“On the business side, blogs are designed to help promote creative wares or services, and if done well, they can be an invaluable business tool.  Those who blog for business live creatively; their businesses, their personal lives, and friendships are all approached through their creative spirit and it shows in their blogs.  Whether they promote products and services through their sidebar links or talk about business in every post, their blogs are beautiful and inspiring.”

-Tara Frey, Blogging for Bliss

I just finished reading Blogging for Bliss: Crafting Your Own Online Journal:  A Guide for Crafters, Artists and Creatives by Tara Frey, and highly recommend it.  Frey covers everything from what to write about, how to choose a blogging platforms, how to customize your blog’s look, ways to increase traffic, and the basics of blogvertising.

In addition to all kinds of fantastic practical information, she also has profiles of over 50 bloggers, many whose blogs help them promote their creative businesses like:

• a stitch in dye
• Curious Sofa Diaries
• Naughty Secretary Club
• Sommer Designs
• Teresa Sheeley
• Twisted Sister

Whether you are a new, or experienced blogger, I think you’ll find something practical and/or inspiring in Blogging for Bliss to help you take your creative business blog to the next level.

You can learn more about Blogging for Bliss and Tara Frey on her blog, tara frey {typing out loud}.

While on vacation last week, I read a book I wanted to share with you, Craft Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby Into a Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco. It’s fabulous!

Meg covers everything you need to know to get your craft business off the ground: financing, legal structure, trademarks, business licenses, packaging, pricing, production, marketing, publicity, trade shows, sales, order fulfillment, and more in a fun, accessible way.

Plus, she profiles inspiring entrepreneurs and enterprises like Denyse Schmidt, KleinReid, Sunshine Scarves, Wool & Hoop, and Jill Bliss throughout the book.

After reading Craft Inc. (the Thanksgiving break would be a perfect time!), you can pick yourself up a  Craft Inc. Business Planner: The Ultimate Organizer for Turning Your Crafts Into Cash to start planning for 2010.  The Planner is rich with useful tools.

She has everything from an “open-for-business checklist,” to a pricing worksheet, to templates for designing your tradeshow booth, to marketing campaign worksheets. There is also a to-do list notepad in the front, folders in the back, and an address book separated into sections for business contacts, vendor/supplier contacts, and industry contacts.  Pretty awesome.

You can see more images of what the Planner looks like on the inside in these blog posts:

• What I’m Reading: Craft Inc. Business Planner on megan auman’s blog
• craft inc. business planner . . . on oh joy!
• craft inc. business planner on poppytalk
• meg mateo ilasco – craft inc. business planner on sub-studio design blog

What other resources would you recommend for craft entrepreneurs?

Full disclosure: I received a review copy of the Craft Inc. Business Planner.