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Since you’ve arrived at this article, let me first congratulate you on taking your pattern designing to the next level. As you know, designing, writing and taking great photos is only the start of creating a successful pattern. This is a business, and like any other online venture, marketing is a huge part of making that business dream into a reality.
One of the most effective way to get more clicks to your pattern pages and more eyeballs on your work, is to improve your SEO or Search Engine Optimization. There are plenty of gurus (self-proclaimed and otherwise) who claim to know all about that. For instance, long-tailed keywords are definitely a must in the description or intro blurb that describes your pattern. But this is not that article. I’m going to tell you how to generate and find excellent places to have links directly to your pattern pages.
I know these work because I’ve used these exact same pages to promote my work over at KweenBee.com. I can always tell when I’ve been shared through one of these sites, usually through one of their emails, because my new user and page hit stats rise significantly! And with that rise is an increase in ad revenue, video views and sales of my PDF patterns. Because these sites are a valuable resource to all knitters and crocheters, the links to your site also makes your site increase in it’s relevancy rating. This means Google will make your pattern’s page more likely to come up on the first page of it’s search results. These are known as backlinks and it’s VERY important to get links from relevant and well-ranked sites related to your topic.
Granted, there are other places you can go to help increase traffic. Good old social media works, sort of. Facebook/Meta and Instagram want you to pay for views of your posts. From my experince of having more than 3500 followers on Facebook and not even 1K on Instagram, I’m lucky to get 30 likes on any post and even fewer clicks over to my website. This is why I save my time for more relevant things like creating new quality content for my website, designing new patterns or adding my links to other sites listed below.
These are the few that I have saved to my browser tab bar so I always have them handy for submitting my new content. And for the record, I am in no way gaining from these links. This is not sponsored content and I am not affiliated to any other sites other than my KweenBee franchise. Most of these require that your pattern is free. I know, it’s a bummer but not much I can do. Having your pattern online for free but supported with ads, in conjunction with a printable PDF version that’s ad-free is a very financially viable way to make money from your crochet and knitting patterns. I know because I’ve done it for years. But to each their own.
In no particular order, theses are the sites I use to generate quality backlinks to my knitting and crochet patterns…
AllFreeKnitting.com
One of the first sites I ever shared my content on. I was even a featured designer once ? but that’s not why I’m suggesting this. As the title would suggest, they only accept free knitting patterns. If you are selling them only, your project won’t be accepted.
The site is very easy to add your info to. All your knitting designs are listed under your username also, making it even easier for users to find all your content. To add your knitting pattern, create an account or log in, and click on the Submit Your Project in the menu. Fill out the info as required.
Sometimes you’ll get an email letting you know it’s been shared, sometimes you won’t. But you’ll know by the increase in traffic. Make sure your knitting project photo is good because this is what people see to determine if they want to use your pattern.
FaveCrafts.com
To be honest, I’m not sure if they accept “for pay” patterns on this site or not (leave a comment if you know). What I do know is that this site accepts a variety of patterns and projects. Since this site only focuses on knitting and crochet, I’m going to stick with that.
Like the previous site, log in or create an account, click on Submit Your Project! and fill out the info.
Not as good as some websites I’ve shared my content with as far as generating traffic, but certainly worth filling out the forms. Every relevant link helps.
KnittingPatternsGalore.com
Not going to lie, this is also another one of my favourites that has always given me great results!
This website is very specific about only accepting FREE knitting patterns. No exceptions are made so don’t try. That would be kind of rude. Just sayin’.
You don’t have to register for the site. Just fill out the form here – Submit a Pattern Once again, and like most things on the internet, a good photo is what’s going to draw potential knitters to your pattern.
I never know when one of my knitting designs is going to go out on the site. I always know by the jump in my analytics numbers.
IntheLoopKnitting.com
Also an amazing source for knitting content and a great place to have your work shown on! No form or registration for this one. For this, send an email. The lady who runs it is super nice and friendly and always has added my work. It may take her a bit to get new content on her site, I think she likes to run with a theme and your knitting pattern needs to fit. I could be wrong but it’s a great idea to have a theme for the posts she likes to make.
I’m not going to post her email here. I don’t want her to get spammed. So here is the link to the page…FAQs and Contact Information Scroll down the page until you read “I have a pattern I want to share. Will you add it to your site?” A drop down will open that has her email address in it. Write a nice email that includes photos, a bit of a description, and the link to your site. She’ll always get back to you. She really is super nice ?
AllFreeCrochet.com
Yes, the sister site to the AllFreeKnitting.com site. I don’t do a lot of crochet designs, and when I do, it’s usually for more unexpected items like jewelry. It’s not something people are all that interested in or think of when they think of crochet. Hence, my crochet projects haven’t blown up like some of my knitting patterns have. I’m fairly certain it’s a “me thing” and more standard designs will do fantastic over here.
The layout and submission process is very much like it is at the knitting site. Log in or register, click on Submit Your Project! and fill out the required information.
KweenBee.ca
Did I just do that? Oh yes I did. I included this site! Some people may have stumbled upon this page without ever being here before and not knowing what it’s about. I shall enlighten you…
This website accepts any kind of pattern, free or paid, that’s on any site. It could be on Ravelry, Etsy, LoveCrafts, Amazon, your own blog or website. I really don’t care. I’m trying to create a one-stop-shop for everyone who’s in the fibre artist pattern design game.
Head over to the form here – ⭐️ Add Your Pattern! ⭐️ fill out all the required info. Some of the information you give is optional. If you don’t have or don’t want to share your social media, have more information, want to list supplies needed, etc., that’s fine. Anything marked as “Required” I need to have to generate content and a link back to your patterns pages. And yes, multiple page links are permitted.
You can also try various forums along with these websites. I have had great luck with KnittingParadise.com. Though I will say, there are trolls over there. I’ve had more than one contact me privately through the site saying I don’t participate enough and shouldn’t post there. But then will get 3 pages of other people telling me thank you for posting and a ton of new users and page hits so….??♀️ You can take your chances over there.
This works like every other forum created by humankind. To share your pattern, you’ll have to register for the site. To share your pattern, add photos, description and links back to your webpage as a new topic. Now there isn’t anything on the site about NOT adding a “for pay” pattern, but I don’t think I would. I’m completely free and the pearl clutchers over there have given me grief about nearly everything from having slow loading site, too many ads, having to accept cookies, and nearly everything else under the sun. Once again, you’ve been warned ?. And fyi, they’re not all pearl clutchers. Most are very nice. It’s just the few Karens who gotta Karen like a Karen can.
And I’m sorry that this article is a little “free pattern” and “knitting designer” heavy. I don’t know of more places for the crochet designers out there. If you know of more websites that could be of benefit, contact me at [email protected] and I’ll add it. You can also leave a link in the comments below.
Depending on my willingness and user desire, I can get into crochet and knitting pattern SEO more. But golly! This article turned out a LOT longer than I ever thought it would. I was just going to write up a quick little something…?
Do you know of any other sites or forums that offer great backlinks? Please share with the community! We’re all in this together and together we can do great things ?
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