Articles for Traffic

In order to make money online, often you have to do other behind the scene activities to help your ranking and traffic. Even if you have a great blog with tons of Google Adwords or other advertising and you get no traffic, how profitable is it to you?!

A great way to create FREE traffic is by writing articles. Articles are typically 500-700 in length and can cover any subject. The key to articles is that you're allowed a Bio section in which you can list a link to wherever you choose (blog, website, etc.). When you post your articles on Article Submission sites people will then read them, click on your link and perhaps even post your article on their site. Bottom line, articles will generate more traffic to your desired site.

If you would like to learn more about writing articles and how to choose effective Keywords , check out this free Professional Series call: http://www.smartmoms-smartbusiness.com/WAHM-professional-series.html You will learn some valuable information about writing articles!

The Best Networking Tip

I am participating in a Blog Carnival with Suzanne at The Moms In Business Blog. Our topic, The Best Networking Tip.

The best networking tip is to learn how to reach a cold market. This is something that is rarely taught in the network marketing industry, however, it is crucial for your business growth. Most times people will quickly go through their warm market and then their business stalls. However, if you learn how to market in a cold market, you can work both simultaneously and keep your sales consistent.

There are tons of ways to market to a cold market and thankfully it's easy to get started. One of the best ways is to market your business online. The internet has become a hot spot for people looking for ways to make money at home while at the same time purchasing high quality products from the convenience of their own home. A few ways to gain traffic and a presence online is through the following: a blog, writing articles, participating in forums and building a website.

Since starting my online marketing 6 months ago, I have learned so much and am amazed at what I have created. It's not hard, but does require so effort and time. If you would like help starting any of the following, here is a great Work at Home site and WAHM forum that will help you get started! Both are free and are super helpful!

To your success!

How Do Moms Get To The Real Money With Their Online Business?

Carrie Lauth is our guest blogger for today! She has getting ready to publish the book, Full Time Money. You can register on her site for a free chapter when the book launches. Read more about her exciting information from real work at home moms.

How Do Moms Get To The Real Money With Their Online Business?
Recently I had the opportunity to pick the brains of a 15 women with successful online businesses. Each of them are earning a very good full time income, many of them on a part time basis, working from home.

So many women struggle when they launch an online business. It's not that difficult to earn a few dollars with a website, but getting to the full time money seems out of reach for so many. Why do so few meet their income goals? What's missing?

What I wanted to know was what made these women who are earning real money online different. Was it getting the right information? Working harder? Talent? Or something else? You might be interested to see what I found out.

In reading through their stories, I found that these moms mostly said very similar things, only in slightly different ways. Here were some of the major themes:

Coaching and Mentoring
Most of the women I interviewed said that finding a coach or mentor made a dramatic difference in their business. Having a coach or mentor can shorten the learning curve by months or even years. If you have been marketing online for some time, hiring a coach can help you see what you're doing right and what you may be doing wrong, where you may be wasting time and effort, and where you can be more productive.

Joint Ventures and Networking
There is a lot of networking going on online, to be sure. But is it really profitable? Or is it a case of the blind (or in this case, broke) leading the blind? Several of the women I interviewed said that forming joint venture partners really rocketed their business forward. The key was networking and forming joint venture partnerships with people who were where they wanted to be, who were 3 steps (or more) ahead.

Focus and Target Market
Another common lesson throughout the stories was: pick a target market and focus. Several of the moms said that they had made the mistake of trying to be all things to all people, or having their hands in too many pots. It's one thing to maximize your marketing efforts by going wide in
your business and serving your main target market with several websites and products. It's another thing entirely to try to be successful in several unrelated markets.

Investing in Continuing Education
Another component to success online that many of my interviewees mentioned is the importance they placed on their personal marketing and business education. These successful women continually invested in their learning. And what's more, they applied what they were learning to their business for continued growth and progress. Don't let ebooks and membership communities gather virtual dust on your desktop. Use the learning products you've purchased to propel you forward.

To learn how 15 women earn a full time living on the internet on a part time basis, visit http://www.carrielauth.com/full-time-money.html

How To Lose Money Working At Home

I realize that the point of this blog is to make money, however, I just had to share this story and hopefully worn others out there!

Previously I mentioned that I have entered the world of eBay selling. Thus far it has gone fairly well and I have enjoyed it. I've been making money and more importantly, I have been cleaning out my house!

But today, I learned a HARD lesson. You see, I sold two large paintings that were about 32x30. Being a freshman eBayer, I did not do my research and only looked at what competitors had charged for shipping and based my shipping amount on that. Now, I know you're probably thinking, "that was dumb" and you're right! It was a completely foolish thing to do! And I paid the cost, too! After learning that I would pay almost $80 to have the picture packaged and shipped, I decided I should package it myself. So, after 3.5 hours of wrapping bubble rap and making boxes, I was finally finished! It was a process and I probably over wrapped, but I was warned that large packages aren't handled with care and I should take every measure to ensure the safe arrival of these pictures!

So, the moral of the story? Do your shipping home work before listing on eBay. You can easily check this by visiting www.USPS.com. It's a very user friendly site and you can check prices in a matter of minutes...so I've learned!

Hope my mistake will help others in the future!

Work at Home Opportunities

Have you ever found a business that felt like a good fit, but you just weren't sure if it would work? Or perhaps you had a business idea but were too nervous to move forward with it? Wouldn't it be nice if you could bounce your ideas off of others who have already paved the way? Nice, friendly women who have already found success and are willing to help others along the way?

Sometimes making money online is not only about what you're selling, but the contacts you develop along the way! An excellent way to meet business women is through a networking group (a.k.a. forum). Most forums are free to join and often provide a wealth of knowledge to anyone looking!

If you'd like to check out a very friendly forum with super helpful women, why not join the Smart Moms Forum. You simply register your name, introduce yourself and go from there! It's quite easy, but I promise you, the information you will gain will be priceless!

Create a Quality Website with Great SEO

When the 4fabmoms started on their internet quest, we tried to find inexpensive options for website hosting. We began with 1&1 and have built a quality site with the free software provided by the company. We did a few extras like create our own header, but other than that, it was a point and click operation, much like writing in a word processor. It is also affordable. Check out our work at home mom site we built with 1&1.

The downfall of 1&1 is that it does not teach you how to optimize your site. You can but together a great looking site that may not get any traffic. We then looked into SBI, Site Build It. Even though it was a higher up front cost, 4fabmoms Rebekah already has over 70 visitors per day to her preschool activities site that is only a few months old. That is quite impressive. SBI teaches you how to brainstorm a profitable topic, place your keywords, and monetize your site. You cannot go wrong when they offer a second site for $100/year. Do not be bothered by the cost per year from SBI... take it from the 4fabmoms and do it first. You site will have great optimization and get great traffic.

To make money online, choose a quality web hosting company. Do not go with a free hosting service. Invest the money in your business that needs to be invested. You need traffic to convert to sales. SBI can teach you to create a quality site that gets traffic.

Selling on eBay: My Story

Perhaps I am one of the remaining few who have never sold an item on eBay, however, I feel I am not alone! For months my husband has been encouraging me to sell some "junk" around the house and I have simply put it off. To be honest, eBay was a foreign language to me. Something that would require time and energy to learn and I wasn't ready for one more thing on my plate!

But then...my partners sent out a challenge for everyone to clear out their closets and sell things on eBay. The reward wasn't big ($15 gift card to Starbucks!) but it was enough of an incentive to get me going! I have been selling for a mere two weeks and already during that time I have learned a lot! Following are some of my thoughts and tips for anyone thinking about selling on eBay!

1. You may be surprised what will sell! My first items up for auction were some real estate trainings cassettes. Although it was great material, I simply didn't have use for it anymore and was planning to through them away until I checked eBay. My potential roadside heap turned into nearly $450 worth of sales! Not to shabby!

2. eBay takes time, but it's not hard. I have found the process to be fairly easy, but just a little time consuming. I am the type that wants to get everything right...the wording, the price, the picture, etc. So, I have to admit that I have spent some time researching sales and current listings. The only other time consuming task is putting in the information. Other than that, it's been a breeze.

3. If you have a PayPal account (and you should have an account...it's free!) you can actually purchase and print a label with stamp included right from your PayPal account! And you can order for the package to be picked up from your doorstep...online! Within in a matter of minutes I have been able to print labels and schedule a pick-up which is so convenient. And the other nice part is that the USPS even offers free Priority Mail and Flat Rate Mail eBay boxes. You can order these online as well and they are delivered to you, making the process even easier!

4. One of the major things I have learned is to weigh your packages and determine shipping prior to listing. Some of my auctions have been very close on the shipping price and personally, it's a little too close for comfort. I am selling to come out ahead and so I have learned to be extra careful on this aspect!

If you are looking for ways to make money at home, eBay is truly a wonderful option! The best part is that you can start by cleaning out your house, which has been a very rewarding process for me...in more ways than one!

RESOURCES:
In addition to checking closed auctions on eBay, trying www.terapeak.com This site was recommended to me because it gives more information about the sale trends of an item.

Also, if you're looking for support in selling and would like to network with other friendly and helpful women, visit http://ebaycoach.freeforums.org
This is an excellent forum where you can ask questions and get helpful and quick responses!

To your success!

Selling On eBay – Where do I start?

Today I have a guest blogger, the eBay Selling Coach, Suzanne Wells. I have asked Suzanne to share some insights about selling and making money with eBay.

As an eBay Consultant, one question I get from a lot of people is, "How do I even start on eBay?"

First of all, start small. Set up an eBay account and buy a few things to learn the process and get a feel for how eBay works. eBay and working at home is not for everyone. And it is ok if it isn’t right for you. Sell some of your own things before you invest any money in other products to sell. Understand that eBay is more than taking pictures and working on the computer – you need to be familiar with how to edit photos, shipping, customer service, and Paypal. Take your time and learn about these things before you jump in and go for it full-time.

You can look for items to sell at thrift stores, garage sales, off-price stores like TJ Maxx and Ross, member’s clubs like Sam’s and Costco, salvage stores, flea markets, and consignment stores. To find out what an item sells for on eBay, do an advanced search for completed items matching the key words of your item. You will get a list of all the listings that have ended with those key words in the last 30 days. You can use that information to make educated decisions about pricing or if you even want to pursue selling a particular item.

Once you are comfortable with the whole process, don’t be afraid to take a risk every now and then. I am often asked, “But what if you buy an item and it doesn’t sell?” Well, that’s ok. You can always relist it. You can mark it down and sell it for what you paid for it and move on. You don’t want to buy a truckload of 1,000 items without having tested them out first, but you do want to experiment with different products – you may find something profitable to sell on a regular basis.

Make small investments and try new products to test them out and see what kind of results you’ll get. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new products and try new things. eBay is constantly evolving and no trend will last forever. Experience is the best teacher.

Read blogs, article sites, and eBooks on eBay selling. Be careful not to get duped into buying "Get Rich on eBay" kits. As a power seller with over 4 years experience, and 13,000 sales, I am here to tell you that you aren't going to get rich selling on eBay, very few actually do. I will tell you that eBay selling is fun, profitable, and a convenient way to make money from home. eBay is just like any other entrepreneurial adventure - it takes time, patience, dedication, and hard work.

Suzanne Wells is an eBay Power Seller, author of "The Stay-at-Home Mom's Guide to Successful eBay Selling," eBay Consultant, and mom of 2 in Atlanta, GA. You can visit her blog at http://www.ebaysellingcoach.blogspot.com/ for more eBay selling resources and tips, and join her free eBay discussion forum at http://ebaycoach.freeforums.org/

Get A Blog

One of the easiest ways to start making money from home is to start a blog. Before March, I did not have any idea about blogs- I had not even read anybody's blog. Now I regularly write on many blogs, including the 4fabmoms, and read many others.

You do not have to have a business to have a blog. You do not have to have a business to make money from a blog. Using Google Adsense (a free service by google) and getting a free blog from Blogger (like this one, from Goggle) you can set up an online weblog about anything. You can also add in affiliate marketing ideas and make even more money. A blog can be one more stream of income. And best of all, it is free!

Here are some great ideas from some of the blogs I read often:
A Mom Blog
A Child's Blog
A Dog Blog
A Homeschooling Mom Blog
A Preschool Activity Blog


The easiest way to start your blog is to jump right in. It may feel weird, but it becomes addictive and fun. If you are considering other home based business ideas, you should still have a blog. The owner of the Preschool Activities Blog, Rebekah, started her blog as she was working on her website. Now she has readers of her blog that also go to her website. And traffic is the key!

For more helpful tips, listen to the Smart Moms Professional Series on blogging by Suzanne Wells. You will be inspired and willing to jump in to a blogger's world!

Affiliate Marketing

Have you ever visited a blog or a personal website and noticed the owner recommending a particular product or gadget? If you have clicked on the link, more than likely it takes you to another site where you have an opportunity to purchase said product.

What you may not realize is that if you purchase, more than likely, the owner of the site has an affiliate account with that company. Meaning, every time someone buys the product, the site owner makes a small commission. And when I say small, it is typically a % based on the sale item.

Affiliate marketing has caught on like wildfire and tons of companies have taken notice and now offer affiliate programs. If you visit some of your favorite stores online, look for their affiliate link. And if you have a blog or website, spend some time investigating various affiliate programs. If you use a product and really like it, why not feature it on your site and make money if someone buys it?

Note sure what to feature, try out these affiliates!

Host Your Own Talk Show

My friend and Smart Mom Rebekah and I have started hosting our own "talk show." We are using Talk Shoe to host a weekly call on Jack Canfield's The Success Principles.

First, we love The Success Principles. We began reading it in the fall and jumped right into doing the activities and exercises Canfield recommends. He gives real life examples and real life application to the principles that lead him to his success.

Second, we love to talk. And why not talk and get paid for it. It will not make us millions to begin with, but it is a small amount of money to do something that could only bring more traffic to your website.

Talk Shoe is a free hosting company for audio recordings. You only need a phone and a computer. We set up the free broadcast, call in on our scheduled time, and talk. People can call in, listen from their computer, or listen to the recorded call. Our recorded calls are right here on this site- every time someone listens, you make a little more money.

Talk Shoe is also an affiliate- anyone who signs up through our link also earns us a little money. It continues with each show you broadcast and each person you refer to Talk Shoe.

A simple way to make money from home, host your own talk show and any topic, have it available from your website or blog, and refer others to this great free service.

Blog Tipping

I was blog tipped by the 4FabMoms and I am excited to join in on blog tipping!

Blog tipping Definition: Blog tipping is where you publish a blog post in which you link to three unsuspecting blogs and offer three compliments and/or one helpful tip to each blogger. (Or adapt those numbers to your own preferences; the principle of selflessness is what matters most here.) Blog tipping is a refreshing and useful surprise that can start a blogger’s month with a huge smile!

Here are my 3 pics for August! Hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have!

The Amazing Shrinking Mom ~ I found this blog to be very inspirational, witty and helpful. Since I am also on a (two year) weight loss journey, I could identify with most of her posts, plus it's nice knowing I am not alone on my journey! Way to go Amazing Shrinking Mom!


Fast Times @ Homeschool High (http://fasttimes.clubmom.com/) ~ I was eager to read this blog since I am a former homeschool student and a fellow Floridian! In reading Denise's posts, it's evident of her dedication and love for her daughter! It's great to know that homeschooling is thriving!

Trish the Dish ~ I really enjoyed reading this blog. I could really relate to Trish's entries about being a stay at home mom. Some of her posts made me smile and others made me laugh! I also enjoyed viewing the beautiful pics of her girls!