Buttonhead

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Welcome to Buttonhead.org! My name is Ali, and I make custom pinback buttons (badges), magnets, mirrors, and temporary tattoos for artists, small businesses, parties, and events. On this website you will find behind-the-scenes Buttonhead secrets, news, updates, press, promotions and customer resources. I have also created a library of how-to’s for indie business owners and self-employed artists. I hope you find the information inspiring and the extras entertaining.

Please be sure to leave a comment, subscribe to the RSS updates, and feel free to add me to your favorite social networks, so we can stay in touch. I look forward to connecting with you!

Ali (Buttonhead)

Are you curious to see what types of goodies I’m making for other people? Check out my photo blog and find out what’s hot off the presses at Buttonhead!

I am so excited to introduce you to a wonderful artist I recently met. Her name is Amber Rose, and she is a femme extraordinaire! Ok. So, there are a lot of bloggers in the world – but she is one of the best examples I’ve ever seen of how to use a blog to promote (and supplement) your art. At ModestJune.com, she has created a total world of her own. It’s so easy to get drawn into each little message about life, love, art… and fashion! Amber Rose has a fearless way of combining all of the things she loves into a wonderful blend of positivity. Best of all, everything is wrapped up in a pretty bow of gorgeous photography that deserves recognition all on its own. I could get lost for hours just staring at all of the dreamy photos!

If you like meeting nice, new people who enjoy chatting about life and style – meet your new obsession! Or, if you are an indie business owner looking for great examples of successful bloggers, look no further. I’m really impressed with Amber Rose’s ingenuity, and I think you will be too.

One of the most challenging aspects of running an art-based business is developing the technical skills to promote your work online.  Unfortunately, it’s not enough to have an amazing talent.  You have to be an entrepreneur too!  Many crafters and artists become frustrated by the idea of photographing their products, setting up a website, developing graphics, and social networking for promotion.  I know, because I’m one of them!  Anything involving a computer can be a major source of stress without the proper training. 

I’d like to recommend to you a resource that has really helped me wrap my brain around the seemingly black hole of computer tech.  Lynda.com is an instructional video library with courses available on pretty much any computer-related topic.  The videos make complex topics so easy to understand – and the subscription price is only $25/month (with NO contract!).  I’ve been using these online courses for nearly a year now.  I’ve learned so many amazing new skills that have helped me take my business to the next level, including: 

•  Twitter and Facebook for business marketing
• Product photography
• Podcasting
• Using Quicken to manage business and personal finances 
• HTML/XTML and CSS
• Website design fundamentals
• Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver and Acrobat
• Search engine optimization for websites
• Print color management

There is so much information waiting to be consumed!  Hey, you can’t learn everything you need to know in a day or even a year.  Just take it one step at a time.  Instead of going to a million different websites to learn a technical skill, watch a training video from beginning to end, then move on to the next course.  I promise, you will not regret it.  The more time you spend developing your technical skills, the more your art-based business will grow.

Lynda.com