Followup to the locked topic

[UKRay]

name='Davy' date='Oct 13 2008, 02:12 PM' post='66091']

Sorry Ray , I've gotta stick up for the newbies here . I've only been here about a month but started posting on my first day and couldnt wait to share what i know , learn from others and try to make a million bucks just from this site alone . No really , I think that billy spoke with good intentions , but to say the newer people havent been members long enough to know what LW is about , sounds a bit patronizing to me . I dont think it takes long at all to work out what this site is about , I figured it out the first day and I'm sure I'm not the only one . The people I've met since I've been here are without a doubt some of the most knowledgeable , friendly , helpful and funny people I've been fortunate enough to engage in social intercourse with , yourself included Ray . No doubt i may offend some with these comments , but theres no offence intended , like my brother once said , the only reason i was given a mouth was so i'd have something to take my foot out of , and like the great Al Bundy once said being a man is "being able to make mistakes and not care" The only reason I keep coming back is LW is great in its current format and everything seems to work fine just the way it is . LONG LIVE THE NEWBIES !!!!!!!!!!!!We'll be seasoned veterans before ya know it ! Ya just gotta love it here ! Cheers , Dave . PS - I might be green , but i'm not a cabbage .Everbody here was new at one time .

It was not my intention to be patronising, Dave. Apologies if I offended anyone. I'll just crawl back under my rock...

[Luke Hatley]

BILLY P...............I'M WITH YOU ALL THE WAY. YOU SAID IT THE WAY I FEEL.

[Denise]

First off - Welcome Everyone!!!! - newbies or "experienced". I find it interesting watching the dynamics on the board. It is not uncommon that someone new joins, is all excited about being here because this IS a fun place to be, and posts a LOT right off. I did. Then they learn a bit more about how this place, as opposed to others, works and their posts may change a little - or not. Others join and are real quiet till they figure things out or just lurk always but can see the pictures. Either way, EVERYONE is welcome. That is one of the best things about LW.net - the friendly atmosphere (even TwinOaks' humor and the dog licked doughnuts).

The main goal of LW.net, as Johanna has often said, is the keep leatherworkers from needing day jobs. This place is about 2 1/2 years old. We have almost 3,300 real members (some of those other numbers are spam bots or something intenet related that I don't understand). So we are a really LARGE site that is still comparatively young and still growing. Right now LW is primarily a forum where people learn about leather. But it can be, and will be, a place that more people can find you to purchase your products. That part of the idea is still growing and the details have to be worked out. I don't see LW becoming a "store" - so more power to people who want to set that up - but an information source to buyers. So for right now, put up your links in your signature, since that seems to be the best way for search engines to find you. And link this site to yours. That lets more people find us too. Then let a moderator know if you want your stuff in the leatherworker's database Johanna and Kate have up their sleeve. Just know that the sleeve might be pretty long. Everything here is done by volunteers, so it takes time. After all, we all STILL have day jobs...

[Mattmatt]

On my way to class checked the forum. Someone asked me to send in an item, working on my first post. I think I will stay off the Marketing section of this forum, not sure why it is here if LW in not interested in making money. We all want to learn that is why I am going to class and have read about a hundred posts. I personally want to learn how to sell I think I can develop my work and sales at the same time. I will find another resource for that, Tom gave some good ideas. Gota go.

[Jordan]

This section like all the others is here to allow sharing of methods and ideas that have worked, or not. Gets back to the fundamentals, free exchange between peoples of like minds even if a bit warped at times

[rdb]

Finally, NOW I understand where Mattmatt is coming from.

Leatherworkers aren't usually very good at too much else other than skins. That's why we ask questions of Art about sewing machines, even though many of us have one.

This site is about the craft itself, and of course marketing is a big part of that. There have been many Topics about marketing, by way of how to sell at fairs, what price to be charging for work, both new and repairs, consignments, and some internet questions. A little searching will show them.

I'm going to bet that there are not too many internet experts among us. A few are wised up to the ways of the "tubes", but most would not be considered SEO experts. It is a field unto itself, and a new one at that. If you were to Google SEO, you would find millions of pages about it. Which advice to use, and which to ignore, I suppose you do so at your own gain or peril. It is not particularly applied to leather trade, but more a universal science. Look at the other related forums, like knifemaking, and motorcycle types, and you will see many of our members are also fairly active there. They are using other forums to promote themselves. I don't know how much success they are meeting with, because they keep that stuff close to vest as it were, as any business man would.

The origin of this Topic was a bit put-offish to some here, and so the actual marketing information got lost in the tide. I'm sure Mattmatt, that if you were ask specific questions in a new thread, you would get all kinds of people jumping in with all sorts of help. Especially any specific questions from school. I'm sure homework was never very big with any of us, but add the word leather to it, and we just might suprise you.

There really isn't any kind of newbie/oldie thing going on here, except that there are people here who truly love the craft. We want us all to do well, make beautiful things, and be successful.

So never be afraid to jump in here, and please do share any information. Even us old people can still use to learn a trick or two.

We all wish you great success in school, and with your Leather, and hope to see your projects displayed here.

From 5140 to 7517

[ETW Grumpy]

I agree with what BillyP said. This forum is a great place to exchange knowledge. There isn't anywhere else on the 'Net like this that I can find.

[rawhide1]

Howdy All

I joined this forum to learn from others and share what little knowledge I have if it's needed. I'm not a real big computer or internet type of guy so I really don't know about search engines or all the other stuff. All I know is I like LW the way it is. But it seems the bigger we get the more people come along and want to change it's intended purpose which is to share knowledge and friendship. This is a great site with great people so why change the dynamics (big word) of it. If a guy can sell something every now and again from people seeing stuff on the site then great. But I would rather find another way of selling my stuff than losing the original concept of LW that makes it so great. Just my .02 cents.

Mike

[Davy]

Get back out from under that rock Ray , no offence taken whatsoever . I dont want to miss out on any thing you have to say , God bless ya little cotton socks !!!! Ah , theres nothing quite like the aftermath from throwing a bit of petrol on the fire . Sure gets things going . Probably one of my faults is to enjoy stirring things up a bit , but ah , what the heck , who cares . - as for being all new and wanting to post heaps of threads and replies , I think that comes from being a leatherworker for so long but only ever having met or spoken to a handful in all that time . finding this site has been like coming out of a 35 year coma and finding over 3000 people i have something in common with . One thing i've wanted to do for years is share all i've learnt over this period and finally I've found a place to do this , with an added bonus of learning new stuff from some truly great craftsmen & women . So , forgive me if I ramble on a bit , or have my bent sense of humour taken the wrong way ( I dont normally apologize for anything ) but youse only have yourselves to blame , afterall you accepted me as a member , warts and all ! And rawhide 1 , that 2 cents worth was priceless . From the original topic and right throughout this one I think you perfectly stated what everyone else wanted to say but couldnt as well as you just have . Summing up I'll just say blah blah blah blah blah blah........................lol

Cheers , Dave.............Sick of me yet ?

[UKRay]

Get back out from under that rock Ray , no offence taken whatsoever .

Cheers , Dave.............Sick of me yet ?

I wasn't very far under there... just keeping my head down... on reflection I deserved a chewing off, Dave. Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. I'll try not to say anything like it again ...though I might THINK bad things occasionally... <grin!>