ShowMomTheMoney.com - for Work at Home Moms

We are Moving...

2006-08-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

Come on over and watch me set up my new blog ... www.NicoleontheNet.com ;) Everything from here is moving over. I hope you'll join me there.

Nicole

Lifetime advertising special.

2006-08-04T10:40:00.000-07:00

I promised my friend, Christina that I'd let my readers know about her special offer.

She's offering a ridiculous special on Lifetime advertising - 2 lifetime ads on 2 sites for $9.99.

You can find the special deal at HERE

Have a great Friday!
Nicole

Having a JOB sucks!

2006-08-04T05:33:00.000-07:00

My friend Kristie T pointed me to this blog post about being an entrepreneur vs. having a job.
Blog Post - Having a Job Sucks

I agree that having your own business is 100 times better than a Job. Oftentimes, people get trapped working for an hourly wage and don't even see the option of starting a business.

In my opinion, the best time to follow your Entrepreneurial spirit is when you're a teen.

Here are some ideas for your teen to start his own business -
http://www.ShowKidstheMoney.com

And, for adults, of course, you can visit www.JustBusinessIdeas.com

What do you think?

Is having a job a trap?
Is being an Entrepreneur overrated?
Do you agree that a child can start a business or do you think it's important to learn to work for others before you work for yourself?

I'd love to hear your opinion.
Nicole

Free book "I Love My Life: A Mom's Guide to Working from Home"

2006-08-02T15:55:00.000-07:00

I mentioned at the beginning of summer that my friend, Kristie T is giving away 10,000 copies of her book "I Love My Life: A Mom's Guide to Working from Home"

In this book, you can learn how to successfully be a WAHM achieving YOUR personal and financial goals.

The regular price is $14.95, but your price is free - (you pay only shipping costs). Well, she still has some of the books left, so, if you missed the offer the first time, be sure to grab it while you can. I'm still reading mine and it's packed full of info.

Grab your free book

Let me know what you think when you get it.

Nicole

Does your Site Reach Women? Make Money and Win Prizes...

2006-08-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

You may know that I'm on a mission to find quality Affiliate Programs for Moms to promote.

The program I want to tell you about today is DineWithoutWhine. It's a family menu planner program. It's actually pretty impressive. Each week, you get a full week's worth of meal ideas, PLUS a corresponding grocery list. So, all you have to do each week is print off the grocery list and go. What a perfect gift idea for your favorite busy Mom!

I digress... My point is that the owner, Christine, is rewarding ALL of her affiliates this month with a great contest. Every single affiliate who generates any traffic at all (by putting up a button, banner, blogging about her, or by publishing an article of hers or even by sending a newsletter) -- any traffic will get you an entry into her contest to win prizes.

So, sign up for an affiliate account and start promoting. Not only will you make money, but you can win prizes, too!

Here's the link:
http://www.DineWithoutWhine.com/offer

This just in... Healthy Menu Mailer is teaming up with DineWithoutWhine to offer the same contest. So, if your website reaches Health-minded people -- Sign up and promote this program.
http://recipes.healthymenumailer.com

For more affiliate programs that have the Mom Seal of Approval, visit http://www.MomAffiliateNetwork.com

What's the story with Adfusion? Feeds that make you money.

2006-08-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

ok. Here's the report after two days of using Adfusion... (this feeds content into your site and the content can make you money).

I've made a bit of money. Each day, a little ka-ching. The positive thing is that my adsense hasn't dropped, that I've noticed. The other thing I like is that my pages look nicer with all the article photos.

It is free to join and to try.
Click here to apply ... ADFUSION

They offer channels on food, family, health, career, travel, money and more.

Let me know what you think.
Nicole

PS. Here's sample of a site with Adfusion on the bottom of the page -
http://www.freequickrecipes.com/recipes/hot-taco-salad.php

Moms and Online Shopping: How to Reach this Lucrative Market

2006-08-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

So great is the boom in Internet retailing, that a Forrest Research survey estimated U.S. online sales would grow from $96 billion in 2003, to more than $200 billion by 2008. Who is out there, doing all that buying?

A good part of the market is women, particularly young mothers who are part of the consumer group that cite a preference for Internet shopping to avoid crowds, get better prices, compare products, and reduce the need to travel around to find what they want.

In 2003, women in the 18-34 year age bracket made up 15% of Internet users. They also constituted 24% of the buyers from cosmetic and fragrance sites, 20% of the customers for wearing apparel, and 22% of the shoppers for jewelry and other luxury items.

With 50% of online purchases being made by someone from a household where the chief wage earner is between 25 and 55 years of age, there is growing evidence that the family unit, particularly where women are responsible for the buying of goods for personal use and gifts for others, significantly impacts the annual sales figures for all online retailers.

It also impacts local retail sales, with industry statistics showing that the research done by potential customers online, results in $1.50 spent locally, for every $1 spend on Internet shopping.

According to a recent survey conducted by Marketing Sherpa, one of the best ways to tap into the lucrative mom’s market is through solid information. If you’re looking for great content to appeal to moms, get it cost-effectively at Mom Content.

Catch me on the Hot Summer Seminar - Article Writing Tips

2006-07-31T09:15:00.000-07:00

I'll be doing a call with Kelly McCausey chatting about what to do and what NOT to do in your Article Writing and Article Marketing efforts.

Our chat will be free if you catch it live this Wednesday. Sign up here to get notified how to get on the call.

HOT SUMMER SEMINAR SERIES

I hope to hear you on the call...
Nicole

Face Painter: Featured Business Idea of the Month

2006-07-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

Our featured Business Idea for Moms of the Month is ... Become a Face Painter!

Face Painting - Anyone With The Desire Can Learn The Skills Necessary To Have A Successful Face Painting Business ... Even If They Feel They Have No Artistic Talent At All!
Click here to learn how

Not a Face Painter at heart? You might want to check out JustBusinessIdeas.com for more business ideas for Stay at Home moms. :)

Hope that gives you some good ideas... not every business needs to be an online one, as you can see from the sites above.
Nicole

Would you like to be on Wife Swap? Looking for Frugal Families...

2006-07-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

First, let me say you can make $20,000 if you are chosen to be on the show....

I was contacted by ABC to help them find the perfect frugal family to be on an upcoming show.

If you or someone you know loves living a frugal lifestyle and would like to be on Wife Swap, here are the details...

Here are some of the basics the show provided for your information...

* Each family receives $20,000 for appearing on the show. Just let them know you heard about the opportunity through ShowMomtheMoney.com
* The application process includes phone interviews, a possible home video submission, and a visit from one of our producers.
* All families being seriously considered for the program go through extensive background and medical checks - the safety and well being of each family (and our crew) is of the utmost concern.
* Moms selected to appear on "Wife Swap" switch homes for a total of six days. For the first three days of the swap, the new mom follows the family's typical household patterns. For the second three days, she implements changes as she sees fit.
* All moms sleep in a guest room in the new home, where there is complete privacy. If there is no guest room available, we create one.
* Also, moms travel with our production crew at all times and families who are selected to appear on the show have a minimum of two meetings with producers before filming even begins.

If you're a frugal family and you're interested in the show, contact the Casting Producer below:

Alena Jemas
Casting Producer, RDF Media/ABC's Wife Swap
440 9th Avenue, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212.404.1468
Alena.jemas@rdfusa.com

Note: Be sure to tell her you heard about the opportunity through ShowMomtheMoney so we keep hearing about these opportunities first! :)

Why I’m Promoting your Competition’s Affiliate Program and Not Yours

2006-07-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

Here's an article I wrote today. :) Can you tell I was in quite the mood?

Why I’m Promoting your Competition’s Affiliate Program and Not Yours

Today, I’m sitting at my computer, about to launch a new site and I’m going through Clickbank, looking for potential affiliate programs to promote.

Time and time again, I’m shaking my head, wondering if these Internet Marketers realize how many potential affiliates they are losing, as I click the red “x” and go to the next product. And, of course, this isn’t only the products listed at Clickbank. Affiliate Programs everywhere are lacking in their professionalism and respect for their affiliates.

It’s pretty obvious that many people don’t realize what turns off a potential affiliate. Could it be, perhaps, that the people writing these books have not been successful at Affiliate Marketing themselves?

After much frustration, I’ve decided to run through my list of reasons I did not choose your product to promote, and, instead chose your competition.

1. Your page is gaudy and unappealing.
Now, we all know the saying that ‘Ugly sites sell’. That’s absolutely true. A plain blue background with Arial text can make millions. However, a site that looks like a sparkly, flashy mess and gives your visitors a seizure is not cool. Leave the cursors alone. Don’t stick animation on there. And, for goodness sakes, stick with only one or two fonts, please.

2. Typos and spelling errors.
This one is actually kind of frightening. If the product you’re selling is an e-BOOK then please act like you know how to write. Have a friend or even an enemy read and reread your sales letter for you. If you don’t have any friends or enemies, then pay someone. Just don’t try to sell an e-book on a sales page that looks like a third grader wrote it. It’s not going to sell. At least I’m not going to sell it.

3. You offer more sales options than Clickbank on the sales page.
For instance, a hard-cover version of your book through amazon. Tacky! Why should I send you traffic through Clickbank so that you can make a commission on amazon? Not a chance. Or even worse, you have both a Clickbank button and a paypal button.

And, my #1 biggest irritant --

4. You’ve got google ads or actually have the guts to sell advertising on your page. (And, no, I’m not joking here.) I don’t even need to go there. Anyone who’s a successful affiliate knows that this is the sign of death for any affiliate program.

So, there you have it. four reasons why your competition is getting my business and you are not.

Nicole

PS. For affiliate programs that don't stink, check out www.MomAffiliateNetwork.com
Also, stop by www.FreeAffiliateArticles.com for some free articles that make you money.

Woo hoo! A new affiliate system!

2006-07-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

My prayers have been answered! I've got a few e-books I've been working on and I needed a shopping cart AND an affiliate program in one. And, it needed to be affordable.

Well, I'm beta testing this new shopping cart and I LOVE IT! And, it's affordable and run by WAHMS!

Sign up to get info on this new Shopping Cart if you've got an e-book or teleseminar you're selling. I can't wait!

http://www.wahmcart.com/special

And, yes, I'll be announcing my brand-new affiliate program soon. Just stay tuned. lol.
Nicole

Questions I get asked about Creating a Website

2006-07-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

I get a lot of questions about how to easily and affordably create a website. From "what's the cheapest hosting" to "how do I get a logo made"?

That's a pretty loaded question. Yikes. ;)

The first thing you really need to do is figure out how much control you want to have over your website and how technical you are.

Option #1 - Pay someone to create your website.

I create websites for businesses, so this is something I am familiar with. This option is only best if you don't plan to add content to the website after it is created.

OR if you plan to learn how to maintain the site down the road.
Otherwise, you're going to be paying me or whoever your designer is every time you want to make changes. Ouch.

Option #2 - Create your own Website

If you want to learn how to create websites, then I recommend purchasing

Front Page
or
XSP - http://www.makewebsitesfast.com

I use both and they each have their pros and cons. If you're creating a lot of sites, then XSP is MUCH easier. In fact, I prefer it and use it for many of my newer websites. It's great for information sites (content) sites, but does not have a shopping cart built in.

Option #3 - Use a Site Builder.

A lot of moms opt to go with this option. It's easy are pie. The only hard part here is that you pay a higher monthly fee, but it does include hosting so it's your only fee.
Here are the programs I recommend -
http://www.internetbasedfamily.com/?offer=EasySite
Includes a shopping cart. This is as easy as it gets.
and
http://buildit.sitesell.com/startnow9.html
This is the Rolls Royce of site builders. It not only helps you build a website, but it also helps you choose keywords to make it rank well in the Search Engines.

My recommendation? Both companies offer a trial period for free. Sign up for each, log in and play around. You'll quickly discover which is right for you.

Option #4 - Go with a WordPress blog.

It's a simple and easy content management system. If you're not technical, you can pay someone to install it relatively inexpensively, and have a website in the blink of an eye.
I have several Word Press blogs. You can see an example here -
http://www.WhatCanIMakeWithIt.com

HOSTING -

You'll need hosting for each option above except the site builders.

The hosting I use and recommend can be found here -
Web Hosting Reviews
If you are building one or two small sites, the 1.25 per month plan is plenty.
If you plan to build a lot of sites, or store large audio and video files, then I recommend the unlimited plan listed.
I use both.

Whew. Please let me know what additional questions you have about starting a website. I'm happy to get more in depth and cover things like logos, pictures and content in the coming weeks.

Warmly,
Nicole

Claim Your Free eBook: "Top 10 eBay Secrets for Successful Selling"

2006-07-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

Whether you have a business or not, everyone has JUNK to get rid of. Why not make some money from it by selling on e-Bay?

Claim Your Free eBook: "Top 10 eBay Secrets for Successful Selling" http://www.showmomthemoney.com/ar.htm (It's in the newsletter signup box)

Here's a wonderful article by an e-Bay expert that I'd like to share with you.

Top Ebay Business Secrets Revealed
Copyright 2006 by Jason James

Ten million-let me say that number again-over ten million people visited the Ebay website last month. With everything from online auctions to drop shipping opportunities, the Ebay business website has something for everyone. If you are thinking about joining in on the hysteria and trying to make your fortune with an Ebay business of your own, here are some of the best things you can do to
maximize your chances for success.

Do Your Homework

To begin with, you want to know as much as possible about the items you plan on offering on the Ebay auctions. This not only helps you create more interesting descriptions, but it also helps when trying to answer the barrage of questions that inevitably fly at you from potential buyers. The more knowledgeable you appear, the more likely you are to make a sale!

You also need to know if there is actually a market out there for what you are planning to sell. While you might occasionally hear about some off-the-wall item commanding big money at auction, these are the exceptions and not something to base your Ebay business upon. Run a search on the item and see how many items for that
keyword come up to get an idea about your potential market. Chances of success are poor if no one else is selling a similar item.

Keywords and Descriptions Will Make or Break You

People find their way to Ebay auctions by using keywords to find the items they want. Your listing will use keywords to draw people in to bid on your item. If you try employing a keyword that no one uses, then who will come to bid on your item?

There are websites out there that will allow you to type in a keyword and see how many people used that keyword in the past month. These sites are free and a great way to test the keyword you intend to use. Just go to any search engine and type in "free keyword selector tool" and a number of sites will come up offering
help finding the perfect keyword to attract people to bid on your item.

Once you have the people coming in to look at your item you are going to need a great description in order to get them to actually bid. If you are not the best writer but are serious about succeeding with your Ebay business, you may want to consider hiring a freelance writer to compose stunning descriptions that will awe
people into bidding on your item. But, by doing your homework, it is usually possible to write a great description simply by being knowledgeable about the item and simply conveying some of that knowledge in your description.

Post Items During "Hot Periods"

Anyone serious about succeeding with their Ebay business needs to know when to post items and when to hold onto them. Online auctions offering leather jackets in July may solicit a few bids but they will obviously be lower than they would be had the item been posted in late fall or early winter. If you have an odd item and are not
sure what the best time would be to post it on Ebay auctions, try searching for the item on the Internet. Find out what the current buzz is or whether there is any for your item. Also, try finding other sellers on the Ebay business site offering the same item. If you find a lot of people selling the same item now, then clearly it
is a good time to post. Timing can really make a difference in the final price you receive for your item.

Now there are of course other things you need to do if you want your Ebay business to succeed such as: post the item in the right category, make buying easy by offering a number of payment options, and keeping your shipping costs to a minimum. All of these are essentials to a successful Ebay business but are not likely to have
the same effect upon your chances of success like the other ideas mentioned earlier.

There is no doubt that Ebay auctions are a great way to make some serious money. By doing your homework, using the right keywords and descriptions, and by posting during the hot periods for your items, you significantly increase the odds of your Ebay business succeeding and making all of your financial dreams a reality. So
what are you waiting for? Start doing your homework now!

Article by:
Jason James is a 10 year Internet marketing veteran and an eBay Seller of 4 years. His website "The Auction Resource Network" reveals his inside secrets, tips, and sources that help him pocket over $10,000 per month on eBay. His proven step-by-step system shows even users with little or no business experience how they too
can make huge profits selling products at online auctions.

Claim Your Free eBook: "Top 10 eBay Secrets for Successful Selling"
http://www.showmomthemoney.com/ar.htm

Nicole

Free WAHM Magazine...

2006-07-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to quickly remind you to sign up for the free WAHM magazine I told you about earlier this month.

Just to be clear, this is a REAL magazine that will arrive in your home mailbox each month -- on paper -- with a stamp, even!

Grab your free subscription here - http://www.showmomthemoney.com/wc.htm

Talk with you soon.
Nicole

Free Adsense Blogging e-Book - Time sensitive

2006-07-02T07:15:00.000-07:00

Hi again. I'm on vacation and wasn't planning to send a message, but I found a great freebie and couldn't resisit sharing it with you!

Do you know of Joel Comm? He's the ADSENSE GURU. I've bought most of his e-books and they're definitely worth every penny.

~~~
*If you don't know what adsense is? Read this and sign up asap. I'll be holding classes on adsense soon, but you'll want to already have an acccount in order to understand the course* -
http://www.momaffiliatenetwork.com/google_adsense_tips.html
~~~

Today Joel is giving away his ebook "Blogging for Profits" free, but you only have until July 5th to claim it -- then it'll turn into his sales page....

Grab your free copy here -
http://www.freeaffiliatearticles.com/instantadsense.htm

Have a happy 4th of July holiday weekend!
Nicole

PS. Kelly McCausey is still giving away subscriptions to her Magazine for WAHMs. Grab your copy now in case she changes her mind - http://www.showmomthemoney.com/wc.htm

Take a Survey - Get free e-book

2006-06-29T12:57:00.000-07:00

A fellow Internet Marketer contacted me to let me know he is conducting a survey about "transactional trust" - how people build and determine trust between buyers and sellers through classified ads, auctions, social networking sites, etc.

Since surveys take time, he is giving away a free e-book about Google tips and tricks and an MP3 audio file about using craigslist as a publicity tool. ( $40 value between them)

Here's the link to the survey: click here

And to the blog post telling more about it: click here

Enjoy the free e-book. :)
Nicole

How do you get Traffic to your Website?

2006-06-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

I got an email from a reader today that said....

Ok, Nicole. So, I get that you write and submit articles. ;) What ELSE do you do to get traffic?

Cute. Sometimes I get on my articles rant and forget to mention some of the other ways I get traffic. lol.

You're welcome to sign up for my free course at www.WebTrafficBasics.com to learn more ways to get visitors to your website. No scams or posting ads in classifieds. These are ways to build long-term traffic to your website.

Nicole

I've got NOTHING to write about in my Newsletter this week!

2006-06-29T12:33:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have that dilemma when you have NOTHING to say for your newsletter and just feel BLAH?

When that happens, there's a solution for you. Free reprint articles. You can use these articles on your website, blog, or even your newsletter. If you have a printed newsletter that you mail out, you can use them there, too. The only rule is that you don't change the article at all, and that you include the author's resource box AND link to their site.

Here are some places you can find free reprint articles -
www.LadyPens.com - Free reprint articles by women
www.The-Best-You.com - Health articles

And, one of my favorites - http://www.freeaffiliatearticles.com/directory/ -- and the bonus here is that ALL of these articles have affiliate programs tied with them. So, when you include that link, you can use YOUR affiliate link for their program. Articles that make you money when you publish them. Not a bad deal, eh?

Use as many as you need. That's what they're there for.
Talk soon,
Nicole

Summertime -- Keep that Business Booming

2006-06-29T12:30:00.000-07:00

I know it's hard to keep things going when the kids are home, and the gorgeous weather is calling. Heck, I head to the pool every chance I get.

However, summer is also the time when you can get ahead of the competition! While they're lazying away the days, you can get things in place to be light years ahead of them by fall.

How do you do this? One big part is planning and scheduling. I know... yuck. I hate it, too.

However, if you know you'll only have an hour each day to work your business, then think of the ONE thing you can do that will impact your bottom line.

If you're in Direct Sales that means PICKING UP THE PHONE. That's the best way to get those events booked and get your schedule rockin'.

If you're in Internet Marketing like me, then you may need to do some rotating.
Write and Submit Articles
Post to your Blogs
Add content to your websites
Add content to your autoresponders

Got an online store?
Do a little promoting of your site every day. Whether you write and submit articles, write a press release, or promote your affiliate program, get the word out.

Get things in place so your business is building, a little each day.

Yes, we have the flexibility to work our businesses when we want to, but sometimes that can bite us in the butt by allowing us the flexibility to NOT work our businesses as well.

Get going. I'm cheering you on!
Nicole

I think Kelly McCausey has lost her mind!

2006-06-21T09:14:00.000-07:00

My good friend, Kelly McCausey is a great business woman -- or so I thought. I'm thinking she's completely lost her mind, though.

She's announced that she is GIVING AWAY her magazine for WAHMs. I've been a writer AND a paying subsciber since September so I'm really excited that it'll be free.

Of course Kelly is a smart business woman, so I know this move will grow the WC, and its advertising revenue like wildfire.

Grab your free subscription here -
http://www.showmomthemoney.com/wc.htm

YOU GO KELLY! Remember us little people when you're rich and famous!
;) Nik

Law of Achievement (Comes with bonuses AND helps charity)

2006-06-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

I wanted to tell you again about this great offer. You know how much I love helping charities through my Pay it Forward Program. Here's a way to help a great cause and get bonuses in the process....

In early May I participated in an exciting book launch campaign with authors Kathleen Gage and Lori Giovannoni. The launch of the book was so successful The Law of Achievement became a best seller on Amazon.com with 24 hours.

How it worked is when someone bought the book from Amazon.com they were eligible to receive over 100 bonus gifts from experts around the world. I am excited to be one of those experts.

Because the campaign was so successful, Kathleen and Lori decided to make this offer again, but for a very limited time. Not only do you receive lots of gifts when you order the book, you are also helping raise funds for a program called The Reading Rally.

You receive all the bonus gifts when you order one or more books today. All you have to do is go to http://www.lawofachievement.com/special1.htm, order your book from Amazon.com and return to the special page to fill in your name, email and confirmation number at which time you will receive the special link.

These gifts include eBooks, teleconferences, special reports, MP3 files, and much, much more. Topics range from professional development, healthy living, successful sales strategies, Internet marketing courses to name just a few. You are eligible to get all of the bonuses when you order the book.

I hope you enjoy it.
Nicole

Free Work at Home Book (the real kind that you can read at the beach)

2006-06-09T06:10:00.000-07:00

I've been buying up a bunch of paperback books lately. It's hard to take an ebook to the park or the beach. And, nothing is more "summer" to me than reading a book in a lawnchair. Ahhh...

I'll definitely be grabbing a copy of this one...
My friend, Kristie T is giving away 10,000 copies of her book "I Love My Life: A Mom's Guide to Working from Home"

In this book, you can learn how to successfully be a WAHM achieving YOUR personal and financial goals.

The regular price is $14.95, but your price is free - (you pay only shipping costs).

Grab your free book

Have a great weekend!
Nicole

Money Saving Ideas

2006-06-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

Summer is oftentimes a hard period for a work at home mom. Not only does income tend to drop -- but you can't work as much because the kids are in school.

Well, when I'm not making as much money as I'd like to be, I'm working on ways to save the money I am making a little better.

This is a great time to point you to the Frugal Tips and Money Saving Ideas at ShowMomtheMoney.com and the New Uses for Your Food blog I created to help us all take advantage of our gardens and big sales where you can stock up on big savings.

Enjoy and please share your best money-saving tips, too.
Nicole

Free Internet Marketing Audios from the Gurus

2006-06-04T18:07:00.000-07:00

I signed up for this free audio series to see what it was all about. I don't mind being a guinea pig first so I don't waste your time on JUNK. ;) (Believe me ... I get offers for TONS of garbage every day.)

Well, I've got to tell you ... I'm impressed. They have gathered a panel of experts and they are interviewing them one at a time on different topics related to Internet Marketing. So far the interviews I've heard have had great information.

CLICK HERE to check it out.

Let me know what you think.
Nicole