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15 Clever Ways to Get New Blog Traffic

Hey bloggy friends! This was a mini challenge, that was created for blogging rockstars who are part of the Biannual Blogathon Bash. This current event is over, but you can check out the site to learn more about the next event coming up: Biannual Blogathon Bash.

15 Clever New Ways to Bring Traffic to Your Blog

Quick background about me – I’ve been blogging for 3 years now, full time. I started this bloggy-adventure with the goal of it being a business – a way for me to make money from home while being here with my brand new baby. I have poured crazy amounts of time, effort, money, and heart into growing this site. I’ve read a zillion books, subscribe to a million email newsletters, follow a babillion sites – all just to keep growing, learning, and moving ahead. But, all that work has paid off { I was able to quadruple my traffic last year!} – since now The Mister works for me, and together we run this site, plus some other projects – together, and it allows us to both work from home. I’m extremely passionate about helping others do the same thing, so I hope that if you’re a newer blogger, these tips can help you ramp up your own business too! If you have questions, comments, ideas, or any other feedback – feel free to leave a comment on this post, tweet me using the #Blogathon2 hashtag, or post it to my Facebook wall. I’ll do my best to help! [Read more…]

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Bloggertunities: Good Reads & Resources to Rock Your Blog

This post contains some affiliate links that help to support this site. But I only share and recommend things I use myself and love. Pinky promise.

Blogging Opportunities and Resources

I’ve got a new list of goodies for you ladies – tips and tricks, good reads and resources, opps and networks, and more. Hope you find some helpful stuff – if so, be sure to pin it to refer to later, and share it with your other bloggy buddies. Sharing is caring, right? :) And if you have any events of your own you’re looking for help with – giveaways to join, linkys looking for more linkers, opps you’re looking for more applicants to – feel free to leave the info in the comments section. I try to tweet those out all week for you guys too. Have a great week! [Read more…]

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How to Get Paid Blogging Opps

Welcome to the Blogathon, bloggy ladies! It’s that time again, which happens twice a year… A time where we all commit a weekend to not just working on our blogs – we do that all of the time, right? But working on specific tasks, things we might not have thought up on our own, or things we know we should do – but either don’t know how, or haven’t had time. When you visit the Blogathon site you’ll find a seriously amazing blogger-themed giveaway: every task you complete this weekend gets you another entry to win. It’s always an awesome time, so you haven’t linked up yet, check it out! If you ARE already on board – then here’s your mini-challenge on How to Get Paid Blogging Opps.

How to get paid blogging opps

How to get paid blogging opps 

There are a million ways to make money from your blog. {Last Blogathon I wrote a post: How to Monetize Your Blog in 5 Easy Steps.} Another great resource for learning how to earn money from your blog is on Money Saving Mom, in a free ebook. To really monetize your blog, I encourage you to diversify as much as possible – use affiliates, write ebooks, do speaking gigs, teach classes – and just keep looking for the next opportunity. And one great way to find new opportunities is by joining quality blogging networks, and sponsored post sites. You’ll get opps to review products, write posts about brands, sites, or services, and earn an income while doing it. So – I put together this list of totally legit ways to get paid blogging opps. {These are all networks that I’ve worked with, and have earned at least one check from. So I can vouch for every single one.} If you have a favorite to add, please leave a comment so I can add it!

  • 1. Global Influence: This is a great network of over 1500 bloggers, founded by the amazing Amy Lupold Bair. Not only will you find great opps, but it’s also a really active community of bloggers too, with lots of support. Learn more and apply for Global Influence.
  • 2. SITS Girls: Do you want amazing support, super cool opps, and an awesome community to be a part of? Then you want to sign up to be a part of the SITS Girls today! Their opps are always really unique, and pay very fairly for the work involved. I’ve been with them since I first started blogging, and love them.
  • 3. Social Fabric: If you’ve never heard of them – it’s a community of Collective Bias, where they put a big focus on the shopper experience. You’ll participate in “Shoppertunities” – {see an example of a Shoppertunity here.} Learn more on the Social Fabric site.
  • 4. The Motherhood: Oh, how I love this site, and the women who run it! You can learn more about joining The Motherhood – just click the button to fill out the form on the right sidebar. One of my favorite projects to work on with them was creating the Chef Boyardee ebook. And, when Abby was going through her seizures and health problems, these awesome ladies sent us a handwritten card and gift, to boost our spirits. Amazing people to work with!
  • 5. Social Spark {IZEA}: You set up your account, and then you can browse offers to apply for. You’ll also often get direct offers that you can accept or decline. Learn more and join Social Spark.
  • 6. Mom Bloggers Club: This is a great group founded by the amazing Jennifer James – who I was so excited to get to hear speak at Reviewer’s Retreat last year. She was so motivating and inspirational, and went I got a chance to meet her after speaking there myself {first conference ever, AND first time speaking} – she gave such great compliments and made my day. You can sign up to be on their list, and be contacted for compensated opps during the year. Or, if you’re a generous type, you can join me as part of Mom Bloggers for Social Good – another group she founded, where we post about amazing non-profits each month. No compensation, but the awesome feeling of doing good is worth it. {Learn about my fave non-profit on Babble here.}
  • 7. Link Vehicle: Ok, this one you have to be a little bit aware – the amount that they quote you for a post or text link ad – you will only receive, you’ll only get 50% of that amount as a payment. So just be aware, and make sure you’re happy with the work you’re doing. But I’ve worked with them many, many times and have had a good experience – and they pay once a month.
  • 8. Influence: Ok – so maybe this isn’t an “opp” exactly. But there are a lot of other ways to make money from home, and use your influence to get things for free. So – always remember to think outside the box – Use that community that you’ve built up with our blog to earn other places too.
  • 9. One 2 One: This network doesn’t usually have a ton of paid blogging opportunities – but they do have some simple campaigns that can be fun to partner on. You choose which ones you want to sign up for – so you only pick what feels worth it to you, and has value for your readers. There is a high percentage of the type of campaigns where you “post for a chance to win” – But, I do quite a few of these. When it’s good content that my readers will enjoy anyway, or super simple to do like posting to social media, it’s worthwhile to me. The prizes are often $25-$100 Visa Gift Cards, or cool gift packages. I’ve won really often, and enjoy working with them. Learn more and sign up for One2One today.
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  • 11. Pollinate: This is a newer network – but seems to be growing quickly. Here are a few things that matter when thinking about joining – They prefer to pay via Chase payments, not PayPal. It’s an incredibly easy set up, and once you’ve done it, the payments are deposited directly into your checking account, which is really nice. Also – as of right now, the majority of their campaigns are centered around Cost Plus World Market – some that you need to shop at a local store {which I don’t have, bummer} – but many are able to be done online, like this one where I share my love of Owls. Simple directions, fair compensation, and great potential for growth make this one I definitely recommend checking out. Pollinate Media Group App.
  • 12. Double Duty Divas: This is the amazing group that puts on Reviewer’s Retreat, where I was invited to speak about growing your audience earlier this year. They are a ton of fun, and always putting together awesome new campaigns for you to partner on. You can read more about them, see the brands that they work with – and apply to be a Double Duty Diva too!
  • 13. SheHeard: Making Blogger to Brand Connections – that’s what they do! There are a couple of totally rockin’ ladies behind this network, and you’ll love working with them. Learn more about the site, and sign up to be a member of their great community today to get access to new opps.
  • 14. Mom Select: This is a great network that I’ve gotten some really cool partnerships from – Like the opportunity to have our homemade recipes in the Baby Brezza cookbook, which was amazing. They run campaigns on everything from earn a gift card for filling out a quick survey, to chances to host super fun product house parties. Love them. Join the Mom Select team.
  • 15. Business2Blogger: You’ll find everything from paid posts to product reviews on this site. I was able to get connected to a brand who flew me to Texas to cover a really cool event earlier this year, by applying for the opp on the Business 2 Blogger site. Lots of new opportunities going up each week, so check back often. Sign up for their Blogger Outreach.
  • 16. Mom Spark Media: If you’re following the Mom Spark blog, then you already know how awesome Amy is, who runs the site. She also has a network to connect bloggers and brands, called Mom Spark Media. It’s a paid membership – either $5 a month, or $40 a year – And after paying for my second year recently, I can tell you that it’s definitely worth it! You not only get connected with cool opportunities like sponsored posts, twitter party hosting, and sweet product reviews, you’ll also be able to access all of the great support forums too. Love it. {Updated – in the new year, this network will be FREE!}
  • 17. 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.
  • 18. Blogvertise: This is another site where not all of the writing campaigns are the right fit for me. But I choose carefully, complete a couple a week, and do the “grab bag” tasks to earn extra cash when I have the time. These aren’t really high paying offers – $10-$35, but they add up when you’re on a tight budget! Very easy to work with, and you only have to do the campaigns you want to do.
  • 19. Bookieboo: They don’t send opps out as often as a lot of the others do – but they have some really great stuff. Bookieboo is really focused on health, fitness, and well-being – so if that is something that you’re passionate about, they will be a great fit for you.
  • 20. Glam: This one is a little different… Glam is an ad network. So, to be able to work with them on their sponsored posts, you have to be a member of their ad network, and have at least one ad placed “above the fold” – which means it can be seen without scrolling down on your screen. They can also be a little bit tough to get accepted into – but if you’re not accepted, do try again later in the year. But I was able to travel with some other awesome blogging moms to the Nike HQ last year, and another member I know got to fly to NYC for her son to do a photo shoot for Target. Very cool stuff!
  • 21. Mama Buzz Media: This is a really great way to get connected to things like ambassadorships, reviews, sponsored posts, and more. Join the Mama Buzz blogger community to learn more.
  • 22. Mamma Media: I can’t believe that I forgot to add this one! This is a really great place to connect with other mom bloggers, and find some really cool opportunities and partnerships – Learn more on the site, and join today.
  • 23. Linqia: I love this site! You get to be a part of really great opps – like this one that I’m currently working on, to share savings on BISSELL products, and give away a carpet cleaner. Then, you get paid per click, up to a designated earnings level. And after the campaign is over, they pay via PayPal very quickly. Learn more and apply here.
  • 24. Lunchbox: I haven’t worked with them yet, but have heard really good things. If you’re interested in learning more about them, fill out this form to be added to their database of bloggers.

I hope that some of these have been helpful for you guys. Maybe you found at least a few new places to check out? And – If you’re a part of the Blogathon this weekend, then here’s your challenge to complete…

Biannual Blogathon Bash

Blogathon Mini-Challenge: Find at least one new site on this list to join. Leave me a comment on which one you’re going to try. Or – leave me a comment on a great network or site that I missed – I’d love to join it too!

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Where to Submit your Recipes: 30 Alternatives to Tastespotting and Foodgawker

“Vegetables are a must on a diet.  I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.” – Jim Davis… For some people, food is kind of a way of life. For me – it means attempting recipes from Pinterest and failing more often than I succeed, but still having a good time trying. For many people – creating original dishes, sharing those amazing recipes and photographs, and serving those delish homemade meals to friends and family are what happiness is all about. If you love to cook, and love to share your creations – {either to drive traffic to your food blog, or just because you love inspiring others} – then you’ll love my list and tips below…

Where to submit recipes: Tips for food bloggers [Read more…]

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Bloggertunities: Blogging Opportunities for Mom Bloggers this Week

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! And if you have something awesome to share – event sign ups, linkys, tips posts, etc – post ‘em in the comments! I do my best to tweet those links out all week too.

blogging opportunities for mom bloggers [Read more…]

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Bloggertunities: Opportunities for Women Bloggers to #RockYourBlog2013

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! And if you have something awesome to share – event sign ups, linkys, tips posts, etc – post ’em in the comments! I do my best to tweet those links out all week too.

Blogging opportunities list for women bloggers [Read more…]

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Top 10 Creative & DIY Blogger Resources

Are you a creative blogger? Are you a DIY master, a super crafty mutha, or an amazing seamstress? Whatever type of creative blogging you do, this post has some really fun and helpful resources to help you write better posts – and promote them to a wider audience.

Resources for Crafty and DIY Bloggers [Read more…]

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