Bloggertunities

Bloggertunities: New Opps for Women Bloggers

Grow your blog – Monetize, find new leads and blogging opportunities, and get the best tips too… Hi all! Welcome to another weekly Bloggertunities post, a round-up of the best blogging tips, tools, leads, opps, and events of the week. I hope you’ll find some helpful stuff – and if you do, be sure to share it with your networks too!

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” – Oprah Winfrey

Well, we all made it through the crazy-hectic holiday season. Hooray! Unlike regular moms, blogging moms not only beautifully gift wrap their well thought out gifts, create delicious dinners and baked goods from scratch, and decorate the house with perfectly coordinated ornaments and such – but we also photograph it all along the way, write up tutorials and recipes, tweet, Instagram, Pin, and share all of those great accomplishments too. {Right? Your season was that perfect too? Lol.} So – congrats on getting through it all – and cheers to an {almost} new year on it’s way! It’s time to start really thinking about your new years goals. If you’ve got a list – share it with me in the comments! Until then – here are this week’s tips, leads, opps, and reads to help inspire and motivate. Enjoy!

Events, Hops, and Linkys to Join

All About Owls: I am super duper excited about this one! It’s a giveaway hop that starts mid January. There are no big requirements – except one BIG one. Your prize must be owl themed. How fun is that? I think that this could be super popular, and was one of the first to join! Sign up here: Give a Hoot Giveaway Hop Sign Ups.
New Year’s Resolutions: Join this great giveaway hop from Makobi Scribe, to help promote some awesome products to help meet your goals in the new year! Learn more, and join up here: New Year’s Resolutions Sweepstakes Hop.
Mom Solutions: Join the Mommy Club: Share your resources and solutions in this awesome linky! I find SO much cool stuff here each week, and see great traffic when I link up too!
Blogathon: Join the Blogathon excitement – and sign up as a mini-challenge host!! It’s a ton of fun {see an example, my post from last time: Monetize Your Blog in 5 Simple Steps}. Read the details, and join the Blogathon today!
Recipes: This is a great list of recipe linkys you can add your posts too – and it’s a great way to boost the traffic to those great recipes.
Kindle Event: Join this new giveaway event – really low prices to add your links, and you’ll be part of a fantastic event to give away a new Kindle! Sign up here.
Foodie Conference: Ok, this is a brand new, first-time conference event for foodies. The ticket prices are super low, and all are welcome to attend. Next year they plan to make this a BIG conference event, so join the excitement now!
NaBloPoMo: Have you ever participated in the National Blog Posting Month with BlogHer before? It’s a great way to challenge yourself, meet new people, and get new traffic. I have a lot of fun with it.

Freelance Writing

Interact: I just joined Interact Media this week – but there are TONS of opps available here. The payouts are per word, and you choose your topics, payout amounts, and jobs you want to take. They update each hour with new projects that you can take. You just write them and submit them -they don’t need to be posted to your site.
Examiner: You know how much I enjoy my Frugal Living column on Examiner.com – and the way it gives me an extra way to connect with local businesses, and get media credentials {I’ve talked about it many times.} I’m earning a much steadier income with this now, that I’ve put a little more effort into it all. And now the Mister of the house is starting a column too – on local Racing. If you’re interested, and are an expert on a local topic, apply to be an Examiner of your choice of topic today.
Hire My Mom: This is a great site whether you’re looking to pick up new freelance work – or are interested in finding some reliable to outsource some of your current work to. Join or submit a listing on Hire my Mom.

Good Reads & Resources

Facebook Fraud: We’ve all talked about it – how Facebook has changed things up too much, doesn’t show our own fans – who have chosen to follow us – our posts. How promoted post seem like a joke. Well – I find this little experiment really interesting, with some of the bs that Facebook is pulling. What do you think? Leave me a comment if you’ve noticed some of this stuff.
Ebook: Check out the Work at Home Woman website, for loads of great tips and information. Then take a minute to check out the info on her ebook – I was really impressed with it. Click here to visit The Work at Home Woman. {And it motivates me to get my butt in gear and finally finish up MY ebook too!}
Pinterest Group Boards: I know that a lot of you have been wondering too – what’s the deal with group boards on Pinterest? How do they help you? Do they help you?? Well, this post shares a little experiment that shows exactly how they work, love it.
Kindle Fire: Did you get a new Kindle Fire this holiday season too? If you need some cool tips on using it, and getting the most out of it – Get this awesome free ebook, Mastering the Kindle Fire. {I have been totally loading up on free blogging, social media, and business books!!}
Free Images: This is a great way to quickly search for free images you can use with permission on your blog. All you have to do is give credit at the bottom of the post. Try out PhotoPin.com.
Free Keyword Tools: This is a great post from Blogelina, on how to use keywords correctly to increase your search traffic. And she includes links to two different free keyword search tools.
Work from Home: This post has some great tips for different things to think about when working from home, and how to find new opportunities.
Facebook Tracker: This is a cool tool from Handmadeology {one of my fave sites for smart tips and tools} – it’s usually $8 bucks. But for now, as a Christmas gift, it’s available totally free! Get the Facebook tracker here.
Geek Squad: I had thought about getting this for years, but wasn’t sure if it was worth it. Well, lemme tell ya – If you’re online all day, and can’t afford to lose a single minute when things go wrong – this is SO worth it! They remotely log-in, tell you to relax with a glass of wine, and go to work either just doing a basic clean-up {which made my PC SOOOO much faster!} or will fix any issue you have. Any time. On up to three devices in your house for the same price. Read more – it’s awesome.
Copyblogger: Get the best of Copyblogger in 2012 – a list of their most helpful, informative, and entertaining articles, all in one place. LOVE this stuff.

Networks and Opps to Monetize and Grow

SponsoredReviews: When a brand or business wants to Buy Reviews – meaning, you write a post featuring their product, service, site, or new infographic, they pay SponsoredReviews to run a campaign, and they hire bloggers to write the posts. It’s very easy work – just make sure you’re choosing posts that are relevant to your readers. I average about a $100 per post here, and have worked with them for months now.
LinkVehicle: This is very similar – and again, just be sure you’re being choosy about which opps you accept, so you’re not compromising the integrity of your site. I get a few opps a month here, but remember – the amount they quote you, you only get paid half of that. So make sure it’s worth it. It usually is, since they’re simple posts to write up. Join LinkVehicle.
Be Featured: Do you want to show people an example of blogging as a profession? Parade Magazine is looking for more entries into it’s annual jobs issue. Fill out the form, and possibly have you and your blog featured.
Step2: This is one of my FAVORITE kids toy brands, and we’re planning a bunch a few purchases of the cool outdoor toys for this summer, to help make our house “Staycation” worthy. Well, right now they are looking for a great team of bloggers to partner with as ambassadors for the new year. Apply here.
Candy: Want to try out a new healthy candy alternative with your local group of moms? If you’re not a member of Mom’s Meet yet, you’ll need to go through the quick application process first. If you’re already a member, simply fill out this one page questionaire to apply to sample these goodies with your group. I’m always happy with my party packages, and sometimes they are crazy-generous. There is minimal work afterwards – they just want to hear you and your groups feedback in a survey, and maybe see a snapshot or two.
Reynolds Mom: Are you a total kitchen ninja? Then apply to be a Reynolds Mom! This is only open until the 28th, and you’ll need to do some videos to apply. But there are some CRAZY amazing prizes and opportunities with this. {Although, fair warning, it does involve some fan voting stuff.} But I’m going to toss in an entry on Friday if I have time – sounds super cool!
Escalate: Great offers to promote, good payouts, and you get payout each month really quickly. This is such an easy network to work with. I don’t even post offers often anymore – but still see an income from stuff I posted last year when I did more frugal content – I earned over $100 last month on this one 10 Ways to Earn an Income from Home, same with this one, The Free Money Tip You Can’t Afford to Miss – Join Escalate.
Integrate: I absolutely love these guys. They always send out little cards and thank yous – things like Starbucks gift cards, or Amazon gift codes. {Got a $100 code recentely just for helping out with a survey. Rockin’, right?} A couple of my recent fave campaigns are the Seven Slings free baby stuff {which I actually got myself, a few years ago when I was pregnant with Abby, and loved.} And the Bake Pops {which I really wanted, and just got for Christmas, lol.} Learn more about getting started with Integrate in a post I wrote a while back – or join here.

Randomly Awesome Stuff

Geek Glasses: I’m dying over these – If you’re a geek like me, working from home all day on your laptop, why not accessorize appropriately with a pair of these pixelated Computer Nerd Geek Glasses? They’re only a couple bucks on Amazon, and totally crack me up. Ordered two pairs :)

Bloggertunities is a Weekly post {Normally it comes out on Wednesday afternoons – holidays have been crazy!} – Subscribe here to get updates each week!

BROWSE ALL OF THE GOOD STUFF IN PAST BLOGGERTUNITIES POSTS, AND CHECK OUT MY BIG BLOGGING & SOCIAL MEDIA BOARD ON PINTEREST FOR MORE TIPS TOO!

{Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. But all opps and leads listed are things that I trust, and have used myself. I only share what I love with ya’all! Photo Credit.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on December 28, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Resources, Weekly Opp's, Blogging Tools | 14 Comments

Bloggertunities: Learn More & Earn More!

“Heeeeeeeeey, bloggy ladies!!!!” – {Sung to the tune of Gangnam Style….}

So, once again – I’m a day late getting this post up. *Sigh* I’m late on just about everything these days. Including Christmas shopping. I’m drowning in emails, I have boxes of supplies waiting to be crafted into cool gifty creations. Cupboards full of ingredients waiting to be whipped into creative holiday goodies. And a spare room full of boxes waiting to be opened and [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on December 13, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Resources, Weekly Opp's | 10 Comments

Bloggertunities: Over 20 New Ways to Rock Your Blog!

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde… When it comes to blogging, that’s some of the best advice that you’ll ever get. Perfect grammar, a beautiful design, and good connections to PR are only going to take you so far… It’s the personal connection you make with readers, when you write from the heart, that is what brings success. Plus, when you write “real” – you’ll enjoy what you do MUCH more! I hope you find something helpful in this week’s post – and you have anything awesome to share too, please feel free to add it to the comments!

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on December 5, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Resources, Weekly Opp's, Blog Hops, Blogging Tools, Blogging Events | 13 Comments

Bloggertunities: Tips, Tools, Opportunities & More!

“In at least one way we are atypical bloggers. That’s because we just keep on posting. The typical blogger, like most people who go on diets and budgets, quits after a few months, weeks, or in many cases, days.” – Stephen J. Dubner… This quote is so true. Blogging, in my experience, is one of those things that a lot of people pick up as a hobby, or as a way to get free stuff, or because it’s something that they think will be a get rich quick type of thing. But those of us who have been blogging for awhile now know – it is hard work, and you have to be passionate about what you do, to keep with it long enough to be successful. [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on November 27, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Resources, Weekly Opp's | 22 Comments

Bloggertunities: 35 Ways to Improve Your Blog, Build Traffic, & Earn More Money

“Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.” – Timothy Leary… Love this quote, lol. But really – being a mom is a hard job. When you throw in being a blogger on top of that, well, life gets crazy. {You can read about how MY day is going today here. So.Very.Tired…} So many people don’t “get” what we do at home all day – from diapers to carpool to snacks to dinnertime to blogging and business… So, let me be the one to give you a cyber high-five, pat on the back, and enthusiastic “Good job!!” for everything you do each day! {Feel free to cyber high-five me back. It’s been a long week for me, lol.}

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on November 8, 2012 Filed Under: Weekly Opp's, Blog Hops, Blogging Tools, Blogging Events, Blogging Resources | 8 Comments

Bloggertunities: Grow Your Blog with This Week’s Best Opps & Leads

“Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friend.” – Walt Disney

Love this week’s quote. This totally relates to blogging – what we each hope for is that our posts are so entertaining, educating, and enlightening that not only do people want to come back again to read more – but they want to share it with their friends too. That’s the whole point of good marketing – and as bloggers, that’s what we are: Marketers. Whether it’s for a brand or sponsor, or just for our OWN brands – we’re in the business of marketing our words, our sites, ourselves. And who else is more inspirational for people like us than Mr. Disney himself, right? :) I hope you find some helpful info here this week – and that’s it’s helpful enough for you to want to share it too! And for all of my much-loved bloggy buddies on the East Coast – I hope you’re all recovering from the storm as best as you can. Definitely thinking of you guys!

I’m hosting my first Blog Hop Giveaway – Join me, and some of my best-est bloggy buddies for a free event –Jingle Jubilee! Get details and join the fun today!

Monetize Your Blog

Pinbooster: Sign up, set up a quick account, and set a “per pin” price. Then, get offers to be paid to pin things to your Pinterest boards from brands. I’m brand new here, but have heard good things… {It was recommended to me by the absolutely amazing and super smart Stacie at SimplyStacie. So I trust it :)}
zuuzs: This is an awesome site that I still earn a consistent income with each month. They share awesome discount codes, and do really big-ticket giveaways. But they also give you cash back when you shop – Not just on your purchases, but those of your friends and family too. Build a big network, earn a big income. Check it out: Join zuuzs.com.
Affiliate: Join the One Kings Lane Affiliate Program Today – it’s super simple to earn commissions, since the deals rock. And for every referral you send their way, you earn $10 bucks each!
Social Media Chimps: I just started working with them, and couldn’t be happier! They offer an ad network to monetize your traffic, sponsored posts, and fun review opportunities. Learn more and apply to join here: https://socialmediachimps.com/publishers/apply.
Walmart: Walmart is opening up a new affiliate program – this could be a huge money-maker over the holidays. It says on the site that they are only accepting the first 100 sign-ups, but then it gives a link to share the opp with others who might be interested. I’m thinking maybe they want a list, to be able to take more people as they’re ready for it. Check it out and get on the list!
Shoe Dazzle: Earn $10 when you refer new affiliates, $20 for every sale through your affiliate link, and a $1 every time someone simply registers their info on the Shoe Dazzle site. Join the ShoeDazzle Affiliate Program on ShareASale. I’ve already earned almost $100, and it’s been really popular with my readers. Win-win, right?
Examiner: I’m the Yakima Frugal Living Examiner – meaning I get to post anything related to my life as a mom trying to stay on a budget, as long as I can tie it to something local. Here’s an example of a post on my column that’s very locally focused:Fall Fun in Yakima for Under $10, or another that’s easy to promote to any audience:Frugal Grocery Tips for Busy Moms. Once you’re writing for awhile, you’ll earn “Local Credentials” – meaning you can request passes to local events and cool happenings. Learn more and sign up to start earning.

Tips, Tools,and Resources

Skinny Scoop: I just set up an account here – {Check me out, and follow me if you wanna hang out there :)} It has a TON of cool tools you can utilize for blog posts – I’m kind of excited to take a little time, and start using some of them.
Checklist: This is a great one to keep in your blogging binder. {Do you use one? It’s a total life-saver for me} – the 7-Point Blog Health Checklist is a basic set of things to look for on our your blog to make sure it’s running well. I check my site with these points once a month, it’s a great reminder.
Deals: Are you always looking for sweet new deals to share with your readers? Then sign up for the BlogOffers.net newsletter. You can see an example of what they’ll send you – it’s an easy to share round-up of deals and discounts exclusively for bloggers and their readers. Sounds cool, eh?
Planner: Free Blog Marketing and Editorial Calendar template to download. She explains each section, how she uses it, and offers it up as a free download for you too!
Peer Index: This one is really similar to Klout – I don’t pay too much attention to it, honestly, but I do like that my score gets me sweet free stuff. Today I just got 100 free mini-cards from Moo, which rocks. Check out Peer Index.

Brand Leads and Opps

Social Chorus: I’ve heard some great things about this site. I was sure that I’d applied a few months ago, but when I heard about a fun campaign today, and went to log-in and check it out {I’d forgotten all about this site} – It said I wasn’t a member. So I just joined again – not sure if only some are approved, or if maybe I didn’t fill it all out last time {I’m tired most days, lol} – But I hear cool stuff, so it’s worth checking out! Social Chorus.
Holiday Baking: {EXPIRED} Sign up for this holiday baking opportunity, featuring either Domino Sugar, or C&H Sugar, depending what part of the country you live in. I don’t know many details on it – but here is the sign-up form if you’re interested.
Madame Deals: Join her group by filling out this form, to get access to great tutorials and her group, plus get connected to opps like reviews, giveaways, and more.
Simply Sassy Media: This is a great network to join – lots of opps from cool products to paid posts. You can request to join the Facebook group, and then check out their website to sign up to get their Blogger Outreach emails with new campaigns to apply for.

Linkys, Hops, & Events

Sweet event to join now: I’m helping to host the online portion of the NYC Activision Family Game Night Summit! Register before October 31 to be eligible for a swag bag valued at over $200 bucks!!
Free Event: Join the $100 Cash Holiday Shopping Giveaway – get a free link just for helping to spread the word about the event, and add additional links if desired. Sounds like a great way to kick off the holiday season, right?
NaBlPoMo: Yep, it’s time to join the National Blog Posting Month if you haven’t already – You have until November 5th to sign up. You can get details on the site – and there are even prizes available for everyone who reaches their goal of posting at least once a day during the month!
Giveaway: Join this completely free event for Bloggers with over 2,000 Social Fans – $50 Mirth in a Box Giveaway is now taking sign-ups!
Crock Pot Recipes: This is a super fun giveaway going on over on What U Talking Bout Willis – share your favorite crock pot recipes for a chance to WIN a sweet new crock pot for holiday cooking. {And I bet there’s a good chance she’ll be sharing that winning recipe on her site too!}
Nuby: Join The Miracle Momma as she co-hosts the Nuby Twitter Party on November 8th! Great products, great hosts, great prizes = a GREAT time! RSVP here to be eligible to win.

As always, if you have anything cool to share, leave a comment here. Affiliates that aren’t posted already, blog hops, linkys, or tips posts – anything that others might find helpful too. I do my best to get through the comments each week and tweet them all out too – so make sure to leave your links. Other than that – I hope you’re all safe, doing well, and having a rockin’ week!

BROWSE ALL OF THE GOOD STUFF IN PAST BLOGGERTUNITIES POSTS, AND CHECK OUT MY BIG BLOGGING & SOCIAL MEDIA BOARD ON PINTEREST FOR MORE TIPS TOO!

{Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. But all opps and leads listed are things that I trust, and have used myself. I only share what I love with ya’all! Photo Credit.}

Pretty Darn Cute - Modern WordPress Themes for the Feminine Blogger

Posted by Meagan Paullin on November 1, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Resources, Weekly Opp's, Blog Hops, Blogging Tools, Blogging Events, Uncategorized | 15 Comments

Bloggertunities: Blogging Tips, Opportunities, Leads, and Events

Grow your blog – Monetize, find new leads and blogging opportunities, and get the best tips too… Hi all! Welcome to another weekly Bloggertunities post, a round-up of the best blogging tips, tools, leads, opps, and events of the week. I hope you’ll find some helpful stuff – and if you do, be sure to share it with your networks too!