Fill out your profile and get a gift!

Picture this....you've just signed up for a cool swap. Maybe it's for scrapbooking supplies or for a stuffed envie surprise and your partner has just been assigned. You rush to their page to find out what colors they like, crafts stuff they want, brand names their into....wait?.......what's this?.........3 paragraphs on their family and pets and only two sentences on their actual swap-bot likes/wants??!

Not anymore! For this swap we will be sprucing up our swap-bot profiles. In the process, you'll be sending a nice note (and not just a few words on a sticky note) and a small profile inspired gift to your partner with suggestions on how they can further fix up their profile.

The skinny:

1. Go to your profile and click the edit button and go to town. If you think you have a really filled out profile already, try adding a new section, or updating the info. If you think you're profile is perfect ask yourself these questions: Can my partner tell what craft/projects I like to do? Can they find my specific favorites as well as a broad over view of what I like? Do I have more than just my favorite colors and a few items listed for my crafting likes? Do I have a dislike section to help prevent receiving things I don't like?? Do I have plenty filled out in each section to fit a wide variety of potential swaps, not just my favorite hobbies? If you need more help go look around at some veteran Swap-bot profiles to get ideas.

2. After you spruce up your profile, turn to your partner's. Read it over. Really take your time reading what they have to say. Then, send them a note (via snail mail) and a small gift inspired by their profile (think around $5). In your note, make suggestions to them about any further updates or sections they could include in their profile. You could say "Betty-Sue, I loved that your profile said that scrapbooking was your favorite hobby, but what are your favorite paper/brand lines you use? What items are your favorite to work with? Brads? Eyelets? You should list out your favorite scrapbooking products you use. I bought you some stickers, but if you don't use them I would have no way of knowing." you get the idea. The gift could be anything you think you're partner would love based on her profile.

3. You'll have 2 weeks to get this accomplished. The first week should be spent on your own profile rewriting and updating. The second week should be focused on your partners: reading over their profile, sending them a note with suggestion along with a gift.

After the whole process, you should have a refreshed profile with TONS of inspiration for your future swap partners as well as a fun gift!

Newbies are welcome