Are you looking for more traffic to your Blog, online e-Store or eBay Store?  Have you jumped on the Twitter bandwagon yet? If not, read on!

I signed up just recently and I’m having so much fun! Not only have I met new friends, but I find that it’s the perfect medium to stay on top of things. It’s also really easy to communicate with my fellow bloggers that I’ve met through Entrecard.  Hey ~ even this Baby Boomer tries to stay ahead of the curve on all the latest technology!  Here’s why I think it’s great for WAHMs to use to promote your online businesses, blogs or eBay business.

Whether you are just getting started with an online business or you have been around for a while and looking for a new way to network, have a look at Twitter. Part chat program and part tiny blog, you will find that the Twitter interface is one that can change the way you interact with your current customers and potential customers worldwide.

Here’s 5 reasons why Twitter’s a powerful marketing tool for online WAHM business owners like you.

1. It’s Short, Sweet & To the Point
Have you ever heard the phrase, less is more? You’ll find that one of the best things about Twitter is that it keeps all messages very short and sweet. You’ll have to give your customers and clients the gist of what is going on in short tweets (messages similar to instant messages) that allow their interest to be piqued in such a way as to make them investigate further. You won’t bother them with long-winded messages that make them yawn and move on. Instead, you’ll be able to catch their attention quickly and make them want to know more.

2. Immediacy
Much like a blog or an RSS feed, you can get access to the people that use Twitter regularly. In some ways, this is like making sure that you can reach them no matter where they are, and you’ll find that this is very important when you want to make marketing one of your biggest priorities. You’re making sure that they have all of the latest updates to what you are doing and what’s going on by simply sending a tweet their way.

3. Everyone’s Doing It
In many ways, Twitter is a social program more than it is a marketing one, and you’ll find that using Twitter can help you feel a great deal closer to your client base and other’s in your online community. If you are looking to make sure that they see you as a person rather than as simply a company or service, you’ll find that Twitter encourages them to think of you as someone they can get to know. This can be very important when it comes to establishing a customer base and customer loyalty.

4. You Get to Hear a Lot
Remember that it goes both ways; you can put information out on Twitter and you can also learn a lot too. By following other’s Twitter accounts, especially if it looks like they have a lot to offer, you can keep in the know about various products, services, and other happenings online. This can be a great way to keep an eye on what is going on in order to keep yourself in the know of your industry.

5. Make Them Laugh
You can also use Twitter to tease people a little bit, in a fun way, of course! When you use Twitter, you have to keep your messages short, and in many ways, a little mysterious. Pique their interest, joke around, and you’ll find that you gain a lot more followers and hopefully website traffic and customers as a result.

Be warned, just as with any other social networking site, Twitter can quickly become addicting if you let it. Don’t go overboard and get so involved in all the tweeting that it takes away from your intended purpose. Used wisely Twitter can be a great and powerful marketing tool to help create online business success.

Sign up for my Newsletter for more updates about Twitter.

Want to know what I’m doing now?  Just read my Twitter Box on my right-hand sidebar!  Follow Me!

‘Contest! Prize Package worth OVER $2000.00′ ~ Mom’s United in Business

Mom’s United in Business is holding a contest!

Contest Deadline: Friday August 15, 2008 11:59pm EST
Winner will be chosen via random drawing and announced Monday August 18, 2008

Prizes have been generously donated by members of Moms United in Business.

The super Prize Package is worth over $2,000.00 !

We are not merely a business community, promoting women and their businesses. We are an organization of motivated and energetic women offering inspiration and support not only as a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and/or friend, but as a woman in your own right!

We believe that by following our own dreams, listening to the whispers of our hearts and by nurturing ourselves we are then able to give more abundantly to our families and our businesses.

We are dedicated to supporting you as both a Mom and a Business Professional. As we all know, the key to a successful business is networking and to a successful life is balance!

If you’re serious about your business ~ Join MUIB today!  It’s FREE!

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

Click the Button to Keep Me On Top!

Are you looking for a terrific, friendly forum to join to network your WAHM business? Then look no further!

I’ve been a member of Smart Moms ~ Smart Business for quite some time now. The ladies are really friendly, intelligent and quite helpful. It’s one of the few forums that I find myself revisiting and participating in quite frequently for all the helpful business advice, family discussions, cooking tips and camaraderie.

Work At Home Moms - Smart Moms ~ Smart Business, LLC
is a resource for women; teaching how to create multiple streams
of income by working from home. Free tips & tools, forum, eBook,
and consultation.

Sign up for the lively forum discussions, and don’t forget to get the helpful Free eBooks that are available for download!  Tell them I sent you!

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!

Don’t be alarmed! I’ve felt that one of my banners The Mom Pack banner needed an “attitude adjustment” and therefore I did a little redecorating and replacement with this one such renegade banner!

It’s that time again, where I’m going off on a tangent.  Hot Flashing about whatever gets my dander up.  I’m providing this service to all the Moms out there and sharing my experiences in the e-commerce world.

Within the last 1-1/2 years since I’ve been “online,” I was advised to join various Mom forums.  There’s one in particular that’s highly touted as being helpful, however, it’s moderated.

By moderated, I mean that anytime you want to post a comment, suggestion, response, etc., your post has to go through the forum administrator.

So, over the last year or so, I’d been lurking, picking up bits & pieces of useless usefull useless information.  Many of the moms post trying to hawk promote hawk their products, contests, news, etc.   Most of the time the comments are veiled, and disguised as if to provide information.  If you are savvy and can read between the lines, you really see that they’re trying to sneak in a little self-promo.

The quality of the valuable information has taken a dive digressed taken a dive, and provides nothing but a middle-school  lunchroom sorority house Animal House atmosphere where the sisters travel in packs.  I’m so happy I blog.

I’ve voiced similar concerns here in the past.

Wicked Stepsisters

One of my online buddies has become so disgusted disillusioned disgusted that she’s since gone “No Mail” on this particular forum.

This is a photo of the Yahoo Group Homepage.  You can see how the number of posts have been steadily declining.

You see, I think they’re arrogant and they play favorites.  When I tried to make a simple post, no different than that of anyone else, I got a nasty polite nasty email from the forum moderator Julie saying that if I didn’t like their rules, perhaps the site is “not for me.”  Harumpf.  I’ll lurk, thank you very much.  So now I’m a Persona Non Grata, and bet ya none of my posts will go through, should I decide to try to post again. (Don’t have to be concerned about posting there anymore.)

I’ve found that the moms on mommy blogger forums, and even non-mommy blog forums are much nicer, and willing to share all kinds of information.  If you don’t blog and would like to know how to go about starting a blog, join the Mom Bloggers Club.  They’re a great bunch over there!

As my faithful followers know, I’m not Edith,  I don’t like being stiffled, and I speak up when I feel the need to.

Pay attention to what’s going on in the forums you join, and read what’s between the lines.

Recently I’ve been exploring different ways to try to get my blog to work for me. While I enjoy blogging and the many friendships I’ve made through blogging, I enjoy eating and paying my bills, too.

I enjoy the aspects of sharing the business knowledge I’ve developed over the years through my job as a Paralegal Virtual Assistant as well as writing about my journey and venture into the realm of e-commerce.

I’ve built on this insight through each Work-At-Home Forum that I’ve joined and belong to, as well as through the many blogging communities I belong to, and friends that I’ve met along the way.

One of the ways that I’m thinking of promoting my boutique online business, Moomette’s Magnificents Olde Towne Shoppes is through ppc advertising.

Pay Per Click Advertising will allow me to connect my business with the customers looking for my products and/or services. This process is a one-stop website promotion solution for small businesses such as mine. NetworkSolutions researches keywords, analyzes your website, creates ad copy, purchases keywords and reports on your campaign. There is the ability to choose from two affordable, fully managed performance click advertising plans, based on your needs. New options include customized landing pages and local business ads.

Look into NetworkSolutions for your business needs! Affordable monthly plans start as low as $125 per month, plus a one-time setup fee.

I like my Rib-Eye steaks rare. I’ll be heading to the butcher’s in the morning! Yum!

Wow, I recently got approved and signed up for the social networking site SocialSpark!

This is going to be my first paid post about the site!

As all my faithful readers know, I’m trying to retire from my day job. Social Spark from IZEA gives me the opportunity to meet fellow bloggers, and helps to monetize my blog by enabling me to post for honest, reputable companies.

Similar to Pay-Per-Post, once your blog is approved, you can browse the marketplace and apply for any posting opportunities that you may be qualified for. When you submit your blog for approval, you can choose which categories you would like to qualify for to be shown on your blog.

What’s equally nice, is that Social Spark maintains a very high standard of ethics. This means:

* 100% Audit-able In-Post Disclosure
* 100% Transparency
* 100% Real Opinions
* 100% Search Engine Friendly

Since I am a WAHG with several online ecommerce sites, I try to give tips and promote my businesses through my blog. I’ve become an avid blogger, and the social aspect of Social Spark enables me to visit other bloggers, and leave and receive comments on my blogs and theirs. Here’s my profile that I’ve created so other bloggers can find and network with me.

Lastly, Blogging is becoming mainstream, and more and more people are looking towards bloggers to receive their news and garner new opinions. Advertisers are recognizing the value of this new social media, and taking the opportunity to create buzz for their products. It’s a way for advertisers to reach a whole new target market and generation of potential customers who are familiar with technology.

If you’re a stay-at-home Mom or Dad, Work-at-Home Mommy or Dad, or Baby Boomer such as myself looking for a supplemental source of income, or simply looking to reach out, network and explore new horizons, sign up for Social Spark now! You’ll be pleasantly surprised at all the benefits!

Here’s my disclosure policy that I’ve developed:

Don’t you just love my new “Siggy” ? I use it on all my outgoing e-mails.  I belong to Cafe Mom. This social networking site has all kinds of neat groups you can join, and one is the “Signature Showcase.” There’s several very talented Designers there, and Lyric Glory made it for me ~ for Free!

The following article says it all about the benefits of using a “Signature” for promoting your WAHM eBiz and eBay Sites! Don’t forget to make it “clickable” to enable everyone to get right to your site or blog!

Free Promotion: Signature Advertising
By: Tammy Embrich

Signature advertising has proven to be an excellent (free) advertising source for online marketers today.

What is a signature?

A signature is a block of text at the end of your forum/newsgroup messages or emails. It includes your name, a breif blurb or saying about you and/or your business, and a link to your website or business.

What is signature advertising?

Signature advertising is simply including your signature in your postings on forums/newsgroups and at the end of any emails you send out. It is a proven fact that about 75% of people surfing the Internet today will click on your signature links. And it’s 100% free advertising!

To make the most out of signature advertising, (if you intend on advertising through message forums or newsgroups), you need to subscribe to as many of them as possible that relate to your website or business. Always make for sure you read the posting and signature rules on each forum you join…important! If rules are not followed, you could be banned permanently.

Once you have joined the forums, don’t forget to create your signature.

Important Note: Always make for sure you have “always include your signature” ticked on all your profiles in each of the forums. This way, your signature will always automatically appear after all your posts. Also always make for sure you follow the character length rules in your signature in all forums.

Catchy link titles:

It is important to have catchy link titles in your signatures to entice the members to click on your links. Try different ones….create link titles with short word phrases that relate to your website or business. Signature advertising has prooven to be effective over and over again, especially in message forums. Try and make your links as creative as possible, to try and perk the readers attention and make them want to click on your link.

In message forums (related to your website or business) start out by participating in conversations…answering questions, sharing advice/tips, welcoming new members to the forums, and just having fun getting to know the other forum members.
There is usually a folder in the forums where you are allowed to enter your ad for your website or business promotion. Please always read any rules for those ad postings.

Important Note: It is always important to begin in each forum by FIRST…introducing yourself and telling a little about your business and what you do from home. In this introduction, leave out any ads. The Introduction folder in message forums is for getting to know other members and sharing a little bit about yourself and is not intended for ads. If you do include an ad or affiliate link in the Introduction folders, it will most likely be deleted by the administrator.

Another effective signature advertising method is including your signature with a link to your website or business at the end of all of your out-going email messages. You will be surprised at how many people click on these links.

Once you get a good amount of signature links out there in the public eye, you will soon discover more and more traffic to your website. This could mean sales for your business, someone interested in networking with you…a number of things.

Wishing you much success in your online business endeavors…and Happy Posting!

Article written by: Tammy Embrich

Tammy is an Internet Marketer and is the
Owner of: http://www.onestopwebemployment.com/
And Owner of: http://www.real-wah-jobs.com/

Tammy’s two WAH websites focus on free telecommute job leads and more.

Back in the beginning when I started my blog, I mentioned how I have an eBay Store where I’m a Power Seller. I am a Vintage Antique Collector, but branched out into other areas as a result of the forums I belong to. I’m a Moderator on eBay Coach Free Forum, and have met many knowledgeable eBay Sellers on there. You can’t beat Suzanne Wells, the eBay Coach, for all the free excellent advice she’s always dishing out.

Just because I’m successful on my eBay site doesn’t mean that there still isn’t a need to re-access the market and go with the flow of the financial economy ~ see what works for you, and what doesn’t. Change is inevitable ~ eBay changes their marketing tactics; the economy changes; and so do my family needs, time constraints and interests. The challenge is still on to reinvent myself and find my niche.

In keeping with my original mantra to keep my readers updated on my progress (or lack of it) towards retirement - I started this blog. As you all know, I have expanded and opened Moomette’s Magnificents Olde Towne Shoppes where I sell hand-crafted items and more. I’ve also found that I love blogging, am putting a great deal of effort and time into it, and enjoy the many new friendships it has afforded me.

I recently posted on my Mama Mentor Blog that I took a little R & R junket to Lake Keuka, one of the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York to visit my brother. That junket actually turned into an Antique Shopping Spree.

When I flew up - all I brought was a carry-on. Since 4 boxes of Vintage Collectibles wouldn’t fit under my plane seat ~ my brother ending up shipping them back to me (graciously, at his expense!) (Snicker-Yippee!)

So, I had a massive auction liquidation of certain lines in my eBay Store, and am increasing my line of Vintage items, in both my eBay Store and my boutique Shoppes site.

Stay tuned for other posts on how things are going with my affiliate marketing ~ that’s a whole ‘nother area I’m re-assessing.

The most awsome, popular social networking site SK*RT has changed it’s name to KIRTSY!

Get there as fast as you can to check out all the fab information available! I love the banners that say “For Women ~ And the Men that want to Get In Their Heads.”

You’ll find information on Arts & Entertainment; Designs & Crafts; Parenting & Family; Fashion & Style; Food & Home; Internet & Technology; Mind, Body & Spirit and Travel & Leisure.  So sign up now!

Bloggers - upload your latest posts for all of us to see!

What more can a dame ask for? ~ Plus, a chance to enter some fab contests!