Using Pinterest to Help You Understand Your Readers/Shoppers

So by now you all know that I'm a huge Pinterest fan...right?! Well today I thought I'd share a quick little blogger or shop owner tip with you, on how you can use Pinterest to gain a better understanding of your readers/customers and what they like. The best part is that you don't even need to have a Pinterest account to put this to use!

Here's how it works: Every time an image from your blog or a product from your shop is pinned, Pinterest adds that item to a feed of all user-pinned items from your blog/shop (this does not work for individual etsy shops unfortunately). So by using this URL and substituting your URL in place of mine you can keep track of what posts/products are sparking your reader's/shopper's interest. Isn't that the sort of thing we always wonder about?! Of course this isn't perfect science (as all your readers/shoppers are not Pinterest users), but it's been a helpful little tool for me to use over the past couple months, and I hope it will come in handy for you too.

Also, it just occurred to me that this tool could be used to check in on the sort of content that is ranking well with others in your shop/blog community. For example, here's a snapshot of some recent pins from Martha Stewart. Just think of all the interesting...or should I say Pinteresting things you can discover! xo Ez

Inspiration Daily: 05. 25. 11

Morse Code Owl by Antii Sullivan. Be sure to check out her brand new etsy shop for some charming products. I love her Poppy Tote so much.

A Day at the National Stationery Show

Photos from the following booths: Smock Paper | Sweet Bella | Tokyo Milk

Hi sweets! As you know I just returned from my trip to the National Stationery Show, and I'm just buzzing with excitement to share some of the old and new favorites that I discovered! Before I get started with the link love though, I have to say two things:

1. If you met me in your booth at the Show and I answered your question "Where are you from?" with the exuberant reply: "Oklahoma!!!" I now understand that you were asking what site I was from, and not where I live! (majorly embarrassed, face-palm action going on over here).

2. As soon as I clapped eyes on the very first pretty paper goods booth, all planning and sensible thought flew out the window and I ended up completely missing some of the booths I was most excited about (I'm sorry Anna). That and I only remembered to take photos for the first 5 minutes (argh). Dork x 1000. Next time I will be better prepared for sure.

Phew...now that we got that out of the way...here are some of my favorites from the show:

My friend SusyJack* introduced her gorgeous new line. A-may-zing! These goodies are now available for sale in her shop:

Linda & Harriett - Fresh watercolor print and letterpress designs (the watercolor effect was my favorite trend this season):

Banquet - Love everything from these guys, from their art prints to their new line of wrapping paper and greeting cards:

Fig.2 Design Studio - Gorgeous pops of neon letterpressed goodness:

Ink + Wit - Loved everything...especially the sweet stamp sets:

More awesome vendors I met (in random order):

Chewing the Cud | Fugu Fugu Press | Mr. Boddington's Studio | Dauphine Press | Meri Meri | Smudge Ink | Dear Hancock | Wild Ink Press | Urubbu | Klugworld | Fawnsberg | May Day Studio | Gold Teeth Brooklyn | J.Falkner | Screech Owl Design | Pistachio Press | The Great Lakes Goods | Igloo Letterpress | Fomato Cards | Favorite Design | Old School Stationers | Gilah Press + Design | La Familia Green | Carolyn Suzuki Goods | Mara Mi | Two Trick Pony | Artistry Cards

I hope you liked my little roundup from the show and will have fun discovering new paper goodies via the collection of links above. xo Ez

RUE the Day...in a Good Way

The fifth issue of Rue Magazine just launched yesterday and boy is it ever filled with the most glorious eye candy. You just have to see it for yourself.

I am also tickled pink to have been interviewed for their "Blogger Side-by-Side" feature alongside the always sweet and lovely Jan from Poppytalk. Aren't the illustrations by Katie Roberts too cute!

Hurry on over and check out the full magazine here (you can find my wee feature on page 30). Thanks Rue! xo Ez

Inspiration Daily: 05. 24. 11

Pearl River by Caitlin McGauley (via Amelia on pinterest)