Work At Home Mom

Best Home Based Business for Woman

2008-04-06T10:56:00.002-04:00

I've come up with a list of the Best Home Based Businesses for Woman, keep in mind men can do this as well. Many times it just takes a list of jobs for a stay at home mom to see and try and become a success, here's hoping someone will find this useful.

1 Business Coach- Business coaches make a ton of money, teach people what you know about business. Walk them through making their own business.

2 Freelance Writer- Freelance writers can do a range of different things from magazine, newspapers, news, to online. On the net there are blogs, content writers, SEO writers and many other people hiring writers to fill up their pages.

3 Web Designer- If you can design your own web and other people's websites you can actually make quite a bit of money from this. Start with your own first and venture out, maybe there are a few businesses in your hometown that need a site or a site-lift.

4 Tutor- Know a second language? Are you great at a certain subject? Maybe you homeschool your own children. If any of these are you, you may want to venture out and offer to tutor someone.

5 Child Care Provider- This is always a business moms can get in with ease, that is as long as you don't mind watching other people's children. Someone is always in the need of a good child care provider.

6 Instructor- Online universities as well as blogs are offering classes on all types of subjects. Look around and see what's needing instructors, in most cases you won't even have to leave your house.

7 Entrepreneur- Can you create something that someone may want to buy? For instance you've sewn your child the most adorable little outfits and have neighbors asking where ya bought it. Try selling them online. That doll that you've been dreaming about but hasn't been made yet, it should be. Why not make it yourself?

8 Virtual Assistant- You'll be an independant worker helping someone out. All done virtually from your own home. Unlike most, you'll be able to set your own hours and salary.

9 Data Entry- There are always people looking for someone to do data entry work in the classifieds or craigslist.

10 Graphic Designer- Graphic design is being used in many more things these days, from logos to websites.

Are You a Marketer for Your Business?

2008-04-01T13:43:00.000-04:00

When it comes to working for our business we get along fine, but many out there don't know how to promote their own businesses. But the truth is if you aren't a marketer for your business it won't get off the ground. Don't you want that phone ringing off the hook?

Click the above link and read the article in the Entrepreneur Magazine about "Starting a Business." Many will believe that once they get an idea that is all it takes. Yes, even if your business is an online one you do need to do a bit of work to spread the word.

A few quick tips:
- Write a press release and submit it to PRnews.com
- Make sure to have an email account for your business, you'll probably want one seperate from your personal email.
- Always respond to emails sent your way about your business, those that linger may have been someone that wanted to purchase something or hire you.
- Find out if blogs or companies will place your logo on their website in exchange for you doing the same thing. (works great if you are on a limited budget)
- Submit your site into as many directories that you can, this will spread the word will people search for certain keywords you've focused on.

What are some of your tips?

10 Work-at-Home Business Ideas

2008-03-04T19:19:00.002-05:00

Are you on the verge of starting your own home business? Or are you wanting to desperately stay home with your family but can't think of any business you can get in? If either of these cases sound similiar check out this quick list below to give you a jump start. Don't forget to add more.

WAH Jobs:
1 Clothing- Make your own clothes and sale them online. Or maybe you can sell them on ebay. Get your creative brain in gear and start designing your outfits.

2 Beads- Beads are all the rave, whether it's necklaces, earrings, bracelets or something else. Teens are eager to get their hands on them.

3 Tutor- There something you probably know that you can teach someone else. Maybe a second language or science, history, math, etc.

4 housekeeper- Did you know people will pay a lot more than they should for someone to come and clean their house for them? Polish that house of yours and start checking that newspaper.

5 Daycare

6 Vitamins, get fit, etc- All these types of things are hot right now as everyone wants to stay healthy and get in shape.

7 Time management - (I know this has another name) but this is for the person that is good at managing their own time and can help others do the same.

8 Designing websites- With everything going online these days this is the perfect money maker. But you have to know what you are doing before you jump in.

9 Make a dating service (these days they are popping up all over the net)

10 freelance writer

Tyra Banks wants Working Moms

2008-02-22T12:01:00.001-05:00

There is a casting call for the Tyra Banks show: (in NY, NY)

THE TYRA BANKS SHOW IS LOOKING FOR WORKING MOMS AND STAY AT HOME MOMS.

ARE YOU A WORKING MOM AND HAVE AN OPINION ON MOTHERS WHO DON'T WORK? DO YOU FEEL GUILTY THAT YOU WORK? SHOULD YOU FEEL GUILTY?

ARE YOU A STAY AT HOME MOM, THAT HAS OPINIONS? DO YOU FEEL UNFULFILLED? ID IT TERRIBLE TO FEEL THAT WAY? ARE YOU HAPPY BEING AT HOME WITH YOUR CHILDREN?

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE ON THE SHOW AND SHARE YOUR OPINIONS PLEASE SUBMIT BELOW.

Tax Question

2008-02-15T06:36:00.002-05:00

Question for ya'll: I recently got a 1099 in the mail, however I already filed my taxes. I had not thought I had any other forms that would be coming, granted this one barely made the $600 amount (little over but below $700). What do I do now? I've already received my tax money.

I thought this would be the perfect time to ask those tax questions. Got any? Post them here and either I'll try finding out the answer or hopefully one of the readers can help.

Using a Blog For Business

2008-01-30T12:25:00.000-05:00

How many of you use a blog for your business? I figured ya'll did, so here is an article in Entrepreneur Magazine I stumbled upon today. It's called, "Blog-a-Thon" which gives reasons why you should use one. In this article you will read the basic points on why using one can make your business thrive. It's a great guide on how to promote your business, cheap and easy.

Once you've read it, come back here and talk about it. Maybe leave a tip or two for others that aren't mentioned in the article.

Work Stress Can Kill

2008-01-25T15:26:00.000-05:00

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Have you ever wondered how much stress you could take? Well, a recent report has come back stating that work stress can actually kill you. Granted I think many of us had already figured that out with all those in cooperate offices having heart attacks. But now it's been confirmed.

How can you avoid work place stress in the home?

First suggestion is take out the stress. Okay, now if you are like me you probably stress over everything, not just work related items. In fact, your work items are probably less stressful then those other thoughts you have going on in your head. So, stop!

Make a goal sheet and reach for it, but don't stress over it. Instead make it a reachable goal and once you reach it treat yourself to something, it might be a coffee or a trip to the store. Do something for yourself when you've achieved your goal.

Too many interruptions? Set a certain time that you will work, yes I am aware of how hard this is. But it can be done and has been done by many work at home parents. For myself I normally work at night or first thing in the morning, which means I must get up extra early or stay up later.

The phone just won't quit ringing! If this is the problem and as long as it doesn't come between you and your business shut it off. For myself I have family that likes to call me during the day, many different times. By giving them a time to call you
can avoid this.

Last, if nothing seems to work, take a break. Run a bubble bath, clean the house and bop to music or go take a stroll down the block. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of exercise.

Can you think of any other stress reducers?

After Christmas Printer Sales

2007-12-26T05:56:00.000-05:00

As work-at-home-moms and dads we tend to be on the look out for the best deals around and those before Christmas and after christmas sales are a great time of year for us because we can stock up but later (if we make enough) whatever we buy can be a write off. So grab those Sunday papers you haven't thrown out yet and look through them. Right now you can head down to Office Max or Staples and get in on the after Christmas printer sales. I recently got one but I see now that they have some really great prices. While you're there you might want to grab a few things of printer ink too. I know I will be.

Knowing Your Business

2007-12-20T04:51:00.000-05:00

Being a work-at-home-mom means knowing your competition and knowing how many people are talking about you. Why? I think it is the only way to keep your business afloat. Think about how Kmart, Wal-Mart and all those other stores compete with each other, they have to know what the other is doing in order to compete. If they kept their prices low they would never make any money, sure people would come in to buy but eventually they'd lose out. However, when they are competing with another store all they need to do is go up in down on the prices.

Wal-Mart and Kmart both have similiar products if not the same. Right? They may not have a sale on the same item at the same time but many times they'll say if you find it somewhere else cheaper we'll match prices. So, they are still competing even then, they are hoping to keep their true costumers.

Now with watching your stats online you can do this. If you are a scrapbooker check out what other scrapbookers are selling and come up with something. Either a new design or a sale on them. Figure out what is selling well, holidays are a great time to get in on this. Right now you could easily sell Christmas and New Years scrapbooking supplies and make quite a bit of money. Just about anything that is homemade will sell during this time of year.

Type in scrapbooking and find out what it is being talked about on the subject. Join some discussion groups and get a feel for it. This is sure to help you out with your business. (for those that may not realize this will work with just about any home business you've got, even real estate)

I know you are probably thinking why do I need to know who's talking about me. You may even wonder how to find out. First, you need to know if someone is talking about you because it can hurt or benefit your business. See, if someone is praising you you can head over to their site and thank them. A bad review means you can possibly make things right, but at least you'll know where it is coming from. At the bottom of this page I'll link you to a youtube video that'll explain it all. Hope you enjoyed and walk away with a little bit of knowledge.

Work at Home Jobs

2007-11-30T06:53:00.000-05:00

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

Tuesday Tip Day

2007-11-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

What tip would you like to give others that are WAHP or want to be?

Know your tolerance levels and that it's okay to get domestic and/or childcare help. Being a WAHP is a great alternative, and I'm glad I have it. A generation ago, I would have faced a much starker choice. The option is not without sacrifice, though, so it's important to be prepared for a transitional period.

Yes, I hear many parents ask me how I can be home all day with my kids and work. For those most part I love it but there are limits, especially around deadlines. You either need them outside, playing at a friend's house or quietly watching a show.

Interview with Freelance Writer, Brandi

2007-11-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

What's your name and can ya tell me a bit about yourself? (not your job, but you)
My name is Brandi Rhoades. I have degrees in history and women's studies. I'm married with one son and one daughter. We are football fanatics and spend a lot of time doing lots of cultural activities with the kids - live music, museums, visits to nearby sites of interest.

How many kids do you have?

2 - a toddler and an infant

Tell me a bit about your business?

I'm a writer, which basically means that I'll produce copy for pay - no matter the market. (Well, okay, I have some ethical limitations.) I write for magazines, newspapers, websites, and self-publish a newsletter and booklets. It's gotten really busy lately and is very exciting.

Did you work outside the home before this?

Yes. I was a newspaper reporter before we decided to have kids. I stopped working full-time to freelance when I was 3 months pregnant.

What is the hardest thing about being a WAHP?

The scheduling is tough because I often feel I'm never giving my complete attention to my work or my kids.

Which do you prefer?

In an ideal world, I'd prefer a balance. I'd like to work 2-3 days a week outside the home and then be with my kids. I think for now, though, while they're so tiny, I love being with them but probably will be back to full-time employment when they go to school.

Are there moments where you wish you could work outside the home again?

Absolutely! I'm not known for my patience, and there are days when I dream about putting on a suit again and heading to the office.

How long have ya been a WAHP?

3 years

What made you decide to be a WAHP?

I worked 14-16 hour days routinely. "If it bleeds, it leads" is the guiding mantra of most of the world of journalism, so if it bleeds or otherwise happens at the last minute, some reporter has to go cover it. I didn't think that schedule would be fair to children, so I knew going in that if I wanted to have children, it would mean changing career plans.

How do you advertise it?

I simply put out my marketing materials as a writer. I don't typically advertise that I'm a work at home mom as it's not always viewed as a plus in my industry.

Contest for WAH Parents

2007-11-18T07:12:00.000-05:00

GarryConn is having a contest at his site where you can win $294 worth of tutorial from Charles Trippy. If you are anything like me and work from home you need to learn what's hot on the internet side of the world. Am I right? Currently video is in, not knowing how to use it the right way could be harmful to your business. But knowing how to use it, film it and market it could make you very successful.

If this sounds like something you would want to try, head on over to Video Viral Fever and enter. Think of it as a free investment, all you do is sign up for a contest. Don't forget to read the entries at Garry's and see how to increase your blog visitors.

Printer Review: Lexmark Z1420

2007-11-16T19:41:00.000-05:00

Every work-at-home-mom needs a good working printer and I think I've found one I really enjoy. I recently got my hands on a Lexmark Z1420 Wifi Printer and I've found it easy to set up, figure out and work.

Once the program is in your system all you have to do is place it on the desk and hit print. Even better is if your neighbor has no printer or no ink they can send it to your printer and you can do it for them. Yes, that might mean they'll be coming over more often but who knows maybe you can ask them to trade off and watch your kids for an hour or something. Doesn't hurt to try right? Just make sure there are no cookies on the counter when they come to get their papers from ya, or they might walk off with the entire plate.

It does take two ink cartridges, one for color and the other for black ink. If you have a wireless network in your home you won't even have to plug this into the computer. The only downfall I saw was it did print a tad bit slow but I'm not complaining when I don't have to be plugged into my computer to use it.

A green light on the top of the machine means it is within range and ready to print. The printer itself is extremely light so I was able to move it around the house whenever I wanted to change it's location without fear of dropping it. Due to it's lightweight and small shape we'll be taking this printer on our road trip across country. I give this a two thumbs up for weight and making life easier for us working folk.

If you'd like to win one for yourself head on over to Peggy's.

Tuesday Tip Day

2007-11-06T04:12:00.000-05:00

What tip would you like to give others that are WAHP or want to be?

Find something that's legitimate and something that you believe in. You have to be able to believe in what you're offering/promoting. Talk with your heart and be sincere. It's true; people can hear/or not hear the sincerity in your voice.

Does anyone have any recommendations how someone may look into a business to make sure it is legit? I'd love for everyone to join in on this, especially those of you that have done it before.

For myself- I know there is the BBB (Better Business Bureau), but I know there are more ways. What's your suggestion?

Interview with Joelle!

2007-11-06T04:04:00.000-05:00

This week I am bringing you Joelle, who is a mother to three children and grandmother to one. You'd think her life was busy enough, except she traded in her away from home job to work at home with her teen boys. Can ya blame her? Besides the fast-paced life of being a working mom, she is now able to spend more time with her sons. Hey, I worry about when my boy enters his teen years and no longer wants to spend time with me, I think what she is doing it GREAT. Joelle opens up about motherhood and her business, Freedom at Home Team

Interview:

Tell Me a bit about yourself:
I am a married stay-at-home mom of 2 teenage boys. I love my Heavenly Father and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, reading my Bible, spending time with my family and friends. Some other things that I enjoy are camping, fishing, board and card games, and tennis (playing and watching it).

I love board games with my kids, it is so much fun. I hope that once we get moved and settled down I can finally take my kids camping and fishing. I hear where we are going has lots of areas to do that. We always went as a child and I have fond memories of doing that. I just know your children will as well.

How many kids do you have?
I have 2 teenage boys at home, 1 stepdaughter who's a little older, and she
has 1 child, my grandaughter.

Tell me a bit about your business?
I work with the nation's largest discount dental and health benefits company, having over 1.7 million members nationwide. Our Corporate office is in Dallas, Texas, with over 50,000 people nationwide who work from their homes doing what I do. We market affordable benefit plans, online and/or in our local area. We also talk with others who have an interest in working from home or starting their own business. It's a great legitimate opportunity that lets you really make a difference and help people.

Did you work outside the home before this?
Yes, I worked outside of the home before I had my children. I mainly did office work. Right after I had my 1st son, I worked for a little while at a cleaners. I found out that I was pregnant with my 2nd son while I was working at the cleaners.

What is the hardest thing about being a WAHP?
So far it just seems to be finding the right places to advertise that don't cost anything or at least, cost very little. Then, I guess, juggling finances to try to pick out inexpensive places to do advertising, printing costs for fliers, etc..

Have ya had any luck with certain ones? I hear google is a good one but still not sure, since I haven't tried it myself.

Which do you prefer?
I think I like being able to stay home and work more, just so I can be with my kids. Also, the flexibility is GREAT!!

I love the flexibility, not to mention if the kids are sick I don't have to ask for the day off to be home with them.

Are there moments where you wish you could work outside the home again?
Before I started working from home, I sometimes thought about and missed working outside the home, but I wouldn't change the decision to stay home with my kids for anything. I'm very very thankful that I have been able to do this also.

I know a lot of moms don't have the same opportunity to do that, or maybe don't think that they can. And, it's not that I was able to do it because my husband makes a lot. He doesn't. Honestly, sometimes he was even without work. Sometimes things were tough, but it drew me closer to the Lord, and He's always provided!

We are a family of 6 (four kids, and us two parents) living with a military salary, so I know what ya mean about hubby not making a lot. I've been very happy to be able to stay home, it was only recently that I started earning money which I love because not only can I help pay bills I have a little spending money for small things.

How long have ya been a WAHP?
I have been working from home for a year this month.

What made you decide to be a WAHP?
I just really wanted to stay home with my children.

How do you advertise it?
Free and some inexpensive paid advertising online. Also, I put out business cards, fliers, and brochures. I'm checking into seeing how much our local paper would charge for small ads.

Thank you so much for your time and I really hope you continue to earn money at home. It sounds like a wonderful opportunity and one way to know your teen boys. Hopefully you get to see that grandbaby of yours too.

Tuesday Tip Day with Erin

2007-10-09T06:57:00.000-04:00

What tip would you like to give others that are WAHP or want to be?

Stay focused and on task.
Create a list of what you want to accomplish everyday and do it. Schedule in the time you are going to work and constantly check that you are getting things done. If you are working on the computer it's very easy to waste time on the internet.

Is there a certain way you stay on task? Do you use a calendar a to do list or anything like that? How about your readers, what do you use?

Interview with Erin

2007-10-08T19:57:00.001-04:00

Ever dream about working from your home and doing it all yourself? I know many of you have, or you woulnd't be reading this blog. Well that's exactly what Erin, a mother of three boys, did. She has started her own blog in order to help you become a bit more free over at Working for Financial Freedom.

What's your name and can ya tell me a bit about yourself? (not your job, but you)

My name is Erin. I'm in my late 20's and a sahm and very part-time wahm. I spent four years in the Marine Corps, and since getting out I've been working on my BS in Management. I love to read, walk and spend time with my family.

I'm the mother of four and we are actually about to get out of the Corps ourselves. (well he is)

How many kids do you have?
I have 3 boys, they are 9 and under.

Tell me a bit about your business?

I don't really have a "business" persay. I'm writing to help others learn how to save money, spend less, and get out of debt. I am a couponer and refunder and have been doing it for years and teaching my friends and family to do it. I figured what better way to help others than to start my own website?

Have you earned any money off it? I know just starting off you can make a bit with google.

Did you work outside the home before this?

Not in a long time. I got out of the Marine Corps in 2000 and haven't worked since then.

What is the hardest thing about being a WAHP?
Finding the time to work! Just finding the time to complete this interview was hard. Right now my youngest is still taking two naps a day so I try to use that time to work. And occasionally at night too, although at the end of the day I usually just crash.

Which do you prefer?

Working at home-although there are days I wish I could go into an office and work knowing that there are no distractions from home.

Are there moments where you wish you could work outside the home again?

If it's been a rough day with the kids, maybe. But I'm very glad to be at home with my kids. I love the flexibility of working at home.

Flexibility is good, but I know what you mean on the rough day. One of those where you can get anything done because someone is always fighting or one is sick. Course the sick makes you glad sometimes about being home already, now you don't have to take the time off.

How long have ya been a WAHP?

I just started doing this again 3 months ago.

What made you decide to be a WAHP?

Debt. And family.

Long story short- we had a family death and need to move back to be close to my husband's family. The cost of living in California is MUCH higher than where we are living now. We have a credit card (almost paid off! yeah!) and 2 car payments. We realized that if we are going to move back soon we need to get these paid off. We feel like we've been spinning our wheels to pay off the debt but not getting anywhere. So we changed tactics and have paid off $18,000 in debt since March 28th, 2007.

I decided to be a WAHP to help our progress in getting out of debt.

How do you advertise it?

I really don't. I like to visit other blogs I'm interested in, and put the link to my blog in my signature when posting at my favorite forums. But I don't do much. My goal really is just to provide quality material for people to read, and so far people have been coming back to read more. So it seems I'm doing something right!

Thank you for taking your time to answer these questions, sorry there was a repeat one in there. Not to worry I did delete it. But I'll ask what I meant now, "What is your favorite part of being a WAHP?

Stop by Barbara's Place!

2007-10-01T13:34:00.001-04:00

This should've went out on Friday, not sure why it didn't.

Stop by Barbara's Place this weekend and check out her wonderful collection of Cherish Collages. Not only does she show you her beautiful collages, but you get to learn from her as well if you head on over to her blog and learn all about digital photography and what companies to use. The latest gadgets and information is always being updated for you. Don't forget to take a look at her current Christmas card special going on, you even get free shipping if you order before November 15th.

Whil you are checking out the blog don't forget to head on over to Mom2Mom Lounge and read the current articles.

- Can Nursing Bras be Beautiful?
- Kick Start your Home Dreams
- Meet the Moms to the Planet Mom Tees (interview)

Tuesday Tip Day

2007-09-24T12:29:00.000-04:00

What tip would you like to give others that are WAHP or want to be?

Read up on everything you can before you start if possible. If you are going to have a website and are doing it yourself you will need to read a lot. You don’t necessarily need to know html but you’ll need to know about Search Engine Optimization, marketing, traffic generation, and so much more. Do a lot of research.

Thank you for the tip, yes I think learning as much as you can about your craft is definitely needed.

Anyone else have any tips?

Interview with Barbara Ryan

2007-09-21T15:56:00.000-04:00

Barbara is a wahm to two little boys and she has quite a lot of different sources of income. From her own Cherish Collages site to working as an interviewer for an online magazine for moms. Read along as she tells you all about how it began.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

What's your name and can ya tell me a bit about yourself? (not your job, but you)
My name is Barbara Ryan and I am now a work at home moms of 2 boys. I am originally from Montreal, but now live in upstate NY with my family. My family is Italian and my favorite food is of course pasta, preferably with a cream sauce! I love computers, I have great friends I’ve made online and I love working online. Basically, I love all things digital, my digital camera, digital scrapbooking, editing photos digitally, and my iPod.

I can totally relate on the love for pasta, my hubby is Italian as well.

How many kids do you have?
I have 2 boys ages 4 and almost 2.

Tell me a bit about your business? My business is called Cherish Collage and I design custom photo collages from people’s photographs. I help people get those photos out of a box and into a fabulous display piece.

I also have an online magazine and blog for moms called Mom2Mom Magazine, which is full of mom relevant articles and goodies.

Believe it or not I've never been able to get into scrapbooking. Course I think it deals with time more than anything else. I can't wait to settle down and go through all my photos.

Did you work outside the home before this?
I worked in the travel industry for over 10 years and decided to stay home after my second child was born in November of 2005. The cost of both kids in daycare was almost my whole salary so it made more sense to stay home.

I kind of fell into it as well, after the birth of my son I knew I wanted to be the only one to raise him. When our second child came we thought about it and then with the cost of day care we realized it wasn't worth it. Sounds like you had a lot of fun in travel. Did you go to many places?

What is the hardest thing about being a WAHP?
Balancing the time you want to spend on your business and building it and the time you want and need to spend with your family.

Yes, this seems to be the hardest part. Any advice on that?

How long have ya been a WAHP?
Since November 2005 so almost 2 years, but I started my business while I was still working.

What made you decide to be a WAHP?
I started designing photo collages as a personal hobby, I loved playing with the digital photographs of my first son and that’s how I got started. I built it up while still working and now it’s grown much more because I am home and have more time to devote to it. I didn’t really decide to become a work at home moms, so much as it just evolved.

Which do you prefer?
I love being a work at home mom. I love the freedom of having my own business, the creativity, and being my own boss and seeing something that I created grow. It’s like having another child really.

Are there moments where you wish you could work outside the home again?
Sure, when the kids are driving me crazy I think, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to drop them off at daycare and not have to hear the whining for 8 hours. But that is really the only time, I love being home with them.

hehe, I think the same thoughts from time to time. Especially when the kids are fighting with one another and the baby is moody. Course then I think of how much it'll cost to keep them there even for an hour and get over it.

How do you advertise it?
My biggest form of advertising comes from article marketing. It’s free and a great way to drive traffic. My articles are my biggest traffic referrals right now.

Thank you for taking your time and answering the many questions. For everyone else, there is currently a contest going on over at Mom2Mom. The winner gets their own Color
the Sky Travel Pillowcase Set or Beach Girl Pillowcase Set.

Stop by LaLa Natural!

2007-09-21T15:21:00.000-04:00

Let's all stop by LaLa Natural and browse around the shop to see what type of items are of interest to you. Elena Lipson and her husband put this business together to make life better for their son. They've got everything to make your little one happy from natural toys (no lead), organic bedding and diapers, potty training toilets, organic slings to hemp bags. If you pay attention to the celebrities many of them received hemp bags at the Emmy's.

I was lucky enough to review a few of their items, we got the SAGE CREEK - Natural Wooden Mini Rattle as well as the Keptin_Jr_Baby's First All Natural Rattle. I have a review at Homemom3 if you'd like to read it. If not here is a snip of it.

SAGE CREEK - Natural Wooden Mini Rattle, does make a lot of noise that will interest your infant. I love the fact he can put his mouth over it without worrying about splinters or lead paint.

The "KEPTIN Jr's Sweet Rattle", a rag doll rattle is my favorite, I think it is suppose to resemble a puppy with long ears. That's what I think it looks like anyways, this is Little A's favorite rattle out of the two. Your baby can suck on any part of this rattle with no fear. My son loves the knots as he is constantly teething, which...

Next up.....Barbara Ryan, interviewer for Mom2Mom Magazine and a custom designer for your photo collages, not to mention a mom. Got any questions? Feel free to drop me a line at homemom3@gmail.com

Tuesday Tip Day with Elena Lipson

2007-09-17T05:42:00.001-04:00

What tip would you like to give others that are WAHP or want to be?

I'd give them three tips:
First, I would say, anything that you decide to do, make sure that it is something you are passionate about or at least very good at (AND can do after your little ones are asleep). If this is a business where you must contact people during business hours, you may need to incorporate the costs for hiring baby sitters. That is, unless you are lucky enough to have grand-parents or family nearby who can help you on a daily basis or when you are in a pinch.

Second, a great way to be a WAHP is to go into business with a trusted friend. That way the workload can be split based on your strengths. And, you would have someone that could cover for you when needed.

Finally, make sure to do at least a simple business (family) plan before you begin anything. You would be surprised how helpful this first step is in helping you sort your thoughts out and evaluate an opportunity or business.

I totally agree with #1, for if you get into something you don't have the passion for you'll lose the interest fast. Never thought of #2, but I can see where it could help. Thank you for your tips.

Interview with Elena Lipson

2007-09-17T05:16:00.000-04:00

We skipped last week due to September 11, but this week I bring you Elena Lipson. I hope ya'll enjoy and if you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment below.

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What's your name and can ya tell me a bit about yourself? (not your job, but you)

My name is Elena Lipson and I’m a WAHM of an almost 2 year old sweet little boy. I always knew that I wanted to raise my own children (vs. daycare or a nanny); I just never knew how much of myself I would put into this role. It has taken more than all of me (emotionally, intellectually and spiritually) to raise our beautiful boy and to redefine myself along the way. I am so lucky to have an amazing hubby who loves to spend time with our son and with me.

Our home situation has been a bit unique in that we moved from California to Washington State when our son was 4 months old. So, from about when our son was 2 months old, until he was around 15 months old, both my hubby and I were home raising our child together and starting my business. This made being a new mom so amazing, because I got to share every detail with the other person in this world who really wanted to listen and watch! Oh, and he was also there so I could actually brush my teeth and take a shower in between nursing our son and building a web-site.

Now, my hubby is back to work and I am home raising (read: playing with) our son as well as running our on-line store.

That's a really neat experience, not many get that. I know how important it is to do those things in private without having a baby attached to you as you try to brush your teeth. Or them screaming for the quick two minutes you take a shower.

Tell me a bit about your business?

LaLaNatural.com is an online organic boutique featuring natural and organic items for babies and their mamas. These items include, amazing wool bedding, organic cotton diapers, organic cotton bedding and clothing, non-toxic natural wooden rattles and puzzles, and much much more!

Did you work outside the home before this?

Yes, I have always worked outside the home. Before I had our son, I was a corporate trainer and management coach. I LOVED my job and still plan to incorporate it into my future. But for now, it would entail way too much travel for our comfort.

How long have ya been a WAHP?

I have been a WAHP since our son was around 6 months old. I don’t think that I would have started this early if my hubby was not home during this time as well. I would never have found the time or energy to build the business without his help.

What is the hardest thing about being a WAHP?

For me, and I believe many other WAHP, the most difficult aspect of working from home is learning how to turn the working mom OFF and the stay at home mom ON. It is so easy to work all the time or anytime. To make this easier, I make it a rule to NOT work while my son is up or with me. If I need to make a call during the day, I try to do it while hubby is home. Luckily, his hours are not the typical 9-5 so I can do this pretty easily. On the days when I cannot make that call, I just make due with very detailed e-mail communication after my son is asleep for the evening.

That is what I love about being a WAHM, you can send those emails as many understand the lives us WAHMs tend to live.

Which do you prefer?

I prefer to look at life in phases. I LOVED the phase of being a young single then married professional. I was able to dedicate myself to developing a skill in a career that really suited my strengths. I was able to help people and have a great challenging time doing it. Now, I LOVE this phase as well. I get to be at home and play with my son. I love Washington State, our new home, and with my business, I LOVE being able to exercise the part of me that needs to think about things other than building blocks, doing laundry and wiping a (very cute) tooshie. It is really challenging for me to work on figuring out the best marketing strategies, product selection, order fulfillment, problem solving etc. I feel as though I get the best of both worlds by being a WAHM.

I don’t actually see myself ever going back to full-time corporate work. It is just too wonderful to not have to ask for time off to be with my son or husband. If I need time off, I take it.

Ya know I never thought of the whole time off thing...ya got a point there. My hubby just took two weeks off, he goes back today and I think our 6 month old got a bit too use to it.

Are there moments where you wish you could work outside the home again?
There have definitely been moments when I fantasize about the greener grass on the other side of life outside the home. But, that is truly short-lived. Every step we have taken has been a choice. We chose to get married, start a family and start a business. We thought about all of our paths and options and made a choice that we were proud of and stand behind. We truly work to create our lives. So, I do have those moments of fantasizing about putting those heels back on (ouch) and the power suit, I just look into my sweet little boy's face and know that this passes by so quickly, and then I remember to just get down on the floor and play play play!!!

What made you decide to be a WAHP?
My husband and I were (and are) passionate about being the ones to raise our son without having to take him to daycare. So, we thought about what we were passionate about and landed on organic clothing, bedding and toys. We really did not know much about the organic world until we had our son.

When our baby was just a few weeks old, he developed a bad diaper rash from the disposable diapers (a natural brand) that we were using. That is when we decided to look into cloth diapering. My sister-in-law suggested we try organic, pesticide free cotton diapers. It just made sense that we would use something natural, without chemicals on this new little baby. Once we began to do research, we really learned a lot about the world of organics and seemed to find a niche for an on-line store that sold everything you needed to get started. So, we created our business plan, and LaLaNatural.com was born.

I remember when my son constantly got diaper rashes, course we just thought he was allergic from one brand to the next. Never did think of cloth, everyone kept pointing me towards a different diaper brand. I really wish now that something like your site would've been around and cheap enough that a newly wed couple could've afforded it.

How do you advertise it?

Our three main advertising channels are ads we place on Google, green directories and surprisingly, blogs created by moms who find us and offer to review our products or just put links up leading to LaLaNatural.com. I have been really amazed and impressed by the amount of traffic and positive feedback we receive via blogs.

Thank you for taking the time out to answer these questions, there were a ton but you answered them all.

Tuesday Tip Day

2007-09-05T07:46:00.000-04:00

Our tip this week comes from Traci Anderson, the mom-of-all-trades.

What tip would you like to give others that are WAHP or want to be?

Start early. If you don't have children yet, think about ways that you can work from home and take action. It is extremely difficult (but definitely do-able) to launch a business from home with a newborn. It is much easier to plan ahead and be prepared. Also, nearly every opportunity I've found (writing, blogging and direct sales) jobs have been through forum networking. I am a regular on a work-at-home moms site and have actually been offered jobs there. Have patience, perseverance and always remember your "whys". Whenever I feel burnt out, I remind myself that it isn't "all-about-me". It's for my family.

You know I never thought of starting early, but I can see how this would work. Get things established first so you just have to slide right in instead of having to figure out the whole process. Excellent advice Traci.

Are you a freelance writer? What tip would you give WAHP?

Interview with Traci Anderson

2007-09-02T21:34:00.000-04:00

First- This week will be a bit off because of the holiday. So today is WAHM interview, tomorrow (wednesday) will be Tip Tuesday and then we are back to our regular schedule.

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Traci Anderson is a mom of all trades, she has had her own work-at-home-buisness for a little over five years where she dabbles with art, crafting and even writing. So as you can see this is not something she takes lightly, she even finds time to volunteer at a town program called, "Young Lives Program." I think this program sounds great to be honest, this is where they link teen moms with "mom-mentors." Isn't that great ya'll?

Her site is Craft Kits 2 Go, it's something every parent needs. Check out all the quick craft ideas. I know mine love crafts. How about yours?

How many kids do you have?

I have "Irish Twins". My daughter is 4 and my son will turn 3 next month.

For those that may not know, Irish twins is when babies are born within 12 months of each other.

Tell me a bit about your business?

I have numerous irons in the fire. I am a blogger, writer, and graphic artist. I also recently opened to E-Commerce stores that have been quite successful. Every few weeks I launch a new site knowing that my children will both be in school in two years and I will be able to work full-time from home.

Did you work outside the home before this?

Yes, I have been in the Social Services industry for over twelve years. I worked as a Youth Counselor, Rape and Assault Advocate and most recently as a Child Abuse Investigator.

What is the hardest thing about being a WAHP?

Finding quiet time and a quiet place to work has always been my biggest challenge. Thankfully, we have a very reputable drop-in childcare center that I use twice per week to get some extra work done at my favorite coffee shop. Otherwise, I work during naptimes and bedtimes.

Sounds just like me, I tend to do most of my freelance writing late at night. My blogging is done on spot, whenever I have a moment.

Which do you prefer?

While I enjoyed aspects of my previous career, I would not give up my at-home job for anything. I love the flexibility I have along with the ability to work independently. I don't plan to ever return to the traditional workforce. (I would be an awful employee if I did...I am too used to calling the shots!) =)

Are there moments where you wish you could work outside the home again?

Not really. There are moments when I wished I had additional assistance with the children, but I never regret my decision to work at home.

What made you decide to be a WAHP?

My mom opened a home-based daycare when my sister was born so the idea of working from home was ingrained in me, I guess. I actually started planning a work-at-home business before my kids were even born. By the time my daughter was born, I was earning nearly a full-time income in direct sales.

How do you advertise it?

I advertise my business in numerous ways. I've set up Email signatures and am an active participant in forum discussions. I also recently purchased an Adwords and Yahoo Pay Per Click campaign. Most of my advertising simply comes through networking, however. I am a firm believer that you need to establish strong relationships even on the internet to have a successful business.

Thank you for taking your time to answer all these questions. I know there was a lot of them.

Stop by Pamela's Place!

2007-09-02T20:47:00.000-04:00

I missed this last week as I ended up coming down with something, but I'm back. Head on over to Pamela's website, Dogs and More Dogs. If you like dogs or are looking for information on dogs, Pamela will help ya out.

Pamela loves to write content articles as well, she currently has a few up for sale over at Website Content PLR. Here are four that I found:

Dieting
Dogs
Home Decorating
Interior Decorating

Have a great Labor Day!

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Next up.....Traci Anderson, that does craft projects, writing and involved with a program called, "Young Lives program." Got any questions? Feel free to drop me a line at homemom3@gmail.com

Tuesday Tip Day

2007-08-21T06:54:00.001-04:00

Our tip this week comes from freelance writer, Pamela Gardapee.

What tip would you like to give others that are WAHP or want to be?

Never give up. It might start out slow and it will take hard work, but once you gain a reputation, you can make a decent living. Dedication and moral support from family also helps.

Are you a freelance writer? What tip would you give WAHP?

Interview with Pamela Gardapee

2007-08-20T05:23:00.000-04:00

Pamela Gardapee, freelance writer and mother to two grown children. She's been a WAHP for a little over three years now and will brush up on those feelings most of us feel but never say. Now hang on as I go and pop open my Soda.

What's your name and can ya tell me a bit about yourself? (not your job, but you)

My name is Pamela Gardapee and I am a freelance writer. I have two grown children (ages 26, & 27)and I am going to be grandma in March. I have two dogs and three cats who are all spoiled rotten. When I am not writing, I fill in doing part-time bartending here and there just to stay fresh with my way of thinking and getting ideas for stories. I hope to someday find the time to write a book about my adventures in bartending, as I have over twenty years of stories.

Tell me a bit about your business?

I am a freelance writer with about 11 clients. I pick up other miscellaneous items in between projects as well. I also do data entry and customer service when I am asked to. I have recently started four blogs, one about dogs and one about my animals. The other two are just for something to stir things up. I hope to be able to generate revenue from the blogs to further add to my earnings. They are new sites, but my advertising is paying off as I have traffic averaging out to 300 hits per day. For only being a month old, I feel confident I can succeed.

Did you work outside the home before this?

Yes I did. I was a bartender/bookkeeper until they tore down the bar to make a vacant lot. Before that, I was a Supervisor in a Distribution/Assembly Warehouse. I was separate from the main factory by two blocks and did my own customer service, HR, shipping/receiving and controlled three shifts of assembly workers. Land O’ Lakes Cocoa was my main assembly account for floor displays.

What is the easiest thing about being a WAHP and the hardest?

The easiest thing is getting out of bed, opening my Pepsi and starting work. I do not have to get dressed or showered until I am ready. The winters are best part about not having to leave the house to work. The hardest thing about being a WAHP is steady income is hard sometimes and the hours are long.

Yep, I have to get that daily fix and I agree, finding work can be a real pain.

Which do you prefer?

Some days I wish I could just be rich so I would not have to work so hard, but I like being at home working. My dogs are always with someone and that makes me happy.

Are there moments where you wish you could work outside the home again?

Yes and usually when I get that feeling, I go to an area bar at night and my thoughts revert back thinking about why I like working at home and how nice and quiet it is and nobody acts dump except the animals.

What made you decide to be a WAHP?

Years ago when I was management downsized from my Supervisors job, I looked everywhere trying to find something to do at home. Because it was still new, I had no idea where to look. Therefore, I have wanted to do this for a long time. One day, I found a website looking for someone to write and I applied. I received the project and succeeded in being paid. I was so excited, I made it my goal to retire from bartending full time and write for a living. It has been a tough road, but I never was a quitter.

Next up Tuesday Tip Day, find out what tip she has in store for you.

Do you have any questions for her?

Stop by Delphine's

2007-08-17T10:44:00.000-04:00

I'm a bit late on this as I wanted to post it Thursday and just didn't make it over here. I was lucky enough to visit one of Delphine's Vendor Parties that she had online and won a book. I got to pick one of my choice, "The Gigantic Turnip."

The site is easy to navigate around and should prove to be no problem, course if there is any issue simply email Delphine and let her know. She'll get everything taken care of and shipped off to you in no time. I was very shocked at how quickly the book arrived.

The kids loved the fact that they didn't just get a book but a book with a CD in it. The print is large so your average little guy/girl will have no problem reading the text. They can listen to the cd once mom and dad have already read the book 50 times and no longer wants to read it again.

Books aren't the only thing this site sales, it also includes CDs, puppets, puzzles, etc.

Since today is Friday I'd love it if ya'll could swing by Delphine's Barefoot bookstore or one of her other sites:

Steeping Beauty
Pajama Mom

I hope ya'll have a wonderful weekend! Next up.....

Pamela Gardapee, a freelance writer. Got any questions? Feel free to drop me a line at homemom3@gmail.com

Tuesday Tip Day

2007-08-14T22:08:00.000-04:00

Since we had an interview this week, we'll be getting our tip from Delphine Burkes:

What tip would you like to give others that are WAHP or want to be?

I would say do something that you enjoy and can do with your children present. Do something you can include them in, I enjoy having other kids over to play with a little story time, it's nice for my kids and others. I also advise finding a company that realizes the power of the internet. At Barefoot Books we have our own websites and web resources through a business office. For just $9.99 per month we have company email with campaign headers and most importantly a sales site where people can purchase securely online at any time from any where in the world. We ship internationally, Barefoot Books come directly from the warehouse. This is wonderful for fundraisers, I just assign your group an event code, donors shop online and enter the code, the organization gets 20% of sales. It's as easy as sending an email to all the people on the list and announcing the dates of the online event. There is no need to handle the goods or distribute them with online fundraising!

Barefoot Books make great gifts at a great price. All of our books are heirloom quality and classic tales you will want to keep on your shelves for years to come.

Interview with Delphine Burkes

2007-08-13T21:18:00.000-04:00

Delphine Burkes is a work-at-home-mother to three children and Navy Wife. For years, she has traveled the globe with her husband and kids, through places like Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, DMZ, Mexico, France, Brazil, lived in Japan and currently resides in Maine. With her husband retiring next year she'd like to know she's got another avenue for money coming in. I must say, I can't blame her there.

Tell me a bit about your business?
Barefoot Books is a children's book publisher out of England. We carry high quality books for children 0-12 that celebrate art & story. You may learn about the Silk Road in one book then be transported to a tropical jungle or Knight's tale in another.

What I like most about our books is that they speak to every child not only in the stories but visually. The variety and style of the art in the books is magnificent. I was so tired of reading the hyped up animated books and going to the store and seeing the bedding/cereal/pajamas and more with the same character. Our books are unique and only avaible through a stallholder like myself or online through our websites.

Every purchase you make on my stallholder website is the same price as on the main Barefoot Books site. Purchases are helping to support a fellow WAHP. Our books are reasonably priced, many paperback books with audio cd are only $9.99. I especially recommend the musical ones. Animal Boogie, Walking through the Jungle, Dragon on the Doorstep are fine examples.

Did you work outside the home before this?
I have always worked outside the home, the only experience I have running my own business affairs was in Japan "teaching English" which meant talking to people all day. I was in a unique position of not having children to care for so I was able to command a high hourly rate, I learned a lot about branding, self-promotion and networking. Many times we underestimate ourselves and how much our time is worth.

What is the hardest thing about being a WAHP?
The hardest thing about being a WAHP are the hours. When you have little ones they really need attention. I am constantly reminding myself why I am staying at home and that helps keep me focused on my kids.

Supervision and interaction require full attention so I don't get much done and sometimes that can be frustrating. I try my best to keep the computer off during the day unless they are napping.

How long have ya been a WAHP?
I have been a WAHP for about 1 year and have enjoyed every minute of it.

Thank you Delphine, for being my first WAHM interviewee.

Find out tomorrow how she advertises her business and tips she has for other WAHP.

WAHM Needs Interviewees

2007-08-13T18:44:00.000-04:00

I would like to start doing interviews with other WAHM and WAHD every Monday. If this sounds likes something you'd like to do please email me at homemom3@gmail.com with Interview in the subject. I already have a list of questions so all you do is answer them and send them back. Not to worry, I don't plan on calling you....it's all done by email.

What will you get out of it? Oh that's easy, exposure. I'll add a link to the site that we will be chatting about and talk all about it. Sound good?

Our first interview will be up later today, with Delphine from Barefoot books. Will you be next?

Support a WAHM

2007-07-28T19:18:00.001-04:00

This WAHM is staying up for 24 hours to do the Blogathon 2007 for "Hope for the Warriors" lets all show her some support and head on over to leave her a comment or two at her blog, Homemom3. If you don't know, the blogathon is for 24 hours, in which she began at 9 a.m. Est time and will end 9 a.m. tomorrow. She must post every 30 minutes until it is over. That's a lot of blogging.

Head on over and support her cause, here's her link.

Happy Father's Day

2007-06-17T09:31:00.001-04:00

New to Work at Home mom

2007-06-06T20:40:00.000-04:00

Sometimes we're faced with really tough decisions and I've had to make one recently regarding this blog.

I had to step back and think about my priorities and the direction I was going -- resulting in having to either find someone who would take over this blog and nurture it the way it should be or deleting it altogether --

Thankfully I found someone who was willing to step up and take the reigns.

I'd like everyone to meet Eliza --

Eliza is a very experienced blogger that I'm sure you'll all just adore. She's going to be sharing the latest Work at Home News and bringing lots of hot tips to the forefront.

Please help me in welcoming Eliza to Work at Home Mom.

Man sentenced in work-at-home scheme

2007-05-30T09:48:00.000-04:00

The former president of a defunct nationwide work-at-home-scheme called Club Freedom has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

Neil Telafor, 57, of Kresgeville, Monroe County, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. Middle District Senior Judge Malcolm Muir, who also imposed a three-year term of supervised release.

For now, Telafor is responsible for $143,604 in restitution because his co-defendant, Dayton Sauerman, formerly of State College, is believed to be in China with his wife, a native of that country.

I love it when these cheats get what's coming to them!

Check out the full story on Penn Live.com

Best WAHM Resources

2007-05-29T17:55:00.000-04:00

I know making the decision to become an at home parent is a stressful one. The last thing you need is to be taken in by scams and dead end supposed opportunities.

That's why I would like to invite REAL Work at Home Mom's (and dads) to share the best resources they know. The real legit ones. Not ones that will cushion your multi-level tier, but ones that you would feel confident in passing on to the new folks that are just learning what's available.

If you have a great resource - whether you're the author or just a frequent visitor, I'd like to know.

Drop me an email and I'll be happy to share that resource right here -- along with a link right back to you as the person who introduced it.

Work-Life Benefits at Xerox Offer Win-Win for Working Mothers

2007-05-24T13:27:00.000-04:00

Xerox is one of the companies that seem to know how to take care of their employees.

Just a few of the working arrangements Xerox offers that make their efforts obvious are:

-flex time
- job sharing
- telecommuting
- child-care subsidies
- domestic partner benefits

It is especially minding its women workforce since women constitute 32% of its total workforce in the US.

Xerox's commitment to an inclusive workplace is reflected in the company's professional development, training and support programs, including its partnerships with six independent employee caucus groups such as The Women's Alliance and the Black Women's Leadership Council.

Read full press release.

Do you think if more companies offered telecommuting opportunities that they might get better quality work from their employees?

Work at Home Mom Blog Consulting

2007-05-17T13:37:00.000-04:00

Are you thinking of starting a blog but you just don’t know where to begin?

MomGadget is just the person to take all the stress out of establishing a niche and creating a plan for keywords, content and more.

Visit MomGadget Blog Consulting for more details.

10 Tips for Busy Moms and Women Managing Work and Home

2007-05-03T07:58:00.000-04:00

I found this great little article that gives each of us Work at Home Mom's a bit of a guide to go off of and a set of rules to set in place for ourselves. Somehow having rules to keep you on course helps to prevent becoming sidetracked to often.

Check these...Top 10 Tips for Busy Moms and Women Working from Home

1. ESTABLISH BOUNDARIES BETWEEN WORK AND HOME

Schedule how many hours you will spend at work and stay focused on achieving your three or four most important work goals for the week or day. Work hard at work but know when to go home and when you get there, be at home. Spend quality time engaged in self-renewing activities with people you care about. Women who are well-balanced thrive more in both environments.

2.PREPARE THE NIGHT BEFORE

For busy moms and women, every minute in the morning is precious. Get out the door faster by preparing the night before. Pre-pack lunches, backpacks and purses; coordinate bathroom schedules; plan and lay out clothes; and review the following day's schedule before going to bed at a good time.

3. TAKE TIME FOR WEEKLY AND DAILY PLANNING

Set aside 20 minutes each week and 10 minutes each day to plan your time and schedule, including the most important goals, tasks and appointments. Reviewing your week and day can also give you added insight as to how you can better manage your time.

4. WRITE IT DOWN

Remembering everything without recording it is a challenge that eludes even the brightest minds. Use a planning tool, either a paper planner or planning software and a handheld device, to enter your goals, tasks, appointments and contacts.

5. GROUP LIKE TASKS

Grouping similar tasks or tasks that can be completed together will maximize your time. If you have to revisit the same store multiple times for things that could have been purchased the first trip, you are spending not saving time.

6.SAY "NO"

When presented with a new opportunity on which to spend your time, ask yourself, "What is the wisest and best use of my time right now and what do I have to remove from my schedule in order to make time for this?" If the given opportunity does not meet that criterion, appropriately and graciously say, "No."

7. ESTIMATE YOUR TIME

The easiest way to get overwhelmed is by being unrealistic about how long it takes to complete certain tasks. Realistically estimate how long each of your goals or tasks will take to complete and schedule the appropriate amount of time into your planning system.

8. BE FLEXIBLE

Circumstances change, and new opportunities can be both urgent and important. Be flexible and willing to change your schedule and reprioritize it to accomplish something that is most important.

9. ESTABLISH ROUTINES

Guarantee that you make time for what is important by creating routines. Set aside a regular time in the day to spend time with your spouse, kids, or on those activities that are important to you in your life. For example, spend time each night talking with your family about their day or time exercising.

10. MAKE "ME-TIME" A PRIORITY - RENEW YOURSELF

One of the number one complaints women have about their over-packed schedule is the lack of time for self. Self-renewal leads to having a more balanced life. Make time in your schedule for activities (physical health, escape and people) which are renewing and re-energizing.

The two I have the most difficult time with are saying NO and taking ME time!

What about you?

One Day of Silence

2007-04-30T08:08:00.001-04:00

Website Launches $1,000 Social Media Viral Article Competition

2007-04-27T12:11:00.000-04:00

SuccessWithAuctions.com, a free resource center for small business owners wanting to make money online, announced today that it is hosting an unprecedented on-line article writing contest.

The article popularity contest is designed to promote awareness of social media and its impact on small to medium sized websites. Social Media, an on-line technology and practice that people use to share opinions, insights, experiences and perspectives, has become extremely popular with most Internet users. Popular social mediums include blogs, message boards, Digg.com, Netscape.com and vlogs.

According to founder, Joshua Watson, "The goal of our website is to educate small website owners and entrepreneurs about successfully making money online. As part of this initiative, we wanted to stress to our visitors the importance of social media websites and their possible impact on a small business. This contest will motivate our visitors to learn about social media and encourage them to use it on their websites to make money online."

Contestants are allowed to write about anything that interests them and can enter anytime before May 25th. The winning entry will be determined by its Social Media Popularity and will receive a prize of $1,000. Three runners-up will be mentioned on the home page of the website and will receive award certificates.

B.S.I. Investigation - An Island Life

2007-04-26T07:30:00.000-04:00

B.S.I. Investigation - An Island Life

To be honest, unless I went digging through the code of this one, I don't think I could find anything at all I could add.

The writer utilizes entertaining photos to keep the reader occupied.
The blog utilizes prime space for ads that compliment the overall blog.
The design is great, clean and well organized.
The writer utilizes tags - which I'm a big fan of.
There is a contact option in a very visible location.

The absolute single tip that I can offer this blogger for monetizing this blog would be to participate in Commission Junction, Shareasale or similar affiliate opportunities and integrate them into her postings.

As an example: She could utilize a travel affiliate to link her own travel links to Travelocity or Hotwire, etc.

Another linking tip would be to anchor keywords with outbound links such as television shows, etc.

By linking those to top ranking blogs designed around those shows would probably do wonders for the traffic. Anyone have anything else they'd add as a tip?

B.S.I. Investigation - Merry's Kitchen

2007-04-25T11:58:00.000-04:00

B.S.I. Investigation - Merry's Kitchen

Tip One: One the Wordpress Platform, you'll get the most mileage out of creating keyword rich titles if you use what's called pretty permalinks.

Instead of having a link look like this:
http://merryskitchen.com/?p=43

Your link would look like this:
http://merryskitchen.com/Ben-an-Jerrys-New-Ice-Cream-Flavors

This is done by going to Options, Permalinks and selecting the name based option. Be sure to update your changes at the bottom before exiting that page.

Tip Two: You have incredible opportunity to take advantage of Amazon links. When you are doing product reviews or recommendations, link to an Amazon affiliate link. Since you are on Wordpress, you can utilize the Amazon plugin that allows you to drag and drop links and pictures too.

Tip Three: Build on your About Page. You are offering some great advice, reviews and information, but people will develop a stronger loyalty if they feel they know you. We're always more prone to buy from a friend then a stranger.

Tip Four: Tag your posts. Technorati tags are a great way to drive traffic for specific topics. In Wordpress you can either insert them with a plugin or you can use Qumana or BlogDesk blog editors (both are free downloads) and insert them easily that way.

Tip Five: If you're looking to monetize your blog or find ways of earning -- I highly recommend signing up for ReviewMe. You're already offering product reviews so it would be a nice fit right into your content. You can see how I have my MomGadget Request a Review Page set up and use whatever portions of it you like if you would like to set up a page similar.

Merry ~ Thanks so much for letting me critique your blog. I've enjoyed looking yours over and might even have gained a few pounds during the investigation. I hope these tips help you and I wish you continued success.

I'm taking a ME day

2007-04-20T11:51:00.001-04:00

This week has been such a challenge emotionally. I really feel it necessary to take a complete ME day.

Please take a moment to read Things We Should Teach Our Children to better understand the place I am in and hopefully help you to teach your own kids in a way that will keep them safe.

Have a great weekend and remember Mother Earth Day -- What will you do Sunday to honor her?

Free Online photo editing

2007-04-19T08:23:00.000-04:00

One of the best ways you can offer to keep the attention of your readers is pictures. My personal preference is Paint Shop Pro. I do remember the days, prior to getting Paint Shop Pro as a gift, when I wanted to edit photos -- and being the frugal sort that I am, I just couldn't justify the expense of getting the program for myself.

The Internet has come a long way since that time. There are so many programs that help with photo editing and much more.

One of my personal FREE favorites is Picnik!

With Picnik you can quickly edit all your online photos from one place. It's the easiest way on the Web to fix underexposed photos, remove red-eye, or apply effects to your photos.

Check it out. I'd love to hear what you think about this fun photo program!

Try Picnik Now for Free

www and Blogger Do Not Mix

2007-04-17T10:57:00.000-04:00

I've noticed on several occasions people posting their blogger web address and including a www in it.

Example: http://www.mybloggerblog.blogspot.com

That address will take you nowhere.

When you are handing out your blog address, make sure to list it like this:

DO - http://mybloggerblogname.blogspot.com <<>

That will make sure your link is clickable straight through to your blog.

B.S.I. Investigation - Status on Reviews

2007-04-17T10:31:00.000-04:00

I've spent quite a bit of time this morning looking through the files of reviews that have been requested and what I've found is, I don't have all the information that I need to complete them.

If you've submitted a review and did so via the comment section of this site -- if you don't have a contact button on your site where I can contact you via email, chances are, I deleted the request.

I do apologize, but I don't want to do a review for someone I can't contact about it.

For all others -- You likely received an email from me indicating that I'd received your review request. I do still have those in a file and will be working through them in the order they were received.

Thanks for your patience. The response was quite overwhelming.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Blogging 101 - Start to Finish

2007-04-13T09:06:00.000-04:00

Be a part of round table discussion to help build and monetize your blog from beginning to end.

Discussion currently underway on the MomGadget Forum!

Work at Home Mom Comment Policy and Link Love

2007-04-10T11:37:00.001-04:00

COMMENT POLICY

Comments on this blog are made DOFOLLOW for the Google Spiders. Bascially this means that if you leave a comment on this blog, provide a link to your own blog, the Google Spiders will follow those links now.

If you would like to learn more about how you too can share the link love and offer up a little Google Juice, you can start by finding out if You're a Selfish Blogger.

Comments are moderated.

Spam will not be tolerated.

Site Build It - Ken Evoy and The Whole Infomercial Gang

2007-04-07T11:36:00.000-04:00

I have visited SBI or Site Build It time and again - each time I get the feeling that I'm walking into a used car lot where salesmen gather in the back room placing bets on who can sell me the junkiest car for the best price.

I'll admit, I've never bought into the program, so I honestly don't know how it works from the inside, but from what I can tell from the outside, I don't EVEN want to know what's on the inside.

Years ago I bought into a scheme called Destiny Telecom. I had a relative that joined and gave the hard sell that made me feel like I was going to get rich, have money rolling in month after month and all I got was a pre-paid phone card worth over $700 and not a soul long distance for me to call.

I don't like schemes, I don't like MLM's and I don't like programs that give the hard, you're gonna get rich sell with those order today and try it risk free buttons everywhere.

I've done those risk free things before and well, once the business has my credit card number, getting them to remove me is like trying to pull my eye teeth myself.

If someone is reading this who HAS bought into the Site Sell thing and can give me a glimpse at it from the inside, I'd gladly listen. But here's the thing. I will NOT be buying in, but if you have and you believe the product, I will be able to tell by what you write.

There's a big difference in believing in a product and promoting it with passion and having been the sucker who bought in and is just looking to get their money back.

I don't like the Herbalife thing!
I don't like the MOM Team thing!
I don't like the Mary Kay thing!
I don't like the Pre-Paid Legal thing!
I don't like the Quixtar thing!
And I don't like the Amway thing!

I think they are all rip-offs and Site Sell just smells like Amway with a techno twist!

B.S.I. Investigation - My Fashion E-Mall Blog!

2007-04-05T18:05:00.000-04:00

B.S.I. Investigation - My Fashion E-Mall Blog!

Tip One: Fashion blogs and eBay are both huge right now. It's a great niche to get into. The first thing I noticed that I would personally change is the template. You have a trendy niche and need a trendy snazzy template to go with it. Doesn't need to be anything fancy - perhaps just playing with the colors a bit would bring enough splash of color to the blog to make it "fashionable" to the eye.

Tip Two: Try moving your profile/about section down a bit and utilizing that top sidebar space for your profit generators. It's prime spacing for Google Ads or similar pay per click ads. A pay per sale ad might work if you have a hot item that you could get a solid click through rate on.

Tip Three: Every blogger that wishes to be taken seriously needs to have a way for readers to contact them. This shows your readers you're a real person and lets them know you value them enough to have them contact you any time they have questions or recommendations.

Tip Four: Labels or Tags - I'm a big believer in labels or tags. I have seen firsthand what a few quality labels can do for a blogs traffic. If you would rather not use the tags, perhaps highlighting key words within the text of your posts might be something to consider. It helps the search engines to zero in on those keywords.

Tip Five: Adbrite Ads - consider relocating your Adbrite Ads. If they were in a more prime spot and not hidden between other links, you would be able to generate more sales. You've got a great market for Adbrite Ads and should take full advantage of prime locations within your blog.

Sonia - Thanks so much for letting me critique your blog. I've enjoyed looking yours over and hope you'll find a tremendous amount of success.

Community and Networking Beyond Comments

2007-04-04T11:08:00.000-04:00

Did you know there are many ways you can help to strengthen your community and networking ability where blogs are concerned?

As you're combing around the net looking for great content to comment on or link to, how many times have you seen an article that stood out as a "great article" but it didn't exactly fit into your content scheme?

Why not copy that link and send it to someone in your little network who might benefit from it. Most times, if they practice common blogging etiquette they will provide a hat tip back to you and your blog for the tip.

I try to remember send links to people as often as I can. I know how hard it can be some days to find good content and I always appreciate those links.

Do You Get Discouraged?

2007-04-03T15:40:00.000-04:00

What have you found to be the most discouraging factor in blogging?

I'm curious as to what some people are finding to be the most difficult in a way that perhaps I can focus on those topics and how to combat them one at a time over the next several weeks.

So what is it? What gets you down in the blog?

Qumana Q-Ads with Google Adsense

2007-04-01T09:03:00.001-04:00

Reader Question:

How have you found q-Ads? Do they pay Ok? (Are they better than adsense??
I'm a bit worried that they look a bit like adsense ads.. I know we are not supposed to put ads on the same page as adsense that looks like adsense.

Response:

Darren Rowse outlines all the pro's and con's of using Qumana and the Adgenta Ads

including this quote:

‘You can use both advertising programs without violating any known terms of service agreements. So long as you use the keyword field to drive your advertisements, the ads will not be contextual, and therefore will not violate your Google agreement.’

I hope this answers your question. I've not been using Agenta ads too long, but will make it a point to conduct a complete review of the program in the near future.

Tags: adgenta, qumana, blog editor, wysiwyg, blogging, wahm blog, affiliate

Qumana Updated - Now Works with Blogger

2007-03-30T11:23:00.001-04:00

I am so stoked! Qumana works with Blogger now - I love the upgrade!

I downloaded the program via their website, installed it and with a few clicks of my mouse, all my Blogger blogs were auto configured. My Q-ads work wonderfully too (see the ad below)!

If you've been waiting on the upgrade, wait no longer - It HAS arrived :)

B.S.I. Investigation - Coffee Shop Chatter

2007-03-29T08:46:00.000-04:00

B.S.I. Investigation - Coffee Shop Chatter

Tip One: I love the title - it just exudes fun! In fact, I think your title is much too fun for your template. I like the browns but consider doing a little something to dress it up - perhaps a coffee shop or coffee cup background. Pictures do help increase readership and I think that would be a good start.

Tip Two: Blog Archives - Consider condensing those into the drop down format so it frees up valuable sidebar space. You have one sidebar so you'll have to make the most of every inch of it.

Tip Three: In your Gotta Get Goals post - Item number 2 - That's a very good goal to have and this blog is the perfect place to begin. I'm sure there would be lots of readers hanging on your every word if you could help put the romance back into their marriages. If you have a knack for romance, tap into it and share it!

Tip Four: Minimize your affiliate buttons in the sidebar - You'll likely do a much better business if you stick to "topic" products that are within your blogs topic. Having random ads for random products have statistically not done very well. It you'd like to mention the various products, try introducing them via a post specific to that product verses decorating your blog with them.

Tip Five: Make it easy for your visitors to contact you. Perhaps tap into that romance topic with this and invite reader question that can be featured once a week or so. This will help create content and prevent long periods of writers block.

Thanks MK for allowing me to critique your blog. Best of luck in your blogging!

Is BlogDesk an Essential Tool?

2007-03-28T11:00:00.000-04:00

You can bet I'm going to find out :)

I try to keep an open mind when it comes to the suggestions and recommendations offered up by bloggers I know and trust.

In the most recent edition of Essential Tools, Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei shares her own personal shopping list of tools she uses daily.

Knowing Hsien-Hsien like I do and knowing how quickly she always seems to get things done, You can bet I'm going to be checking out her shopping list.

So, first up is BlogDesk.

According to Hsien -- Blogdesk provides an excellent WYSIWYG interface that can be switched to source view if desired. More importantly, Blogdesk makes it super easy to edit photos, insert them into posts, and upload them together. For people who write more than one blog and for those who are blogging professionally, BlogDesk is a MUST.

I'll be testing the waters for the next week or so and will report my personal thoughts on this product. Anyone care to join me?

Thanks for luring her into sharing some of how she does what she does Char!

Temporary Bloggers for Hire

2007-03-27T11:44:00.000-04:00

With Spring Break coming up next week and realizing just how many of my blogging friends are going to be gone, I realized there might be a calling for Temporary Bloggers.

I don't know if anyone has thought of this before or even if there is a website that caters to this calling, but I thought it might be a brilliant idea for someone who had time to put a group of Temps for Hire Bloggers together.

Summer vacation is right around the corner and although I think it's a great idea, I personally don't have the time to take on one more project. I made a commitment earlier today that I'm very excited about and plan on focusing heavily on in the next several month.

If anyone happens to take this on, let me know. I'd be more then happy to promote your Temp Business and if one is already out there, I'd love to hear about it too.

Work at Home Disadvantages

2007-03-26T15:26:00.000-04:00

We're always talking about the benefits of working at home, what are some of the biggest disadvantages you can think of?

I'll list 5 that come to mind right away --

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Obesity
Deep Vein Thrombosis from sitting too long
Headaches from either staring at a computer to long or from lack of being outdoors
Lack of a social life

Your turn!

WAHM Week on Writing Thoughts

2007-03-26T15:22:00.000-04:00

WritingThoughts is devoting this entire week to concerns and issues related to working at home.

There's an entire weeks agenda on tap so make sure you stop over daily or even add Writing Thoughts to your reader so you don't miss any of the valuable information that Laura is going to be sharing.

B.S.I. Investigation - The Journey of a Mommy

2007-03-26T13:45:00.000-04:00

B.S.I. Investigation - The Journey of a Mommy

Tip One: The first thing I noticed right off the bat was the site is very busy! Too busy in fact. I'd highly recommend cutting down on the number of scrolling text bars and the number of animated ads. To many distractions going on to prevent a person getting to the meat of your blog. The content.

Tip Two: Statistically, easy-to-read fonts will do much better then the funky more artistic ones. I'd recommend looking at a Times or Ariel font. Choosing a font that's more decorative gives the impression that you're not exactly blogging for an audience.

Tip Three: The email me button isn't overly easy to read. Perhaps making the button a clickable link would be beneficial. You always want to step outside your blog and try to view it as your readers would. Make navigation as easy as you can. Offer as many one click options as you can.

Tip Four: The Header here is absolutely adorable, but it's hard to read. Consider placing the header on a white background to make it stand out. Don't forget to make it clickable to the front of your blog too -- this is one of those easy navigation tips that some people tend to overlook.

Tip Five: Tagging - I think you may be missing the boat by not using Technorati tags. This is a great traffic generator and a great way to keep track of who is linking to you and your posts. Blogger has made it so much easier to tag with their labels option. It's there, it's free, give it a try.

I'd like to thank Jenni for allowing me to critique her blog. If any of my Work at Home Blog readers have any tips they'd like to add, please do.

After all, we are only as good as our readers tell us we are, right?

Blogging is not as easy as it sounds

2007-03-23T09:17:00.000-04:00

Dan at The Wrong Advices offers up all the reasons why Blogging is so difficult. Below is just a small excerpt of the full discussion - so be sure to hop over and check out the complete details.

If you're considering blogging because you think it's 'easy' - leave that attitude at the door and see what other more veteran bloggers are saying.

There are over 50 million blogs on the web if you can believe that, and many of them have either been abandoned, or are updated infrequently.

The main reasons I see for this are:

People find it difficult to write regularly.
They don’t see any results for their efforts.
They lose interest and motivation.
They burnout.

Interstitial Ad's - Featured Discussion

2007-03-22T07:27:00.000-04:00

A fellow blogger recently signed up as an affiliate with Adbrite and has asked a very good question. I've not used the Interstitial Ads out of fear it may turn my visitors off, but after doing a quick search, I've found other bloggers who sing the praises of these ads.

By definition: Active Interstitial Ad is a full-screen ad that appears on the third pageview of your site, shown only once per user per day. Said to be a high-paying ad format option available via Adbrite.

What are your thoughts on these ads?

I've only seen a few sites that use them and when I do happen on them, I do check out the advertiser - mostly because I'm sure the publisher toiled over whether or not to run the ad to begin with and I try to make it worth their while.

I haven't ran these ads on any of my own blogs so I can't give any firsthand experience or stats. I am considering doing a test with them and sharing the results here on Work at Home Mom - however, I thought this was a nice topic to bring up and encourage others to join in.

Have you used these ads?

Do you click the ads when you see them?

Are they annoying to you or are you one that just clicks the skip this ad option and progress on to the goods?

Thanks to Adventures in Baby Fat for bringing this topic up and thanks even more for signing up for Adbrite through my affiliate button. Much appreciated.

If you have a question you would like to discuss with Work at Home Mom or MomGadget Readers, feel free to drop me an email through my email button in the upper right sidebar.

Beginner Blogging Questions

2007-03-21T13:47:00.000-04:00

How or where does one start a blog?

Before anyone starts a blog, I always encourage them to take a bit of time to sort out what it is they feel most passionate about and what they could talk endlessly about. That's most likely the best topic to start with.

If you want to test the waters with a free platform, that's a great way to go. Blogger is the one I choose.

MomGadget and my other "niche" blogs/sites are hosted through BlueHost and on the Wordpress platform. The cost is $95 for the year with each additional add-on site costing me $10.

How do you make money with your blogs?

I've been averaging over $4,000 per month for the last few months. It's taken me 8 years to get here and 90% of that income comes from my niche blogs/sites, not my work at home mom ones or even MomGadget.

My biggest Money Makers are listed in my sidebar - along with a few other individual products that I promote via my niche sites.

Can you have more than one blog?

I'd be lost if I couldn't. I'm currently sitting comfortable with 12 blogs. My husband said I had too many, so I let one go :)

How do you get traffic to your blog?

That's the most difficult part of blogging for me. There are several factors that go into luring traffic. It can be from networking, commenting on like blogs, making yourself visable on message boards, link exchanges and much more. That's where I put in most of my time - it's not so much the blogging itself.

If you can't dedicate at least one hour daily to networking to increase your traffic on top of doing the actual posting - which needs to be unique as much as possible, then you're probably not going to like blogging.

Social Networking - StumbleUpon

2007-03-21T13:33:00.000-04:00

Some of you have probably heard whispers about a conference taking place in San Francisco called Elite Retreat.

The last couple of days, my mind has been a virtual sponge for anything anyone is sharing from the discussions that have taken place.

One such discussion was on the topic of Social Networks like StumbleUpon (link).

Without re-inventing the wheel, I'll simply provide a link to the discussion I started earlier on this very topic.

I hope you'll hope over to MomGadget and join in discussing this with me. I do plan on visiting various aspects of these discussions over the next several days as I work through the topics and learn more about them myself.

Care to grab a cup of coffee and join me?

B.S.I. Investigation - Work at Home Mom Revolution

2007-03-20T11:06:00.000-04:00

B.S.I. Investigation - Work at Home Mom Revolution

Tip One: Breath some life into your template. I'm not the biggest fan of default templates, but if you must use one show a little bit of character and originality. Blogger offers little widgets that allow you to play with various colors and placements. Use those. It will show you're not boring.

Tip Two: Ad some contact information. If you don't provide your readers with a way to contact you with questions or interview opportunities, you may be missing the boat a lot more then you realize. Furthermore, there's far too many splogs out there. Sometimes offering up your contact link is all it takes to make you stand out as more then a splog.

Tip Three: Condense your archives to a drop down menu. You can do this in your blogger settings. It will free up valuable advertising space.

Tip Four: Sign up for Sitemeter and/or Statcounter. I use both. With these two little tools you can learn so much about your visitors. You can expand your network, link back to whomever is linking to you and capture a niche by really focusing on the search terms and keywords that are bringing people to your site.

Tip Five: I would make the Job Bank in the sidebar a weekly featured post or even monthly, depending on how often you update. Unless the job ad posters are paying for that space, you could be freeing it up for pay per click ads or Adbrite ad space.

Additional tips anyone?

Thanks so much to Lisa for allowing me to critique her blog. I hope Pam and others take away a little something with this review.

Interested in having your blog reviewed?

B.S.I. Investigation - Pam's Daily Ponderings

2007-03-20T10:35:00.000-04:00

B.S.I. Investigation - Pam's Daily Ponderings

Tip One: The first thing I notice that needs to go or be filtered is the Blogger Swap button in the left sidebar. At the time of my visit, Nympho Girl was gracing the space with her presence and well, that's not exactly the image you're looking for to be located just below the adorable photo of your daughter and the one of you and your daughter. If Blogger Swap doesn't allow for filtering, I'd remove them altogether.

Tip Two: I would ad a little splash of color here and there. I know there are a lot of people out there who like the darker more "natural" colors and that's fine. Just show your visitors your an exciting and entertaining blogger by featuring a splash of color now and again.

Tip Three: Give a little thought to your blog post titles. People who use blog readers and feeds will ONLY see the title of your post in most cases. Make sure you are naming them in a way that's going to make them want to open it up and read it. Titles like "frustration" don't exactly peak a curiosity. If you're not going to name them to appeal to the readers, appeal to the search engines with keyword rich posts - had you used something along the lines of Missouri DMV goes Postal and Back you would have made your blog keyword rich for the term Missouri DMV which produced 2396 searches alone in the month of February.

Tip Four: When you are recommending products, check those products out to see if they offer an affiliate program or perhaps see if the product is offered through Amazon. Always try to link up your positive reviews with an affiliate link. Some of my best sells come from my own positive product reviews with text links.

Tip Five: StatCounter and Sitemeter - two little tools that will help you analyze your traffic and ultimately help you dig your niche. Monitor where your traffic comes from, what key terms and words they use to get there and build on that. I can't sing those praises enough! They are a must!

Anyone have any tips they'd like to add?

Thanks so much to Pam for allowing me to critique her blog. I hope Pam and others take away a little something with this review.

Interested in having your blog reviewed?

B.S.I. Investigation - Adventures in Baby Fat

2007-03-18T18:36:00.000-04:00

B.S.I. Investigation - Adventures in Baby Fat

Tip One: I would highly recommend showing at least five posts on the front page. Keeping your blog limited to one causes your visitors to have to click more to dig deeper for your content. I don’t believe putting all your posts on the front page is beneficial, but five is a nice number to go with.

Tip Two: Try a different template or play with the colors a bit. Dark colors tend to detour visitors unless of course your content is “dark” then dark is good.

Tip Three: Use the archive widgets. Get your content out there so that your readers can scan through to see if there’s something they want to check in on. Your blog is very limiting to the visitor who is there for a matter of seconds, there’s very little to lock them in and keep them there.

Tip Four: Use your Adsense Widgets to get your ads out there. If you want to make money with your blog, you can’t earn if the ads aren’t there. Play with the template and move the ads around. That’s the beauty of the new blogger. There is lots of room to play.

Tip Five: Get an email link in place so that visitors can contact you. Allowing them the option to contact you with questions over a post is key in letting people know you’re real.

As with all other reviews, if anyone else has anything to ad, please feel free.

B.S.I. Investigation - For the Love of Cupcakes

2007-03-18T18:06:00.000-04:00

B.S.I. Investigation - For the Love of Cupcakes

Tip One: I would recommend utilizing the space at your header to share a strip of Google Ad links. Those tend to do very well in that location - either above your header or just below it and above your main content area.

Tip Two: Add an email link. You should always want your visitors to know is they can contact you via email at any time – It’s nice to know that there’s a real person with real contact options behind the blog. With so many splogs going, this is a must for a serious blogger. Not providing an email link can often give the impression that you’re not taking your work seriously, so why should they?

Tip Three: Utilize the blogger widgets to offer up your archives. Allow your visitors easy access to your history of posts. I don’t see those options in your sidebar and think you’re missing great opportunities to lock in your visitors without them.

Tip Four: I would highly recommend joining Amazon.com and provide links to the various utensils that would help in making the lovely cupcakes you’re describing. You’ve got a nice niche there and Amazon would be a nice addition.

Tip Five: I’m not sure the ads you’re showing in your sidebar are exactly right for your topic. It might be worth moving the Google Adsense bar up and giving it prime space over the jewelry. Your visitors are going to be coming for cupcakes you should consider selecting items that are going to appeal to them. Think about the things that you might impulse buy if you were visiting your site and place those in the sidebar.

Anyone else have anything to add? Besides the 5 lbs I've just added to my hips from reading Crystal's blog? :)

B.S.I. Investigation - Simple SAHM

2007-03-18T17:37:00.000-04:00

B.S.I. Investigation - Simple SAHM

Tip One: The very first thing I notice about your blog is the overpowering header. If you’d decrease the size of the image just a bit it would help to draw up the valuable content you’re offering. The image you are using now is 400 x 186 – perhaps try reducing it down to 200 x 92 or thereabouts.

Many professionals and experiments in visual habits of browsing customers indicate you have only a few seconds to lock that visitor in or you’ve lost them for good. I would at least make it to where you can see ½ to ¾ of your top blog post.

Tip Two: The next thing I would do is to condense your blog archive. More people will utilize a drop down menu to your archives then you’d think. There’s no reason to take up the valuable sidebar space with all that history that’s easily searchable. Free it up for better things.

Tip Three: Add an email link. One thing you always want your visitors to know is they can contact you via email at any time. Not providing an email link can often give the impression that your blog is a splog or that the writer doesn’t take their work seriously.

Tip Four: I would move my Google Adsense ads up to that valuable space under your subscription options. Google Adsense provides a great tool for helping to figure out the prime placement of those ads and you’re completely missing the boat with the location of your ads in your sidebar near the bottom.

Tip Five: Sign up for a free Stats feature either through StatCounter.com or Sitemeter.com (I use both) – check out your stats at least twice per week. You’ll begin to understand the habits of your visitors more – you’ll find where your readers are coming from – and with this information you can build on attracting other visitors the same way.

If you’re being linked to by a blog, you will have the opportunity to build on your community – if you’re being linked to via a search engine, you’ll have the opportunity to build on that keyword term or phrase to establish a higher ranking position for that term.

Does anyone else see anything that stands out as obvious that Traci might want to consider when making improvements to her blog? I'm hoping this isn't just all about me critiquing blogs, I hope that others will share their views as well.

After all - No one is as good as all of us!

B.S.I. Investigation - Native Earth Organics

2007-03-17T14:20:00.000-04:00

B.S.I. Investigation - Native Earth Organics

Vickie left a comment asking that I check out her blog Native Earth Organics. I did and here are the tips I offered up:

Your site looks like it's a "banner store" - the thing about getting people to buy is by offering much more then just links to sell products. Give them tips, advice, support, etc.

Consider promoting products you've personally tried, use and are a repeat customer of. If you believe in the product, it sells much better. Everyone wants something that works!

Personally, I think text links within articles work best. It takes a lot of time coming up with the material that isn't an exact duplicate of something else on the net (search engines don't like copycats) but by doing this, you can set yourself apart from all others within your niche arena.

I'd go with less ads. Limit the options of clicking. If there's too much to click on, it gets confusing and your visitor will keep on going until they find a site that has more info and less ads.

Make yourself use this tool often:
http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/

I find most all the titles and keywords for my articles/posts with this particular tool.

Example:
Do a search on Fiber on that tool.

Take every keyword or key phrase listed with over a 1000 searches last month and write about them. This is a great way to put together a goal and blog plan for months at a time. You'll never want for inspiration because you have your topics right there.

When you write a post, include the exact keyword or phrase at least three times.

Link the keyword or phrase only once to your affiliate with a text link.

Make sure to include the keywords in your tags if you use them. That helps to establish your placement for those specific terms.

Hopefully we'll hear back from Vickie in the near future with some updates on how things are going.

I'd like to thank Vickie for allowing me to publically critique her blog and provide the tips so that others can learn with her as well.

B.S.I. - Improve Your Blog with 5 Points or Less

2007-03-17T11:23:00.000-04:00

Are you trying to monetize your blog but nothing seems to work?

Would you like an honest critique of your blog?

Can you handle honest and constructive criticism?

Would you be willing to allow this critique to be displayed publicly here or on MomGadget?

I've been thinking about offering up advice via my Work at Home Mom and/or MomGadget Blogs and the meme I participated in yesterday provided that last nudge of inspiration I needed to get off my tail and do something about it.

If you would like to receive helpful advice while helping me provide valuable information to my readers, I'd be more then happy to take the time to 'investigate" your blog and provide 5 points or less on how to achieve your ultimate goal of being a successful blogger.

Either send me your link via Email or provide the link in the comments section of this post.

What keeps me from commenting on blogs

2007-03-16T13:56:00.000-04:00

This has happened a couple of times today -- I find a really cool blog, I read the posts and get all excited wanting to leave a comment - then I realize that I must sign up and log in before leaving a comment.

Ummm Not happening!

I know spam is a big deal and a royal pain in the butt but they do have plugin's for that you know?

I've taken the time to install the plugin's and I take the time to check my comments for approving or deleting. It's not too much to ask so that people who want to leave comments, can.

That's really a big pet peeve of mine.

Anyone else practice the same policy? Will you sign up and log in to leave a comment or do you simply do what I do and move on to the next blog?

February Commissions Revealed

2007-03-15T08:33:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since I've compiled one of these posts and since a couple of long time blogging friends tapped my shoulder from a forum I used to frequent, I thought I'd compile the monthly commissions in hopes of proving that blogging and hard work can pay off.

I don't reveal what affiliates these are and I won't. It goes against the TOS of many of them. But browsing around all my blogs, it's pretty easy to figure them out.

Affiliate 1 - 1131.00
Affiliate 2 - 595.00
Affiliate 3 - 785.00
Affiliate 4 - 25.50
Affiliate 5 - 116.00
Affiliate 6 - 640.00
Additional internet income resources - 1308.00

Total for February - $4602.00

Keep in mind that I've been working from home since 1999. It's taken a long time to get to where I am and I won't sugar coat it at all. It's probably the toughest job I've ever had, because I have only myself to blame when things fall below a certain level and I have only myself to hold accountable for what I make.

If you have the drive, you can do it and I'll be around to help in any way I can.

How Google Measures Link Popularity

2007-03-14T10:52:00.000-04:00

Link popularity is by far the most important factor for determining your search engine ranking. You need to know what link popularity is, why it is so important, and how Google measures your link popularity (over 50% of all search engine traffic comes from Google, and if you can rise to the top of Google, you will rise to the top of all the other search engines as well). But, before we talk about how Google measures linking, we need to cover some basics.

Link popularity is defined as the number of sites that are linking to your site. Some websites have thousands or even millions of sites linking to them, while others might have only a few. The search engines use the number of inbound links your site has as a measure of how important your site is, which translates into your search engine ranking.

The actual number of links to your site is not the only variable used to calculate your link popularity. The search engines also examine the relevance of the links to the subject matter of your site. For example, if a website that sells vitamins has 4,000 inbound links, but the source of most of the links are websites that have nothing to do with vitamins, then the algorithm that search engines use to determine link popularity will take that into account, and the link popularity score will not be very good.

It is possible for a website with a relatively small number of quality inbound links to be ranked higher than a site with a bunch of irrelevant or insignificant links. If I have a website that offers quotes for auto insurance, and I have 800 quality inbound links, then I might receive a much higher search engine ranking than another mortgage site that has 3,000 links that stem from link farms or Free For All (FFA) pages.

If you try to acquire inbound by using link farms or FFA pages, not only will it hurt your search engine ranking, but you might get permanently removed from the search engine listings. Links farms are sites where you can instantly exchange links with all the sites listed in that directory. FFA pages are pointless link directories. The search engines usually discount any links that come from either of these sources.

Now that we understand what link popularity is and how it works, we need to look specifically at how Google measures it. Google uses a number of variables in their algorithm to calculate your overall link score. The higher your score, the higher you will be ranked in the search listings.

One factor that Google uses in their algorithm, obviously, is the total number of sites linking to you. The more links you have, the higher your score will be. However, their algorithm is a little more complicated than that, and it is possible for a website with fewer links to be ranked higher than a website that has more links.

The reason for this is because Google also measures the quality of your links. If your website is about vitamins, and the site linking to you is a video game site, then that is not considered a quality link. The link still helps your score, but the link would help your score much more if it were from a website whose subject matter is the same as yours.

Also, Google gives a higher score to a link if it comes from a page that has actual content that relates to your keywords. For example, if your site is about jewelry, and another jewelry website has posted a link to your site on their links page, that link is not as valuable as a link to your site coming from a blog or a message board where a lot of information about jewelry is being written or discussed.

Also, Google gives an even higher score to a link if it contains anchor text that matches one of the keywords that describes your site. For example, if I have a site that sells lawnmowers, and a blog about lawnmowers has posted a link to my site, it helps my score even more if the link text (also known as anchor text) is LAWNMOWERS. To learn more about anchor text, go to a search engine and look up ANCHOR TEXT and you will be able to learn about it.

Another factor used by Google to score your link popularity is the diversity of keywords contained on sites linking to you. For example, if you have a site that sells handbags, and all the links to your site are from other sites that contain nothing but the keyword HANDBAGS, Google considers that to be abnormal. To get a higher score, you need to have links coming from sites that contain a variety of keywords related to handbags, such as BUY HANDBAGS, LEATHER HANDBAGS, etc.

It is difficult to increase your link popularity, but now that you understand how your score is calculated, you can devise a plan to improve your score. You might want to consider posting to forums and blogs that contain information that is related to your site, and when you post, include a link to your site. As long as you are persistent and tailor your strategy towards Google, you will do fine.

Note: I don't know who originally wrote this article, I happened to find it on a message board I visit frequently. I thought it was valuable information and wanted to pass it on. If you are the author, please let me know who I may credit for this great bit of information.

How do you monetize your blogs?

2007-03-13T14:36:00.000-04:00

After speaking with a relative just a bit ago, I find I'm always 'talking up' or trying to 'sell' people on blogging. It seems kind of funny to me at times when people ask what I do and then to capture the 'look' I get when I respond with "I blog."

Everyone seems to follow that look with a "how do you do that?" and "how can you make money doing that?"

In my mind it's easy! And for others who have been blogging a while, it's easy. But to actually take the time to step outside my own little world and realize that not everyone knows what a blog is or even how you could possibly make money from it.

I thought it might be a fun little project to invite others to share how they monetize their own blogs.

I'll be putting together the most recent list of my "money makers" and will gladly share them here.

I'd like to invite you to do the same.

What I'm hoping to receive are posts that outline the affiliate programs you belong to, a ballpark figure on how much you make with them and how long you've been with the program.

Feel free to discuss some of the pros and cons of these programs.

Try and keep your post as elementary as possible so that those who are wrinkling their foreheads at the very thought can wrap their minds around the possibility.

AutoSurf Programs and Google TOS

2007-03-13T10:32:00.000-04:00

There has been a bit of discussion on Auto Surf programs and Google Adsense TOS as well as other affiliates who deem auto surf programs to be a violation of TOS.

Rather then searching high and low, I thought I'd bring the question here in hopes that some of you might share the information you've found to be the most reliable on this topic.

Per Google TOS

Prohibited Uses. You shall not, and shall not authorize or encourage any third party to: (i) directly or indirectly generate queries, Referral Events, or impressions of or clicks on any Ad, Link, Search Result, or Referral Button through any automated, deceptive, fraudulent or other invalid means, including but not limited to through repeated manual clicks, the use of robots or other automated query tools and/or computer generated search requests.

Also, I'm interested in knowing if you are aware of other affiliate programs that may suspend or terminate for the use of or participation in auto surf programs?

Name Your Blogging Hero

2007-03-12T12:15:00.000-04:00

I've been blogging for several years now and regardless of how many new blogs and writers enter the blogosphere daily, there are still those few from long ago that have left me with a lasting impression and somehow helped mold the blogger I am today.

If you had to pick one or two bloggers who have left you with a lasting impression, who would they be?

I'm going to be creating a whole post dedicated to impressionable blogs so please post your link and the links of those blogs you wish to recognize in the comment section or drop me an email.

Sometimes it's just nice to give a little extra recognition to those who deserve it.

Reading Review Posts - Paid or Not

2007-03-09T11:41:00.000-05:00

Problogger had an interesting discussion going on a couple of days ago on the topic of Reading Paid Review Posts.

I found the topic most interesting, because I write reviews on a wide range of products - some paid, some not. Does that mean some review posts are worth reading and others are not?

If you subscribe to blogs via a reader and you recognize a post as a "review" do you read it?

When it comes to MomGadget, all my review posts are obvious from the title alone because I've chosen to name them the specific item name - with "a MomGadget Review" following.

Some of the posts are paid reviews while others are actual products that I personally try and/or use.

I managed to be lucky enough to be found by a PR firm that sends me items from time to time to examine, test and review. Does that make my reviews less readable? Less interesting?

This topic has genuinely sparked my interest because I would like to know if I am wasting my time, advertisers money and my readers interest by writing them.

I made $120 just this morning

2007-03-07T08:32:00.000-05:00

This is the second month I've been working with ReviewMe.com testing their product review for cash program.

I didn't want to post my opinion on the service until I had completed at least 4 reviews and until I had received my first pay.

ReviewMe.com is a great program. It is one that takes time though, so you won't want to go into this thinking you'll be quiting your day job next week. In the two months since I joined the program, I've just completed four reviews. But hey, the extra $120 isn't anything to turn your nose up at.

All of my product reviews are conducted through MomGadget.com and are noted as sponsored reviews. I will admit to turning down two review opportunities because they were products I could never see myself using and I wasn't going to fake it even for thirty bucks.

If you're interested in giving ReviewMe a try, please sign up through my link. ReviewMe has just started a referral program - it's nothing overly spectacular, but it is a couple extra dollars here and there.

5 Common Writing Mistakes Discussed

2007-03-06T13:35:00.000-05:00

I wish I had a dime for every time I've heard from someone who hasn't started their blogging adventure for fear of looking 'dumb' when writing.

Personally, I tend to overlook mistakes in writing and grammar if the message is worth reading. I understand that when it comes to the internet, there are so many who don't use English as their first language and I understand that many people excel in other areas and English may not be one of them!

If you're one of those who hangs back watching the world of blogging pass you by out of fear, check out CopyBlogger. There's an amazing amount of information to be found including 5 Common Mistakes That Make You Look Dumb.

Google now offering more click fraud protection

2007-03-01T14:36:00.000-05:00

Beginning this month, Google plans to give advertisers the ability to prevent their pay-per-click ads from being shown to competitors suspected of repeatedly clicking on the ads to drive up their cost.
The move, to be announced in Google's AdWords blog on Thursday (today), is an effort to curb click fraud, which involves generating clicks solely for the purpose of increasing the cost of an advertiser's pay-per-click ad.
Google, king of pay-per-click advertising, will allow advertisers to specify which Internet Protocol addresses--numerical addresses assigned to individual computers--will be blocked from receiving the ads. The move is designed to stop rivals from using click fraud to eat through a competitor's advertising budget and to prevent them from bidding on the ad's keyword for the purpose of using it in their own ads. Fraudulent clicks can be generated by people paid to click ads over and over, and also through automated software programs.
Also beginning in March, Google plans to give advertisers more information on how much money they are saving by filtering out fraudulent clicks, a Google spokesman said. Before July, Google will provide a standardized interface for advertisers to report click fraud and request investigations. Continue Reading >>>

I had noticed quite a decline in my Google Adsense over the last couple of months. It seemed I was getting just as much traffic, but the rates had dropped quite a bit.

Hopefully this will help increase those bottom lines in the coming months.

Anyone else noticed a decline in their Google Adsense lately?

A Commission Junction Surprise

2007-03-01T11:13:00.000-05:00

Over the last couple of months, I kind of slacked off a bit on monitoring some of my less lucrative affiliate programs. Commission Junction had dropped off to under $100 per month and since I get paid from them each month, I didn't want to spend my "dial up" time waiting on the pages to load.

Well, since I'm having my Today Size Does Matter Party - I thought I'd take the time to check out some of the slower loading sites. Commission Junction was one of them.

WOW was I surprised when I logged on and saw that my current unpaid balance is $221.00.

I can't tell you how much some of these smaller payments help out through the month and when you find one that pays like clockwork and one that you don't have to constantly monitor for payment, it's so worth it.

I can't recommend Commission Junction enough! Especially since the product that has proven to me that SIZE DOES MATTER was listed and I'm now an affiliate for yet another product that I absolutely LOVE!

Click Here for Commission Junction

4 Reasons Why Home Businesses Succeed

2007-02-27T13:50:00.000-05:00

Instead of showing reasons why home businesses fail, Carlos shares 4 reasons why (and how) profitable home businesses succeed.

I completely agree with all the 'reasons' Carlos lists, however, learning as much as you can is one that I would place right up there at the top.

For some reason, people get this mindset that just because people work from home, they think they aren't working hard. I'm here to tell YOU that I work much harder and longer then I ever have. BUT that's the price I'm willing to pay to be at home and away from an office full of cranky women and office politics.

Being a Professional Blogger isn't what I started out doing when I began working from home and online, it's just what my wah efforts have evolved into. I began learning what I could and let my online lessons and talents lead me in an almost natural direction.

Just because you start one place doesn't mean that's where you'll stay. In fact, I'd highly recommend you pull three or four topics out of a hat that you feel you could write about every single day. Take at least 6 months to a year to track your efforts on each. Time will reveal all you need to know about whether or not it's a wise topic for you to stick with.

Choosing a Niche Market to Promote

2007-02-26T14:07:00.000-05:00

Have you found your own niche market?

What types of tools or internet services did you utilize to help you determine what market was right for you?

I've got my own "niche" going and have had for about 8 years now. I don't touch on my niche here too often because it's such a different part of my life and I find that it helps me to keep the two separated.

My niche is Sexually Transmitted Diseases - Support and Advocacy. It's not like I keep it too hidden. I simple search of my name and any STD name will yield quite a return.

It's because of this niche, my knowledge of the topic and my experience with several products that I've been able to carve out such a successful internet business for myself.

So, now that I've shared my niche with you - won't you share your niche with me and my readers?

Don't Wait on Despair

2007-02-21T10:52:00.000-05:00

After watching a news segment this morning about a woman who started her own business when her family was thrust into the unemployment line alongside her laid off husband - I did a bit of searching on people who had become successful after such life altering events had occurred. It's amazing the number of books that are listed on Amazon that touch on this very subject.

Looking back over my own career history, I realize that I wouldn't be where I am today had a 'boss' not fired me some time back.

Long story short, I had a job I loved, the owner got married, the wife got jealous and greedy and fired three women who worked for the small, privately owned business. That's a whole different topic for a whole different blog, but the point is, had that woman not pushed her pillow talkin' hand and urged her husband to fire me, I'd have never gotten 'angry' enough to want to prove myself a success. And what's even better is I've proven myself a success in various arena's not even remotely close to the one I was working in with them.

It truly feels good to have started completely from scratch, carved out a niche I could call my own and know that I don't have anyone to hold responsible for my own success or failure but me.

I know there are many people out there who think so often how nice it would be to work from home. I'm telling you, it IS nice! There aren't enough excuses out there that would support your not pursuing that dream. Don't wait to be fired from your job - don't wait until your family is hit with some terrible disaster to get motivated. Do it now!

It's so much better when you can tell someone that you can't work for them because it doesn't fit into YOUR schedule as opposed to being told you don't fit into theirs.

Just for humor sake, why not offer up your best excuse for why you've not started working from home just yet? I'm anxious to hear!

If you need a little inspiration or something to jump start your imagination in the right direction, I recommend Weekend Entrepreneur: 101 Great Ways to Earn Extra Cash

Blog Directories - Which Do You Use?

2007-02-19T15:39:00.000-05:00

Someone on the Professional Bloggers Forum posted a question regarding Blog Directories such as Technorati, Blogarama, Blogmommas, MyBlogLog etc.

I know there are some that Google has frowned upon because of their auto-surf capabilities and I can't name them right off the top of my head, however, I thought the topic was so important to bloggers who are exploring traffic options that I wanted to bring the discussion here as well.

Some of the bloggers I've become familiar with and trust have listed the directories they are associated with - here are just a few of the more popular ones:

Technorati
MyBlogLog
BlogHer
BlogExplosion
StumbleUpon
Blogarama
Christian Stay at Home Moms
BlogMommas

What are some of the directories you belong to (or have belonged to previously) and what has your personal experience been with them?

Adsense versus Adbrite - A Contextual Experiment

2007-02-17T15:11:00.000-05:00

Wendy at eMoms at Home is doing a comparison between Google Adsense and Adbrite. She's inviting those who currently use or have used both programs to voice their opinions on both.

I'm currently enrolled in both programs and have to say that it depends on the site. Some sites that are likely to skew the Google Ads a bit toward the lower paying end have proven to do quite well with Adsense.

If you have numerous websites or blogs on a variety of topics, I strongly recommend you don't place all your eggs in one basket. I've always urged bloggers to view their content as a 'department store' - if your content is rich in high priced keywords like HDTV or iPod - sure, Adsense makes sense. But if you're content is focused on freebies around the net or even low end or tend to be more repetitious, you might want to consider Adbrite as an alternative.

Why not stop over, pay Wendy a visit and chime in with your personal experiences with Adbrite and Adsense

Work at Home Taxes

2007-02-12T12:58:00.000-05:00

I'll be honest, each and every year, I get nailed by Uncle Sam - and I do mean that in the most sarcastic way imaginable.

As much as I love working from home, every year I wind up paying out the nose in taxes. Typically to the tune of a couple'a grand.

There are many a evil thought that runs through my head about not claiming everything, but just as sure as I'm tapping away on my keyboard, Uncle Sam would find some way to nail me even harder.

I know there are many work at home parents out there that make much more then I do - Before I head off to my tax lady - are there any recommendations you can make, links you can supply or prayers you can offer up to help me make it to the other side of April 15th?

Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if Uncle Sam would offer a kiss blown across the room on the way out the door or SOMETHING!

By the way, did I mention how much I HATE paying taxes? I wanna get out of paying as much as I possibly can! I don't care how, just as long as it's legal and won't get me in the cell next to that dude from Survivor.

What's in Your Wallet?

2007-02-08T14:32:00.000-05:00

Just like the Capital One commercial - stressing how important it is to have their credit card in your wallet, as a blogger, I believe having subscriptions to quality blogs tucked in your Google Reader to be one of the best was to find inspiration or avenues for discussion.

I've got my Google Reader broken down by topic - based on my various blogs. Having this option makes it so much easier when I'm combing through some of my favorites looking to spread a little link love or hop in on an active discussion.

The blogs I have in my favorites that pertain to this Work at Home Mom blog are:

So, what's in your wallet?

A Successful Blogspot Blog Scavenger Hunt

2007-02-07T10:48:00.000-05:00

With so many people wanting to get on board with the blogging trend and wanting to start off with a free blog platform, I thought it might be fun to invite bloggers to partake in a little blogspot blog scavenger hunt of sorts.

I've personally seen several blogspot blogs out there that I would consider to be top notch blogs that provide unique and entertaining content as well as establishing themselves as a very profitable business.

I'd like to invite readers of Work at Home Mom to seek out those heavy hitter bloggers who host their blogs on blogspot or another free platform to be featured here and to serve as inspiration for anyone wanting to blog and needs an extra nudge but don't have the money to invest to get them started.

Criteria to consider:

1. Design and Layout
2. Content - quantity and quality
3. Ads and Ad Placement (are they using quality affiliates?)
4. What keeps you reading?
5. Check Google Page Rank and Traffic if possible.

Just to name a few --

As you submit these HIGH Caliber Blogs, I'll be posting them right here (along with your link as the submitter) for the world to be inspired:

Enjoy

5 Advantages of being a Work at Home Mom

2007-02-07T10:05:00.000-05:00

Maryemma from Home Biz Notes has listed 5 Advantages of an Internet Based Home Business - some of which include: Less Investment More Opportunities Global Possibilities This information set my mind turning on the 5 Advantages of being a Work at Home Mom - for me the top five benefits are:

Always available to my children when they need me
I can work around my families schedule - sporting events never have to be missed again.
I save money by not having to purchase work clothes, makeup and on not having to commute.
I am able to keep the house clean at all times
No office politics! To me, there's nothing worse then working with an office full of catty women!

So, what about you? What advantages are in your top 5?

What Makes You Feed A Blog?

2007-02-01T13:16:00.000-05:00

When it comes to finding blogs that turn me into a returning visitor and loyal reader, there are a few things a blog MUST have in order to get me to keep coming back.

They must be updated regularly. If I visit a few times over the course of a month and it's not been updated, I remove it from my reader.

A blog must present something new - An occasional copy of an article is ok, but seriously, how hard is it to copy a portion of an article and comment on it with your own opinions.

People who don't have the ability to form an opinion on their own should not blog.

I also like to find the occasional interjection of humor. Make me laugh and I'll love you forever.

Keep in mind that many of your readers are still on dial-up. If your blog takes a long time to load, I'm not going to hang out and wait. I just keep on clicking.

Those are really the biggies for me. I enjoy reading on such a wide variety of topics, so topic isn't so much an issue. Content is!

What makes you want to add a blog to your feed reader? What can bloggers do to keep you coming back?

This topic was brought up on Business Blogwire and thought it was worthy of mention here. So many people think slapping up a blog and just providing WORDS is all it takes to become a blogger. They couldn't be further off base.

Mommy Inc. - Blogging her way to fame

2007-01-31T13:10:00.000-05:00

Talk about a blog to riches story!

If you're a skeptic on this whole blogging thing, you'll want to check out Mommy Inc. because just a few weeks ago she was asking herself if this blogging thing was worth it.

I think it's really great - especially since she's a mom of twins too :)

Hat tip to Casual Keystrokes

Gack Ink Is Taking Submissions - 48 Hours Only

2007-01-31T09:40:00.000-05:00

Gack Ink is a blog network that allows you to bring your own blog.

It's really not a unique concept as much as a unique level of passion and support that goes on behind the network.

If you have a blog, you won't want to miss this opportunity. It's already got the feel of success.

You'll have to hurry though - you only have until Friday morning to submit your blog.

Are You Overlooking Money Making Opportunities?

2007-01-29T16:01:00.000-05:00

When you create a blog post, even if it's just to post a picture of your kiddos or your dog doing a new trick - are you taking advantage of the opportunities that post is presenting?

What toy is your kid playing with? What doggie treat is your dog begging for? What camera did you use to take the photo?

Earlier today I noticed a blog that was doing just that. I dropped a quick email recommending they take a certain portion of their text, turn it into a product tag by posting the actual brand and model of the product they were using. Link it up with an Amazon link and there you have it! A fully monetized post.

Anytime you are writing and include actual products you use, do a quick search on Amazon or even on the web to see if there might be an affiliate associated with that product.

You are in a way, adversing for that company/product and the least you could do is earn a little in return.

Site Build It or Site Scam It?

2007-01-29T12:14:00.000-05:00

I've seen Site Build It around the net quite a bit and frankly never gave it a second glance. However, I've come across a couple of people - one who has taken advantage of what Site Build It has to offer while the other is doing a bit of homework before investing $299 in their services.

Maybe I'm too much of a tightwad and a control freak - but frankly, I'm not going to pay someone $299 to build a site that's going to be trapped in their hosting plan for the life of the site. Furthermore, I'm not going to continue paying $299 per year for hosting of that site when there are other valuable and reliable hosts out there like Bluehost that offers a very easy blog setup option for under $100 per year. I've personally used Bluehost for three years and absolutely adore them!

IF I were a dishonest person out purely to make money by scamming people for services that are offered cheaper or even free on the net, I'd probably develop a business just like Site Build It!

Yes, I'm being very judgmental as far as Site Build It is concerned - but to be fair, I'm going to open the door here for someone who actually LIKES their services. That doesn't include the owners or affiliates trying to make back a portion of their $299 investment, but genuine fans who'd use the service even if there wasn't a way to make money with them - I'd love to hear your arguments in defense of this organization.

Until I hear enough to change my mind, I'm going to strongly encourage anyone looking at their services to avoid them at all cost. I KNOW you can develop your own successful business online and at a much lesser expense - because I've done it!

More discussion on Site Build It on the MomGadget Forums

There's a BYOB Party and Everyone's Invited

2007-01-27T21:37:00.000-05:00

Have you heard the latest? There's a BYOB Party and you're invited!