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Stumble Tumble Tuesday – 5/1

Stumble Tumble Tuesday

Stumble Tumble Tuesday!

Welcome to Stumble Tumble Tuesday hosted by Acting Balanced and me – Sunshine and Sippy Cups! The goal of this hop is to use Stumble Upon to help you promote your blog posts and get more traffic. So read on, link up, and join the fun!

NEW TO STUMBLEUPON?

Please read this post to learn how to check to see if your stumble was successful. Some stumbles aren’t showing up, which takes away the fun for everyone. Take a sec to read it if you’re unsure – thanks! Now learn – How to Join the Party:

  1. Add a link. Link to a blog post that you would like people to stumble. It *must* be a link to an actual post and NOT just a link your main site.
  2. Make sure your link is StumbleUpon appropriate. SU is for “evergreen” content – posts that are just as interesting and relevant next year as it is today. Topics like recipes, crafts, tips,  and humor are all great. There are loads of categories that also work well on StumbleUpon too – to see more, check out your homepage on StumbleUpon for ideas.
  3. Stumble other posts. You don’t have to Stumble them all – The whole point is to find posts that you truly do like. StumbleUpon only works well for you if you’re giving thumbs up’s to content you truly enjoy – so check out some posts, and thumbs up the ones you love!
  4. Check to make sure that your stumble went through. You can do this by clicking on the “Info” icon. It’ll tell you if it was discovered or not.  The great thing about Stumble Upon is that it is fast and easy to do with the Stumble Upon toolbar – most posts should already be discovered, so you just quickly give ‘em a thumbs up, and move on to Stumble more fun stuff. Easy peasy.
  5. Please – Do not add your link if you aren’t going to Stumble anyone else’s posts. That’s like showing up to the party and forgetting to bring the drinks. It’s just not cool, man. And remember – One link per blog please.

When everyone participates, this is a super fun way to find really cool new content, fun new blogs to follow, and learn new things. And, if you have a great post to share, StumbleUpon can be a wonderful tool to bring new traffic to your best work too. Love it, right?

THE MORE THE MERRIER!

Parties are more fun with friends – so feel free to post about Stumble Tumble Tuesday on your own blog, and help us spread the word. The linky code is down below! TIP: The first person to “like” a post on StumbleUpon has to assign it to a category. If your post has not been discovered yet, please leave the category you would like it to be discovered in next to your link title. Example: Strawberry Shortcake Recipe (food). Thanks!

HAVE FUN WITH IT AND LET’S DISCOVER AND STUMBLE SOME POSTS!

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Posted by on May 1, 2012 Filed Under: Blog Hops | 2 Comments

Weekly Bloggertunities – 4/24

finding new opportunities for bloggers

Weekly Blogging Opportunities

I’m BAAAAACK!!! As most of you know by now – I was hacked. Not just a little issue – I was knocked down, repeatedly, for almost a week. If you want to know what happened, how to know if your WordPress site was hacked, and what do if you DO get hacked, you can read the whole story in my last post. Long story short – It sucked. But, I learned a lot – including what a great group of bloggy buddies I’ve built up over this past year. You guys all ROCK! So – this post was started almost 2 weeks ago, but wasn’t able to be posted due to the issues I had going on. If anything is outdated by now, I apologize. I tried to check ’em all – but I’m in a posting frenzy today, so I might have missed something! Just leave me a comment so if you find something that’s no longer valid. Thank you!

Good Reading for Bloggers

As a blogger – or anyone at all who works primarily online – you MUST be constantly learning and staying updated. The web, social media, search – they are all constantly changing and evolving, so it’s important that you are too. Here are a few great reads this week –

  1. Dealing with Disappointment: My friend Ellen wrote a great post about why you might not be chosen for a specific blogging opportunity – and why you shouldn’t let it get you down! She also offers some tips to help you improve, so that you can start getting more of the opps that you want.
  2. Social Media: This book just got delivered today – 30 Days to Social Media Success: The 30 Day Results Guide to Making the Most of Twitter, Blogging, LinkedIN, and Facebook – and I am SUPER excited to get started reading it. I’m part of a group that will be going through the book together, and sharing our thoughts. Watch for a review of it coming soon – and buy it too if you’d like to follow along with my updates.
  3. Rafflecopter: Read this great post with a tutorial on how to add giveaway images right to your Rafflcopter form. Love it.
  4. Time Management: This is a round-up of posts from some of my favorite bloggers, sharing their time management tips and tricks. Good stuff.

Want more? I have a whole board on Pinterest devoted to Blogging & Social Media – tips, resources, cool tools, creative ideas, and more. Check it out and find some good stuff.

Earn an Income with Your Blog

As always – the biggest question I am asked by other bloggers is how to monetize their site. So, here are a few things you can use to start earning more money with your site – and watch for a more comprehensive series of posts on smart monetizing skills coming in a few weeks!

  1. InfoStable: Super simple, and it’s very easy to earn. They have a limited amount of offers, and they’re mostly giveaways to promote. I signed up for a few to test it – no spam. Check it out and start earning today – InfoStable Sign Up.
  2. Maggie’s Direct: This started out a little crazy – but they’ve simplified their Pro Blogger program, making it MUCH easier to participate! Set up a free account, then sign up for the Pro Blogger program! Learn more on their site – but it includes shopping credit for you, free products, and more. I haven’t used this much yet – and I’ve heard mixed reviews. But it’s working GREAT for some people, so it’s worth looking into.
  3. Social Spark: Many bloggers start with posts in the $15-$25 range, which is where I started with them around 6 months ago. Now I average $65 per post, with some as high as $100-$200. Super easy, and pays via PayPal as soon as you reach $50. Sign up and learn more.
  4. Bloggertise: This one is a little trickier. I earn quite a bit with them – BUT, not all of their offers are, um, quality. And I do NOT ever recommend posting something JUST because you can earn some bucks. So, only post if the required info can educate or entertain your readers. That said – I find loads of projects that I can make into interesting articles, and use it weekly. Learn more and sign up here.
  5. Examiner: I just got promoted to be eligible to receive media credentials to local events – I’m so excited! I love writing here, love connecting with more local companies, and have a lot of fun having a forum to share on besides my blog. Interested? You’re already a writer, so this may be a great fit for you too –  Examiner.com Application.

What are your favorite networks to connect you with sponsored posts or other opportunities to earn an income with your writing? Share them in the comments – maybe I’ll find a new favorite!

Networks to Join

I’m a member of so many great networks – I love meeting new people, sharing tips and resources, and having access to some really great opps and info. Here are a few that I’m a member of…

  1. Mom Spark: This is the only network that I pay to be a part of – and it’s definitely worth it. I get connected to awesome opps through them, and having access to their tutorials and community is priceless.
  2. Moms Do It Better: This is a really helpful new network that I’ve just joined – A lot of fun tips, and great opportunities to be found. Join here.
  3. Mommy PR: She is an awesome chick, with equally awesome stuff to share with other bloggers. Sign up for her PR Friendly Bloggers mailing list to learn about new opps each week.

What are a few of your favorites? What do you like most about them – and what do you find most helpful?

Cool Opportunities

Hopefully these are still available – Most of these were opportunities that I came across last week – but some are brand new too.

  1. Fashion Bloggers: Belt Buckle Boutique is looking for bloggers who write about 75% of their content focused on fashion to do an upcoming review and giveaway opportunity – Fill out the form if you are all about fashion!
  2. Foodie Guest Posts: Trio of Tastebuds – my favorite foodie site! – is looking for people to contribute a favorite recipe to their “three views” posts. Get details and contact info here.
  3. Paid Posts: Fill out this form to be considered for upcoming paid writing opps, or for paid guest posting on your own site. Sounds cool.
  4. Mom Ambassador: I’ve been a member here for a couple of years – It’s called Moms Meet, and you get to do regular house parties to share all organic, green, healthy products with your group. The shipments are always very generous and actually worth sharing! Learn more and sign up here.
  5. CBS: If you have a mostly US based readership and audience, fill out this form for a new partnership opportunity with CBS.
  6. All You Magazine: What’s your most clever way to stay on top of all of the paperwork that comes home from school (and your mail too!)? Tell us at Reallife@allyou.com for a chance to be featured in our magazine.

I hope you get connected to some fun review and giveaway opps here – I LOVE hearing stories from people who got into a great campaign from hearing about it in my post :) Some of you have gotten into things I REALLY wanted too, but I didn’t get chosen, lol. But I love being able to share!

Events to Join

Again, some of these I added awhile back – so if something is no longer taking sign-ups, and I missed removing it – just leave me a comment so that I know to remove it from the list!

  1. Birthday Bash: This will start May 11th – and prizes will be announced as more bloggers join! It’s only $2 a link, I joined with 2 links, and hope to see some of you join us too – Sign up here.
  2. Free Event: You get one link for free, $1 for each additional link. Very cool, right? Sign up and learn more.
  3. Baby Shower: This is another totally FREE event – you get one link free, and can get a second one if you share the sign up form. This is Facebook and Twitter only, and starts soon – so get in today!
  4. Huge list of events: This is a really great list of tons of giveaway events that you can join – with loads more free options too! Check it out and sign up for some fun stuff.
  5. Bloggy Bootcamp: If you can’t attend any of these great events this year due to the travel costs, why not check out the awesome online-only package option? Very cool! Online Bloggy Bootcamp.

Do you have a cool event coming up that you’d like to share – or need sign ups for an upcoming giveaway? Share your sign up link in the comments!

Love it? Share it with your own network of awesome bloggy buddies too!

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Posted by on April 24, 2012 Filed Under: Weekly Opp's | 6 Comments

Color, Click, Capture – Photo Challenge

Color, Click, Capture

This Week’s Color, Click, Capture Party is On!

Welcome to Week 8 of the Color, Click, Capture photography challenge hosted by East9thStreet, A Helicopter Mom, Nap Time Is My Time and Sunshine and Sippy Cups.  This week our color is BROWN.

Winter Wine Tour

Winter Wine Tour

During the spring and summer months, the wineries in my area are in full bloom – filled with the greens of the vineyards, and bright flowers in the gardens. But, on our recent winter wine tour, there’s not as much color. Lots of browns covered in icy white. It’s a different kind of beautiful – and we had an amazing time. This was one of our stops along the way – Bonair Winery.

Want to participate in our challenge?  It’s super easy!  Here’s how it Works:

  1. Take a picture the represents the color of the week.
  2. Write a blog post that features your picture and link it up.
  3. Visit other people’s posts and hopefully find some inspiration!
  4. You can put the button and link code on your blog if you wish but it’s not a requirement.

Our color next week is WHITE – so start working on some great photos to share next Wednesday, in our weekly Color, Click, Capture photo party link up!

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Posted by on March 23, 2012 Filed Under: Blog Hops | No Comments

Weekly Bloggertunities – 3/22

Blogging Opportunities, mom bloggers

“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!

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Posted by on March 22, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Resources, Weekly Opp's | 19 Comments

Stumble Tumble Tuesday – Join the Party!

Stumble Upon, Blog Hop

Join the Stumble Tumble Tuesday Party!

Welcome to Stumble Tumble Tuesday hosted by Acting Balanced, Sunshine and Sippy Cups and Wyoming Girl Turned Coastie Wife! The goal of this hop is to use Stumble Upon to help you promote your blog posts and get more traffic. So read on, link up, and join the fun!

New to StumbleUpon?

Please read this post to learn how to check to see if your stumble was successful. Some stumbles aren’t showing up, which takes away the fun for everyone. Take a sec to read it if you’re unsure – thanks! Now learn – How to Join the Party:

  1. Add a link. Link to a blog post that you would like people to stumble. It *must* be a link to an actual post and NOT just a link your main site.
  2. Make sure your link is StumbleUpon appropriate. SU is for “evergreen” content – posts that are just as interesting and relevant next year as it is today. Topics like recipes, crafts, tips,  and humor are all great. There are loads of categories that also work well on StumbleUpon too – to see more, check out your homepage on StumbleUpon for ideas.
  3. Stumble other posts. You don’t have to Stumble them all – The whole point is to find posts that you truly do like. StumbleUpon only works well for you if you’re giving thumbs up’s to content you truly enjoy – so check out some posts, and thumbs up the ones you love!
  4. Check to make sure that your stumble went through. You can do this by clicking on the “Info” icon. It’ll tell you if it was discovered or not.  The great thing about Stumble Upon is that it is fast and easy to do with the Stumble Upon toolbar – most posts should already be discovered, so you just quickly give ’em a thumbs up, and move on to Stumble more fun stuff. Easy peasy.
  5. Please – Do not add your link if you aren’t going to Stumble anyone else’s posts. That’s like showing up to the party and forgetting to bring the drinks. It’s just not cool, man. And remember – One link per blog please.

 

 

When everyone participates, this is a super fun way to find really cool new content, fun new blogs to follow, and learn new things. And, if you have a great post to share, StumbleUpon can be a wonderful tool to bring new traffic to your best work too. Love it, right?

The more the merrier!

Parties are more fun with friends – so feel free to post about Stumble Tumble Tuesday on your own blog, and help us spread the word. The linky code is down below! TIP: The first person to “like” a post on StumbleUpon has to assign it to a category. If your post has not been discovered yet, please leave the category you would like it to be discovered in next to your link title. Example: Strawberry Shortcake Recipe (food). Thanks!

Have fun with it and let’s discover and stumble some posts!

[Read more…]

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Posted by on March 20, 2012 Filed Under: Blog Hops | No Comments

Mom Entrepreneurs Rock: Get the Best Guide to Being Your Own Boss

The barefoot executive, book, business book,

“The only thing that ever sat its way to success was a hen.” – Sarah Brown

Love that quote. And I love this book. If you’ve never heard of Carrie Wilkerson before, let me tell you – she is not a hen. This woman is a total firecracker. And it’s amazing how well she puts her personality and high energy into written words on the pages of this book. It’s so easy to read – and you feel totally motivated every time you get through another chapter. This is rockstar stuff here, ladies.

“None of us can change our yesterdays but all of us can change our tomorrows.” – Colin Powell

I would have loved to have come across Carrie’s book a year ago, when I was making my big life changes. Most of you know my story of how I went from a high-paid position in Retail Management to an unemployed new mom – It was pretty stressful stuff. I had no job, it was a totally crummy economy, I was a totally unprepared new momma, and still a full-time online student. Those factors all combined to make finding a new job really difficult. Plus – I had unexpectedly lost a great job that I loved just a few years before that too. It was a new branch of a fast-growing online sales company, and I was one of the companies top sales people. Then one day they said – “Grab your purses and coats, and you can come back in two days to get a box with the things from your desk. We’re closing the site immediately.” And just like that, I was unemployed. Total shock. So now that this was my second unexpected job loss in less than 5 years, I realized that having a “safe” job just wasn’t really all that safe anymore. It was time for me to find a new plan….

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” – Stephen R. Covey

I realized that just like Carrie talks about in her book – now that I was a mom, my priorities had shifted dramatically. It no longer seemed so important to be putting in those long hours, hoping for that next advancement – store manager, then regional, and more… No, what mattered most to me now – more than money, or titles, or recognition – was flexibility. I wanted the ability to raise my baby myself, and stop worrying about finding a safe and reliable daycare facility. I wanted to be a part of family functions again. I didn’t want to miss the birthdays, and holidays, and school events that I’d been missing due to always having to work. I had no tech knowledge, but was studying for a Marketing Degree – so I decided to jump into the world of blogging, freelance writing, and social media, and see what I could do. If you’re in that same early stage, this book will save you countless hours  – The Barefoot Executive is packed with amazing steps to help you figure it all out. If you’ve already started your journey, and are in the process of building a business of any type for yourself, this book will help YOU too!

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that. The really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain

Carrie’s spark and enthusiasm for helping others achieve their dreams comes though loud and clear in her book. One of my favorite sayings in business has always been – “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” – and it’s so true! Over 30% of new businesses fail before they reach their second year, and most of that is not because they didn’t have a great idea, or because they didn’t work hard enough – it’s because they didn’t have a plan! It’s the whole, “Work Smarter, Not Harder” idea – and Carrie is going to walk you through the steps on how to do that as you read through this book. She covers the basics in a really powerful way –

  1. Who: Are you? What are you good at? What skills, education, and experience do you have? {Never worked? Doesn’t matter. As a best friend, a sister, a daughter, a mother, or a wife – you’ve gained skills. This book helps you figure out what YOU can do better than anyone else.}
  2. What: Best suits you? What types of work are you most successful with? Detail or number oriented? People person? She’ll help you figure out what you do best.
  3. Why: Do are you doing it? Why is this important to you? Why is this your passion? You’ll need to hang on tight to that when your working so many hours, to remember what your building towards.
  4. Where: Do you want to go? What goals do you want to reach? What does your ideal future look like?

How are you going to get to your dreams if you don’t have a clear picture of what they are and why you want them, right?

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” – Johann von Goethe

This is more than just a motivating book – although it will leave you feelin’ pumped. This is more than a self-help book – although it will help you realize so many new things about yourself. Where this book really gets set apart from all the other books I’ve read to help me build my business, is that it includes action. Once Carrie does more than just help you figure out who you are and what you want – She also helps you get there. She gives you tips on how to stay focused and ignore distractions. How to find support. She breaks it into actionable steps for you – Why to start a business. How to start it. And how to make it work for YOU.

“Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.” – Spanish Proverb

Don’t put it off until you “have time” – We’re all incredibly busy women, and none of us is ever going to get “more time”, lol. Get this book today. Order it right now, and when it arrives on your doorstep, take it out and get started. You will be so glad that you did. Get Carrie’s book on Amazon.com – The Barefoot Executive: The Ultimate Guide for Being Your Own Boss and Achieving Financial Freedom. It is going to knock your socks off ladies. Guaranteed.

Want More: Connect with Carrie on Facebook and Twitter, or check out some video clips of her speaking events on her site too!

{Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from LivingMyMoment.com – so that I could share an honest opinion of it with you great ladies. All opinions, & overuse of exclamation points, are 100% my own – this book rocks.}

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Posted by on March 8, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution, Blogging Tools | 8 Comments

Weekly Bloggertunities – 3/8

blogging opportunities, sponsored posts, monetize your blog

Weekly Opportunities to Boost Your Blog

Welcome to another edition of Bloggertunities! I hope everyone’s new month is off to a rockin’ start – I know I’m about as busy as I can be. Woah boy! {When I finally figure out this whole “Clone-a-Blogger 5000” invention, I’m going to be rich. Right??} – Anyway…. As usual, if you have a great opp to share, linky to join, or event in need of new sign-ups – Share the info and link in the comments here, so everyone has more great stuff to check out. And – all contacts and opps in this post are always things that I have permission to share, which means you can share them too – feel free to post this link in any groups or networks you’re in. Blogging isn’t a race – there’s room for us all to be awesome. This week’s motivation for ya… “12 Stressful Things to Stop Tolerating” – By one of my all time favorite sites, Marc and Angel Hack Life.

Monetize Your Blog

The perks of blogging are great, right? But momma also needs to pay the bills. Here are a few of the ways that I’ve been earning cash this week – I have received at least one payment from every one of these sites, so they’re all legit.

  1. BlogServicesInc: I don’t have a lot to share on them yet. I just signed up, and have heard good things from other bloggers. Learn more about monetizing your site.
  2. SocialSpark: Love this site. Super fast payouts, easy to write posts, and fair compensation – I earn from $60-$200 per post. Tip: If you apply, and get denied – Email back and ask why. I was denied twice in the beginning, due to errors on their end. Many times if you contact them, you WILL be approved – worst that can happen is they give you tips to improve, and you can apply again! Join SocialSpark.
  3. INFOstable: This is a new affiliate network – and if you’re a member of Escalate, you’ll recognize the structure right away, it’s exactly the same. There aren’t a ton of offers, as it’s very new. But there are some great baby product giveaway offers, and it’s converting great for me. Learn more and sign up.
  4. Blogvertise: Earn cash for posts. Fair warning – there is a lot of… Um, not so good offers here. But, I do find plenty that I can post too – and taking 20 minutes to write up a $10 paying post, once a day, equals almost $300 a month. If you check in often for the grab bag tasks, it can be worth it. Just be careful, and make sure you’re only posting things that your readers will really like.
  5. YaySave: Are you signed up with them yet? I joined almost a year ago now, and love it. You can stock up on household products like cleaning supplies or beauty products, and they compare all prices to both Walmart & Amazon, to make sure you find the best price. You also earn SwagBucks with your purchases. And now, to sweeten the deal even more – they just launched a referral program! Earn up to $100 for each person you refer. Wow, right?

What sites do you do best with to earn cash payments? Great affiliates you want to share? If so, feel free to leave your own sign up link in the comments. If I’m going to join something new – I want one of YOU to benefit from it too!

Reviews & Giveaways

We all love getting to try the best new family-friendly products on the market, and sharing some insider info with our readers to help them make the best buying decisions. And being able to reward readers with some fun prizes is always a good day!

  1. Maggies Direct: Sign up to be a member of their Blogger Network for some great opportunities. I was approved as a member today, and the program looks really amazing. Learn more and Sign Up – Join Maggies Direct. You get certificate each month to choose a review product, have opps to do giveaways, and more.
  2. Influential Media: Sign up to be a part of this new network. You can indicate which opportunities you are interested in, from reviews and giveaways, to sponsored posts and ads.
  3. Kidstuff Public Relations: Email them to apply to be a partner blogger with them. You can read their terms, and what they expect – and they require a screenshot to give them information about your monthly page views. Learn more and see if you qualify: Kidstuff Blogger Inquiry.
  4. Mom Central: One of my favorite places to work with for reviews – they’re super organized, and make it really easy to complete their campaigns. Sign up as a Mom Central Blogger.

How do you get products for reviews and giveaways? Do you pitch companies yourself – any tips to share? Or do you have a favorite network not on this list? Share your great info in the comments!

Writing Jobs & Guest Posting

If you’re a blogger, my guess is that you like to write. If you do – there are SO many places to share your writing on the web. {FYI: I’m going to be opening up a guest blogging program next month – watch for the form to fill out, and share your great posts on my site!}

  1. The Mommies Network: There are a ton of different opportunities here if you’d like to expand the places that your writing is published. Check it out – Learn more and apply to post.
  2. Examiner.com: If you’re an expert in your town – find your favorite topic on Examiner.com and apply to write your own column today! I’m working on getting more active with this – it’s a really fun way to get new exposure and experience as a writer, while earning a consistent income too!
You can also check out the great tips on About.com in their freelance writing section for more great ideas on getting started.

 

More Great Stuff

Here are a few more random things that didn’t fit into the other categories – but that I thought you guys might like. You can also check out my boards on Pinterest for Blogging & Social Media Tips, and Tech Made Simple.

  1. Giving Back: Join Mom Bloggers for Social Good! No, this doesn’t monetize your blog or get you free stuff. But it’s a great way to use the huge influence and trusted voice you have to push for great changes in the world. I joined, and it’s a wonderful group of women – I’d love to have you join us too!
  2. StumbleUpon: Join a great, free, linky event and increase your traffic with StumbleUpon – I get over 10,000 page views each month from SU, and I find a lot of new pages to follow myself when I use it just for fun. Love it.
  3. Pinterest 101: A pretty comprehensive guide to everything Pinterest – It’ll help show you how to get started if you’re a beginner – but it’s also got some cool new tricks and tips to learn if you’re more of an expert. Pinterest 101: Pin Like a Rockstar!
  4. FREE Giveaway: This is a free giveaway event that you can join – Plus, you can purchase additional links if you want to really boost your blog. Check it out, learn more, and join this sweet new event I’m co-hosting!

Any other cool articles, ebooks, websites – anything you’ve found helpful this week – share it with me and the other amazing ladies reading this, in the comments below. You’re awesome!

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Posted by on March 8, 2012 Filed Under: Weekly Opp's | 11 Comments
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