Over the years, lots of sellers have posted thousands of Folksy Friday posts - sharing makes from fellow sellers, quite often on a weekly basis (although that’s not a law!).
Of late it’s gone off the boil a bit, fewer sellers are creating and sharing the boards. I think that’s for various reasons, but I do think that’s a shame - again, for various reasons!
Excuse the long post here, but I wanted to share my thoughts…
Here’s why I do them (mostly) every week:
I like curating, picking and choosing items each week - because it’s actually quite fun, I like having something to think about and look at other than my own things, I have absolute autonomy over what my theme will be each week: I can do what I want!
I am always over the moon when someone features one of my makes on their boards - truly, it makes my day, it’s like a little present (I know, sounds daft) and it makes me smile. I feel like I’m being ‘found’, if that makes sense.
And here’s why I do them for the more selfish reasons:
I get more interaction on my FF posts: like, 2, 3 or sometimes 4 times as many likes and comments. Now likes and comments aren’t just vanity, the more a post gets the more it will get shown (on IG and on FB). Their algorithm shows your posts to just a few of your followers not all of them, but if a post looks like it’s popular it will get shown to more - and so on. That means more eyes on me and my social media!
Getting my own work mentioned by other sellers also puts my name out there, means I may get a shop visit, a follow, maybe they’ll just amble over to my profile - who knows. But links, mentions, shares are all good things in the social media world. I might not get a direct sale, but I get other benefits.
It gives me something to post about - now I’ve got lots of items I could share, I could fill every day of the week with one of my makes - but I think that’s boring and I don’t think that’s necessarily what my followers want. “Buy me, buy me, buy me”… know what I mean? All the social media gurus will tell you that it’s important to mix things up - I’ve heard it said that you should begin at a lowly 20/80 spread when you start, showing just 20% your ‘selling’ posts balanced with 80% of other stuff (things like, showing your face, showing your workspace, wips, things about homelife, aesthetic images of your garden/kids/pets, funny/inspirational/thought provoking things - the list goes on). I post 5 days a week, M-F, and having a regular Folksy Friday board gives me something regular to post about - it fills my schedule for a day. I’d say my spread is roughly 40/60 - maybe 50/50 - I have no idea if that’s right, I’m not an expert by any means, but it feels like it gives a bit of ‘air’ inbetween the ‘buy me’ posts if that makes sense.
It gives me something to post about from the other side too - if I get a mention I can share it on my own social media, as a share or as a story.
I pin all my FF boards onto my Folksy board on Pinterest - and if you use Pinterest you’ll know that they love ‘fresh’ pins: brand new images that have never been uploaded before. So that’s a little win for my Pinterest too.
The honest downside to doing a FF post:
It takes time! There’s no getting away from the fact it takes time to search for the products, to create the board image, to make sure I tag everyone so they know I’m talking about them. I’d say I take about 2 hours a week, sometimes more. I could be doing loads of other things in that 2 hours, but I stick at it because I quite enjoy it, it gives me something else to think about other than my own stuff, I get to be creative - plus there’s the benefits listed above.
How do I create my boards?
I use photoshop - but that’s because I’ve got it and use it all the time for my work. But I know lots of other people use canva. I have the same template that I use each week (if you look at my social media you’ll see it), and I just change up the colours each time. I’m a bit fussy when it comes to colours, I have colour themes on my website each season which I carry over to my social media. And that means my FF boards have to work with my theme - but that’s just part of the fun (for me at least!). Usually my post just consists of a single image of the FF board, but I read this week that the dreaded algo likes multi-picture posts (carousel posts) because when someone clicks through each picture it’s noted: I’m not sure if that’s noted as lots of ‘clicks’ or scrolls, or whether it’s because they’re spending more time on the post - maybe it’s a combination - but I believe it pleases the IG gods. So my post this week I’ve done as a carousel, so we shall see!
Hate the new search and given up because of it?
Maybe just use Folksy’s own theme of the day - there’s a collection of things right there on the home page, you can just select from that.
Where do I share them?
On my Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X (although I think I’m about the only Folksy seller who still uses it - but hey, I’ve set it up, it’s there, might as well post on there too - plus I think X could do with some beauty in amongst its grotesquerie!), and as I say, on Pinterest. Most sellers don’t do all that, they’ll just share to IG for example - and that’s the beauty of it, you can post wherever you usually post, there’s no rules. (Although the more places the better, I think!)
I make sure on IG that I tag the folksysellers account as well as Folksy itself when I post, because that’s a place where you can then find other boards (I go to their profile, click on the ‘tags’ button and find them there). Since IG basically did away with hashtags and you can’t find anything properly with them anymore, it’s pretty much the only way of finding and interacting with other people’s boards. When I post mine, I always take a moment to go and seek out others. If I can I leave a comment (because I know that will help the algorithm), but if I only have a second I’ll like the post (which also helps, just not quite as much). Having said that, as far as I know hashtags can still work on Facebook - type ‘folksyfriday’ into the search bar, click on ‘Posts’, and then click on ‘Recent posts’ to see the most up to date. As far as I know, FB give more weight in their algorithm depending on the interaction, so a ‘like’ has less influence than a heart or other reaction, and a comment has more influence than any type of reaction. And then I think top of the pile is a share. I may be out of date on that, others my know, but that’s what I remember in recent years.
I also post my boards on the ‘Promoting Folksy’ thread here on the forum, because I know not everyone will necessarily find them any other way - plus belt 'n braces!
Still don’t want to do them and I’ve bored you to death?
Absolutely fair enough - have you seen the length of this post?!! But maybe if you can spare 5 or 10 minutes (or even 1 or 2) each week to like and comment on other people’s that would be brilliant. Maybe even share on your story? (The lovely @RosyMoonUK does this a lot and I’m always so grateful) It helps them, helps Folksy, gives you a pretty much ready-made story if you want one, and ultimately I guess helps us all.
Thanks for sharing this Sarah, you make loads of good points. I’ve found lots of new people to follow when I’ve looked other sellers’ folksy Fridays and it’s a real confidence boost when other people select your work to be included in their folksy Friday collage. I usually share to IG when I do one so it’s really helpful if people have a link in their shop to their instagram so I can find them easily to tag.
Sarah, I agree with everything you say in your post and congratulate you for having have more patience and articulation than I to put all that into words! Well done. I’ll also second your comment about Rosy @RosyMoonUK, she’s a star with her sharing.
I was away a lot earlier in the year so wasn’t doing them, then when I picked it up again I noticed there had been a real decline. It’s a shame, I don’t know whether that’s because of changes on SM or people just getting fed up. Sometimes it does feel a bit unrewarding, but as you point out, there are so many advantages.
I honestly don’t know what I would post on Fridays if I didn’t do a FF. I am glad to have some decent content once a week!
I think it doesn’t really matter what you do for FF, the important thing is to do SOMETHING.
Oh Amanda, your work is gorgeous and you definitely shouldn’t be shy about posting it! But yes, it is helpful to have a regular “I know what I’m doing on Friday” post!
It’s a real shame that momentum has eased off for FF’s - there used to be a lot more of us doing them and I think there’s a real benefit for doing them for everyone involved. I notice that there’s quite a few sellers that I tag who don’t seem to notice when they’re tagged in a post - I think that’s a shame because I love when I see something of mine shown.
And yes, if you can’t do one yourself just trying to give a bit of love to those who do a FF is really helpful.
Afternoon, Sarah @PhotoFairytales you’re right there are fewer Folksy Friday boards these days. I used to do them and it did feel like a huge task in the beginning and I wonder if that puts people off doing them. I have just fallen out of the habit which is why I share as many as I see. We all have different followers, so I do it in the hope that it’ll highlight someone new to others.
Thank you @plumporridge
Keep up the good work, ladies. I’m off to trawl IG for some boards
I’m sat here nodding along with you Sarah @PhotoFairytales and everyone else. I really enjoy making my FF board each week and can spend well over an hour making it.
I sat at the beginning of the year and wrote 57 prompts/ideas I could use for FF each week so I wouldn’t have to spend too long thinking of each theme allowing for a few extras in case I changed my mind about a few as the year goes on.
I have a folder set up in my one drive with other folders in it titles for each week as I search and save so I can easily check if I’ve already covered a theme and also, sometimes I spot a piece that is a perfect fit for an upcoming theme so I can add it straight away to the right folder.
What would be a huge help I think, if we could set up our own categories for what we save rather than having a huge favourites list.
I take part in the Daily Listing Challenge so ‘favourite/heart’ so many items that it would make it loads easier to find what I’ve favourited for FF.
Also, on that same note, sorry a bit off piste, I see pieces all the time I want to remember and then buy as a gift later in the year and have pages and pages of favourites to scroll back through to try and find. When I’ve gone back 20 pages, ran out of time and don’t find what I saved then that’s a missed sale for someone. Yes I know I should write it down but always think I’ll be able to remember it!
I’ve only missed making a board a handful of Fridays in about 18 months and try and spend 10 minutes or so finding others to interact with when I post mine. It really is getting harder to find them though I agree.
Anyway, I’m rambling and the oven is about to let me know pizza is ready so I’ll say bye for now.
Lou x
Goodness, I am afraid all that went right over my head…lol…I am not even sure what an algorithm is…what is a 20/80 spread?. or the other figures…talk of aesthetic images
I don;t even have photoshop, although I know what that is., I still struggle with instagram but I DO do facebook and like as many items as I can.
People talk about canva etc…no idea what that is either.
I just don’t DO techie things.
I have only just bought a smart phone and still cannot swipe without cutting off people who phone me…
Sometimes i feel a bit left behind with all the modern technology but I blame old age.
Well done to all those who do the FF Boards.
I’m working up to it, but I truly suck at new tech things. I’m autistic (or AuDHD) and get overwhelmed quickly with new things. I have a panic response, run away from it for a bit, freak out some more, settle down, work it out, and then I’m fine. Annoyingly, I can’t avoid the panic response sequence at the start and it’s exhausting.
I can kind of use Canva, sometimes, as long as my friend is online to troubleshoot when I mess it up. I’m still working out both Instagram and Pinterest. I love the look of the Folksy Friday boards, and it made my day when Mel @aquilacrafts featured one of my items, so I will get there in the end. It’s quite involved at the outset though.
@thestitchyroom you can unfavourite items by clicking on the heart again, when you refresh your favourites page they will disappear.
(I will often go through search results and heart items that catch my eye then go to my favourites to see the long list I’ve created and then unheard items to whittle it down to a short list, then once I’ve made my final pick I unheart the rest)
I use to do ff boards but just simply don’t have the time anymore, I feel like I am drowning under a list of jobs most of the time so some things had to give. I also used to post all of my new creations in the gift guides but stopped doing it for a few months again down to time that i needed for other things, I have just done a couple the past few days so maybe I will get back into it all slowly.
I did enjoy choosing items for the boards but half the time when it came to tagging on IG i couldn’t find the accounts so would spend ages trying to find sellers going back and forth to Folksy to see if they had links to IG, I found I was spending almost half a day which I just don’t have to spare at the minute. Time spent online was the only area I could free up time, hopefully I will get back into doing some even if it’s not every week.
I do Folksy Fridays around 70% of the time, mostly for the reasons Sarah so coherently listed in her first post.
I used to enjoy creating them more than I do now - I find the search facility adds a lot of time to an already time consuming task - but I still enjoy selecting items for my chosen theme.
For me the biggest problem is, I think, changes in the Instagram algorithm recently? I no longer seem to see my favourite people in my feed all the time, and having have IG block my account twice, I am reluctant to ‘love’ everything the way I used to.
I notice that even the people I have featured on my FF board don’t always respond/comment/like my board, despite tags (which was rare a few years ago) so I suspect it isn’t showing in their feed either. All of which is demoralising and makes me wonder if it is worth the effort. I only choose people with Instagram accounts, because that is where I post, and try to make sure they have links back to Folksy.
I too try to comment on al the FF boards I see, but again I think recent changes may mean I miss more than I used to.
I don’t use a smart phone, just my laptop, due to very poor eyesight, so I have no clue about reels, sharing etc which seem to be only for phones (please let me know if I can do this on a laptop!)
Another shout out for Rosy @RosyMoonUK for all her support - love you Rosy!
I had a tricky time yesterday with tagging on Facebook, they all had working links from their shops (because I only include those who do), but I could only manage to tag 1 of the 4 shops I featured. I don’t know why, maybe it is some sort of setting on that page, maybe it was me, (if anyone knows please tell me!) but it’s a shame because the lack of reactions really makes a difference.
Years ago, my FF reach could be about 700, yesterday’s barely scraped a hundred.
Reactions really count and if nobody reacts, it’s little wonder that so many people are giving up on FF. One of the best things about Folksy is the support of other sellers, it’s a great community, and that’s what Folksy Friday is all about. What a shame it would be if it disappeared.
Every click could mean that somebody’s post reaches a potential customer for all of us.
I knew that Sasha but had completely forgot about it! That would work a treat, thanks for jogging my memory. Just checked and I can do it on my phone which works perfectly so a task to do later today when driving an hour along the coast for a little trip. (Not me driving!)
L x
I used to enjoy curating a FFBoard.
But havent done one for ages for all the various reasons already mentioned, the change to not being able to follow #s really had an impact. I always all the ones I see.
My tablet broke and I struggle to do anything much on my phone. I was thrilled to be chosen twice last week but couldnt work out how to share to my IG account. I dont do FB
The new search doesnt help either.
One of the things that i found frustrating was spending time tagging everyones IG account only to realise they had no direct link back to Folksy only their E… or their own selling site.
Ive often found that Folksy also feature shops with no direct link back to Folksy. I only choose shops with a direct link which adds more time.
Im going to give it another try, but like Sarah @PhotoFairytales I have to havea colour coordinated board which also takes more time. Is the advice to tag @folksysellers or #folksysellers ??
I completely agree with Nikki @GlintBeads about the algorithm on IG. I seldom see the people I want to see or follow and I have to make an effort to find both. Thank you for the love and appreciation too, Nikki
That’s a huge drop in interaction, Amanda @plumporridge
Amanda @OakLeafCrafting it is overwhelming to begin with, you could maybe start off just doing a few items as a gentle way to ease yourself into it. And don’t put pressure on yourself to do it. Good luck with it, if you do decide to try
I love doing Folksy Fridays - the creativity of putting together a well curated board really appeals to me. I have been known to do 3 in a day when the mood strikes. They do take time though - as I also do carousels and post them on IG, FB and Pinterest - all of which have their own quirks. I haven’t done any for a while - partly as I’m a bit disillusioned with social meda at the moment, but also because I have been getting more problems with an old back injury which means I’m limiting time spent at the computer.
Sarah @PhotoFairytales, you have reminded me of the benefits - both to me and to the wider Folksy community - so I will start making a plan.
And huge thanks to everyone who has featured one of my makes recently in a FF. Like Sarah, it really makes my day when someone tags me and I see my item in their lovely board. I am sorry I don’t always pick it up and share promptly - I know how much love and effort goes into making one and I promise to do better.
I have good intentions of doing them, but never seem to get there. I really do hope to, perhaps setting myself a reminder on my phone!!! Will try it. But I do get included in them quite often and always take the time to acknowledge, comment and share to my IG and FB stories. And any others that I come across I acknowledge too. Will try to do better! x
For the gifting favourites Lou, you could always use Pinterest. I pin gift ideas I see wherever on the internet. You can make them secret boards if you need to, but using regular boards means that you’re also sharing other people’s work on another search engine, so it’s all upside!
x
all the ones I see.