Comments on: Site Stats 2

By: final fashion

final fashion — Sat, 19 Nov 2005 16:30:42 +0000

That’s what this whole internetty thing is all about – networking. The more incoming and outgoing links, the better! (of course quality is the definitive indicator of why I choose to link or not)

I linked you a while ago, I forget if I posted that here. I found you through a post on Diane Pernet’s blog and just love all the valuable information you’ve got here. Keep up the good work!

By: Jess

Jess — Sat, 19 Nov 2005 03:46:28 +0000

I was linking to you from my font site:http://www.bvfonts.com/links.shtml but it was the url you had before this so I just updated it, hee.
It’s so true. I’ve never trust anyone who doesn’t have a good links page.

By: Cinnamon

Cinnamon — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 02:12:12 +0000

I couldn’t disagree less about not providing links on a site related to selling a product. I ask everyone who purchases something from my site how they found out about me. Aside from a few mentions that I’ve received in the media, most of it has been that someone found me through another online DE’s site. And I’ve loved the handful of times that one of the people who are my links email me and say “Someone just bought something from me and said they found me through your site.” It’s a reciprocal relationship. Have I lost a sale because someone saw another handbag designer linked to from my site and liked their product more than mine? Possibly, but the amount of sales I’ve made from others links to me means that I have some karma to pay back and I don’t mind doing so.

By: Jinjer Markley

Jinjer Markley — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 23:25:03 +0000

I must say, I completely disagree that any DE would have anything to lose by linking to fashion-incubator for the following reasons:

1) Your customers buy your stuff because they like your designs, not because they don’t know how to make it themselves. If that’s not true, you’re in the wrong business.

2) I’ve taught enough beginning/intermediate sewers to realize that most people think this is MUCH easier than it is. Kathleen’s book and site does a good job of showing just how much time, energy and thought goes in designing clothes. The average lukewarm fashionista is more likely to get scared off than say “hey, I’ll just do all that myself!”

3) Kathleen’s site is clearly aimed at serious professionals, and linking to it show that you are seriously interested in professional growth. This is a good thing.

4) If more DE’s & potential DE’s visit Kathleen’s site and decide to join the fray, so much the better for our industry, and so much the better for you, too. The more DE’s get into the act, the more incentive for the fashion industry to provide resources aimed at DE’s.

5) In general, I beleive that all decisions should be based on facts and possibilities, not fear and ego. I’ve seen great ideas fail because fear and ego prevented them from taking root. I’ve seen mediocre ideas succeed because of their owner’s belief in them. Attitude is more important than skill, frankly. (although I hope to have both one day )

6) I, for one, have already had interest in my services generated by vistors to Kathleen’s site, who see my comments.

7) It’s great to tell potential clients needing services that are out of my league “I can’t help you, but visit fashion-incubator.com, it has a great list of more appropriate resources.” Those people think more of me because I could help them, not less.

By: Mike C

Mike C — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 22:55:16 +0000

I added your link to our About page.

Fashion-incubator.com is the only outbound link we have on our entire site.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 21:46:43 +0000

I guess it’s all a matter of perception, graciousness and generosity. I’ve seen plenty of DE sites that list helpful links on their “about us” page with related links -I don’t CARE that its buried! It shouldn’t be on the front page or on products pages and I didn’t suggest that. So many designers complain that no one will help them, yet they don’t help anyone either! I see it very much as selfishness, just wanting goodies for themselves and to hell with anybody else. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve spoken with DEs from my site and they all complain that information is so hard to come by, that nobody wants to help them out yet none of them are gracious or generous enough to help out either. I don’t feel a bit sorry for them. Eventually, what goes around, comes around.

By: MW

MW — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 21:04:03 +0000

I am continually dismayed that none of the DE companies link to me. This makes me very resentful and makes me question why I help you when you obviously can’t see fit to help me or your future colleagues and further reinforces the perception that designers are selfish and only looking out for themselves and I’m trying to build a community here.

In defense of webmasters, I don’t do reciprocal linking. If you run a product-based website, it’s generally not a good idea to link your visitors out to somewhere else unless it’s beneficial for you to do so. If I were to link out, the links would be buried somewhere. I don’t know Kathleen, I understand your frustration, but if I were trying to make money with my website, the last thing I would be doing is linking out. I would want people to come to my website to buy my product, not learn how I make it.

By: Jinjer Markley

Jinjer Markley — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 20:04:57 +0000

I want to link to you! I’m working out kinks in a website trade gone awry so that I can edit my own pages again…The latest word is that Firefox may be the key, so I may switch from Safari (which wasn’t in your stats, BTW.) Although, Safari, along with all Mac-based everything is way more trouble-free than I. Explorer.