Sunshine and Sippy Cups

“The only race you have to win is the race against yourself – there will always be someone faster and stronger but there will never be another you, so look within and push your own personal boundaries.” – Unknown

How is blogging going for you? Are you feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do – Or excited to have so many great opportunities? Are you feeling burned out and bored – or energized and motivated? I’d love to hear some comments about what’s going great – and what’s challenging for you lately. Maybe your biggest challenge is something lots of other bloggers face too – and maybe I can write up a post with some solutions? Love hearing from you guys. Until then – check out this list of opps, ways to monetize your blog, and tips and tools to help you this week. See you around the blogosphere!

Monetize Your Blog

This is, for most of us, our biggest challenge. Whether you’re blogging as a career, or just wanting to earn enough to pay the hosting fees on your hobby – here are a few things I use to pay the bills.

1. Integrate: Learn the basics of how Integrate.com works, how to maximize your earnings, and how to sign up if it looks like a good fit for you – Getting Started with Integrate.com.
2. Social Spark: As you know – this is one of my favorites lately. You get some products to sample, the posts are simple and quick to write, and after you’ve been with them for awhile, you can earn a really steady paycheck. Learn more – Social Spark Sign Up.
3. MySavings: They have loads of coupons and deals to post – and they’re super easy to use. Check them out at MySavingsMedia.
4. zuuzs: I am such a big fan of this site. Here’s what I like best – You earn cash back from shopping, which you can do anywhere. And, you earn cash back from people you refer there too – but again, that’s pretty common. The differences are these: Shop a lot on Amazon? You get rewarded for that here! No where else does that. You don’t earn cash back on your Amazon purchase – but by shopping there, it increases your cash back everywhere else. Cool, right? And – you earn cash from your friend’s friends too! I have a consistent stream of income from this every month – and it’s a service that I trust, so it’s great to promote.
5. Escalate: This is a favorite of most of you – But if you haven’t checked it out yet, it’s a great place to work with. The affiliate managers are really great, it’s simple to use, and the best part – They pay out super fast at the beginning of each month! Join me at Escalate, one of the top networks for women and deal bloggers.
6. InfoStable: This is a new one for me, and there aren’t a ton of offers yet – But the ones I’ve used convert really well. Most of the offers are things like this one – Full Set of Graco Gear Giveaway – If this is a good fit for your site, sign up here.

If you have some great suggestions too – Feel free to leave your links {yes, your own referral links are totally ok with me!} in the comments below. I’m always looking for new places to join, and if it can benefit another blogger when I sign up, that’s a great bonus.

Reviews & Giveaways

This is another category that I get asked about a lot – How to find review and giveaway opportunities. Here are a few specific opps I’ve come across this week – and some networks that work well for me.

1. Automobiles: A major car brand is looking for new blogging partners. You’ll get to test drive a brand new car for a week in exchange for a review. Cool, right? Check it out and sign up – Blogger/Auto Partner Form.
2. Nuby: This awesome baby brand is looking for moms with babies or toddlers to partner with them on product reviews. And I LOVE Nuby products! Check it out – Nuby Blogger Partner Application.
3. One 2 One Network: I don’t get a lot of opps through this network, but I do get some fun ones. I just was approved to do a project for the new Rascal Flatts album, which I’m excited about. And – they do offer a lot of those types of campaigns where, “Post about this for a chance to win!”, and I know many people hate those. But – Last year I won about $300 bucks in Visa gift cards with them, plus other prizes. So if the content is good, I share, and sometimes get rewards. One 2 One Sign Up.
4. Mom Select: I love this network! We’re in the new Baby Brezza Cookbook, are going to be reviewing a new {and much needed!} sleep system for Abby, and loads more fun stuff – all connected by Mom Select. Check them out – Join Mom Select.
5. Mom Ambassador: Join Moms Meet! Apply to be a Mom Ambassador, and get access to really generous packages of new products to share with your own mom groups or playdates. Always great green and organic brands. I’ve been a member for years.

Which networks are your favorites? Share some suggestions in the comments, so we can all find some groups to join!

Freelance Writers

If you love to blog, you probably love to write. If so, why not widen your net, and write for places other than your blog? There are always tons of cool places looking for guest posts!

1. Free ebooks: Get a big list of really helpful ebooks on topics like formatting your own ebook, publishing on Kindle network, and more – Free ebooks for Writers.
2. Examiner: Get your own local column, write about anything in your local area that you’re passionate about, make great connections – and earn a paycheck each month too! I’m the Yakima Frugal Living Examiner, and I have a lot of fun with it. You can learn more too, and sign up for a topic that’s perfect for you, by reading here – Examiner.com Writers. If you have any questions – don’t hesitate to ask me!
3. Constant Content: This is a great place to submit your work to be purchased, or find quick writing projects to work on. Sign up here – Constant Content Application.

Do you do freelance writing, or write anywhere other than your blog? I’d love to hear your tips for being successful with it!

Events & Hops to Join!

Who loves to party? You know I sure do, right? So – Join some blog hops, link parties, and giveaway events today! It’s a great way to connect with new people, and drive some new readers towards your awesome content!

1. Events List: Find the best upcoming blogging giveaway events to join – Check out the great list on Koupon Krazed – Bloggers Event Page.
2. Meg’s Moxie: One of my favorite bloggers is celebrating her 10,000 on Facebook! It’s very cool – Because I’m almost ready to start celebrating my own 10,000 mark too :) Join the fun in the big giveaway – Sign Up Here.
3. StumbleUpon: Each week I have a great link party, and you can join too. Just submit your favorite link of the week, give some stumble love to other links that you really do like, and have your own post stumbled too! SU is always one of my top referrers of traffic, and it can be such a useful tool for bloggers!

Do you have an awesome giveaway or event coming up? Share the sign up sheet or info in the comments below!

 Staying Productive

Does anyone actually stay productive around here?? Lol. This is one that I struggle with – I have a toddler, two nephews that live with me, a busy house of crazy people and animals… It’s hard to keep up. So, my biggest focus is always on trying to stay as organized as possible, to be productive during those moments when I actually have some time to focus!

1. Pomodoro Technique: This is a really cool idea, and I’m going to start using this to help me be more productive in short bursts. Let me know what you think, and if it works well for you – How to Increase Blogging Productivity using the Pomodoro Technique.
2. Printables: I’ve been meaning to put together a post on how I built my own Blogging Binder from free printables – Hopefully I’ll get that done soon. Until then, you can check out my collection of favorite printable planners and organizing sheets, and get started on your own.
3. Humor: This post explains exactly why I fall behind every day, lol. Anyone else relate?? My Time Management Crisis in Poorly Drawn Graphics.

How do you stay on track? Do you have any great posts that you’ve written about staying organized and productive? Share them in the comments so I can share them with my readers too!

Financial Info & Tools for Entrepreneurs

Here are just a few things that I’ve come across this week that I think are super helpful – so maybe they will be for you too!

1. Living the Dream: This great post, Burgers or Blogging? is about following your passion. It’s difficult, but rewarding. Discusses many views, and I loved it.
2. Calculators: This is packed with awesome tools – 100 Calculators that Every Entrepreneur Needs – so many cool things to check out.
3. To Blog for Free, or Not Blog for Free: This great post covers this topic really well. There is no real answer to this – but the article helps you figure out when and why writing for free can benefit you.

For more tips, tools, and great articles on Blogging & Social Media – check out my board on Pinterest. There’s some good stuff for ya!

Wrapping it up

Whew! That was a lot of info, right? I’ve been super swamped lately… I feel like I’ve never been able to really catch up yet after my computer crash, and am still trying to get through emails and reviews. So I don’t have a ton of specific opps to share this week, {and yes, I got the emails from those of you who noticed that I didn’t get time to post last weeks Bloggertunities – Sorry ladies!} – but I hope the info included is helpful!

Want to Rock Your Blog? Check out these great leads, tips, and opps from @sunandsipcups! sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/03/weekly…

— SunandSipCups (@SunandSipCups) March 22, 2012