Money Smart Moms

Going Into Sleep Mode

I’ve been writing to this blog since November of 2006. Time flies….

I’ve grown on the web and now have over 30 websites I manage and keep track of. What that means, is that it’s time to look at what I’m doing, and re organize. Not only am I shifting things, some blogs are going into hibernation. This blog happens to be one of the blogs I’ll be putting in hibernation at this time. I may get back to it, but right now, I don’t have the time, and would like to focus my time on my flagship blog over at Surviving NJ.

Please come visit me at Surviving NJ, where you can follow me along.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, and I wish you well.

Does Your Small Business Need Help with Technology?

Have you heard of BlackBox.com? If you’re a small business, you’ll want to add them to your list of resource companies. They offer a catalog of over 100,000 products for technology goods. Whether you need CAT6 Modular Plugs or workstation outlets, they’ve got the goods to help you out.

They also offer a test lab, so you can figure out what your needs are. Need help figuring out your needs, they offer free equipment planning as well. It’s as easy as contacting them. They’ll come to your location and help you design, plan and install your network needs. That’s a huge bonus for business owners unsure of where to start. If you’d like to check out all the offerings that Black Box Network Services offer, check them out at BlackBox.com.

Be a Conversation Starter!

If you like funny t-shirts, and who doesn’t, check out ROADKILLtshirts.com. They have a huge assortment of wild, wicked and funny sayings. I love some of the naughtier ones, but this is a family friendly blog! Go check them out for yourself, and you’ll start laughing at some of the great sayings. Right now, if you order 3 shirts, you can get one free! Read the details on the home page so you know the right code to order with.

I love funny t-shirts, and all your friends do too. Grab a couple for your buddies, and be the conversation starter when you’re out! People will be laughing when they see what your shirt is saying!

Is There Money in Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing isn’t going away. You can either jump in and try on your own, or just watch as those who are earning float by. I first ventured into affiliate marketing about a year ago, with very little success. This year, after taking proper time to research and learn all that I could, I jumped back into the game. I’m having more success than I did last year, and honestly, it takes time to gain growth.

People think you can just pop a link in there and something will sell itself. It’s not that easy. You need to not only consider what you’ll be selling, but also how it relates to what you’re all ready doing on that website. Whether you create an opt-in list and do email marketing, use blogs or websites, the best way to do well is by finding a product that people who come to your site will genuinely be interested in. If I was trying to sell you snow tires here, it wouldn’t make sense. Keep that in mind!

Traffic is the magic figure in many of the sales, and to get traffic, you have to set yourself apart from others. If your information looks like the exact information your competitor has, you’re wasting your time. Give information that is useful and helps them solve a problem they’ve been struggling with. Choose topics that speak to your target audience.

Another thing to do is to point out the benefits of the product your marketing. Always list your benefits before your features. People want to know what they’ll get out of it. Also, be honest, if there’s a part of it you aren’t crazy about, explain why. People prefer to know both pros and cons before making a decision. They’ll appreciate your honesty over some hyped up fluff just to get a sale.

Christmas Lights

We were out looking at Christmas lights last night. We make sure to do this each year, take a night and drive around the neighborhoods and look at the lights. We love it, and it adds to the magic of Christmas. If you didn’t get a chance to do that this year, you can go here and see videos of Christmas lights set to music!

Christmas Light Displays
Here’s a preview of what you’ll find on the page!

Don’t Eat the Sheep

Have I told you about my latest place to play? I started a blog called “Don’t Eat the Sheep“. Oh? About the title, not sure, just popped in my head and I liked it….I get like that, it will be okay. It’s just silly thoughts, girly gossip and occasionally advice you may or may not want to take.

I tend to have a little more personality over there. I try to keep this family friendly here, and stifle my sarcasm and wit here a bit. If you’d like to see my other side, (turns and spins around), check out Don’t Eat the Sheep!

Do You Like the Change?

This is actually one of the original default themes they offer in Wordpress. Who knew one day I’d choose that over the others? I was looking for a streamline, clean look and this worked for me. Maybe I’ll tire of it later, who knows. I tend to change my theme every few months, and for some reason, the other one just started bothering me.

Sometimes I like a little more personalized header, but this will do fine for now. Take a look around, sit down, and grab yourself a beverage, I’ve got more to say, share and ramble about.

TV Products

I’m one of those people who can instantly be sucked into a commercial! Luckily, I found a site that offers reviews for products you see on television. Now, what’s cool is after checking reviews, instead of buying through the television ad, I can go to a site like TVproducts4Less.com and get the same item cheaper! I love the internet, because it’s always saving me money. Just like you can find coupons and codes to save money when you shop online, now you can find TV products at a lower cost too!

Did I tell you my husband bought our bed off of QVC? I kid you not, and he always bought a vacuum he saw on a television ad. We’re happy with both of those products, but I’ve gotten stuff I wasn’t thrilled with as well. Whether you’re looking for sunglasses, kitchen helpers or just cool things you like, click here and find them for less at TVProducts4Less.com.

Business Performance

When I’m writing business posts over on my business blog, I talk about topics like business performance management, as well as planning ahead, resources and more. Where do I get great information from? I find it online through sources like Prophix, and other business sources. If you follow the link above, you can learn about business performance management solutions.

That’s the great thing about the internet, you can do research, learn about different products and solutions all with the click of your mouse. What are you learning about today? Don’t forget to pass on great information you learn to your readers as well!

Earn Your Degree

You’ve heard me mention adult education before, and you’ll hear it again in the future. I’ll admit it, I hated school growing up, but as an adult, I loved it! I went back to school in my thirties, and I loved every minute of it. I even surprised myself by being an excellent student. Who knew I had it in me? One of the things about being an adult and going back to school is finding time in your schedule. That’s where flexibility comes into play, and things like distance learning.

A school like capella university offers over 104 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 15 certificate programs. That means you’ll more than likely find something that you’re looking for. Why not work on advancing your degree, or even consider a second degree in something you’ve always wanted to study. If you’re looking for a way to fit it all in, Capella University is the school for you. Not only are they an accredited school by The Higher Learning Commission, they are also a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.