Entrecarder of the week!

COPY THE BANNER AND BLOG ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE THIS WEEK.
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EntreCard Find of the Week is now a collaborative effort between Moomettesgram’s Musings and
The Mom With Brownies.

I luv participating in Entre-Find of the Week!’ What a cool way to share the newest blogs you’ve EC dropped in on!

NOT JUST A MAMA

I’m excited to tell you about this Saturday’s Entrecard Entre-Find of the Week, which is written by one incredibly talented young gal ~ Wife, Sister, Blogger, Writer ~ Friend.

On her About Me page, Not Just A Mama, Penny reveals some very personal facts to her readers, and immediately draws them into her world:

• I did not graduate from high school;
• I wish I had;
• I miss my Mom;
• my family means everything to me;
• I’ve written a book I hope to have published one day, hopefully before I die;
• I’m a twice published poet;
• I enjoy designing websites;

And that’s just for starters! Besides offering Free Blog Templates, you’ll find interesting articles about

• Being a Mom
• Family
• Holidays
• In my Defense
• Internet Land
• Me Me Me
• Nothin’ Really
• Relationship Stuff
• This Wicked World
• Work

Please take a moment to stop by and drop your Entrecard (which is above the fold ~ yeah~), read the articles, and leave your comments!  Please mention you found the site through Moomettesgram’s Musings Entre-Find of the Week!

Who was your favorite EntreFind this week? Click here to learn how to play. Don’t forget to come back after you blog about your weekly favorite to leave the link to your post below. We want to read your favorites too!

Many of my readers know that I’m an eBay Power Seller through my Store, Moomette’s Magnificents, as well as a Moderator on Suzanne Wells’ eBay Coach Free Forum.

Suzanne is an Internationally recognized eBay Authority, Author-Extraordinaire of The Stay At Home Mom’s Guide to Successful eBay Selling, and Administrator of the Ebay Coach Free Forum. (If you sell on eBay, it is THE place to be for up-to-the minute advice on anything and everything eBay!)

Suzanne is an expert on finding inventory (cheap, or free) to sell on eBay, and has amassed oodles of products from  CVS, RiteAid, Walgreens, and various other stores.  eBay Coach wants to do a little Pre-Fall cleaning at her house, and is looking for someone to take it off her hands.

Here is what you get:

(2) Tubes Aveeno Sunscreen SPF 55, $18 value
Burt’s Bees Color Keeper Shampoo, 8 ounces, $9 value
Burt’s Bees Healthy Healing Carrot Lotion, 8 ounces, $9 value
Itch X Lotion, 3 oz, $10 value
Love’s Baby Soft Cologne Spray, $12 value
(2) Oral B Cross Action Power toothbrushes, $14 value
Almay Intense i-Color Kit, $22 Value
(2) Almay Triple Effect Mascara (blackest black), $16 value
Quattro Surf Style Razor and Case, $5 value
Aquafresh Advanced Toothpaste, $4 value
Neutrogena Lip Balm with Sunscreen, $4 value

Here’s how to play.

Post this contest on your blog. Leave a comment at Suzanne’s blog, eBay Selling Coach, about why you want all this FREE stuff, that links back to the post on your blog. If you don’t have a blog, post this contest on a forum or group. Leave a comment that links back to your post.

The winner will be announced Monday, August 25 - we have to do something to make Mondays fun!

Should I happen to be the winner, I’ve indicated that I will be donating the prizes to the local Social Services Agency in my town, or to the local Shelter for battered women.

As part of my Grand Master Plan,  I’m hoping to try to retire next year. For the last 1-1/2 years, I’ve been building up my various ecommerce businesses, one by one.

It all started when my daughter was planning her wedding and I mistakenly decided to buy her a Celtic Tiara to wear at the reception. I bought it on the internet, and she promptly made me sell it on the internet. Little did she know she was creating a monster, as I plunged full speed ahead, opened an ecommerce store, and became a Power Seller. And who doesn’t believe in the Luck ‘O the Irish?

Opening an ecommerce store obviously meant that I had to invest in some office supplies to get my momreneur ebiz going. Superwarhouse.com is a one-stop shop for all home and business office needs. It’s also Eco-Friendly, and carries name-brand products.

If you’re going to sell on an ecommerce site, the most important thing, besides inventory, is you’d have to have a good-quality camera My favorites are the Canon Digital Cameras. Canon has announced a new initiative, Generation Green that combines the company’s eco-friendly printer products and solutions under one corporate brand. Generation Green is divided into three product classification categories: Eco-Conscious, Eco-Standards and Eco-Friendly. More and more people I know are making a concerted effort to go Green!

I also needed a postage scale to weigh all my packages that I send out for items I sell. I also had to purchase a tape-gun, packing and shipping supplies such as bubble wrap, packing tape, poly mailers as well as printing paper.

My second ecommerce business venture is that I established a Virtual Assistant website specializing in Administrative and Paralegal Assistance. I’ve been a professional paralegal for over 30 years, and this was a natural progression for me. In order to run such a business, I need to purchase items such as a scanner and am looking into Laptops as well.  The Epson scanners and HP laptops are one’s I’m definitely going to look into. However, Sony has announced their own plans for helping the environment by introducing the Sony VAIO Eco Friendly Notebook to the market. The notebooks are available in a range of “eco” colors, which include leopard print and floral patterns. Having a laptop gives me the flexibility to use Wi-Fi and work from almost anywhere! Since my Charming Son-In-Law is originally from Vermont, I can take it up there when I go to visit and never miss a beat on either my ecommerce business or my VA business!

There’s just so many choices at superwarehouse.com that I’ve definitely bookmarked the site as one of my favorites.

Continuing my little expose on how I’m doing in wally world as a WAHM, I’m going to further expound on my adventures in Twitterville.

First, I’m going to say this work-at-home Gram from Dysfunction Junction, CT is finding it’s a ton of fun ~ I enjoy getting the little pop-ups on Twitterfox, and getting to know the personalities of all my Tweeps.  While working late at night, I haven’t had the opportunity to watch the Olympics.  However, there’s one gal who updates regularly, every 10 minutes or so, on what exactly has been going on!  She’s so entertaining (besides being the author of a terrific blog, Send Chocolate, that I suggested last night that she bottle all the commentary on the Olympics into an eBook!

But I digress.  Seriously, Twitter is an excellent platform for micro-blogging and marketing your product, be it a blog, service, eBay store or mission.

If you find yourself in a position that you need to understand your target customer as well as keep up with various ways of marketing to those potential customers, Twitter is one of the most powerful and popular tools out there right now!  This new type of network communication has been taken up by companies and individuals alike in recent months and for good reason.

To get a better understanding of Twitter, let’s first take a look at the format.  Essentially, Twitter is a program that allows you to make very small, public posts.  Because these posts are so limited (they max out at 140 characters) they can easily be sent to a number of different locations all at once.  When you have written a Twitter, it can appear on the twitter website, on short message services, instant messaging sites or even on third-party applications like Facebook or Twitterific.  Folks can even add a script to their blog or website to show their most recent posts and the posts of others!   I have a blue widget box on my right sidebar.   Your Twitter messages, also known tweets, will appear to anyone who has chosen to follow your updates.

There are several advantages to this type of communication.  The first thing that you’ll discover is that it allows for a much more immediate relay of information.  The shortness of the message forces you to be very brief, and this alone can create interest in those reading.  Because tweets are so short, they often lead to frequent posting, which is excellent when you’re looking to communicate with people and to get to know them.  While Twitter is, by default, public, you can restrict the people who see your material with the ease of checking a box in your profile.

Actually, although I rarely have to do this, last night and so far tonight have been the exception.  I believe it’s a full-moon this week, and true to form, the crazies are coming out of the walls.  I, along with a few of  my fellow Tweeps, have had to block several people.  If these folks have a trillion people that they’re following, and only 1 or 2 followers of their own and no website listed - that’s a sure sign of a Spammer or bored teen, and an instant BLOCK.  But don’t let that discourage you.  It happens in e-mail programs too.

You’ll find that not only can you post tweets, you can also receive them.  Once again, the immediate nature of this service lends greatly to its appeal.  Want to follow someone’s updates and see what they are up to with their business or life in general? Simply sign into your Twitter account, type in their Twitter address or username and click the “Follow” button.  That’s all there is to it!

The amount of time that’s spent reading the messages is very short, and you can be in contact with people a great deal more than you otherwise might be. In essence, you can get to know each other much more quickly than if you were just reading each others blogs or profiles.  The look and feel of an instant messaging service helps add to this ability.  Think about it for a minute, do you feel more connected to those on your messenger list than the blogs you read? Twitter is the same way.

I used Twitter extensively this week with my website designer for my Virtual Assistant website.  We both are on Twitter and when I sent her an e-mail either responding to her design questions, or making suggestions on the site design myself, I sent her a Tweet to let her know that ‘you’ve got e-mail.’  Simple!

For many, whether they’re looking for friends, clients, or someone to help them out with a problem or workload, getting in touch with others is important.  With Twitter it’s never been easier!

Don’t forget to Follow Me!

Awhile back I wrote about how Baby Boomer Gram is trying to keep up with technology and the times.  You can read my post here.

As a mom of then teenagers, and now young adults, I’ve had to learn to use AIM Instant Messenger to keep in constant contact; then I had to learn how to text message on my cell if I wanted to know if the kiddos were still alive, and it goes on and on.

My latest feat is that now I am …. Twittering!  Even my kids don’t Twitter, yet  ~ so I’m ahead of the curve here!

Here’s a great tip for WAHM moms, or any online ebiz, or ebay store owner.

Would you like to earn auto-pilot commissions every time you post to your blog? And at the same time use the Power of Twitter to drive massive amounts of traffic to your blog.

I know it sounds like a fairy tale, but it just became reality, with the launch of John Merrick and Soren Jordansen’s new “Tweet My Blog“.

Just by using the powerful free plugin, you will be promoting your affiliate link on auto-pilot. In other words, you can earn commissions just for posting to your blog.

But that’s just one of the many benefits of using TweetMyBlog, visit the page to learn more - and grab your free copy today.

And… Even though they are giving this plugin away for free, you should take a close look at the special offer they have in store for you when join. I instantly grabbed my own copy, and I know it will skyrocket my marketing power when using Twitter and Wordpress.

I don’t know if they’re are going to keep this free forever, I certainly feel they could start charging big bucks for it. So, grab your copy today, while it’s still free - and start using it before you competition does!

As a small internet business owner, I’m always looking for ways to maximize my exposure on the web. Recently I came across Network Solutions. This is a company that specializes in helping small businesses start and market their businesses on the Web. In addition to domain name registration, they offer Web site design and hosting, e-commerce solutions, online security products, and search engine marketing and optimization.

Through Webinars and Seminars, Network Solutions explores issues such as pay-per-click and search engine optimization techniques, and provides practical knowledge about strategies, tactics, and solutions for marketing online. Network Solutions has designed all of these resources to lead, guide, and teach small business customers how to succeed online.

Network Solutions also offers ideas to small business owners for improving business practices in ways many may not have even thought or known possible. The events also provide opportunities for small business owners to network with one another and learn from each other.

If you’ve been downsized or outsourced, you might be interested in network solutions jobs. etwork Solutions is looking for bright, talented team players! They’re looking hard to locate talented, passionate, and dedicated people who want to build and grow their careers with a company like Network Solutions®. Perks include a comprehensive health and welfare benefits program, Matching 401K program as well as Flexible Spending Accounts.

Check them out ~ Network Solutions is there to help you any way they can!

Are you trying to cut down on credit card debt and expenses? I know I am. Although the country is in an economic downturn that will hopefully pick up within the next year, it’s always good to have at least one credit card for emergencies.

Over the weekend, my sister-in-law announced that she rented a condo for 2 months this winter in Florida ~ and she invited me down for a few days!

Now, I consider that an emergency! I need some R & R, and actually haven’t had a winter vacation where I relaxed down South since I was a teenager. No winter breaks for me!

To fund this little road trip, I’m going to Apply for a credit card that issues rewards for every time I use it. I’m also looking for one that is unsecured and has a low regular rate, and no annual fees. Cardhub makes it easy for me to find exactly what I’m looking for.

Do you have any ‘emergencies’ that you might like to have a card on-hand for? Check them out! It’s an awsome site!  They’ve covered every option to help you out ~ search capabilities, saved searches ~ the only thing they need to improve on is making the print larger for these Baby Boomer eyes!

Can you say “Early Bird Special?”

VOTE FOR ME ~ KEEP ME ON TOP ~ I’M A TOP MOMMA ~

Click the Button to Keep Me On Top!

As many of you know, I’m dedicated to trying to retire from my day FT job to work at home full time and also to try to take care of the grandkiddos. I came across what I consider to be some very useful information that I’m going to share with you. I found it to be extremely helpful, and hope you do too.

5 Simple Techniques to Work at Home Forever

Copyright © 2003, Sylvie Charrier
Author of “You Can Work in Your PJs”
http://www.inyourpjs.com

If you’ve spent any time online, you will already know that there are lots of scams out there! You might have even begun to doubt that there are any work-at-home positions available for serious jobseekers. If this sounds like you, you aren’t alone!

Believe me, there are real home based jobs, but what most of the work at home sites omit in their information packages is that it takes work to get work. Finding a telecommuting job can be a full time job in itself, but if you don’t have all the facts, you will be spinning your wheels trying to get somewhere or you will probably give up within a few weeks. That would be a shame, because there aren’t enough high quality telecommuters as it is!

Look, I know you’re skeptical. So was I, a few short years ago. That was before I started implementing some very unique strategies that allowed me to generate so much work from my small home office, that I needed to hire extra staff just to keep up with it all!

The strategies I used are actually very simple, and you can duplicate these ideas to become a very successful telecommuter. In fact, I want you to copy my techniques, even if it means I create my own competition! Why? Because every time a new person starts to work from home more successfully and efficiently, that means one more employer is happy with the concept of hiring homeworkers! That means everyone gets more jobs, and more opportunities to do what we all love to do…working at home in our pyjamas!

So, let’s cover the top 5 simple techniques you can use to work at home forever, shall we?

1. Never pay for any job! There is never a good reason to pay for work, and I am amazed at how many jobseekers waste precious time and money chasing after schemes that will never pay. It wastes a lot of time you could better spend targeting your jobsearch to legitimate and valid work.

2. Get your materials ready! You are going to need to be ready before you start looking for work. You will need a specialized telecommuter’s resume, an excellent cover letter template, and an online portfolio that showcases samples of your work. Without these things in place ahead of time, you will not be ready for rapid response when an employer needs to see your stuff.

3. Make sure you have all the equipment and software you’re going to need! Depending on your skill set, you’re probably going to need special software and equipment to do your job right. Don’t expect an employer to pay for these things. A prospective employer is more likely to hire the next person who is properly equipped, rather than hire you if you expect the employer to pay for what you need to do your job.

4. Know what you do for a living! This is an absolute necessity if you want to work from home. You may think that you want to do “typing at home”, but if that’s all you can think of, then you’re wasting time. Think about how your typing skills will be useful to your employer, come up with creative applications of that skill, set up samples to show what your service looks like, and plan ahead on how much you will charge for that service. Be willing to tell prospective employers exactly what you do and how much you charge for it.

5. Change your strategy! Instead of looking for jobs that have already been posted online, and have already been taken, look for companies that are well suited for your talents. Create your own work by contacting companies that have not yet posted jobs online, and eliminate the competition. But, make sure you know exactly what service you plan to offer that company, and why it is useful to them. Don’t bother contacting companies by sending vague resumes. That technique never works! Contact targeted companies with specific services in mind, and let them know you are open to alternate suggestions.

These techniques work extremely well, and using them allowed me to build my home based service company from scratch, without spending a dime on advertising. I was broke when I started working from home, and I didn’t have a computer. Using these techniques, I was able to slowly build my business and develop a client base that has consistently earned me more money than if I was working onsite. You can do it too!

This article is excerpted from “You Can Work in Your PJs”, a real world guide to telecommuting. Sylvie Charrier works from home full time and wrote this book to share her unique techniques with others. You can download your copy of “You Can Work in Your PJs” by visiting http://www.inyourpjs.com

Posh is an adjective, with a dictionary meaning of “smart or fashionable^[1]“, “elegant, stylishly luxurious^[2]“, “spruced up, smart or polished^[3]“.  Answers.com

Are You a Posh Mama? I am!

Come see what everyone’s talking about!

…Posh Mama is an upbeat community exclusive to women around the world from all walks of life.  You don’t have to be a mom to be a Posh Mama!

Registration is FREE! Join now, and then stop by and visit Moomettesgram at My Place!

Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network is a positive and upbeat community made up of women from around the world. You will feel immediately welcomed as it is the sweetest spot on the ‘net. Come hang out, network and make some great friends at www.poshmama.com.

VOTE FOR ME ~ KEEP ME ON TOP ~ I’M A TOP MOMMA ~

Click the Button to Keep Me On Top!

“When the walls came tumbling down
When the walls came tumbling down
When the walls came tumbling down
Everybody ran as they screamed at the sound’… Def Leppard

More titillating tidbits on my WAHM Affiliate Marketing experience!

Today I resigned from all but maybe two, of the small WAHM companies I belonged to as an Independent Consultant for Affiliate Marketing.

That’s it, I’m done, I’ve heard, seen and had enough of it.

I got an e-mail today from a company I was a rep for ~ Beautiful Diva.

The email indicated that affiliate links would no longer take a customer directly to your shopping cart, but rather a “landing/splash” page.  The customer would then have the option to search for a representative by entering their zip code, name or other methods.

WTH?  I’m going to put up a banner link to a site ~ have a potential customer click through to it ~ and then have that potential customer enter their zip code to find a different rep?

Who are they going to search for under “name” ~ Moomettesgram?  My full name used to be displayed before they did a U-Turn on their marketing tactics.

I don’t think so.  Down came that banner and ~ exit, stage left.  No more rep for that company.

My advice to anyone who’s thinking of becoming an Affiliate Rep, is this:

Before you sign up with a new WAHM company, check to see where your customer is going to land.  Otherwise - all you’re going to be doing is putting up a banner for the company gratis, and you won’t see any sales.

How many of my readers know what my zip code is?  I speak often of living in New England ~ Connecticut specifically ~ but I don’t think anyone is going to find me through that method.

If you blog and use banners, do all your readers know what state you live in?  Do you use your real name, or a by-line?

Really, young ones, think this one through.  Don’t just blindly do everything these companies ask you to do.  You are going to be taken for a ride if you do.

Another reason I’ve left several companies is that many are signed up with JROX.  One particular company made their reps sign up at least 3 times for a new JROX affiliate ID.  Talk about confusion.  No sales there ~ the website was down ~ the affiliate IDs didn’t work~ excuses, excuses.  I’m outta there.

Nope.  The only companies I’m with now are basically through big-name affiliate sites.  I’ll stick with those for awhile, and see how it goes.

No more small potatoes.

If anyone has any other experiences and you find you’re rolling in dough, speak up, and add yourself as a subscriber if you’d like to hear my continuing saga!