Prime Publishing LLC

Digital Advertising Gaining Ground

Northbrook, IL — U.S. digital advertising revenue has, once again, reached an all-time high in 2012, securing its place as the second largest source of U.S. ad spending, just behind broadcast TV. An annual report released by the Interactive Advertising Bureau reveals that Internet advertising revenue has risen 15% from 2011 for a total of about $36.6 billion in spending.

There were a few areas that showed particularly impressive areas of growth: mobile and digital video advertising. Mobile advertising revenue rose by over 112% from 2011 to 2012 while digital video advertising rose 27.8%. Nearly 40% of digital video advertising’s gains resulted from budgetary transfers from TV to digital, demonstrating the shifting trends of the business.

Further research reveals the rise of search ad revenue and display ad revenue which combined to represent 79% of the total digital ad revenue. Additionally, retailers and financial services were the leading industries in Internet ad spending, accounting for a combined 33%.

AllFreeCrochet, AllFreeKnitting, and Lion Brand Present Knit & Crochet Afghans

Northbrook, IL –The Lion Brand design team recently teamed up with AllFreeCrochet.com and AllFreeKnitting.com to bring you a brand new collection of the most popular knit and crochet afghan patterns. This must-have eBook includes a variety of knit and crochet afghans for crafters of all skill levels.

Making a homemade blanket is one of the easiest ways to quickly transform the look of any room if you’re on a budget. It’s amazing how much of an impact adding a blanket to your decor can have on any room of your house. Spring is the perfect time of year to freshen up your home decor with just a few minor steps.

A recent survey by national retailer HomeGoods revealed that nearly half (47%) of Americans have not updated their home decor in the last 5 years, and 9% have not in more than 10 years. This same survey reported that only 20% of Americans feel happy with their home decor, and 14% said their home furnishings make them feel gloomy and stressed. If you are among these statistics, then it’s definitely time to make some changes around the house. Your home should be a place of comfort and happiness, rather than a source of stress. Any one of the popular patterns in our latest eBook, The Most Popular Patterns for Afghans: 16 Knit and Crochet Afghan Patterns from Lion Brand, will definitely brighten up any room of your home and also bring a smile to your face.

You don’t have to break the bank to make big changes around your house. If your financial situation does not allow much extra cash to spend on home decor items, that’s okay. It’s super easy to give your home a makeover without shelling out big bucks. The quickest way to go about doing this is by adding a homemade blanket to your furnishings. If you already have blankets, then make some more! You can never have too many homemade afghans. Our latest eBook includes a great selection of beautiful patterns for both knitters and crocheters. You’ll find a wide variety of patterns that range in skill level from beginner to intermediate, so there is definitely a popular pattern for everyone.

Download your free copy of The Most Popular Patterns for Afghans: 16 Knit and Crochet Afghan Patterns from Lion Brand at www.allfreecrochet.com/Crochet-Afghan-Patterns/The-Most-Popular-Patterns-for-Afghans-16-Knit-and-Crochet-Afghan-Patterns-from-Lion-Brand

Contact:
Jeanette Benoit, Editor
AllFreeCrochet.com
Prime Publishing

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About AllFreeCrochet.com, AllFreeKnitting.com, and Prime Publishing:

AllFreeCrochet.com is a website dedicated to the best free crochet patterns, tutorials, tips and articles on crochet. Find all varieties and skills levels, from easy to crochet afghan patterns to complex Tunisian crochet patterns.

AllFreeKnitting.com is dedicated to the best free knitting patterns, tutorials , tips and articles. Never buy another knitting pattern again! AllFreeKnitting finds and delivers the best free knitting patterns from all over the web, from easy to knit afghan patterns to complex knitting patterns. Variety makes things exciting  and AllFreeKnitting has the right thing for your next knitting adventure.

Purple Email LLC was established in 1995 as a traditional niche book publishing company. Today, they are an Internet Media Company that operates web site communities and e-mail newsletters in niche areas such as crafting and cooking. A full list of web properties, free newsletters and free eBooks can be found at www.primecp.com.

Mother’s Day Crafts Give Moms What They Really Want

March 27, 2013 – Northbrook, IL – A recent study by CBS Chicago suggests that mothers do not want overly fancy gifts or celebrations for Mother’s Day, they instead wish to feel appreciated by their husbands and children. One mother, who was interviewed in a CBS Chicago report stated, “I realize[d] what I (and many of my friends) really wanted for the big day: We wanted and needed a break. We wanted to be appreciated.”

This exposé tells us one thing, Mother’s Day is a time to appreciate and pamper our mothers, not buy them fancy things. What better way to show appreciation of one’s mother than by making handmade Mother’s Day gifts, crafts, and cards for her?  There are plenty of ideas on how to show your appreciation in Mother’s Day Crafts: 9 Gift Ideas and Crafts for Mother’s Day, the latest free eBook from AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com.
There is nothing more appreciative than spending time creating a gift from scratch for your mother. These handmade Mother’s Day crafts and gift ideas will be sure to give Mom what she wants for Mother’s Day, your gratitude. The editors at AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com have collected the best of the best Mother’s Day crafts, decorations and handmade cards in this free eBook.

From Mother’s Day wearables and fabric flowers to Mother’s Day gifts and cards, this collection of Mother’s Day Crafts: 9 Gift Ideas and Crafts for Mother’s Day is ideal for anyone looking for DIY ideas for Mother’s Day!

To download a free copy of the Mother’s Day Crafts: 9 Gift Ideas and Crafts for Mother’s Day  eBook, simply visit: http://www.allfreeholidaycrafts.com/Mothers-Day-Crafts/Mothers-Day-Crafts-9-Gift-Ideas-and-Crafts-for-Mothers-Day-eBook

For additional information on DIY home décor projects or this free Mother’s Day eBook, please contact AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com editor Jennifer Bendix.

Contact:
Jennifer Bendix
Editor
AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com
AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com is a property of Purple Email LLC

About AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com:
AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com is a website dedicated to the best free holiday crafts, tutorials, tips and articles on holidays including Spring, Mother’s Day, July Fourth, Easter, Christmas, the Fourth of July and more. AllFreeHolidayCrafts finds and delivers the best holiday crafts from all over the web, from holiday decor to holiday clothing and accessories. Find hundreds of DIY holiday gifts, kids’ holiday crafts, holiday card ideas and more at AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com.

About Prime Publishing:
Purple Email LLC was established in 1995 as a traditional niche book publishing company. Today, we are an Internet Media Company that operates web site communities and e-mail newsletters in niche areas such as crafting and cooking. To learn more, visit www.primenewsletters.com.

Recent Survey on Sewing Discloses Surprising Results

Northbrook, IL —The editors of AllFreeSewing.com analyzed the results of a recent survey to determine the wants and needs of Sewing It Up subscribers. The sewing newsletter includes free sewing projects, craft news, giveaways and more. The survey was answered by 1,000 responders. Using the results, AllFreeSewing.com editors hoped to gain a better understanding of the readers, their sewing goals and interaction with the online community.

While the popularity of sewing and DIY crafting has been on the rise in recent years, the editors were shocked to find how dedicated responders are to the craft. When asked if they considered themselves to be fabric hoarders, 52.9% said “yes” and an additional 10% replied “No, not others would say I am.” Equally as surprising, when asked “If you had to choose one or the other, would you rather give up your entire fabric stash or a few old family photos?” 55.2% said they “couldn’t choose.” This statistic proves how much sewsists value their fabric!

According to the survey, 61.9% of the sewists sew for themselves as opposed to members of their family or friends. 53.4% of the readers prefer to spend between one to five hours on a single project while only 9.3% want to spend over a week on a project. It can be concluded from these results that most of the projects currently on AllFreeSewing.com abide by the wishes of the readers as they are quick projects geared towards women between the ages of 40 and 60.

In terms of the kinds of projects readers hoped to find in a Sewing It Up newsletter, 49.8% would like to add more home décor ideas and 45.9% want to see more bags and purses. Both home décor pieces and designer handbags can be pricey to purchase. The free patterns found on AllFreeSewing.com lend themselves as inexpensive and creative substitutes.

Key findings of the survey include:

Skill Level:
Beginner – 14.8%
Intermediate – 54.2%
Advanced – 30.0%
Not sure – 2.6%

Popular Subject Lines:
13 Must Haves – 24.1%
13 Projects Fit for a Goddess – 8.9%
13 Magical Sewing Projects – 35.0%
13 Best Projects of the Month – 67.6%

Social Media Use:
Facebook – 82.2%
Twitter – 9.6%
Pinterest – 54.2%
YouTube – 38.4%
Google+ – 33.8%
Instagram – 3.7%
Flicker – 3.1%

Main Reasons for Sewing:
For Fun – 60%
To Save Money – 28%
As a Creative Outlet – 73.9%
Because Knitting & Crochet is too confusing – 2.9%
I don’t, I just like to look at interesting projects – 1.4%

The Sewing It Up editors also asked readers what they’d like to see changed in the newsletter to improve its overall quality. Here is what a few Sewing It Up readers had to say:

“I like it the way it is. I wish for more time to read it!”

“I would really love to see a thumbnail of the projects listed – it would make me much more likely to click on them.”

“More advanced projects.”

“I’m already satisfied.”

“Actually, I think it’s great the way it is. I really enjoy it and thank you for it.”

 

Contact:

Kirsten Kwon
Editor
AllFreeSewing.com

AllFreeSewing.com is a property of Purple Email LLC

About AllFreeSewing.com:
AllFreeSewing.com is an exciting resource for all things sewing – from expert tips to project ideas for every style and skill level. We also publish Sewing It Up, a free e-mail newsletter, publish sewing eBooks, and create sewing related product promotions, contests, and giveaways.

Purple Email LLC was established in 1995 as a traditional niche book publishing company. Today, we are an Internet Media Company that operates web site communities and e-mail newsletters in niche areas such as crafting and cooking. To learn more, visit www.primenewsletters.com.

 

AllFreeCrochet Baby Hat Charity Drive A Success

Northbrook, IL – As we await the spring season to arrive, AllFreeCrochet teamed up with Bernat to host a baby hat charity drive for the local hospital, Northwest Community Hospital (NCH) in Arlington Heights. Each year over 3,000 babies are born at the hospital and every one of them goes home in a handmade knit or crochet hat to keep warm. From February 11 to March 11, crocheters and knitters from all over the country donated handmade baby hats to the office of Prime Publishing (home of AllFreeCrochet.com) in Northbrook, Illinois.

When the “tiny” announcement first took place, crocheters were very enthusiastic to help out and couldn’t wait to get their hook in hand. Each person who donated a hat was automatically entered to win a prize package from Bernat. Included in the package was 13 skeins of yarn to produce two different baby blankets from Bernat. The winner of the prize yarn is Karen from Folsom, La.

We’re unbelievably excited to share that AllFreeCrochet received an overwhelming number of baby hats that totaled more than 1,700 baby crochet hats! We know the editors of AllFreeCrochet as well as the staff at NCH were blown away and very appreciative of the generosity of each of these individuals who helped. Now every newborn baby can stay warm in their hats on their first adventure home.

It’s amazing how we can come together as a crochet community. It was neat that some included handwritten notes of “Thanks for hosting this charity”, “Prayers to all the babies who receive these hats”, “Thank you for supporting the babies”, and some even had personal memories of this hospital and how they were so excited to give back. This was an emotional and memorable charity drive that AllFreeCrochet, NCH and all those who donated will never forget.

For more information on how you can crochet for a cause, please visit AllFreeCrochet for a complete list of charities. Read more about AllFreeCrochet’s Baby Hat Charity at Stitch and Unwind.

Negativity Surrounds Mother’s Day– Kids’ Crafts Bring Meaning Back

Northbrook, IL –The masses are groaning that along with Christmas and Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day has become too commercialized. While protests are not taking place in public, more and more individuals are expressing their frustration through written word. It seems that where the day began as a celebration of the women of the world, it is now just another day for stores to put on their record sales list.

A columnist from the Trentonian takes the stance that these commercialized holidays exist solely to “make us feel guilty.” Whether or not this is true, the mere idea that people are lead to believe such things proves that the meaning of the holiday is lost. This sentiment is hardly new, as the woman who began the holiday of appreciation protested it a few years later.

This topic has led to passionate parties; some contest that we should honor mothers every day and others believe that mothers are simply doing their jobs and shouldn’t be thanked at all. Now, I think the latter opinion is a bit extreme, but simultaneously believe that buying a card written by a stranger does not make a day special.

Fortunately, kids are reverting to the original feeling of the holiday, and with the help of the free 14 Mother’s Day Craft Ideas for Kids: Homemade Mother’s Day Gift Ideas eBook they are making moms feel special again. This free eBook, courtesy of AllFreeKidsCrafts.com, features 14 full-length tutorials for Mother’s Day cards, flower crafts, perfect Mother’s Day gifts and more. Each project in this collection can be completed by children to show their adoration for a special woman in their lives.

It is difficult to argue that there is anything wrong with designating a day for children to craft for their mother as a thank you for raising them, especially when very little money is spent. The crafts inside of this free eBook aren’t so far off from being free themselves. The book includes projects made from recycled materials as well as from objects that are sure to be in any household.

14 Mother’s Day Craft Ideas for Kids: Homemade Mother’s Day Gift Ideas is sure to include a gift that is perfect for someone special. Mothers, aunts, and grandmas everywhere are sure to rediscover the meaning of this guilt-free holiday.

Your free eBook includes precious flowers made from water bottles, a bracelet with beads to represent each darling child, and the perfect cards to warm hearts. Be sure to check out those crafts and the other tutorials in 14 Mother’s Day Craft Ideas for Kids: Homemade Mother’s Day Gift Ideas.

To download a free copy of the 14 Mother’s Day Craft Ideas for Kids: Homemade Mother’s Day Gift Ideas eBook, simply visit: http://www.allfreekidscrafts.com/Kids-Mothers-Day-Crafts/Mothers-Day-Craft-Ideas-Kids-Homemade-Mothers-Day-Gift-Ideas-free-eBook.

For additional information on kids’ crafts or this free kids’ crafts for Mother’s Day eBook, please contact AllFreeKidsCrafts.com editor Jaclyn Holtzman.

Contact:
Jaclyn Holtzman
Editor
AllFreeKidsCrafts.com
AllFreeKidsCrafts.com is a property of Purple Email LLC

About AllFreeKidsCrafts.com:
AllFreeKidsCrafts.com is pleased to welcome kids of every age to our collection of the most exciting kids’ craft ideas from all over the web. For young minds, arts and crafts develop creativity, so AllFreeKidsCrafts is here to inspire their imaginations with activities and crafts for kids of every age. From nature crafts to make in your own back yard, to edible kids crafts in the kitchen, to crafts for kids who dream of adventure, we feature all sorts of kids crafts from the web’s most innovative parents and craft designers.

About Prime Publishing:
Purple Email LLC was established in 1995 as a traditional niche book publishing company. Today, we are an Internet Media Company that operates web site communities and e-mail newsletters in niche areas such as crafting and cooking. To learn more, visit www.primenewsletters.com.

Maximum ROI Achieved Through Email

Northbrook, IL — Tried and true, email marketing is still the most effective way to reach consumers, according to recent statistics reported by Litmus.com. The report explores the various methods brands use to reach consumers, measuring which practices resulted in the most click-throughs and the best ROI. The differences were staggering.

The top three marketing methods which resulted in consumers clicking through came via email, banner ads, and rich-media banners. Email marketing dominates the competition with a 5% click-through rate, a staggering 525% increase over its next highest competitor, banner ads which had a click-through rate of only 0.8%. On a similar vein, email marketing also has the highest conversion rates per session compared to search: 4.15% to 2.64%, an increase of 57.2%.

When businesses choose the most effective avenues through which to market their products, the most immediate indicator of value lies in the ROI. Once again, email marketing remains on top with an average return of $40 for every $1 spent. Keyword ads, in comparison, only have an ROI of $17 for every $1 spent and banner ads are only at $2 for every $1 spent. With email marketing’s ROI at a whopping 135% higher than its next closest competitor, it’s clear that email distribution is still one of the most profitable ways to build up a business.

Email Marketing Powerfully Drives Traffic, Sales

Northbrook, IL — When measuring the most effective methods for generating traffic and sales, a recent study, conducted by Forrester and reported by dotMailer, reveals that direct engagement with the consumer through email marketing has proven to be the most successful way to produce results.

The study followed 77,000 consumer orders in April 2012 in an effort to measure the digital tactics which resulted in the highest amount of sales and generated the most traffic. They found that the two most important factors were search and email marketing. The study showed that 30% of purchases began directly through an email marketing campaign, emphasizing the importance of engaging directly with the consumer.

While repeat customers rely more heavily on email marketing for future transactions, search is vital for bringing in new customers. In fact, 39% of transactions from new customers resulted directly from both paid and organic search. Social media, on the other hand, only resulted in about 1% of transactions.

We all know that multiple touch points are important. 33% of new customers and 48% of repeat customers visit multiple touch points before purchasing — and email has usually been a key influencing factor.

 

Prime Publishing LLC and Michaels Team Up to Giveaway Thousands in Prizes

Northbrook, IL — Crafting is a tradition that has been passed on from generation to generation. While the world continues to industrialize and technology improves and grows rapidly, this unplugged pastime has prevailed. To celebrate the staying power of this wonderful hobby, The Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) has designated March as National Craft Month, and FaveCrafts.com and its sister sites could not be more excited. Luckily for you, their love of crafting has led to the opportunity for you to win thousands of dollars in prizes.

According to CHA, more than half of the households in America participate in crafting, which is why this medium of expression has finally been dedicated its own month. National Craft Month began in 1994 and has never seen an event of this magnitude. Every March for the past 19 years, craft stores have offered classes, discounts, tips, tricks, and more to crafters and those interested in trying out the artsy hobby.

To celebrate National Craft Month, each day in March, Michaels and Purple Email LLC will be teaming up to give away an outrageous, crafty prize that you will not want to miss. There will be prizes courtesy of Swarovski, Plaid, Oliso, Fiskars, Lion Brand, and many, many more. Additionally, a brand-new, exclusive craft tutorial will be posted every day during the month, and compiled into a free, downloadable eBook. Each day these exclusive projects and your chance to enter for that day’s prize will be featured on FaveCraftsblog.com.

Thirty-one crafty days of prizes means thirty-one opportunities to win one of the amazing prizes up for grabs. It does not stop there, though. A grand prize of $1000 to Michaels for a shopping spree will be awarded to one lucky winner on the 31^st; be sure to enter for that as well.
Keep your eyes open for opportunities to win outstanding prizes continuously through the month of March on FaveCraftsblog.com.

Contact:

Jaclyn Holtzman, Editor
FaveCrafts.com
Purple Email LLC

About FaveCrafts.com:

FaveCrafts.com is an exciting resource for all things craft – from expert tips to project ideas for every style and skill level. We also publish Quick & Crafty, a free e-mail newsletter, publish crafting eBooks and create crafting related product promotions, contests and giveaways.

About Purple Email LLC:

Purple Email LLC was established in 1995 as a traditional niche book publishing company. Today, they are an Internet Media Company that operates web site communities and e-mail newsletters in niche areas such as crafting and cooking. A full list of web properties, free newsletters and free eBooks can be found at www.primenewsletters.com.

Avoid Over-Spending With Simple Flower Craft Tutorials for Spring

Northbrook, IL —  It has been estimated that Americans spent around $32.1 billion on retail flowers and related goods in 2011.  According to ResearchAmerica.org, this amount of money is enough to fund the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for nearly seven years.  It has been predicted that this high-level spending is due mainly to expenses from Mother’s Day, wedding receptions, and other holidays. It can be assumed that the billion dollar American flower industry will only continue to grow, leaving one to wonder; how can Americans avoid over-spending?

In order to avoid spending an overwhelming amount of money on flowers each year, Americans must find a reasonable alternative to purchasing fresh flowers for every occasion. One of the most rational solutions is to make fabric flowers or flowers from paper. This handmade alternative will help save hundreds of dollars on celebrations and home decor, and because these flowers are reusable, you will not need to replace them again and again. Instead of buying fresh flowers for home decor, to decorate a wedding reception, or to make mom happy, try making your own flowers crafts.

Creating your own flowers from paper or fabric is a favorable option to help maintain a budget for every holiday; especially with the latest free eBook, 10 Free Flower Tutorials: How to Make Fabric Flowers, Flowers from Paper, and More, from AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com. This free eBook includes 10 different flower crafts, pretty enough to replace fresh flowers in the home all together. Leave flowers for your garden, and spend less when you decorate. It is the most reasonable way to avoid over-spending on decorations that will only last a few days. The editors of AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com have collected the easiest, thriftiest, and most entertaining paper flower and fabric flower crafts in this free eBook. Plus, you won’t see your money wasted when your expensive fresh flowers die.

From fabric flowers to flowers from paper, the collection in 10 Free Flower Tutorials: How to Make Fabric Flowers, Flowers from Paper, and More will help save you money on holidays, celebrations, and other events that require floral decor.

To download a free copy of the Free Flower Tutorials eBook, simply visit: http://www.allfreeholidaycrafts.com/Spring-Crafts/10-Free-Flower-Tutorials-How-to-Make-Fabric-Flowers-Flowers-from-Paper-and-More-eBook.

For additional information on DIY home decor, projects or this free Flower Crafts eBook, please contact AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com editor Jennifer Bendix.

Contact:
Jennifer Bendix
Editor
AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com
AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com is a property of Purple Email LLC
jbendix@primecp.com

About AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com:
AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com is a website dedicated to the best free Holiday crafts, tutorials, tips and articles on holidays including Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, the Fourth of July and more. AllFreeHolidayCrafts finds and delivers the best holiday crafts from all over the web, from holiday decor to holiday clothing and accessories. Find hundreds of DIY holiday gifts, kids’ holiday crafts, holiday card ideas and more at AllFreeHolidayCrafts.com.

About Prime Publishing:
Purple Email LLC was established in 1995 as a traditional niche book publishing company. Today, we are an Internet Media Company that operates web site communities and e-mail newsletters in niche areas such as crafting and cooking. To learn more, visit www.primenewsletters.com.