Billions of dollars are spent each year by a certain group of people… and that group is everywhere we look, and you’re probably one of them!

I’m talking about moms. Mothers are responsible for much of the household spending and influence the buying decisions of family members across generations.

If you’re looking to market more effectively to this group of savvy online consumers, download this free 9-page report:

“Quick & Easy Ways to Market to the Powerful Multi-Billion Dollar Market of Mothers Online”

This report shows you:

- Just how big and influential the mom market is
- Why moms use the Internet & what they do there
- How to reach moms and gain their confidence - all on a shoestring budget.

Your download is completely free and comes without any type of obligation.

Click here to get yours

(Click on the link to open, or right-click to save to your desktop.)

If your blog is set up on a subdomain like yourname.wordpress.com or yourname.blogspot.com, I’m sorry to tell you, but you don’t really own your blog.

At any time your blog could be deleted.

Google (who owns Blogger/Blogspot) deletes blogs all the time. It happened to a good friend of mine whose blog got massive traffic and delivered massive value. I read her blog daily and it had fantastic advice. She had thousands of loyal readers who looked to her blog for sound personal finance wisdom.

One day she logged in and found that her blog had disappeared.

Did you know that Google somehow deleted their OWN blog?

How would you feel if you had devoted hundreds of hours to publishing a blog over a year or two and found that it had simply disappeared off the internet?

The lesson here: Make sure YOU own your blog. Publish your blog to your OWN domain on your OWN website hosting.

I get all my domains from Internet Based Moms, but you can use GoDaddy or whatever else you like. For about $8 a year, there is no excuse not to own your own domain name. Plus, it’s far more attractive, easier to remember and professional than a subdomain (like yourname.blogspot.com).

Send a message that you are serious about your business and buy a domain name.

Once you buy your domain you will need some hosting so that you can host your blog. This is the only way to really own your blog and all the files contained within!

I use ReliableWebs.com - they have great prices and stellar customer service.

You can still use the software at Blogspot or Wordpress (I love Wordpress!), you just need to tweak the settings in your account so that your blog posts are published to your domain.

The Joy of Connecting blog is a great example!

If you need help setting any of this up or learning how to really leverage your blog for more sales, traffic and publicity, I offer coaching.

Until the end of the month you get a free copy of my email marketing guide called Mini Course Money when you reserve an hour of coaching! That’s a $27 value, free. Get started now before this offer expires.

If you’re like most small business owners, your business journey will resemble a roller coaster ride long before it looks like a leisurely Sunday drive (in fact, it may never look like that at all!).

But if you’re thinking about giving it all up because you still haven’t reached your goal after months (years!) of sweat, tears and a sore behind, think of Winston Churchill’s words:

“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never–in nothing, great or small, large or petty–never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense.”

If you feel like giving up, don’t! Here is the funny thing about life: A year will pass regardless of what you do today to build your business. But the things you do today to build your business will keep paying off over and over in a year’s time. If you don’t believe me, then just keep reading.

Since I started working from home, I’ve changed directions completely a couple of times, undergone major life changes, even felt the rug come out from under my feet a time or two (divorce papers and raising four kids on your own will do that!).

But, I keep plugging along.

My business has taught me some important things about life in general. Here are a couple of things I’ve learned.

1) They Keep Moving The Cheese

Have you read Spencer Johnson’s Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life?

Highly recommended reading for anyone in business. It’s a slim little volume that you can devour at bedtime.

Things are going to constantly change: your life, the nature of business. What worked last year isn’t going to cut it this year. You have to keep changing if you want to survive and thrive in the online business arena.

Do your best to try out new technologies and see if they will improve your bottom line. Ask others who are doing it for help. Remember that just 5 years ago, nobody was blogging? Now if you don’t have a blog, you’re likely to lose visitors.

Lots of folks are stepping into audio, video and podcasting. These technologies don’t have to be a stumbling block. You can always hire or joint venture with someone who can do the techie stuff and just create your message.

Your family life is dynamic also and just when you think you’ve gotten into a comfortable routine, bam! A separation, a miscarriage, a new baby, somebody retires or gets laid off, etc. Life happens.
Anticipate that the cheese will be moving. Constantly monitor the state of your old cheese. If it’s dwindling or getting smelly, watch out!

2) Don’t Put All Your Marketing Eggs Into One Basket

While it’s good to learn one marketing method well before starting to do another, but just don’t focus on one thing entirely to the exclusion of others. For instance, search engine optimization might be your “thing”, which is great, but make sure you’re also writing articles and press releases too.

3) Lesson 3: Give It Time

It’s so hard to be patient, isn’t it? If you find yourself wondering when you will ever meet your goal, there are a couple of things that might make the wait easier while you keep plugging away at your business.

a) Celebrate small successes
Sometimes we get so caught up in humongous goals and forget to celebrate the little achievements. That first small affiliate check, that first autodraft customer, 5 new pages added to a web site, an unsolicited, glowing testimonial about your product, etc.

Keep a log of all the little successes that happen in your business and review them when you need to get motivated again. Keep a “done” list next to your “to do” list.

b) Start a Feel Good Folder
Start a little word document on your desktop. Anytime someone says something nice about you on a message forum, anytime you get a subscriber thanking you for your newsletter, copy and paste that into a text document. Review it when you’re feeling down and impatient.

Another thing that helps is to hang out with other successful women in business, not just wannabes. I’m not knocking the wannabe, because we all started there! But spend some time each week talking to people who are where you want to be. Seeing them share success stories, seeing their triumphs and growth makes it clear that you WILL get there. It’s them today, but it will be you tomorrow.

For a few years now I’ve been a member at Mom Masterminds, an online networking and business resource center for serious work at home mom professionals. I wouldn’t do without it!

Just don’t give up ladies. Remember Winston Churchill.

Carrie Lauth is a work at home Mom of 4 who keeps on truckin’, and wants to encourage you to do the same. Sign up for her free marketing tips at her blog.

I don’t know about you, but once winter weather sets in, I have the urge to head to the Appalachians, sit around a campfire and sip cocoa with my family. It’s a bit harder for many of us to focus on business at this busy time of year.

What about you?

Here are a few ideas that will help you keep the momentum going in your business even while you play a little bit.

Blog When Nobody’s Home

Just because you are out playing doesn’t mean your blog has to shut down. You can schedule blog posts in advance. Write a bunch of them and have one a day published automatically.

Keep In Touch With Subscribers

Most newsletter management systems allow you to schedule broadcasts. If yours doesn’t, get a new one! I use Aweber and highly recommend it.

Load up your autoresponder with informative emails to keep selling your product for you. This also keeps your customers and subscribers from forgetting about your offerings.

Invest In Strategic Advertising

Many types of online advertising are free, but don’t overlook solid, strategic paid advertising opportunities. Putting a few dollars towards well thought out ads can bring you new business while you do other things. It’s a smart investment.

Get Others to Publish You

If you’re doing article marketing (and you are, aren’t you?!), why not have an article distribution service like iSnare send out several of your articles to thousands of publishers?

While you’re away from your computer, other people are adding your articles to their sites and getting you additional traffic, search engine rankings and expert status. It feels really nice to log into your email program and have dozens of emails saying: “We have published your article here...”

The same applies to press releases. Craft an informative release and send it out to media outlets that reach your target market.

One of the wonderful things about an Internet business is the ability to create passive income. If you set things up properly, you should be able to get away with playing a little and still earn money.

Now, enjoy that hot cocoa.

Are you using a blog to promote your business? If so, you are on the right track! A blog is a great communication tool and it also serves as a relationship builder.

When you do business online, you cannot greet your customers face to face and get to know them as you would in a traditional retail setting. Blogs offer the next best thing, as they allow your customers to interact with you and see a bit more of your personal side.

Blogging about the new products or services you are offering, as well as any sales you are having is a great way to increase business.

One reason that business owners don’t blog regularly is that they have trouble thinking up things to blog about, or they simply don’t have the time.

One solution to both problems is to buy pre-written blog posts, such as those found here: http://www.indiebizchicks.com/blog-posts.html.

There will be a special sale on Pre-Written Blog Posts from November 26- 30. When you order, you will receive a subscription to 12 blog posts each month for the next year for only $70. Imagine having much of your blogging done for the entire year.

To order visit: Indie Biz Chicks

Hello and Thanks to the guests at my recent Joy of Connecting event in Decatur for requesting this receipe.  I thought I would place it on our great new JOC Blog for all to see.  Hope others enjoy as much at our group did.   As you will see you can make it rich and sinful with heavy cream or lighten it by using NonFat Half and Half.  Either way it is very good.

Best Wishes to all for a Happy Thanksgiving from Kathy Greider  of  GreiderBiz - Your BusinessBOOSTER where we work with you to bring in more customers, keep your current customer base happy and encourage all customers to spend more money using rewards and incentives.    If you need more customers spending more money contact me to see the proven methods we use.   Kathy   greiderbiz@yahoo.com  404.313.8208

Ravioli with Butternut Squash Cream Sauce

16 oz Cheese Ravioli   (fresh, dried or frozen)

1 C Butternut Squash Puree

1 C chicken or vegetable stock

2 C Heavy Cream *** (see substitutions below)

¼  t Cinnamon

Salt and White Pepper  -  to your liking

Cook the ravioli as directed, drain, and cover while preparing the sauce.  I always add a Tablespoon of olive oil to my water when cooking pasta.

Mix together in sauce pan:  stock, squash, and cream.  Cook over medium heat until liquid reduces by ½.    

If you use the heavy cream – you do not need to follow the instructions in the next paragraph but you do need to follow this part: Do not turn the stove up too high or the mixture will scorch on the bottom of the pan.   Bring the mixture to a slow boil and just keep stirring until it thickens. 

In an effort to reduce the fat content of this dish, I use Non-Fat Half and Half in place of the heavy cream.  When you do this the liquid mixture does not reduce as well: so I took  ¼ cup of the liquid out of the pan after it is warm and mix 2 T of Corn Starch with it until the mixture is smooth.  Then slowly add this to the gently boiling liquid.   It takes a while for the liquid to reduce.  Do not turn the stove up too high or the mixture will scorch on the bottom of the pan.  Bring the mixture to a slow boil and just keep stirring.

Since I took out the heavy cream I added a Tablespoon of butter to put a bit of fat into the sauce to help it thicken.

After the liquid is reduced add the cinnamon and salt and pepper as needed. 

Pour sauce over pasta and sprinkle with a little more cinnamon or some parley for color. 

     All one has to do is look around where you are to feel grateful for life’s many blessings! And, all you have to do is think of those who continue to bless our lives every day to realize that reasons for gratitude are everywhere.  Just think of all the indivduals who make our lives easier - the mailman, the clerks who stock the grocery shelves, the tank trucks that supply us with gasoline, the bank teller, dry cleaner, street cleaners, garbage men and recyclers, retailers, civil servants, our dentist, doctors, financial planner, insurance agent and the list goes on and on.  With the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching, I’m reminded that my life is richer not because of what I’ve acquired but rather because of the people who make a difference in my life!  So, to those who have chosen to connect with me and for those of you who are an essential part of my life, I want you to know that I appreciate you and wish you overflowing peace and happiness now and always.  Express gratitude to the people in your life.  Let them know how much they are valued.  Until next time…………..Bonnie www.BonnieRossParker.com

I hauled myself out of bed the other morning at 4AM in order to attend a Breakfast networking meeting that was entitled How Gratitude can bring an increase in your bottom line!  When I first got the invitation to this meeting, I thought Oh Boy!  This is right up my alley.  But after a long week at getting up early going to meetings and then attending more late night meetings also, not to mention suffering from a head cold and sinus infection going on 4 weeks now, when the alarm went off, I thought, OMG what was I thinking.  I got ready anyway because I had to pick up my team mate who had registered and paid for us to go.

It was very well worth the trip.  It was not your typical business meeting.  This is a new group focused on all the right aspects of business.  The very first exercise we did was to talk with those at our table and to tell what we were grateful for not in our business, but in our life.  That was different, but it is close to Thanksgiving, so I could understand.  But as the presentation went on, I began to see the true theme of the meeting and the organization.  It was very refreshing because it hit right on my core values and beliefs, that  of building relationships with people and trying to establish a helpful giving attitude will come back to you ten fold. 

I go to a lot of face to face networking meetings of all kinds and meet a lot of people.  My primary purpose, of course, like everyone else, it to find new business.  Along the way I meet a lot of people who are doing the same thing.  Now we all know we can’t all do business with each other, however we can try and help each other.  How you ask?  Listen and ask questions.  Find out about the person and their business, what makes them unique and different from others in their industry.  One of the questions that you can ask, which was presented in this meeting, “Why should I do business with you?”  Try that one sometimes and you’ll be surprised at the answers you get.  Also think about what you would say if someone asked you that question.  Now you still might not need their services at the moment, but you can use that information in a number of ways.

Here are five things you can do:

• ¨ Introduce that person to a good referral partner for them. Example: Introduce a Real Estate person to a mortgage broker.
• ¨ Suggest/invite them to other networking meetings, groups, organizations, etc. that they might attend. I have a ‘Networking Opportunities’ list posted on my website that I refer people to.
• ¨ If it’s someone you really want to establish a relationship with, make the effort to follow up with them. Send them a note or card. Call and set up a meeting for coffee with the intention of ‘How can we help each other’ or ‘I want to get to know you and understand your business better.’
• ¨ File their info, so you will have it when you hear someone needs that service. Establish yourself as a ‘Who do you know that does?”
• ¨ Refer that person whenever possible.

Here is an example of how gratitude helped my bottom line this week.  I help co-host a women’s monthly networking meeting.  We had a professional organizer who attended our meetings a few times.  She impressed me because besides just introducing herself and telling about her business, she would offer helpful tips on organizing.  We established some rapport and she started using my greeting card service for which I was grateful.   When someone asks if I know an organizer, I refer them to her.  One of the referrals was to my sister in law, who just raved the ideas and information she provided, and she would definitely be using her services.  I also asked her to be a speaker at an upcoming business meeting in January.  So even though I have not used her services personally, I know she’s very good and knowledgeable at what she does and she is very reliable.  

Here’s where the story gets interesting.  I recently acquired a new client for my greeting card business and when I talked with her and asked how she found out about me and my service, she said she had been a speaker at a recent meeting of which my friend the organizer had sent her a thank you card.  Do you turn cards over to see what brand it is?  My website was printed on the back of the card.  She liked the card so much, she set up her own account, tried it, liked it, and then upgraded.  Was I grateful?  You better believe it.  I not only sent a Thank You card, but a gift as well.

So, I believe, the point of all this is showing gratitude and appreciation and helping others can help to build your business because they in turn will do the same for us. 

I leave you with these quotes:

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today.  Have you used one to say “thank you?”  ~William A. Ward

Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.  ~G.B. Stern

“Send Out to Give”  Kody Bateman

“What goes around, comes around”  - Proverb quote

Happy Thanksgiving

In gratitude,

Annette S. Walden

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