into particular sections and use it for reference, or read it in sequence to get a better understanding of how everything fits together.

Social by Social, has come up with 38 propositions as their "collaborative manifesto for successful social by social projects." Here are just 11 of them:

• Never assume, always ask. You can’t know what your community wants from you without asking, and they are waiting to be asked. Be specific, define the issue and let the answers pour in. Then be transparent about your next moves.
• Content is king. Providing great content – resources, information, stories, connections, conversations – means new users will find you and others will stick with you. Give people easy ways to share this content too, freely and openly.
• Learn to listen before you start talking. Good conversations require good listeners more than good talkers. Listen first to find out what people want to hear.
   
• Be consistent. Whatever you say in public, remember you are talking to everyone, all the time, so stay true to your principles.
   
• All energy is good energy. If people are taking the time to criticise you, they are already engaged. Listen to their concerns and find ways to bring them in.
   
• You can’t learn to fly by watching the pilot. If you want to understand new technologies, start using them. Dive in.
   
• Start small. It’s always better to build too little than too much. Beware of specifying costly systems until you are absolutely familiar with the tools and know how people would use them.
   
• Keep it sociable. If you want action, leave room for social in teractions and personal stuff, not just w orthy, productive topics. Playful, human in teractions build trust.
• Be a pirate. There’s so much free stuff out there just waiting for you. Make use of what others have shared and save your energies for what you’re best at.
   
• Empty rooms are easier to redecorate. Be fast and loose with evolving your platform in the early stages, but be cautious of changing things once people start relying on it.
   
• Failure is useful. If you want to know what works, learn from what didn’t.

Social by Social has a "Jargonbuster" section as well as lots of Tools and Resources. Throught the book you'll find short practical guides on “how to” do various technical tasks, such as:

p. 35  will show you How to find and join the conversations that are already happening
p. 37 will help you Getting started with social technologies

p. 180 will tell you How to subscribe to an RSS Feed and How to create a Google Alert 

p. 178 gives you 10 Search Engine Optimisation tips

p. 181 will show you How to use Delicious.com and How to Choose tags for your organisation

p. 185 tell you How to use blogging to improve your search engine position

Take Notes! Download your free Social by Social PDF here. Do it right now. You'll be glad to have this resource. (And it's well worth the price!)

Artists Only: 6 ideas to jumpstart your summer to-do list

It's officially summer and, as if you haven't noticed, it's hot, hot, hot! Take a break from your regular routine and spend some "cool" time planning your business. Yes, I said business.

1. emptyeasel.com has come up with 8 Sensible Projects for Artist: Things to Do When You've Got Time on Your Hands, such as update your business cards or get started on your taxes. Taxes? Yes, the year is half over and next April 15 will be a breeze if you're organized.
    
2. What? You don't have business cards? Yes, I know you're an artist, but you still need business cards. emptyeasel.com has just the article for you--Business Cards 101 for the Independent 21st Century Artist. What? You don't have business cars? Vistaprint is a great (and cheap) place to start. You can take the plunge and start with 250 Free business cards. (Free means shipping & handling only, which is very inexpensive.) Vistaprint is a great resource for postcards too.
    
3. Over at smARTist career blog Ariane Goodwin reminds you to Power up Your Artist Statement and she also share what she thinks an artist's statement should be. On her ArtBizBlog, Alyson Stanfield also reminds you to Hone Your Artist Statement. Catching a theme here?
    
4. It's way too hot to clean and organize, but you can use this time to plan out your fall cleaning. Artist Luann Udell shares lots of helpful tips and ideas for cleaning out your studio. Luann has written a whole series of posts about cleaning out her attic and shares how to deal with all that paper, identifying your legacy as an artist, freecycle and more.
    
5. And to keep track of all your inspiration, to-do lists, interesting thoughts throughout the summer, Sue Smith shares her low-tech, simple system on her blog, Ancient Artist: Developing an art career after 50.
6. Re-read our Let's Review Facebook post and set up your Artist Facebook Page. Oh, you did follow our advice and you've already set up a Facebook Page? Congratulations! Now you need to leave a comment on this post and tell us the name of your Facebook Page so we can "Like" you!

Now go grab an iced tea, kick off your sandals, and start your own to-do list for your art business. This is the perfect time to start using Sue Smith's simple system. It works!

P.S. Don't worry, all you folks who work in the Aging field. Your summer to-do list will be here next week!

Photo by davidsilver

Remind Me Again Why I Need a Facebook Page...

Still not sure you need a Facebook Page? Yes, you really do need one. In a recent post Brian Geyser over at Carenetworks Blog shared some reasons why:

The fact is that senior living executives [or aging services staff or artists] need to begin to embrace these new social technologies and, over time, become fluent in social media in order to keep their companies (and themselves) relevant. Why do I say this? Consider these facts:

• The Internet as we know it is only 14 years old

• Facebook alone has over 500 million active users and by numbers is the 3rd largest country in the world behind China and India - Yes Facebook's population outnumbers the U.S.
• The fastest growing demographic on Facebook is Boomers and Seniors
• The fastest growing segment on Facebook is females age 55-65
• 47% of Boomers maintain a profile on the social web
• In 2009 there were 18 million active online seniors
• Seniors spend 58 hours per month online
• 96% of Millennials have joined a social network  

So, yes, you really do need a Facebook Page. If you want your message to reach Boomers and Seniors, you need to go where they're at. And Facebook is where they're at. 

To get started, re-read our Let's Review Facebook post.

Have you "liked" our Creative Arts & Aging Network's Facebook Page yet?

Facebook Model

Photo by Bryan Veloso

10 Really, Really Good Reasons to Care About Social Media

Reason #7--because Facebook is now the operating system of the social web. It has won the social networking war... If Facebook were a country it would be bigger than the USA and 3rd largest in the World.

OK--so here's the question.  We have a Facebook Page. Do YOU have a Facebook Page? 

For some help to get going, check out our Let's Review Facebook... post.

Now, Take Notes!  Comment on this post and share your Facebook Page with us. We promise to become your Fan.  Just share your link with us and, yes, we'll "Like" you!

Take Notes! Facebook 101 & Facebook 102...

Ok, you found Facebook.

You've signed up and you have a Profile and you have Friends.
There's more to do...

What, you think Facebook is a fad?
There's a whole lot more for you to do...

As an organization serving older adults, you need to create a Facebook Fan Page.
As an Artist you need a Facebook Fan Page

Whoever you are, wherever you are, you need to go to “How Non Profits Can Use Social Media – Facebook Edition” and find out what to do next.

Take notes!

Time to Make Your 2010 Plans!

Happy New Year from CAAN!

Here are 6 motivating reads to help you make your New Year's resolutions, goals, plans, lists...

1. 
   
   Alyson Stanfield says, "You're responsible for your own success." Read her post Escape the PMWP (Poor Me Whining Phenomenon) for some motivation towards success.
2. 
   
   Ready to get things done? Another one of Alyson's ArtBizBlog posts, Identify (only) the next action, will help you gain clarity to begin.
3. 
   
   Christine Kane shares her ideas on How to Make a Vision Board.
4. 
   
   Learn How to Mind Map to organize your thoughts, solve problems, brainstorm new ideas in a very visual way.
5. 
   
   To learn how to market your success this year, go to Kivi Leroux Miller's Nonprofit Marketing Guide.com and check our her many Articles on Nonprofit Marketing and Communications.
6. 
   
   Most important, read Aging "creatively" benefits mind, body, spirit to reaffirm the meaningfulness of working this year to bring Art and Aging together.

May 2010 be an Artful year for all!

desktop_1100x700_new_year_2010
Originally uploaded by authenticmoments

5 Quick Reads About Art and Aging...

Art and Aging...are the very core of CAAN.

As you spend these last days of December reviewing 2009
and begin thinking about what 2010 may hold for you,
here are 5 interesting articles to read...

1. For some Aging accomplishments, read CAAN Board Member Judith Zausner's blog post about When Creative Success Comes Later in Life.
2. Intersted in Aging creatively? Read about Ellen McGowan, an 85 year old sculptor here.
3. About teaching Art...have you ever thought of compiling a Teaching Artist's Wish List? The Association of Teaching Artists has one here. Take a look and share your thoughts on it.
4. Worried about your Art income--that you are the only teaching artist who is struggling? Read this New York Times article and know that you are not alone.
5. Work on improving your 2010 Art income now! Go to Alyson B Stanfield's ArtBizBlog and read Art Marketing Action: Hone Your Artist Statement.

Happy Holidays and Be Creative!

Art
Photo by eqqman